E-mailer Howard Nute wrote to me today about my use of the word “kerflooey” on the TV talk-show program Horizon on Friday evening. He suggested, as host Richard Ruelas did on air, that kerflooey may not be an actual word. Nute wrote, “Is that damn UA journalism degree getting you where you need to be?”

Sometimes I find that the existing accepted limits of the English language just aren’t wide enough to fully express every nuance in my broad range of critical thinking. Thus, the need to invent words from time to time.

So for the benefit of Nute, Ruelas and anyone who tuned in Friday, here’s a definition:

Kerflooey: n., the consequence of an idea, policy or law devised by Arizona politicians in which the results are sudden, far from their intended purpose, and detrimental to the public good.

Or something like that…

Jeff Flake

A reader named Mark asked a reasonable question concerning my story today about the sabotage of an online poll about the potential Jeff Flake-Russel Pearce congressional race. The story was headlined “Results are in; online poll doesn’t add up.”

The story can be accessed here: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97050

Question: “I fail to see how this is even remotely newsworthy. Covering online polls?? If you were to believe some of these so-called online polls, Ron Paul would be a shoo-in for president. Janet Napolitano would have had no chance at getting reelected last year, and Sen. Jon Kyl is in real danger of being recalled. A poll from GOPUSA?? Come on!”

Answer: Mark is correct in that online polls are garbage. That was explained by legitimate pollster Mike O’Neil within today’s story. Heck, the results of the online poll weren’t even included in the story.

But the story really wasn’t about the GOP news site poll. It was about how Pearce and someone apparently aligned with Flake tampered with it.

Pearce admitted to me that he sent an e-mail to supporters telling them how to manipulate the poll to favor him. Then three hours later, he said, he sent another e-mail asking his supporters to ignore the poll. Meanwhile, Flake’s spokesmen Matthew Specht and Mike Haller told me they encouraged Flake’s supporters to vote in the poll, but they denied knowledge of who hacked it to favor Flake.

Integrity and honesty are going to be key themes of a potential Flake-Pearce race. Pearce challenged Flake on those points when he announced that he was forming an exploratory committee as he considers running. Specifically, he said Flake has been less than honest in discussing immigration. Those are strong words for the opening interview of a congressional race.

That’s what makes the story newsworthy. Thanks for asking.

Jon Kyl

This question comes from a reader who left a message on my voice mail at 9:29 a.m. Sunday. Alas, I can’t give him proper credit, because he didn’t leave his name.

Question: Yeah Paul, read your, ah, article on Jon Kyl on Page 2 of this morning’s Tribune. I think you totally mis-titled this thing. It says, “Burned by immigration bill, Kyl turning to new issues.” Ah, it should have been, “Kyl, who tried to burn the voter, his supporters with an immigration bill, ah, he didn’t get burned by it; he was just on the wrong side of the fence, no pun intended since there is no fence.” But, um, been a voter for Kyl since he was first elected, but, ah, he’ll never get another vote of mine. You oughta become a little more, ah, ah, objective in trying to tell it like it is rather than kiss his (expletive) all the time, too. Thanks Paul.

Answer: I didn’t write the headline; a copy editor did, of course. Still, I’m quit certain that your suggested alternate headline, “Kyl, who tried to burn the voter, his supporters with an immigration bill, ah, he didn’t get burned by it; he was just on the wrong side of the fence, no pun intended since there is no fence,” would have been way too long to fit the space requirements, which were 36 points, three columns, two decks. You’re welcome.

Got a question? Post it on this blog, call me at (480) 970-2331 or e-mail me at pgiblin@evtrib.com.

This question was submitted by phone this morning.

Question: Why wasn’t Republican Ron Paul included in the East Valley Tribune’s story today about the Rocky Mountain Poll on presidential candidates?

Answer: Paul, a U.S. representative from Texas, didn’t make the paper because Behavior Research Center, the Phoenix-based firm that conducted the survey, didn’t include him in its research.

Survey director Earl de Berge said the surveys feature the candidates he concludes are the most serious contenders. Alas, Paul didn’t meet his qualifications. The lists are works in progress, de Berge said. For instance, he dropped Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and added former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the May survey.

De Berge said he’ll reconsider whether to add Paul before the next Rocky Mountain Poll.

Got a question? Post it in the “Add a comment” section below or e-mail it to pgiblin@evtrib.com.