Ronnie Musgrove, A fine Democratic Governor of Mississippi, BUT

[livin_indirt]

Worse than I thought. His latest TV political re-election ads portray him as a "conservative independent voice" (exact quote). Why on earth would a fine and well received Dem like RM want to alienate himself from the Democratic Party by the reference to "conservative independent voice"? As a very liberal southern Democrat I find this very troublesome, even disturbing and I just wonder how far to the wrong side we must go to achieve political success in this most misguided society that we call America?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Why do Rethugs want Arnie the Groper?

Because they need a Repug of any kind in office to further their agenda! Partisanship still plays a role and Musgrove will help the Dem's when they need it!

[livin_indirt]

3. I am very aware of the history and party affilliation of RM. Why

would he now call himself a "conservative independent"? He is and has never been either, IMHO. But I have a "Southern" attitude, what do I know?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Answer? "Blue Dog Democrats"...

...Cramer is my rep here in North Alabama. He would put a lot of conservative GOPers to shame.

[livin_indirt]

5. Haley Barbour, RM's major opposition was a "Blue Dog Democrat" once

He is now a "Red Dog Repuke". What is or is not happening in our society to require such a radical (IMHO) departure from the liberal stance that RM normally states without reservation?

[Bake]

4. Does anybody have recent poll numbers on this race?

I just can't stomach the possibility that Haley the Whore Barbour could become the governor here.

Bake

[livin_indirt]

6. I've no recent polls, db41, but I know Barbour shows heavily in Desoto

County. I hope that helps you.

[goobergunch]

7. The latest poll was conducted in 2002 (n/t)

[goobergunch]

8. It's Mississippi...

the state that makes Texas #2 in most bad statistics.

[livin_indirt]

9. I've heard the same about Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and another

one or two. It's political hogwash as far as I'm concerned. Mississippi is a Democratic state. Mississippi simply must ge beyond the racial question and the yare doing a good job of it. After all, RM was elected, wasn't he?

[NewJerseyDem]

10. Democratic state?

How can you say that. It hasn't exactly backed the democrats in presidential or senatorial elections recently.

[livin_indirt]

13. A Governor is equal to 2 Senators any day of the week, NJD

Maybe you just aren't paying attention to political dynamics.

[goobergunch]

16. If you look at the election results I posted below

you'll see that both Repuke Senators from MS were re-elected handily, while Musgrove squeaked by with less than 50% of the vote.

[NewJerseyDem]

20. Not really

So Massachussetts, with its republican governor, is now a very republican state? And Wyoming, with its democratic governor, is now very liberal? Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and North Carolina have a democratic governors while Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Maryland and Hawaii all have republican governors.

Any state can elect a governor of any party no matter how democratic or republican that state is.

The only reason there is a democratic governor in Mississippi is because he is much more conservative than the rest of the democratic party. Just like the only reason there is a republican governor in Hawaii is because Lingle is more liberal than most republicans.

Mississippi is one of the most republican states in the country and it doesn't matter who its governor is.

What matters is how the state votes for Congress and the White House. And Mississippi has two republican senators, two republican congressman, one democratic congressman, one democratic congressman that is too conservative to vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, and it voted for Bush. That seems like a pretty republican state to me.

[livin_indirt]

23. I didn't say they weren't vulnerable, NJD. Like I didn't say anything at

all about all those other states. I mentioned political dynamics. Does that mean anything to you? Both parties are trying to capture dynamics despite their interference from the other and from disinterested third parties. That's American Politics 101.

[NewJerseyDem]

26. Well professor....

I don't care about political dynamics or anything from American Politics 101. What I care about is who they send to Congress and how they vote for President. And Mississippi sends republicans and votes for republicans for president. It really doesn't affect me much if the governor of Mississippi is a democrat or republican. It does affect me who is in Congress and who is in the White House. Whatever the "dynamics" are in Mississippi there doesn't appear to be any evidence that Mississippi is going to vote against Trent Lott or George W. Bush anytime soon.

You said that Mississippi is a democratic state and I think that you're wrong especially since Musgrove may very well lose anyway.

[livin_indirt]

28. You, sir, are a victim of lies. As are many of the voters in Mississippi.

Sorry for insulting your so caring of education and intelligence.

[NewJerseyDem]

29. What?

Could you elaborate on what the hell you mean?

[goobergunch]

32. I think he means that D.C.'s Political Report made up the election stats

I don't feel like looking up the voter registration numbers, but I will if I have to.

[ButterflyBlood]

33. then Wyoming is as Democratic as Massachussetts

n/t

[goobergunch]

12. LOL

President: *, 57.6%-40.7%
Class I Senator: Lott, 66.4%-31.1%
Class II Senator: Cochran, 84.6% (no Dem)
Governor: Musgrove, 49.5%-48.6%
Congressional Delegation: 2-2

[livin_indirt]

17. Selling grandma's washing machine to pay the "death tax"

There are literally thousands is Mississippi that believe that to be the case. Nobody but nobody enjoys taxes and if you say they do you are just ignorant and apparently are not paying taxes yourself. Personally, I hate paying taxes but I believe them to be necessary to sustain the environment in which I was raised and in which I desire a continued relationship. Period.

[goobergunch]

19. What does that have to do with the election results I posted? (n/t)

[livin_indirt]

21. Please don't continue to ignore my question. "Conservative Independent"?

But Ronnie is a Dem through and through. How and why have the dynamics changed?

[goobergunch]

22. #8 was my response

I'm saying that Mississippi is one of the most conservative states in the country...a liberal isn't likely to win there.

[livin_indirt]

24. Ronnie Musgrove did. That's the true dynamic situation. You just ain't

diggin' it for whatever reason.

[goobergunch]

31. Musgrove isn't campaigning as a liberal

as you noted in your original post.

[livin_indirt]

39. Somehow, I'm failing to get your gist

Musgrove is a liberal. He is not my perfect candidate but he has ideas that closely reflect my own. He is honest and that matters. He is a rather conservative Democrat and he was fairly elected the Governor of Mississippi. Now he chooses to actually use the "conservative" mantle and continue to run as a Democrat. My question is to where the political dynamics are heading and what that might mean to DUers?

[dsc]

11. because he is running in MS and wants to win

He could call himself the love spawn of Satan and Saddam as long as he wins and keeps being him.

[QC]

14. Perhaps he would like to win the election.

Crazy, I know, but you know how some people are.

I can't imagine it would go over well here in Water Valley if he ran as a liberal and got Teddy Kennedy and Jane Fonda to make a special appearance here for him.

Like others, I don't care what he calls himself, so long as he can keep that horse's ass Barbour out of the governor's office.

And speaking of Barbour, he made a big pile of money lobbying for the Mexican government re: NAFTA and other trade matters. Considering how many jobs have been shipped out of Mississippi, don't you think that attacking him for his NAFTA activities would be deadly? Wonder if Musgrove will do it?

[John_H]

15. Jeez. It's Mississippi.

When he was elected in 99, the NRA and Right to Life endorced both Mussgrove and Mike Parker. And the election was so close it went to the state legislature. Sorry folks, but wellstone, God rest his soul, wouldn't get thirty percent of the vote in Mississippi.

Feel free to want both guys to lose if your a my-100%-pure-way-or-the-highway person, but I'll take the marginally lesser of two evils than the marginally greater evil every time.

[livin_indirt]

18. God Bless Paul Wellstone. I still shed a tear when I hear his name

Thanks, JH

[Dob Bole]

25. liberal=evil

Because of the right-wing radio infiltration (AFR) down here, when people hear 'liberal' they think the term is synonymous with 'anti-Christ.' I know lots of people who are in favor of universal health care, etc., but if you called them 'liberal, they would shudder. Thanks to right-wing fundies (there are left-wing fundies,) if someone is a liberal, that means that they're going to kill your baby and outlaw your church.

These are real percieved concerns, but I won't get into them.

[Rowdyboy]

27. If it keep a pro-education, pro-health governor

in office, he can call himself a Flying Monkey for all I care! The very idea of having Haley Barbour for 4 years as governor is appalling.

[QC]

30. No Rowdyboy!

It's better to proudly declare the utter purity of one's principles and lose than to deal with political reality, win, and accomplish something.

Then, you see, when you lose and the wingnuts send the country to hell on a sled, you can roll your eyes heavenward, assume a beatific look, and say, "My conscience is clear, because I did not compromise my principles! I could never vote for a non-vegan who declawed his cat!"

Get with it, dude!

[ButterflyBlood]

34. just answer this yes or no

do you believe that Wellstone or Boxer could win an election in Mississippi?

[livin_indirt]

35. Actually, Yes. I think Boxer could. But that's just me thinkin'.

x

[goobergunch]

36. 1998 California Election Return

Boxer, 53%-43%

That's only 10 points in a state that went for Gore by 11 points. Mississippi went for * by 17 points. You do the math.

[ButterflyBlood]

37. Trent Lott won with 66% in his last election

so in order for her to win she'd need at least 24% of the people who voted for Trent Lott to vote for a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, F from NRA Jewish candidate. She also would need to get as many votes as a pro-life, pro-gun Southern Baptist candidate. Riiiiight.

[livin_indirt]

40. No tricks, OK?

Boxer could win because she is powerful, a woman and she can unite the black population and the females of any race in Mississippi. She can also bring out the sleepers/non voters amongst the demographics mentioned. But that is not to be. Barbara is not running in Mississippi.

[NewJerseyDem]

38. Absolutely

And I also think that pigs will start flying soon.

[livin_indirt]

41. See #40. No tricks, OK?

x