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How do you grade the job performance of local state legislators?

By Howard B. Owens
Howard B. Owens

Many times I'll think of a poll question and then I'll think, "oh,that's not a very good poll question -- how people will answer is so predictable."

And then I go ahead and ask the poll question anyway and I find the results are not as predictable as I thought.

Which has taught me is that the only really dumb poll question is the one that doesn't get posted.

Aug 19, 2010, 12:57pm Permalink
bud prevost

Bea, I believe the current political climate is in turmoil. I am not alone in my belief that ALL incumbents, regardless of party, need to go. I'm sure that there are dems out there who feel the same way. I certainly hope everyone looks beyond political affiliation come November. I know I will.

Aug 19, 2010, 4:25pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Bud, you are probably right. However, I found it odd that Hawley's aura didn't follow through to Ranzenhofer. One would think the more than half of the staunch Republicans would stay with the party line.
If I were Hawley, I'd start paying attention to what the locals are thinking. He isn't getting the same message when his 60+ supporters show up and "yes" him on every word he utters.

Aug 19, 2010, 5:18pm Permalink
John Roach

Howard,
Also, while some people voted "fail", that does not mean they are voting for the other guy, or even voting this Fall.

The people who voted positive are not necessarily going to vote for them either, or vote.

Aug 19, 2010, 8:07pm Permalink
Tara Pariso

Failing grades for both, ok is that because they are politicians or because it is well known what they are actually doing a bad job at? I find it hard to believe that a single person can be blamed for the disarray in NYS, as it is across the board and every aspect needs an overhaul. I do find it a typical response pool for people to blame every individual political figure, but I can say with confidence that I gave them both B's. It's not about R or D or what will be voted for in November, everyone needs to take responsibility for the world we live in and things that can be done without politics!

Aug 19, 2010, 9:21pm Permalink
Bea McManis

So, the next poll should be will you vote for Hawley and Ranzenhofer? It will be interesting to see the results compared to this report card.

Aug 19, 2010, 9:27pm Permalink
John Roach

Bea,
The poll should be will you vote for Hawley/Barrons and Ranzenhofer/Coppola, all four names.

While that poll results would be interesting, I am not too sure how accurate it will be for the State Senate race. People on this site are, I believe, more political aware than most. And most don't know who either Ranzenhofer or Coppola are.

And Bea, while you'll think this is partisan, there are still an awful lot of people who have not heard of CM yet

Aug 19, 2010, 9:39pm Permalink
Bea McManis

I haven't brought CM into this. I am looking at the results of Howard's poll. I am just curious how many of those who voted 'failure' for either candidate will cast their ballot in November. Will the numbers hold up?

Aug 19, 2010, 11:09pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Most people don't vote based on job performance. They vote the party line. If Steve were a Democrat, Bea, Chris and most of CM's supporters would vote for Hawley. This all is pre-determined long before election day when the challenger doesn't have a boat load of money and a slick campaign.. F simply means, that people don't like Albany. If you add up A-D, Hawley wins among people who care to read the poll and vote. If you put an unamed Democrat or CM up in a real scientific poll, there is no way to get more than 40%. Add to that Steve's name, likablity and it's even worse for a challenger.

Jesus (D) 40% Hawley (R) 60%

CM(D) 29% Hawley (R) 71%

Aug 20, 2010, 7:47am Permalink
Bea McManis

Charlie, it may be an indictment on Albany, but you can't rate Chris' performance since he isn't in office.
Yes, people may rate the performance, but they are more than willing to keep those in Albany in office no matter how unhappy they are with the performance. (I'm talking both parties).
How nice of you to place Steve Hawley above Jesus. Isn't that how John Lennon felt about his popularity too?
When will Steve do a walk on water, or feed the multitudes?

Aug 20, 2010, 8:41am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I don't think grading them is really possible period. Without being in the majority, neither of them has the chance to affect the outcome of the liberal state government.

Aug 20, 2010, 8:58am Permalink
John Roach

Bea,
As usual, you missed the point. Charlie was pointing out something that you, as a party committee member, should take into consideration when looking at the poll. Nothing more.

Besides, I thought walking on water was Obama's job.

Aug 20, 2010, 9:44am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lennon was right, of course, at the time, the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. At least arguably.

People always misunderstand the statement, as if Lennon was in any spiritual way comparing the Beatles and Jesus. It wasn't a spiritual comparison, but a statistical comparison.

The only way to take offense at the statement is if you believe it indicts Jesus somehow to be less popular in America than the Beatles, or Steve Hawley.

(I'm sure Hawley loves having his popularity compared with the Beatles.)

Aug 20, 2010, 10:00am Permalink
Chris Charvella

To Mike Kelly: Marc Coppola has had a pistol permit for better than twenty years. He is a Second Amendment supporter and squarely in the corner of an individual's right to bear arms

Chris Barons is a firm believer in our community's hunting and shooting traditions.

Both of them have been invited to Genesee County S.C.O.P.E's candidate night in October and I'm relatively sure they both plan to attend.

Aug 20, 2010, 2:38pm Permalink

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