Showing posts with label poll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poll. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Fiscal Cliff Poll
I see that two have voted on my latest poll. Do you think the fiscal cliff will be averted in time? Take a second and cast your vote.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Well?
I am putting up a new poll after watching tonight's Presidential Debate. Who do you think was the clear winner?
Update October 4, 2012 PM From Undecided Voters: Round One Goes to Romney
By Chris Kofinis and Frank Luntz
Now, we don't agree on much, but reality is reality. Gov. Romney won the debate.
No way to deny it, spin it, or paint a different picture. It was the moment the Romney campaign was looking for -- a decisive victory that could change the narrative -- and he got it.
One knew from the opening answer that Gov. Romney had come loaded for bear. From that very first answer on, he was passionate and forceful. He recited a blizzard of facts and offered well-structured answers. He was empathetic and respectful to the president. And, he pushed a coherent and focused message. In fact, for these 90 minutes, he was the opposite of the campaign and the candidate the American people have seen.
Yes, he was quite good.
President Obama, on the other hand, was passive bordering on disinterest. He seemed displeased at times, and even worse, he showed it. He had no message and he meandered. He ignored facts and specifics he could have used to attack Gov. Romney. He didn't have an effective frame or any message. Interestingly, one of President Obama's best answers came when he defended his health care plan, but he still did not undermine Gov. Romney in this exchange. How is that possible? On health care?
Worst of all, he let Gov. Romney control the debate from beginning to end. Folks, it's Debate 101 that you never -- ever -- let your opponent control the debate. At a minimum, the president needed to be as aggressive as Gov. Romney. But he wasn't.
Putting aside our observations, based on an AOL-sponsored debate night focus group of 25 undecided voters, the results were clear. Romney won. President Obama lost.
When asked whether they felt that Romney improved his image, the answer was a resounding yes. When asked whether they felt this would energize his campaign, the answer was yes. While the president did show signs of improvement in the second half of the debate among our group, it just wasn't nearly enough.
So what did we learn from tonight's debate and what does it mean for the remaining two presidential debates?
1. Be On-Message: Watch the debate again. Count how many times Romney said the word "jobs" versus President Obama. Does anyone want to make a $10,000 bet how many more times Gov. Romney said jobs? It is inexplicable that the president ceded this word and issue to Gov. Romney. This election is about jobs and the economy, yet the president rarely talked about jobs. Gov. Romney kept talking about jobs and the economy, even when he was asked about something else. In doing so, Romney won the message war.
2. Expectations Matter: Much as George W. Bush won the debates in 2000 because voters expected so little, Mitt Romney "won" last night because he so exceeded expectations. Let's be honest, most folks expected Gov. Romney wouldn't do well tonight. In fact, if you were watching his campaign you would have expected -- predicted -- some disastrous gaffe or mistake. The expectations were low, and that kind of expectations game creates a dangerous dynamic. Voters come in thinking they're going to witness some caricature of a candidate they've seen and heard. But when they see and hear something different, the reaction and effect is even greater than the debate performance may even warrant.
3. Passion Matters -- a Lot!: Gov. Romney sounded and looked passionate, the president did not (except on health care). Gov. Romney spoke like he truly believed in what he was saying, while President Obama's tone missed the mark. He seemed unwilling to sell to the American people on his vision and policies in the passionate ways we have heard in the past. The word we heard most to describe Obama: "flat" -- and this is at a time when Americans want their president to rise to the challenge and inspire us to greatness again.
4. Stats Matter: Here's a little debate trick to remember: If you want to sound substantive, use statistics to reinforce nearly every response and attack. It's the "facts" voters say they crave. Romney did just that. He was a human statistics machine. He used them to not only reinforce his answers but to undermine the president's. Were these statistics all true? Who knows? But the president did nothing to undermine Gov. Romney's statistics and arguments. As a result, Romney's answers sounded more informed, more convincing, and more credible.
5. Be Aggressive: Aggressiveness is more appealing than defensiveness, and the president displayed no willingness to engage. He did not press. He did not counterpunch. He did not mention the 47% video or a litany of attacks his campaign has used to define Gov. Romney. Why? It's almost inexplicable. President Obama simply failed to take the fight to Gov. Romney, even as his own campaign takes the fight to Romney very day. There were clearly moments -- many of them -- where he could have forcefully engaged Gov. Romney. Instead, President Obama chose a more cerebral and filibustering approach, which does not work when you face a determined opponent.
So where do we go from here? Will this change the course of the election?
We'll see, but one thing is clear. The next presidential debate just became as important to President Obama as it is to Gov. Romney.
Let the battle continue.
Chris Kofinis is a Democratic strategist. Frank Luntz is a Republican pollster and strategist.
Update October 4, 2012 PM From Undecided Voters: Round One Goes to Romney
By Chris Kofinis and Frank Luntz
Now, we don't agree on much, but reality is reality. Gov. Romney won the debate.
No way to deny it, spin it, or paint a different picture. It was the moment the Romney campaign was looking for -- a decisive victory that could change the narrative -- and he got it.
One knew from the opening answer that Gov. Romney had come loaded for bear. From that very first answer on, he was passionate and forceful. He recited a blizzard of facts and offered well-structured answers. He was empathetic and respectful to the president. And, he pushed a coherent and focused message. In fact, for these 90 minutes, he was the opposite of the campaign and the candidate the American people have seen.
Yes, he was quite good.
President Obama, on the other hand, was passive bordering on disinterest. He seemed displeased at times, and even worse, he showed it. He had no message and he meandered. He ignored facts and specifics he could have used to attack Gov. Romney. He didn't have an effective frame or any message. Interestingly, one of President Obama's best answers came when he defended his health care plan, but he still did not undermine Gov. Romney in this exchange. How is that possible? On health care?
Worst of all, he let Gov. Romney control the debate from beginning to end. Folks, it's Debate 101 that you never -- ever -- let your opponent control the debate. At a minimum, the president needed to be as aggressive as Gov. Romney. But he wasn't.
Putting aside our observations, based on an AOL-sponsored debate night focus group of 25 undecided voters, the results were clear. Romney won. President Obama lost.
When asked whether they felt that Romney improved his image, the answer was a resounding yes. When asked whether they felt this would energize his campaign, the answer was yes. While the president did show signs of improvement in the second half of the debate among our group, it just wasn't nearly enough.
So what did we learn from tonight's debate and what does it mean for the remaining two presidential debates?
1. Be On-Message: Watch the debate again. Count how many times Romney said the word "jobs" versus President Obama. Does anyone want to make a $10,000 bet how many more times Gov. Romney said jobs? It is inexplicable that the president ceded this word and issue to Gov. Romney. This election is about jobs and the economy, yet the president rarely talked about jobs. Gov. Romney kept talking about jobs and the economy, even when he was asked about something else. In doing so, Romney won the message war.
2. Expectations Matter: Much as George W. Bush won the debates in 2000 because voters expected so little, Mitt Romney "won" last night because he so exceeded expectations. Let's be honest, most folks expected Gov. Romney wouldn't do well tonight. In fact, if you were watching his campaign you would have expected -- predicted -- some disastrous gaffe or mistake. The expectations were low, and that kind of expectations game creates a dangerous dynamic. Voters come in thinking they're going to witness some caricature of a candidate they've seen and heard. But when they see and hear something different, the reaction and effect is even greater than the debate performance may even warrant.
3. Passion Matters -- a Lot!: Gov. Romney sounded and looked passionate, the president did not (except on health care). Gov. Romney spoke like he truly believed in what he was saying, while President Obama's tone missed the mark. He seemed unwilling to sell to the American people on his vision and policies in the passionate ways we have heard in the past. The word we heard most to describe Obama: "flat" -- and this is at a time when Americans want their president to rise to the challenge and inspire us to greatness again.
4. Stats Matter: Here's a little debate trick to remember: If you want to sound substantive, use statistics to reinforce nearly every response and attack. It's the "facts" voters say they crave. Romney did just that. He was a human statistics machine. He used them to not only reinforce his answers but to undermine the president's. Were these statistics all true? Who knows? But the president did nothing to undermine Gov. Romney's statistics and arguments. As a result, Romney's answers sounded more informed, more convincing, and more credible.
5. Be Aggressive: Aggressiveness is more appealing than defensiveness, and the president displayed no willingness to engage. He did not press. He did not counterpunch. He did not mention the 47% video or a litany of attacks his campaign has used to define Gov. Romney. Why? It's almost inexplicable. President Obama simply failed to take the fight to Gov. Romney, even as his own campaign takes the fight to Romney very day. There were clearly moments -- many of them -- where he could have forcefully engaged Gov. Romney. Instead, President Obama chose a more cerebral and filibustering approach, which does not work when you face a determined opponent.
So where do we go from here? Will this change the course of the election?
We'll see, but one thing is clear. The next presidential debate just became as important to President Obama as it is to Gov. Romney.
Let the battle continue.
Chris Kofinis is a Democratic strategist. Frank Luntz is a Republican pollster and strategist.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Final hours for Feeling the Pinch poll
With eleven hours left to vote, 25% have more money than ever. Forty percent are feeling the pinch but will be OK if nothing changes. One third of us are drowning. DROWNING. So which group is calling the shots here in Mt. Lebanon? I believe it is the first group.
I have decided to write about this poll in the final hours since the original bid opening was to be held in three hours from now.
Since I am discussing incomes, if anyone wishes to comment on this post, I will take anonymous comments. Just be civil.
I have decided to write about this poll in the final hours since the original bid opening was to be held in three hours from now.
Since I am discussing incomes, if anyone wishes to comment on this post, I will take anonymous comments. Just be civil.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Still nothing
No response yet from any of the board members concerning your high school renovation questions. I saw three board members yesterday at the Policy meeting and nothing was said by them or me. Two of them will be on both ballots next month. 76% of the votes cast on the poll are not optimistic. Does that tell you something? It doesn't look good.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Ask the School Board about the renovation
A meeting or so ago, a question was raised about the high school renovation project. A resident felt that there is confusion concerning what is included on the add/delete alternates lists. Josephine Posti felt that all the information is published online and didn't feel that a forum, circular, or some other update was in order for the community.
I thought it would be interesting to gather questions about the renovation and post them on another poll. After your votes are cast, I will submit the most popular questions to the School Board and print their responses here, if or when I receive them.
You may submit them here anonymously, or email them privately to egillen476@aol.com. I would like your questions by Sunday, October 2 so that I may start a new poll early next week.
Depending on your response, I may do something like this for the candidates running for Commission and School Board. I have not heard anything about a Candidate's Forum for November's election, so I may do something later in October, if there is enough interest.
I thought it would be interesting to gather questions about the renovation and post them on another poll. After your votes are cast, I will submit the most popular questions to the School Board and print their responses here, if or when I receive them.
You may submit them here anonymously, or email them privately to egillen476@aol.com. I would like your questions by Sunday, October 2 so that I may start a new poll early next week.
Depending on your response, I may do something like this for the candidates running for Commission and School Board. I have not heard anything about a Candidate's Forum for November's election, so I may do something later in October, if there is enough interest.
Monday, September 12, 2011
The poll is closed. The results are in.
"The School Board Members Should All Resign." Do you agree?
137 Yes they ALL need to go.
40 Not completely. Some of them need to go.
31 They are doing a fine job.
Total: 208 votes
137 Yes they ALL need to go.
40 Not completely. Some of them need to go.
31 They are doing a fine job.
Total: 208 votes
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
62+ days until Election Day
Steve Diaz, guest writer on this blog, has submitted another post. This time, it is out of respect for the 4,000 people who signed the petition to cap the renovation project at $75 million. The following pledge is for school board members, commissioners and candidates. Since no one seems to be campaigning with just 62 plus days to go, this pledge written by Steve Diaz might be a good start. And for the incumbents, the current poll shows 67% of voters feel that ALL school board directors should resign. Only 25 votes (13%) out of 186 total voters feel that the school board is doing a fine job.
A Pledge for Public Service:
A Pledge for Public Service:
As an informed citizen, I hereby call upon every elected official of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon and the Mt. Lebanon School District, and all candidates for such office, to publicly agree to be bound by the following principles of open representative government:
MT. LEBANON OFFICE HOLDER/CANDIDATE PLEDGE OF RESPECT FOR CONSTITUENTS
As an elected official of the Mt. Lebanon School Board, or of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, or as a candidate for a seat on the Mt. Lebanon School Board or the Council of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, I pledge that my public service will be dedicated to the following principles:
1. It is my duty to give due and patient consideration to the substance of constituent sentiment on all matters of policy and taxation.
2. It is my duty to provide a civil, respectful, and thoughtful response to every constituent communication, whether or not I agree with the points of view expressed by my constituents.
3. It is my duty to be forthright, complete, honest, accurate, and fair in every communication I have with my constituents.
4. It is my duty to be clear and consistent with my constituents as to my position on all issues, and to be honest, forthright, and timely when I deem it desirable to change my position on public matters.
5. It is my duty to conduct myself at all times in an open and transparent manner, avoiding meetings with other public officials in circumstances that are likely to hide from public scrutiny my actions and purposes.
6. It is my duty to assure that meetings at which public business is conducted or decided are open, transparent, duly noticed, and scheduled so as to maximize the opportunity of the public to attend, observe, and/or participate.
7. It is my duty to fully disclose all information that I reasonably believe is of interest to my constituents and to assure full disclosure and full public knowledge of how official business is conducted.
8. It is my duty to assure that intergovernmental meetings and coordination are fully open and transparent in a timely manner to my constituents.
9. It is my duty to seek redress from appropriate authorities for all acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or unethical, illegal, or improper conduct by public officials and employees in the course of my official duties.
10. It is my duty to consider and avoid any unnecessarily negative impact on the economic welfare of my constituents, including taxation.
11. It is my duty to speak out against and to actively oppose all attempts to limit diversity of opinion by official policy or action, formal or informal.
12. It is my duty to insist upon compliance with these principles by the body to which I am elected, and to hold my colleagues accountable to these principles as well.
I ask each person holding or seeking public office in this Municipality or this School District to subscribe to these principles by giving their written concurrence, thereby indicating their commitment to constituent service and respect. I would hope that all members of the Council and the School Board, and all candidates for seats on these bodies will subscribe to these basic democratic principles now and in the future.
Respectfully. Steve Diaz
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Single vs. Multiple Prime Poll
Anybody have any idea what happened to the poll? Last time I checked, there were seven votes supporting the seven SB members' votes and thirty-one votes going to single-prime. Now it is showing sixteen for single-prime and three supporting the SB's decision.
Update July 28, 2011 12:20 am The poll is now closed. The final count is:
Update July 28, 2011 12:20 am The poll is now closed. The final count is:
Using a single-prime contractor is the only way to go. | 34 (79%) |
I support the School Board's decision to go with multiple-prime contracts. | 9 (20%) |
Total votes: 43
Poll closed
Poll closed
Monday, June 27, 2011
Pittsburgh Business Times results vs. Lebo Citizens results
Would you support a bill to ban teachers strike statewide?
Yes, teachers shouldn't go out on strike 55%
Yes, with mandatory arbitration 26%
No, it would harm bargaining power 10%
No, union rights shouldn't be limited 9%
Votes Cast: 624 (Pittsburgh Business Times)
*******
Yes, teachers shouldn't go out on strike 26 (72%)
Yes, with mandatory arbitration 2 (5%)
No, it would harm bargaining power 4 (11%)
No, union rights shouldn't be limited 4 (11%)
VOTES CAST: 36 (Lebo Citizens)
THANKS TO ALL WHO VOTED!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Should teachers be allowed to strike?
Pittsburgh Business Times is asking readers this question. I was curious how that would be answered here, so I am asking you. The poll will be up for one week. I will compare the results with how PBT readers voted. I realize it won't be a scientific sampling, but I thought it would be something different. Depending on the interest, I may do this every so often.
Monday, March 21, 2011
I know it isn't scientific but...
What is the main reason for choosing where you live? http://www.yoursouthhills.com/poll/what-main-reason-choosing-where-you-live The results, so far, are surprising.
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