Doc's Political Parlor

It would include points that are obvious to some of you and apparently not-so-obvious to others. For example, that someone commissioned the poll. That whether the results are released has much to do with how well the release would serve the interests of the someone who paid for the poll.

That a quality, well-done poll for a candidate may test messaging options for the campaign. It may ask, “If you knew this about Candidate A or this about Candidate B, would it make you more or less likely to vote in such-and-such way?” Some people will call this a “push poll” though it doesn’t fit the definition of a push poll. It’s learning what information about the candidates will change people’s minds, so that the info can be used in messaging for the campaign.

That a real “push poll” doesn’t care about your answers, doesn’t tabulate the results, and is intended to call as many people as possible to disseminate info (or misinformation) through its questions.

That a well-done poll typically only needs to poll a small cross-section of its audience to get good numbers for analysis (within a margin of error), in much the same way that a thin slice of bread should allow you to analyze the whole loaf.

That results from a well-done, reputable poll should be able to be replicated by another reputable polling group (with high confidence within the margin of error).

That a poll now doesn’t tell you who would win in November, it’s simply a snapshot of the current situation. It may be something akin to a first quarter football score. You want to be ahead, and if you’re not it gives you a sense of the size of the task ahead of you.

That reputable firms want to do reputable work for their clients. They don’t serve their client’s interests by providing inaccurate information for the client, and they don’t serve their own interests in terms of attracting future clients by providing inaccurate info either. Again, the public may get to see results if it serves the client’s interest for them to do so. If it doesn’t, they probably won’t.

All of this is prompted by an article from Stuart Rothenberg in RollCall, “Can Polling Memos Change the Narrative About 2010 Races?” (which is not exactly on this topic and worth reading on its own).

One day I’ll do it.

Image used w/ permission / CC BY 2.0

Small town political gazette – 3/19/10

waltm — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:47:56 +0000

The Cullman Times – Tim James: ‘Government must live within its means’ - an interview

Cleburne News – Payne let go as Police Chief in Heflin – something is going on here

Moulton Advertiser – Hiker finds campaign signs

The Sand Mountain Reporter - Albertville city website defaced – Have you applied all the latest patches?

Troy Messenger – Boot man booted – No more Denver boots?

Shelby County Reporter – Pelham council opposes cut in state park fees

Times-Journal – Bill would fill Dekalb County vacancies by election – why not make it state wide?

BaldwinCountyNow – Spanish Fort industrial zoning remains in limbo

Andalusia Star News – Bright: ‘A firm no’ on health care

The Selma Times-Journal – Phoenix School gets reborn

The Tuskegee News – Community Market a blessing

Daily Headlines, Friday, 3/19/2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:56:33 +0000

Montgomery Advertiser – Immigration agency plans to inspect hiring records

Montgomery Advertiser – Shelby open to talks on financial overhaul

Montgomery Advertiser – Author speaks about the Wright brothers’ time in the Capital City

Montgomery Advertiser – Montgomery firemedics answer the call

Montgomery Advertiser – Tallassee ready to see change in community

Montgomery Advertiser – Advertiser Editorial: Transparency key to democracy

Huntsville Times – House rejects Griffith’s resolution to force direct vote on health care

Huntsville Times – Jackson Chamber sets Montgomery trip

Huntsville Times – Mediation over engineer job set for Jackson commission

Huntsville Times – Public bodies, public business

Birmingham News – Jefferson County projects to face delays

Birmingham News – Archibald: In Birmingham, it’s divided we stand

Press-Register – No cursing at Mobile County schools?

Press-Register – Mobile gun shop owner found guilty of illegal firearms sales; wife acquitted

Press-Register – Pentagon open to extending Air Force tanker deadline

Press-Register – Albertville, Ala. city Web site hacked, expletives plastered on pages

Press-Register – Editorial: The money and the truth get lost in PAC transfers

Tuscaloosa News – State to refine grant application

Tuscaloosa News – Ex-Kentuck director faces theft charges

Tuscaloosa News – Health plan faltering in much of South

Tuscaloosa News – Event focuses on racial harmony

Tuscaloosa News – Ivey touts her record in bid for governor

Tuscaloosa News – Maddox is unsure about E-911 centers

Florence TimesDaily – New Yorkers spend spring break building home

Florence TimesDaily – Teachers depict ‘don’ts’ of standardized test day

Florence TimesDaily – Crow deaths investigated

Florence TimesDaily – Riley: Get involved in national policies to protect Alabama

Florence TimesDaily – Florence recognized for plan

Anniston Star – Better than the alternative

Anniston Star – Watch that speed

Anniston Star – Phillip Tutor: A talk with a Founder

Gadsden Times – Black Creek work moves slowly

Opelika-Auburn News – Two-track economy: 9.7% unemployment, $200K cars

Washington Post – A Southern-style taste of health care politics

Taking Note of the Alabama Bingo Drama

Danny — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:53:26 +0000

An out-of-stater tries to get a handle on the Alabama bingo issue for stateline.org, and writes it all up:

It has the drama and suspense of a John Grisham novel: pre-dawn gambling raids by state troopers, rumors of political payoffs, rowdy demonstrations at the State Capitol and a fly-over at this year’s Rose Bowl in California with a banner that read, “Impeach Corrupt Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.”

All this fuss over bingo?

You can read it all here.

New Ad from Sen. Smith… um… Harri Anne

Danny — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:03:24 +0000

In this 60-second commercial, State Sen. Harri Anne Smith (R – Slocomb) plays just about every issue card in her deck to convince you of her conservative bona fides.

I don’t have specific numbers though I hear it’s a “heavy buy” and that she intends to stay on TV through the election.

Click here to view the embedded video.

She faces Dothan businessman George Flowers and former state Rep. Nathan Mathis in the Republican primary for Senate District 29.

Related Articles:

Small town political gazette – 3/18/10

waltm — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:26:36 +0000

Shelby County Reporter – McClurkin’s new State House office proving controversial

Shoals Insider – Colbert County indigent defense system could save the state millions

The Greenville Advocate – Morgan resigns from Brantley Council

Times-Journal – Aides first in school budget cuts

The Daily Sentinel – Cut backs hit Jackson County court system

The Cleburne News – Damaged roads a priority in Cleburne County

Andalusia Star-News – Florala waits on state bingo action

The Atmore Advance – Baker, Keahey discuss bingo issue

The Tuskegee News – Greyhounds back on track after shutdown

The Daily Home – Kids understand the widow’s mite

St. Clair Times - Our view: still waiting for a new VA home

Cleburne News – A well-worn rut

On the trail:

Bentley in Albertville, this Saturday eat pancakes and hear candidates at the Georgia Mountain VFD

Daily Headlines, Thursday, 3/18/2010

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:59:56 +0000

Montgomery Advertiser – Sinkhole to close portion of I-65

Montgomery Advertiser – Riley backs bills on PAC-to-PAC transfers, rules for lobbyists; calls for ‘more transparent’ government

Montgomery Advertiser – Judge affirms Monday deadline for King on bingo investigation

Montgomery Advertiser – Riley: ‘No hurry’ on General Fund proration

Montgomery Advertiser – Polling places set to move; other Montgomery precincts face consolidation

Montgomery Advertiser – Gulf lease sale winning bids top $949M

Montgomery Advertiser – Advertiser Editorial: Give student uniforms a chance

Montgomery Advertiser – Advertiser Editorial: Alabama needs highway funds

Huntsville Times – GOP’s Ivey touts job plan at Phoenix

Huntsville Times – Jail pay busting budget

Huntsville Times – TVA delays decision on fate of Bellefonte

Huntsville Times – Griffith aims to force vote on health care

Huntsville Times – Lobbying for space programs

Birmingham News – XO laptops are loved, but use is limited

Birmingham News – 2010 legislative elections: Horn running for Senate District 18 seat

Birmingham News – Anniston hospital’s release of patient names may have included those of students from Birmingham’s Wenonah High

Press-Register – Air tanker selection criteria sharply criticized by European leaders

Press-Register – Nonprofits to get training on recovery from Hurricane Katrina

Press-Register – State Rep. James Buskey to run for re-election

Press-Register – Baldwin County listed among America’s ‘most conservative-friendly’ counties

Press-Register – Editorial: The money and the truth get lost in PAC transfers

Press-Register – Editorial: Lawmakers can’t keep waiting for a federal bailout

Press-Register – Editorial: Reducing the disparity

Tuscaloosa News – Circuit court layoffs will slow backlogged system, DA says

Tuscaloosa News – Senate OKs jobs bill for Obama’s signature

Tuscaloosa News – UWA dispute not yet settled

Tuscaloosa News – Volunteers help Moundville church rebuild

Tuscaloosa News – Well-known Tuscaloosa police dog dies

Tuscaloosa News – Baptists walking from Birmingham to Perry

Florence TimesDaily – Hospital model not perfect

Florence TimesDaily – Census undercount will cost you money

Florence TimesDaily – Mayor upholds police officer’s termination

Anniston Star – Hardy Jackson: The history of spring break

Anniston Star – PACTÃ¢Â€ï¿½s time: Is it up?

Anniston Star – Those are our earmarks

Decatur Daily – Sunshine Week has too many clouds

Gadsden Times – Byrne stumps at Kiwanis Club

Gadsden Times – Riley awards grant for improved forensic investigations

Opelika-Auburn News – Jennings selected Loachapoka’s mayor pro tem

Senate Sketches – Sen. Hank Sanders writes a weekly column for his constituents.

Senate Sketches # 1189

Danny — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:43:38 +0000

Senate Sketches # 1189

Senator Hank Sanders

***************************

A massive event! An important event! The Bridge Crossing Jubilee is truly important, truly massive. And it is just a part of the National Voting Rights Celebration which is even more massive and important.

Let’s just get this year’s National Voting Rights Celebration out of the way. It stretched from the Third Sunday in February to the Second Saturday in March. In addition to the Bridge Crossing Jubilee on March 4-8, it included the following: the Jimmy Lee Jackson Memorial Program in Perry County on February 21; the Remembering the Struggle Program in Wilcox County on March 1; a Storytelling of the Struggle in Greene County on Tuesday, March 9; mass meetings in Lowndes County on March 10 and 11; an event at St. Jude in Montgomery on March 12; a full march from Selma to Montgomery commencing on Monday, March 8 and ending with a Mass Meeting in Montgomery on Saturday, March 13. That’s truly massive, truly important.

Let me give you just a taste of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma. I believe you will agree that it was truly massive. I will explain why it is so important. Maybe I should do that now, but I will not. I promise to do so before I end this Sketches.

There were some 40 total events over five days. I will not even attempt to list them all. But just allow yourself to move with me as I participate in some of these events.

On Thursday, the 4^th, I missed several events but I made it to the old fashioned Mass Meeting at Tabernacle Church where the first mass meeting was held in Selma during the Voting Rights Struggle in the 1960’s. It was powerful as Dr. Fred Hayes, III, a minister from Dallas, Texas, held forth. I made remarks and participated in discussion over a late night dinner with leaders from Alabama, North Carolina, and New York who were here for the Bridge Crossing Jubilee.

On Friday, I observed a little of the Invisible Giants Conference and attended a symposium on Haiti. Late that evening, I received a call asking me to come play the role of a lawyer for the defense at the Miseducation Mock Trial. TV Judge Mablean’s mother died so she could not attend. However, Judge John England of Tuscaloosa filled in admirably. I was determined to win even on the spur of the moment, but I lost. My wife and son were attorneys for the winning side. Then I attended an event called Public Conversation where author/athlete, Dr. Jack Gaines, spoke and answered questions. I then shared discussion over dinner with persons from North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Alabama, and other places.

On Saturday, I went to the Foot Soldiers Breakfast, then to the Bridge Crossing Golf Tournament where as co-founder of the event, I met with leaders of the tournament, two professional football players from Selma and others.

Then I went to an Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) meeting which is held each year in conjunction with the Jubilee. I then went to Selma City Hall where I observed a bit of the parade and made remarks welcoming the Honorable Winnie Mandela, a member of South Africa’s National Legislature and former wife of South Africa’s President, Nelson Mandela. I rushed back to the ANSC meeting where I reported on several political issues.

I then went to the National Voting Rights Museum where I helped induct Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sue Bell Cobb into the Women’s Hall of Fame. I stopped briefly at the outdoor Festival filled with people, music, vendors, etc. That night I gave the occasion at the Freedom Flame Awards Banquet.

On Sunday, I gave the occasion at the Unity Breakfast where Mrs. Mandela was the speaker. I attended Tabernacle where I made remarks and the Haitian Ambassador was the speaker. Afterwards, I met with Agriculture and Industry Commissioner Ron Sparks before attending the Pre-March Rally on the steps of Brown Chapel Church. I marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with an estimated 20,000 people. I participated in a dinner at our home for Mrs. Mandela and others although she was too tired to attend.

On Monday, I did the closing remarks at the Miseducation Conference at Wallace Community College and made remarks on the Bridge where U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan declared that “education is the civil rights issue of this generation.” I visited the National Voting Rights Museum with Secretary Duncan and met with him and education leaders from across the Black Belt, the State of Alabama, and the country. It was non stop for me. Yes, it was massive.

Now, back to why this massive commemoration/celebration is so important. Simply put, the events celebrated forged a revolution that made real the promises of the American Revolution. It was a gigantic step toward ending nearly 350 years of racial oppression in these United States of America. That’s worth a massive celebration.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday – From early that morning to late that night, I participated in a series of Bridge Crossing Jubilee events and talked to many leaders from across the country.

Sunday – From early morning to late night, I participated in many Jubilee events and talked with leaders from across the country.

Monday – I did the following: attended a Team Selma Meeting; met with Liz Rutledge of Selma; went to Lowndes County where I met with several county leaders; returned to Selma to make closing remarks at the Education Summit at Wallace Community College; made remarks at a program on the Edmond Pettus Bridge with U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; and marched across the Bridge with him and other education leaders to the National Voting Rights Museum (NVRM). I then joined other leaders in an extended discussion about education in Alabama in general and the Black Belt in particular. I talked with the following: State School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morton; Dr. F. D. Reese of Selma; Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association for Justice; Chancellor of the Two Year College Systems Dr. Anita Hill; Congressman Artur Davis; Lobbyist John Teague; and Dr. Carol P. Zippert of Greene County. I had dinner with Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS) President Dr. James Mitchell and worked into the night on Sketches and other matters.

Tuesday - I finished Sketches and traveled to Montgomery where I did the following: met with several Senate Leaders; spoke at a Leadership Black Belt gathering; attended a Senate Black Caucus meeting; participated in a Senate Session; met with University of Alabama and Auburn University Trustees and other leaders and talked with many citizens and leaders before returning to Selma.

Wednesday – I returned to Montgomery where I participated in the following meetings: Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE) Committee; Finance and Taxation General Fund (F&TG) Committee; Judiciary Committee; Native American Delegation; Higher Education Delegation; New York Times Reporter; and a Public Education Delegation. I talked with the following: Donald Stewart of Anniston; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); and Sally Howell of the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB). I worked on the education budget before returning to Selma for a conference call with Twenty First Century Youth Leadership Movement (21C) Members and working into the night.

Thursday - I returned to Montgomery where we passed the Road Bill in the Senate. I had numerous meetings on the education budget. I also met on the following: several State Senate races; bingo; education; civil rights; and etc. Among others, I talked with the following: Joyce Bigbee, Norris Greene, Frank Gitschner, Kelly Butler, and Jaeston Ishell of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); State School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morton and Assistant Superintendent Craig Pouncey; and Dr. Daniel Boyd of the Lowndes County School System; and School Board members Annie Hunter and Dr. Denise Davis-May. I went to Lowndes County where I had dinner with education leaders, made a report to the Lowndes County School Board about the education budget and returned to Selma well into the night.

Friday – I worked on Sketches and other maters before traveling to Montgomery to work on the education budget and returned to Selma to speak at Brantley Elementary School. I worked on Sketches and several other matters before traveling to Nashville, TN where my daughter, Malika, is expecting her fourth child. I talked with the following: Sharon Wheeler of the Ron Sparks for Governor Campaign; Consultant Rick Heartsill; Senator Lowell Barron; and various others.

EPILOGUE – Some celebrations are small but represent important things. Some celebrations are large but represent small things. Some celebrations are massive and represent massive things. Such is the Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the National Voting Rights Celebration.

NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders (D – Selma) has written weekly columns for papers in his legislative district for over twenty years. They are not available online from the rural, weekly papers which publish them. This column is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office to Doc’s Political Parlor for inclusion in the Daily Headlines.

Arab Says Hold On About that Sales Tax

Danny — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:54:55 +0000

About that Forbes.com story saying that the highest sales tax in the nation is found in Arab, Alabama…

The Arab Tribune says hold on.

According to the Tribune, not only does the town of Arab not have any businesses in the part of the town extending into Cullman County with its higher sales tax, even if it did the sales tax would be 11%, not 12%.

At 11%, that part of Arab would still makes the list of highest sales taxes communities in the U.S. (though, as mentioned, no businesses are there to charge the sales tax). Hayneville and the parts of Collinsville and Piedmont that are in Cherokee County also maintain Alabama’s presence on the list.

Related Articles:

Alabama Town Has Nation's Highest Sales Tax - Updated

Who is Running? SD 33 and SD 35 Updates

Danny — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:04 +0000

Chip Drago of the Mobile Bay Times sends email this way saying:

Victor Crawford in sd33 and Gary Tanner in sd35 have told me they are not running. Crawford’s withdrawal reverses previous statements. Tanner never announced, mulled it for months but had decided against running. also, though qualifying is not over, it appears unlikely that either Raymond Bell or William Carroll will run in sd-33. still it would not shock me to see a 3rd Dem enter the field along with Figures & Herman Thomas.

Thanks for the update, Chip!