Jackson Free Press

May 12, 2005—SurveyUSA has released its approval rating survey results conducted in all 50 states for May 10, 2005. 600 Mississippians were asked "Do you approve or disapprove of the job that Haley Barbour is doing as governor?" In response, 37 percent said they approve, 55 percent said they disapprove, and 8 percent said they were unsure.

That rating puts him at 40th on the list of 50 governors in approval, one point better than Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Riley (36 percent approve, 52 percent disapprove), who is widely expected to lose the governor's mansion after losing a public referendum to overhaul Alabama's state taxation system in favor of a more progressive approach.

Barbour is tied for the 8th highest disapproval rating for a governor, with Democrat John Balducci of Maine.

Of the nation's governors, 22 are Democrats and 28 are Republicans. Ranked by rating, seven Republicans appear in the "bottom" 10, including Barbour. Bob Taft, Republican of Ohio, ranks worst with a 19 percent approval rating; John Hoeven, Republican from North Dakota, is highest with a 71 percent approval rating.

Previous Comments

ID

137778

Comment

Maybe Mississippians aren't happy with a governor who keeps calling expensive special sessions every time he doesn't get his way. Mr. Barbour, please look up the word "compromise."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-12T09:55:40-06:00

ID

137779

Comment

What's interesting is that Haley's name gets bandied about for a 2008 run. Could he bring this number up by then? Barbour Pal Pushing 'Haley for President.' Remember, Barbour's number is 37 percent in Mississippi. Not national numbers or name recognition, etc. The question is -- has he *really* made any mistakes, or is it just that he has to get unpopular stuff through first and we'll see approval come up in later years when he passes the Mississippi State SUV Gas Payment Exemption bill or something? :-)

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2005-05-12T11:45:48-06:00

ID

137780

Comment

You'd think he'd need to win his home state. ;-) Of course, I've heard a number of folks say they'd vote for him for prez to get him out of our way. And, truthfully, could he be worse than Bush up there? Don't answer that.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-12T11:48:56-06:00

ID

137781

Comment

It used to be a rule of thumb that you had to win your "home state" in a national contest. That is getting less the case as national contests become more polarized, especially talking about a home state with only 6 electoral votes. Kind of like the idea of geographically balancing the Pres-Veep ticket: it helps but not necessary. Babar the Elephant is staking his future hopes on the twin GOPer mantra of no tax increases and cutting budgets. Even if it grows a large enemy list back home, it plays well in GOPer primary states and at the convention.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-12T11:58:36-06:00

ID

137782

Comment

Donna, I must say I would much rather have him elsewhere, anywhere but here playing guv in Mississippi. As you can see by my recent letter to CL I'm all for his higher aspirations. I don't see him coming close to getting elected, but hell, this country did re-elect Bush.

Author

kp

Date

2005-05-12T12:55:38-06:00

ID

137783

Comment

DAMN NICE to see what you just FEEL to be true in your heart!

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-12T13:50:54-06:00

ID

137784

Comment

kp: you go girl.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-12T13:57:02-06:00

ID

137785

Comment

OK, here's another Ledge oddity today: They have a huge package of stories about Barbour's chance for the presidency (LOL)ólead editorial, page 1 of Perspective, and Sid Salter's columnóand they never ONCE (that I can find) mention this low 37-percent approval rating!?! What's up with that? Tell me it's not relevant that people are talking about right-wing radical Barbour running for president, and the daily newspaper does not mention that he is only polling 37 percent approval in his own state, and has the eighth highest DISapproval of any governor! They couldn't even mention it to try to shoot it down? Wow. This. Paper. Sucks.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-15T11:16:46-06:00

ID

137786

Comment

The other thing that confounds me here is how good this would make the state look outside of here for people to know we're not all a bunch of angry regressives tryingóand that only 37 percent approve of Barbour's job. This would be VERY good for our reputation. I'll see what I can do. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-15T11:18:28-06:00

ID

137787

Comment

Haley doesn't stand a snowballs chance... He is setting himself up for VP. He is going to be the person to balance out the ticket to hold on to the "base" when the Republicans nominate a "less then far-right" Prez. candidate, and to hold the South since the nominee will likely come from another part of the country.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-05-15T11:48:49-06:00

ID

137788

Comment

I was thinking the same thing about this, Donna. When I opened up my paper this a.m. and saw the illustration of Haley Barbour in the Perspective section, my 1st thought was, "Wow, the CL is on top of this approval rating story." Nada. You know, I hate that I contribute to the CL with my subscription fee each month, but I just can't wait to see what journalistic atrocities they have in store for the future.

Author

kp

Date

2005-05-15T11:49:24-06:00

ID

137789

Comment

Chortle, tortoise. My stomach is aching at the thought of a Rudy-Haley ticket. I don't think heven Repubs would try to put that together. Would they? ;-) I hear you, jp. BTW, Salter's column isn't about Barbour running for prez, as I said before. Salter wrote the main perspective piece that doesn't mean the abysmal approval ratings. (Nor does the editorial, just to pile on that point.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-15T14:32:26-06:00

ID

137790

Comment

Actually, I forgot how many Republican candidates will actually have southern connections. Even Condi is from Montgomery, AL, and if she keeps wearing those stormtrooper/matrix outfits, I'll vote for her. ;-p I hear knol laughing now! But, Pataki or Ridge may be a better fit then Rudy for the nomination which still leaves Haley as just a VP. No more, no...well, no more!

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-05-15T17:38:14-06:00

ID

137791

Comment

Haley makes me embarrased to be republican. (Along with a host of others, mind you!) If only the Dems could come up with someone not from the far-out looney left.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2005-05-15T22:46:14-06:00

ID

137792

Comment

IG, I think you represent at least half of Republican voters when you say that. That's why I wonder if Lieberman would have cleaned Bush's clock had he gotten the nomination last year... Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-05-16T04:10:04-06:00

ID

137793

Comment

Ironghost: Haley makes me embarrassed to be republican. I went back and looked at some of the disaggregated data on the SurveyUSA ratings and found that Ironghost's sentiments are not unique: 36% of self-identified GOPers and GOPettes disapprove of his performance 47% of whites disapprove of his performance 50% of males disapprove of his performance 54% of 35-54 year olds and 59% of 18-34 year olds disapprove of his performance. These are all groups that tended to vote for Babar back in 2003 and all after only a year and a half in office. Yeah, Salter and the Ledge got NO blinders on them!

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-16T07:39:18-06:00

ID

137794

Comment

BTW, you can find the gender, race, party ID, etc. data here.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-16T07:42:14-06:00

ID

137795

Comment

Haley doesn't stand a snowballs chance... He is setting himself up for VP. He is going to be the person to balance out the ticket to hold on to the "base" when the Republicans nominate a "less then far-right" Prez. candidate, and to hold the South since the nominee will likely come from another part of the country. My thought all along has been that Haley isn't charismatic enough to be Pres, and has probably said things as RNC chair or as a lobbyist that have been too compromising for the campaign he would endure for a run at the "top" job. But what I hadn't thought about this until reading the quoted text was that it might make more sense given that, after 8 years of Cheney/Bush (and, frankly, after Clinton/Gore, which saw the VP's office move stronger into policy roles), we've ended up with a strong VP's office, and it's a place where "the people" seem willing to have, shall we say, a less charisma. Considering the "Cessna Event" case last week -- the one where Bush wasn't even notified by his Secret Service detail until 20+ minutes after the W.H. was evacuated, but Cheney was rushed out of town in a convoy that reportedly included a mobile anti-aircraft platform -- I think VP might be exactly the job for Haley -- an ideologue who wants to do his damage from behind the scenes will someone else stands in the pulpit and reads from the prompter. It's the behind-the-curtain job that Haley may, in fact, be aiming at. It's interesting to speculate, at least :-)

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2005-05-16T08:36:47-06:00

ID

137796

Comment

Uh oh, here comes Dick!

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-05-16T09:43:53-06:00

ID

137797

Comment

That'd be fun. My First Question to Presidential Canidate Dick Cheney would be about _exactly_ how much influence the Energy Companies had on crafting federal legislation. I think he's too compromized. Unlike Bush, who hasn't actually done much, Cheney has done stuff, and can be pinned for it. All in all, I don't see Repubs winning again unless it's a party shift.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2005-05-16T09:51:42-06:00

ID

137798

Comment

Fear the dark side.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-16T09:57:09-06:00

ID

137799

Comment

Mississippians don't approve of the job Barbour's done . . . oh, my, what a shockeroo! Not. I've been talking to republicans and hearing how bad he is - no point talking to Dems, already know what they think of Babar. Donna says, "Of course, I've heard a number of folks say they'd vote for him for prez to get him out of our way. And, truthfully, could he be worse than Bush up there? Don't answer that." OK, I wasn't going to admit it, but I've had that thought and then been ashamed of wishing him on the whole country, and then scared of that possibility, no matter how remote. What could be worse than Bush? Someone as amoral and ruthless as Bush, with 10 times the brain. Sound like someone we know? (sorry, just couldn't help myself - had to answer that question). GDI Moderate - thanks for the further breakdown and the link. Awesome information! Great letter, KP.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-16T21:08:30-06:00

ID

137800

Comment

so tell me...i'm sure i've missed SOMETHING. how much coverage has this gotten outside the JFP? i've yet to talk to anyone that's heard this news.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-17T22:38:08-06:00

ID

137801

Comment

Zip nada none zilch nyet The state's mainstream media from DeSoto County to D'Iberville is completely ignoring this.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-18T08:00:46-06:00

ID

137802

Comment

Well, K.P., you told it like it T-I-is! (Okay, no one says that any more. Sue me.) I sent a letter back in February or March about the Medicaid fiasco and the elderly woman who died because she could not get her prescription filled. They confirmed that they got it, and I confirmed that I wrote it, but I doubt that they printed it after what I said. Grrrr...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-18T08:53:36-06:00

ID

137803

Comment

Yeah, I haven't seen any coverage of it, either. There seems to be a media black-out on anything remotely resembling negative coverage of certain individuals. Why not cover it, and then criticize the poll if you want? I Google-News-ed the survey, and it's being covered by plenty of daily newspapers around the country, including (especially?) in places where the governors didn't fare so well. The lamestream media routinely treat Mississippians like idiots, as we know.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-18T10:48:44-06:00

ID

137804

Comment

so let's fix it. call in's to the TV and newspaper? emails? any ideas

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-18T12:46:54-06:00

ID

137805

Comment

I suppose if you cared enough to, you could e-mail and write letters-to-the-editor, complaining that the Mississippi isn't coveringóall the while talking about Barbour's chances for the presidency. (Tee, hee.) You might also ask them why they're not covering the history of local public officials while you're at it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-18T12:49:59-06:00

ID

137806

Comment

I tried to enlighten a few souls over on the C-L forums... Wasted effort.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-18T12:54:00-06:00

ID

137807

Comment

Yeah, there are some great thinkers over there. ;-) Actually, there are a couple, but I can't imagine anyone trying to break through the fog of the Mean People. The forums there seem to be dying down now that Melton has won the primary.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-18T12:55:45-06:00

ID

137808

Comment

That might be a good thing.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-18T13:01:25-06:00

ID

137809

Comment

Considering the C/L supported Barbour for governor, I don't expect them to cover anything negative that they think they can get out of. The DJ in Tupelo or some of the other papers who didn't support him would be a better bet. The Sun Herald supported him, too, did they not? The two biggest papers in the state - owned by huge corporations.....hmmmm. Something else that didn't seem to get covered anywhere was the story about Baptist Hospital being investigated by the FBI and Trent Lott squashing it. I only read it one place, so can't back it up as a "proven" thing (but doesn't prove it's not true either - although it might prove that the "squash" was successful). Anybody else read anything about that?

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-18T22:28:07-06:00

ID

137810

Comment

I vaguely remmeber the Baptist Hospital thing. I think it had someting to do with overbilling Medicare patients or something. I know someone who works there, so I'll ask...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-18T22:35:42-06:00

ID

137811

Comment

I mean "remember". See, that's what sleep deprivation does to ya...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-18T22:37:34-06:00

ID

137812

Comment

The real story on this poll is reflected in the details: Haley's job performance has the disapproval of 50 % of men (43% approve) 59% of women (31% approve) 59% of 18-34 year olds (32% approve) 54% of 35-54 year olds (37% approve) 50% of 55 year olds and older (42% approve) 47% of whites (45% approve) 58% of Independent voters (31% approve) AND EVEN 36% OF REPUBLICANS DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB HALEY BARBOUR IS DOING AS GOVERNOR (While an anemic 57% of his fellow GOP'ers approve of his job performance after 15 months in office) Now is the time for the faint-hearted Democrats in the Mississippi State Senate to join with their bolder colleagues in the House and Republicans who aren't beholden to Haley's gang to fully fund public education: see to the healthcare of our elderly, disabled and children: provide for public safety and infrastructure: cut waste, inefficiency and abuse in state government; end corporate welfare giveaways in the name of "economic development"; and tax cigarettes to reduce smoking and the accompanying illness, death and great expense it causes in our state. Haley is not popular; his supporters are merely a vocal minority. Let's all urge the Legislature to topple this bully with feet of clay and do the right thing for the people of our state. Clearly, the majority is dissatisfied with Haley and his ham-handed, Gingrinch-style of hyperpartisanship. He's headed downhill fast--give him a push!

Author

rcole

Date

2005-05-19T11:07:59-06:00

ID

137813

Comment

3 days behind but thanks for the input, ricky. And can you tell me where we can cut waste, inefficiency and abuse in state government[/]? I would like to compare the democRats' version to that of the GOPers.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-19T11:42:26-06:00

ID

137814

Comment

how about taking care of the budget before starting new projects?

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-19T12:23:33-06:00

ID

137815

Comment

I timed my comments to coincide with the special session. I am a Democrat, but I speak only for myself. A few ideas about saving money: 1) The PEER Committee and the state auditor should undertake a comprehensive performance audit of state and local government. Their report and its recommendations should be taken seriously by the governor and the legislature. Duplication of services, excessive administrative costs, terrible management of state-owned equipment and facilities (no centralized purchasing (and little use of bulk purchasing leverage to get discounts on equipment, fuel, and supplies), poor inventory controls, inattention to maintenance, failure to maximize value to state when selling surplus properties). 2. Get out of the business of financing private industry. Our bond indebtedness is growing out of control. If a bank won't finance an industrial project without the state co-signing, then it must be a risky venture. AmSouth, Trustmark, Union Planters, Bancorp South, Community Bank and others have billions. Let their shareholders take the risk, not the taxpayers of this state. If Northrup Grumman can't make a big enough profit in the middle of a war to be credit worthy enough to finance its own expansion, then they need new corporate leadership. At the very least, if the taxpayers are to pay for these projects, the state should be given a fair amount of stock in excahnge. How much Nissan stock would $400M buy? Or have the "conservatives" changed their mind, and have now decided that government does create jobs, after all? St. Ronnie Reagan must be spinning in his grave. 3. End privatization of public services. An efficient governmental agency can do the same job cheaper than a cost-plus-profit for-profit contractor can. Private prisons are prime examples. 4. End sales tax on retail sales of fresh fruits and vegetables, and replace it with a one percent income tax increase on income above $100K per year. Healthier diets mean less health care costs and a more efficient workforce. Just one man's opinion. Again, I speak for no one but myself, but I did want to trya and answer your question.

Author

rcole

Date

2005-05-19T13:51:04-06:00

ID

137816

Comment

according to their email update, WLBT will be covering the Barbour numbers tonight. Tonight on WLBT News... Find out how Haley Barbour ranks in an approval rating poll of Governors...

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-19T15:19:43-06:00

ID

137817

Comment

Huh. Finally.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-19T15:20:39-06:00

ID

137818

Comment

Discussion on government waste and inefficiency continued here.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-19T15:27:18-06:00

ID

137819

Comment

They're covering it on WAPT also.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-19T18:29:06-06:00

ID

137820

Comment

About time someone covered it - good on them. Hey rcole (I think I know who you are, don't I?) that last idea was a very interesting one. Not that I think it has a snowball's chance in hell of ever happening, but it's still interesting. This is the one I mean: End sales tax on retail sales of fresh fruits and vegetables, and replace it with a one percent income tax increase on income above $100K per year. Healthier diets mean less health care costs and a more efficient workforce. JP, you are right-on about taking care of the budget before new projects are started. Did anyone tell Haley? :-)

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-19T19:41:56-06:00

ID

137821

Comment

hell yeah! this state needs to know that people unhappy w/ haley aren't alone!

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-19T21:11:41-06:00

ID

137822

Comment

Did WLBT and WAPT cover it? Can't find it on their websites.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-20T08:13:56-06:00

ID

137823

Comment

on the newscast. i heard they did but didn't see it as i was at work.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-20T08:27:59-06:00

ID

137824

Comment

I heard it at 10 p.m. on WLBT. Not a bad report. Quoted Barbour saying that something like when you do things that are good for the people, they're not always popular. And they paraphrased his staff saying the sampling wasn't representative. The best part was that they went immediately to the current results of their WLBT call-in poll, and his approval rating was 36 percent on that, I think, so that didn't help their case any. Did the Ledge pick it up, yet? Haven't looked at the voice of Real Mississippi yet today.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T09:27:50-06:00

ID

137825

Comment

Also, the anchor (Ballou?) quoted the Web site as usa.com where the results are. Of course, that's inaccurate. It's http://www.surveyusa.com ó full link to this survey at the top of this page.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T09:32:00-06:00

ID

137826

Comment

For what it's worth, Barbour disapproval rating right now at WLBT is 71 percent; 29 percent approving. It's not scientific, either, but remember that these Web polls skew more conservative. Also, it looks like MagnoliaReport.com (run by Haley proteges) isn't mentioning this, yet. And this is the site for Mississippi political news?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T09:37:00-06:00

ID

137827

Comment

haw! the magnolia report is a monthly love note between those guys and the GOP http://www.wlbt.com/Global/category.asp?C=7857&nav=2CSf (WLBT poll link). as for online polls...they are worthless--in a way. see, they are utterly un-scientific and are really just tools to make you come look around a website, BUT when WLBT (like here) or CNN (like on Lou Dobbs show) actually broadcasts the results the DO become relevent bc they are (mis)represented as the 'true' meter of public opinion. thus the quandry: is it meaningless...or is it not?

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-20T09:44:43-06:00

ID

137828

Comment

i send the magnolia report an email every month or so asking scoop just to come out and say it "we're a GOP newsletter". i don't recall if he disclosed he was working on Amy Tuck's campaign at the same time back in 2003. anyone see if he did?

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-20T09:53:36-06:00

ID

137829

Comment

I thought everyone knew that Magnolia Report is run by GOP operatives. Same folks as Frontier Strategies. That does haleybarbour.com. They're have a good (but incomplete) list of links, but they clearly are a partisan operation. Surely, there is no one out there who doesn't realize that. Right?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T11:14:10-06:00

ID

137830

Comment

WLBT is now 73% disapproval.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-20T11:46:25-06:00

ID

137831

Comment

We are assuming that isn't a call-in effort by democrats alone, right? :) I mean, I'm sure there are republicans who can't stand the man nor his regime. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's accurate. Go Mississippi!

Author

Ironghost

Date

2005-05-20T15:29:59-06:00

ID

137832

Comment

Between the SurveyUSA data and the webpoll (which as Donna pointed out tend to track on the Conservative/GOPer side more often then not) it's pretty clear this IS NOT all democRats (and independunces). ;~)

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-20T15:34:33-06:00

ID

137833

Comment

No, I'm thinking this Barbour backlash is crossing lots of lines. Someone told me earlier today that his Republican dad (or dad of his girlfriend or such) said something like, "Well, Bubba voted for Barbour, and then Barbour started cutting Bubba's Mama's Medicaid." Haley might have considered pacing himself on his seismic ideological shifts. However, you know them Repubs: They ain't just greedy, they're impatient to tear down public education, Mediciad, etc., all at the same time. That, I predict, will be their downfall.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T15:41:16-06:00

ID

137834

Comment

It's now 74 percent disapproval at WLBT and growing, it seems. And, no, Iron, there is nothing scientific about it, but there is something significant about all this, though. Barbour might have called one expensive special session too many after refusing to negotiate in good faith during the regular session. The House shouldn't just bow to his every whim because he won't budge. That's ludicrous. I think they should force him to reveal every true color, and it seems that they are.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T15:50:54-06:00

ID

137835

Comment

BTW, any wagers on when the Ledge might get around to reporting these approval ratings?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T15:51:26-06:00

ID

137836

Comment

the height of arrogance was his calling the special session while IN the general session bc he wanted them to deal w/ his pet project on HIS timetable. the cherry on top? he couldn't be bothered to be in the STATE when he called it. THAT is an insult to the WHOLE legislature, republican and democrat. of course no GOP'er would say anything against governor porkchop...he might see his funding turned off!

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-20T15:57:11-06:00

ID

137837

Comment

That, I predict, will be their downfall. And we all know the success of your prognostications. When one of these polls starts running the actual names of potential Democratic challengers against Barbour in head-to-head matchups then I'll pay attention. [Comment edited.]

Author

Proud To Be Right

Date

2005-05-20T16:08:34-06:00

ID

137838

Comment

Actually, PBR, my prognostications are pretty good lately. For instance, I could easily have predicted Bush's 42 percent approval rating (and falling) by now. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T16:13:44-06:00

ID

137839

Comment

As for everyone else ... the Barbour folks seem to be taking this story (that Todd broke last Sunday) VERY seriously. He just released his official response to the poll: Just fyi ñ Survey USA uses a deplorable methodology of all automated calling.† This methodology is so suspect that the Hotline refuses to publish the results of any of their surveys. Itís basically just dirt cheap way for news organizations to generate a poll related story.† He attached a 2002 Roll Call article criticizing Survey USA, which I cannot post in its entirety due to copyright laws (which Haley probably thinks he's exempt from).: Founded in 1992, Survey USA now boasts 50 local television stations as clients, according to Leve. And yet, a number of established news entities -including The Associated Press, The Hotline and this newspaper - have a policy of not running automated dialing polls. Leve clearly is irked by the disdain with which his company's methodology is viewed by the polling establishment and some news organizations. "My issue is with the ridicule and intolerance and the censure that we have had to endure from people who not only have never looked at our work but are proud of the fact they have never looked,"he said. At issue is the technique that SurveyUSA and other "auto dial" firms such as Rasmussen Research use to cull their information. In a traditional survey, the polling firm develops and writes the questionnaire, which is then read to potential respondents by an employee of a phone bank. Through a conversation with the polltaker, factors such as age, voting eligibility, ethnicity and other characteristics are determined and used to develop a sample representative of the electorate. [...] n the 105 contests in which SurveyUSA has matched numbers withMason-Dixon Polling/Media ResearchInc., the long-standing king of media polling, Leve claimed their data showed his company was more accurate 54 percent of the time, Mason-Dixon was more accurate in 33 percent of the races and the companies were "comparable" 12 percent of the time. Of the 53 polling organizations Leve has researched, only 18 scored more accurately thanSurveyUSA.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T16:26:27-06:00

ID

137840

Comment

I will preface this by saying *I hate all polls.* But I also hate it when people who love to trumpet polls when they go their way suddenly think they suck and are unreliable when they swing against them. Either you like polls or you don't. Here's some info to click around on their site: http://www.surveyusa.com/press.html http://www.surveyusa.com/electiontrackrecord.html

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-20T16:39:55-06:00

ID

137841

Comment

The discussion of User Agreement violations has moved here. Please keep this thread on the topic of Barbour's approval ratings.

Author

admin1

Date

2005-05-21T10:40:10-06:00

ID

137842

Comment

This isn't much of a story, but the Sun-Herald reported Barbour's approval tank yesterday: Barbour spokesman Pete Smith called the poll "flawed," saying only 29 percent of the people surveyed were 55 and older, the group most likely to vote. Smith said: "The governor is too busy working to be thinking about polls, particularly this poll, which is so seriously flawed. It's not even election season." Democratic lawmakers, however, were circulating copies of the poll, with a note included saying: "Dear Legislator, Do you want your numbers to look like this?" [emphasis added] Them are some real interesting comments by Mr. Smith. Does this mean that Barbour only cares about Mississippians over 55, because they vote more often??? And do they only care about approval ratings by everyday Mississippians during election season??? Oh. My. Word.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-21T11:06:56-06:00

ID

137843

Comment

Hey, I know I'm way behind in here, but I just clicked on Tortoise's link to the article about Dick Cheney and it scared me. I admit that I never thought about him running. A Cheney/Barbour ticket? Whew, Donna, fear the dark side, indeed!

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T11:09:59-06:00

ID

137844

Comment

Kinda interesting piece on Yahoo News right now called "DIVISIVENESS COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR GOP IN 2008." "They are not about to split apart hopelessly in victory, the way the Democrats do repeatedly in defeat. But more than ever, there are signs that the Republicans are struggling to manage their majority."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-21T11:13:39-06:00

ID

137845

Comment

OK, I'm still not past those Pete Smith commentsódoes Barbour really not give a damn what Mississippians under 55 think of his policies because there not as likely to VOTE FOR HIM??? I'm not sure the last time I heard something that shocked me this muchóat least that they would have the hubris to say this out loud!?! And does he truly ONLY care about people who vote for him, or are likely to? I truly cannot believe they are admitting this. Talk about playing Mississippians for fools. They just assume all us under-55 voters are dumbasses who won't bother to show up, no matter what they do to public education, Medicaid and other vital services? Man, oh, man. I guess this is what we get for electing one of the world's highest paid political operatives as governor.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-21T11:19:15-06:00

ID

137846

Comment

Write the C/L, Donna? Surely you jest. It was the futility of that sort of action, with the lack of balanced coverage by the original so-called state political website, that caused me to start my own political news website, and commit myself to letting it eat up all my spare time (and then some). So much so that the editorials I wanted to write (and feature on my site) went to the wayside. It is true that the devil is in the details, especially when they are so time-consuming. But, self-promoting digression aside, if your point of view is not one that the C/L wishes to air, you are out of luck, unless outside pressures force them to acknowledge that the gov. . .er. . .emperor really isn't wearing any clothes. And then, they are likely to mangle it in editing to the point that it makes no sense, or appears to say something entirely different than you intended.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T11:20:37-06:00

ID

137847

Comment

Ahem. For what it's worth, Barbour disapproval rating right now at WLBT is 71 percent; 29 percent approving. It's not scientific, either, but remember that these Web polls skew more conservative. Also, it looks like MagnoliaReport.com (run by Haley proteges) isn't mentioning this, yet. And this is the site for Mississippi political news? Mississippi Political Newswatch I'm still here, and still plugging away, every day, even most weekend days (unlike Magnolia Reports). My doors have been open since 2003, pushing two years now. I have an agenda, I am progressive, but I am NOT and never have been a member of any political party. Magnolia Reports was great when Brian Perry had it, even though he was/is partisan (now being the PR guy for Chip Pickering). His stated philosophy there, as I understand it, was somewhere close to mine (if he'll forgive me for mentioning him when our political philosophies are so oppositional) - that you have to cover both sides if you want to know what's going on. Being partisan in your news reading/reporting can cause a fatal blindness, no matter what your beliefs may be. The guys that have it now are partisan political hacks. Who was it who said that the Report email from them was like a love letter to Republicans? I forget after reading so many reponses in a row, but you are so right. Am I wrong, or did they not get big bucks from the state for Frontier? I have to admit to a couple of variances from that philosophy - my music and arts section tends to be strongly skewed toward my tastes (blues) and my newest section, National/World, is less than evenhanded (because of my disgust with neo-conservatism). I also tend to try and stress those items that seem to have slipped from the mainstream media eye, which I consider to be another way of being even-handed.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T11:53:05-06:00

ID

137848

Comment

Them are some real interesting comments by Mr. Smith. Does this mean that Barbour only cares about Mississippians over 55, because they vote more often??? And do they only care about approval ratings by everyday Mississippians during election season??? he should care as he JUST proposed a plan to raise premiums for early retirees, those between ages 50 and 65, by 50 percent over the next two years. You may already know that retiree premiums are actually 25% higher than active workers'. priorities are non-exestence. oh, and while we're at it, lets look at this other Special Session Gem Gov. Porkchop has placed above having a working budget: Barbour proposes removing job protection from state workers. This means NO state worker would have ANY REASONABLE rights to protect their jobs. You voted or supported the wrong candidate...YOU'RE FIRED, you called your legislator one too many times...YOU'RE FIRED! You went to the wrong school and my cousin needs a job...YOU'RE FIRED! yeah. wonderful.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-21T12:12:29-06:00

ID

137849

Comment

Donna: Barbour spokesman Pete Smith called the poll "flawed," saying only 29 percent of the people surveyed were 55 and older, the group most likely to vote. Smith said: "The governor is too busy working to be thinking about polls, particularly this poll, which is so seriously flawed. It's not even election season." I believe it means that Mr. Smith has other people on his mind than the general public. :-) As far as the comment about Barbour being busy working, that's the standard political rejoinder to any unfavorable poll numbers, probably just a reflex action by Mr. Smith. The unspoken part was that the governor is too busy traveling, promoting his agenda. I still want to know who pays for all his trips, the plane, the entourage, security, the hotel and food bills when he's on business that is not state business. Is it the taxpayers of this state? Anyone know the answer? I still remember all the propaganda that the Barbour camp sent out during his campaign trying to paint Musgrove as a waster of taxpayer dollars (complaining about things like a redo of the Governor's office - and now Haley has done a renovation of the Governor's mansion, gotten a new plane, done all this traveling around, increased his budget). And, another related question, does he actually live in this state, even now? All these press releases and executive orders coming from . . . everywhere but Mississippi . . . make a person wonder if our state is anything but a fly-by for our purported Governor.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T12:15:11-06:00

ID

137850

Comment

CW, it was me. i write scoop every few months and tell them to just come clean that his 'report' is just a GOP news letter. it reads like a love note tot he GOP.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-21T12:19:02-06:00

ID

137851

Comment

Yes, it does, jp!, but I think you are wasting your time asking them to rat themselves out - it might cause more people to question their motives. God bless you for trying, though. :-) I almost never read it anymore, it's just Republican groupthink, nothing original in there. -- Mississippi Political Newswatch

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T12:44:13-06:00

ID

137852

Comment

oh, i know scoop. i'm giving him a hard time about being a GOP Shill.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-21T12:46:19-06:00

ID

137853

Comment

I was looking for a thread about "Barbour for Prez" and couldn't find it (even though I think I remember one). If this is in the wrong spot, I don't mind if it's moved and I apologize for commenting in the wrong thread). Has anyone seen Emily Wagster's article Politicos wait for the first domino? She reports that "One of Barbour's longtime friends and former lobbying partners, Ed Rogers, has registered two Web sites: haley2008.com and haleyforpresident.com." Fascinating, huh? She also says "Barbour has been making appearances in other states lately. Last week, he was in Michigan for Republican Party fundraisers. Last month, he touted Mississippi's civil justice changes during a speech in Illinois. Do these out-of-state jaunts mean Barbour is positioning himself for a national campaign? Not necessarily. But the attention can't hurt, just in case." Again, I wonder, who is paying for these trips? Most interestingly, Wagster opins, "It's possible that he could seek a second term at home if he's just jockeying for consideration as VP." The whole article is interesting, going into what problems this is causing some folks in raising campaign money for future runs. I have always thought that Ms. Tuck's affiliation with the Barbour camp was a case of using and being used; it appears (not surprisingly) that she is being used rather badly now and is fairly helpless to respond. I wonder if she's angry about it, or still having her concerns soothed? Reading this article brings those thoughts back to mind. I'm interested in how long he keeps her dangling in the wind over whether he's running for a second term or not. Aside to jp!: keep up the pressure! This is an interesting dynamic, in that that you know Scoop. (and I apologize if I got too mean in my comments about Magnolia Reports).

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-21T13:17:18-06:00

ID

137854

Comment

THANK GOD FOR AMERICAN FACTFINDER!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmmm, only 29% of the population surveyed is 55 and over. That sounds about in line with the voting age population as a whole, doesn't it? Well, "kids", let's find out!!!!!!!!!!!! from Mississippi Population: Sex by Age Year 2000 Mississippi Population (both genders) 18 Years Old and Over: 2,069,471 Population 55 and Over in that same year: 589,346 Percent of Miss 18+ who are 55+: 589,346 / 2,069,471 = 28.49% (to the nearest 0.01%) So yes, SurveyUSA's data at least accurately represents the portion of 55 and overs in Mississippi as a whole -- if nothing else (and they probably got the age spread in general correct as well). Therefore Pete Smith's comment about the poll being "seriously flawed" lacks substance. This is one Mr. Smith we do not need going to Washington (unless there's a spin doctor shortage, of course)

Author

Philip

Date

2005-05-21T22:33:12-06:00

ID

137855

Comment

i don't care one bit. scoop needs to hear that stuff. he totally sees himself as a general political 'memo' if you will...not a GOP love fest. that's why i constantly chide them to just come out and be a GOP site. at least they wouldn't be a shill then! Philly: EXACTLY! nevermind the facts, there's some SPINNIN' to do!

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-21T23:40:54-06:00

ID

137856

Comment

Phillip, you are so good! That settles that, so there Mr. Smith. JP!, I'd ask you if you were kidding about Scoop, but I'm pretty sure you aren't. Surely he isn't that oblivious?

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-22T19:43:58-06:00

ID

137857

Comment

what he knows and what he wants to talk to you about are 2 different things. MANY people don't understand what is afoot there and he uses that.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-22T20:32:55-06:00

ID

137858

Comment

More info relevant to Smith's criticism of the SurveyUSA poll results can be found here. Scroll down and read the section entitled "Predicted Versus Actual Results." This is information from the opinion polling during last year's presidential campaign. Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2005-05-23T02:12:29-06:00

ID

137859

Comment

Y'all rock. Thanks for the weekend sleuthing while the cat was away. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-23T09:55:08-06:00

ID

137860

Comment

BTW, all, did the Ledge mention these approval ratings while I was out gallavantin' around the state this weekend? I'm behind on my consumption of local media. (Burp.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-23T09:58:31-06:00

ID

137861

Comment

paul minor did in the C-L.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-23T10:08:07-06:00

ID

137862

Comment

paul minor did in the C-L. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050522/OPINION/505220322/1200

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-23T10:11:10-06:00

ID

137863

Comment

Ah, so BILL Minor did. So that's all the Ledge is going to print on this -- a mention at the bottom of a syndicated column. Did it really have no place in that amazingly insightful (smile) cover story on how the current "impasse" in the Legislature now means we have a strong "two-party" system in the state. That story sounds right out of the Pete Smith school of public relations.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-23T10:14:18-06:00

ID

137864

Comment

I was just reading the "two-party" story on my Palm handheld on the way home from work on the subway. Open-mouthed. HOW can they BE so STUPID? (Or so OPENLY RIGHT-WING?) I'm sorta glad to know my parents are taking the Sun-Herald now that they live down on the Coast. Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2005-05-23T11:39:00-06:00

ID

137865

Comment

Absolutely, Tim. This story is written (and edited?) by someone who clearly has no institutional (or political) memory or knowledge about what has happened with the political parties in this state. It's truly embarassing that they would put such a thing on the front page of the newspaper. The Ledge gets worse by the day.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-23T11:43:01-06:00

ID

137866

Comment

you know, you should email the person who wrote the article if you didn't like it. let them know it was ridiculous NOT to include the barbour numbers there as it is CLEARLY part of the special session story. the more letters they get ...and i don't mean just to the editor...write the person who authored the story...the more impact it will have.

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-23T13:03:07-06:00

ID

137867

Comment

"This story is written (and edited?) by someone who clearly has no institutional (or political) memory or knowledge about what has happened with the political parties in this state." Donna, could you provide your version of what really happened? I don't know much myself.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-23T16:01:11-06:00

ID

137868

Comment

Actually, L.W., I'm on press deadline and must keep sloggin'ópaused too much to blog already. But the story I wrote about Trent Lott in December 2003 gets into the "party switch" that started in the '60s because non-Southern Dems started supported civil rights. Start with that, and then we can talk more about it later. Put simplistically: the Democrat Party has been becoming the Republican Party in Mississippi for years, and to be say suddenly we have a strong two-party system because that switch is pretty much complete is to ignore a lot of history and political impact. We'll talk more about it when this issue is out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-23T16:22:23-06:00

ID

137869

Comment

Survey USA got 97% right in the presidential election. Better than Zogby. They got the age percentages right, in spite of what Mr. Smith said. Flawed results? LOL! Tim, Phillip, you are are the man (both of you)!

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-05-23T21:27:25-06:00

ID

137870

Comment

Thanks for the kudos, C.W. Yeah, Smith was just grasping at straws. One caveat to the link I provided is that it doesn't explicitly say that SurveyUSA used automated polling during the presidential campaigns. However, it's also significant that the one pollster who called every state correctly (Rasmussen) did use automated polling, which thus can't be called worthless :rolls eyes:. Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2005-05-23T23:43:39-06:00

ID

137871

Comment

they don't care about any of that. they want the 'it is a bogus poll' to be in the press. you think the C-L will look into this? hell, my MOM will spend more time on this than the news. for Barbour's people, mission accomplished. or is it...? they're still mismanaging the budget and refusing to give the public the services they want

Author

jp!

Date

2005-05-24T08:10:41-06:00