FINAL Ag Commissioner Poll

[TDaleBeavers]

This hotly contested race features incumbent Lester Spell (Republican), Democrat Rickey Cole and Constitution Party Candidate Paul Leslie Riley. Whom are you inclined to vote for next Tuesday.

This poll will be open until approximately 2:45 next Tuesday, November 6, for all the dumb coyotes and others who need to know when is too late to vote. :smt118

[kevin]

I see Lester "Magicman" Spell taking this one in a very close race!

[Hob684]

This poll will be open until approximately 2:45 next Tuesday, November 6, for all the dumb coyotes and others who need to know when is too late to vote. :smt118

so its not too late to vote?

[TDaleBeavers]

Rickey Cole and the Rileydad are both welcome to make their final appeals...as is Lester Spell if he can get wind of the site.

[58ford]

Rickey Cole and the Rileymom are both welcome to make their final appeals...as is Lester Spell if he can get wind of the site.
Yes, but will he be able to vote when he gets here.

[wilebill]

Yes, but will he be able to vote when he gets here.It's never too late to vote or bet.

[58ford]

It's never too late to vote or bet.
Yes, and there's always room for Jell-O.

[RileyDad]

. . . the Rileymom . .

Cute.

[TDaleBeavers]

My apologies...I was being lazy when I made that post. I read several other blogs, including the Clarionledger (Salter & Red/Blue), and it seems like I've seen a Rileymom somewhere too. In any event, my mistake was in no ways intentional or meant to be a swipe at you.

[RileyDad]

No offense was taken, but thanks anyway.

If you knew Rileymom, you'd know that you had just paid me a huge compliment

[wilebill]

The C-L has endorsed Rickey Cole for Ag Commissioner. (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/OPINION01/710300333/1008/OPINION)

The 2007 race for the post of commissioner of agriculture and commerce shouldn't even be a contest, given the incumbent's inability to take responsibility for himself in office.

A wag could put it as incumbent Lester Spell against the beef plant. In this, the state loses both ways: with Spell refusing to take responsibility for the $55 million fiasco, and the fiasco itself. But, really, it's Spell vs. Spell.

[TDaleBeavers]

If you knew Rileymom, you'd know that you had just paid me a huge compliment

The same is true with a lot of moms, including my own.

[Bluesman]

Errybody that cares, please take a look at the comments on the endorsement of Rickey Cole on the Clarion Ledger website and you will find that every single one of them as of right now are all voting for Riley... Go get 'em Les.:-D

[TDaleBeavers]

I heard a Les Riley ad on Supertalk yesterday..he said that two Democrats and one conservative were in the race.

[Bluesman]

I heard a Les Riley ad on Supertalk yesterday..he said that two Democrats and one conservative were in the race.
And he would be right.:smt023

[mac]

I will be voting for the guy who DIDN'T screw us over with a certain beef plant. Who would that be?

[Bluesman]

I will be voting for the guy who DIDN'T screw us over with a certain beef plant. Who would that be?
Les Riley... He is all about regular farming and he likes organic farming stuff too for all the tree huggers and squirrel kissers out there. He knows and believes that both farming methods are important to our state. Besides he is the only one that is not afraid to step out of the mainstream. Lester Spell is a republicrat trying to pass himself off as a republican but is truly a democrat at heart. He thinks that he has a better chance of hiding behind an elephant than the does behind a jackass I guess.:smt118

[politically incorrect]

Bluesman, I hate to say it, but your boy Riley does not stand a chance. I'm sorry, but third party candidates just don't win in Mississippi. We are either stuck with Spell or destined for Cole. :smt103

[TDaleBeavers]

I just sent a pm to one of our bookies suggesting lines for the elections on Tuesday. My advice on Ag Commissioner race was

Spell wins (1/1)
Cole wins (1/1)
Riley wins (5/1)
Riley wins more than 10 percent of the vote (1/1)
Riley wins less than 10 percent of the vote (1/1)

Riley seems like a good man, but I simply do not believe he has gained the financial support or otherwise to be a viable candidate. Thus, PI is correct: it's going to be Spell or Cole, and who do you NOT want the least.

[Bluesman]

Bluesman, I hate to say it, but your boy Riley does not stand a chance. I'm sorry, but third party candidates just don't win in Mississippi. We are either stuck with Spell or destined for Cole. :smt103
Well, some of us don't give a shat about statistics. I will vote for Les Riley just as a protest vote against the system. I wish Rickey Cole the best and will pledge my support to him, Lester Spell on the other hand, I wouldn't be the least bit disappointed if the flies of a thousand dead cow carcasses found their way into his mouth and nose. (Now that wasn't very nice was it?:evil:) Sorry to be so hard on your man like that TDale, but I just can't help it. Being the agriculturist that I am I just could not sleep at night knowing I wasted a vote on his ignorant arse. Rickey Cole will probably be the next Commissioner, however, I am going to cast my vote for the ONLY conservative left in the race. You know why? Cause I have principals and the balls to stand up for what I believe is right whether the odds are stacked against me or not. I'm not going to deny it, I know it is a longshot, but for agriculture in Mississippi's sake, I encourage all conservative Mississippians to cast their vote for Les Riley. Les will probably not get any dem. votes but Rickey will get them. If enough conservatives vote for Les Riley they can at least send a message to the GOP in the state that we disapprove of their poor judgement...

Now this is where you post that crap about being the "big tent party" and accepting everything that can walk upright..... You know I've seen a lot of "circus" acts under a big tent with elephants and have always found the clowns the most amusing... I guess Lester Spell is the GOP's circus clown under the big top.;)

[Bluesman]

I just sent a pm to one of our bookies suggesting lines for the elections on Tuesday. My advice on Ag Commissioner race was

Spell wins (1/1)
Cole wins (1/1)
Riley wins (5/1)
Riley wins more than 10 percent of the vote (1/1)
Riley wins less than 10 percent of the vote (1/1)

Riley seems like a good man, but I simply do not believe he has gained the financial support or otherwise to be a viable candidate. Thus, PI is correct: it's going to be Spell or Cole, and who do you NOT want the least.
So basically if Riley gets one percent or 100 percent the pay out is the same...

Why don't you just say if Riley gets a vote 1/1 cause it sure sounds like it is an even payout unless he JUST gets 10% cause we got 1-9% and 11-100% covered so that only leaves 10.:confused:

[TDaleBeavers]

I'm saying if Riley got 10.01 percent of the vote the "over" should pay out and if he gets 9.99 percent of the vote the "under" should.

In any event, a thought crossed my mind this morning, and it is a question posed to Rickey Cole. Sid Salter brought up the point this morning that you and Riley could well pull enough votes to prevent Lester Spell from getting fifty (50) percent of the vote. As we well remember from the 1999 Governor's race, in order for a candidate to be elected, that candidate has to win more than 50 percent of the vote and win a majority of the House districts Statewide. Otherwise, unless the candidate with fewer votes concedes, the House of Representatives determines the winner. In spite of some efforts to change the antiquity in election law, this procedure remains in effect.

Let's assume on Tuesday Lester Spell won 48 percent of the vote, Rickey Cole, you win 44 percent and Riley the remaining 8 percent. Would you concede defeat, or put the election to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where a Democratic majority, might ignore the wishes of a plurality of the voters and elect you? And, of course, the same question should be fairly posed to Lester Spell as well, although I could not imagine him fighting on if he comes out with fewer votes on Tuesday.

[politically incorrect]

It is appropriate that this is the agricultural commissioner race, because the two main choices we have leave a bad odor in the air, sort of like, cow manure?:(

[Conveyor Belt]

I'm tired of everyone passing over 3rd party candidates because "They can't win"

A long time back, we had many, many parties. And now it's A or B, when there is clearly a C option sitting on the table, but everyone refuses to acknowledge because it's not A or B. Everyone's fed up with A and B, but no one wants to gather the courage to vote for C. Why? If everyone would just vote what they felt, instead of who they thought was going to win, the country would be in a much, much better place.

The Republican party, if it ever did, no longer represents my beliefs as an American. I'm not a party voter. The parties have grown fat on the taxes of Americans, rich and poor. We all deserve a change. If only Americans could be inspired to go ahead and make that change.

[RileyDad]

. . .in order for a candidate to be elected, that candidate has to win more than 50 percent of the vote and win a majority of the House districts Statewide. Otherwise, unless the candidate with fewer votes concedes, the House of Representatives determines the winner. In spite of some efforts to change the antiquity in election law, this procedure remains in effect.

Let's assume on Tuesday Lester Spell won 48 percent of the vote, Rickey Cole, you win 44 percent and Riley the remaining 8 percent. Would you concede defeat, or put the election to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where a Democratic majority, might ignore the wishes of a plurality of the voters and elect you? And, of course, the same question should be fairly posed to Lester Spell as well, although I could not imagine him fighting on if he comes out with fewer votes on Tuesday.

Not to split hairs, Dale, but in the event that neither candidate gets a majortity in the popular vote or of the House districts the House will vote on this whether the second place candidate concedes or not.

Generally, if one of the candidates concedes the House will vote unanamously for the other candidate, but they vote either way. There is also scenario that none of the thre of us will get a majority, but Rickey wins because he wins most of the House districts ( or less likely Lester or me).

Beacause of the unusual dynamics of this race I think if it goes to the House the second place candidate could make a legitimate case to deserves consideration.

For instance, if I was in the top two with Commissioner Spell, I could legitmately say that the majority of Mississippians voted against keeping Dr. Spell.
If I were in the top two with Mr. Cole, I could legitimately claim that the majority of Mississippians voted for what they perceived to be the more conservative candidates.
If I am the odd man out in such a scenario, it is easy to see how either of the two others would make similar arguements.

So, let's just save our state & the house a big headache & give Les Riley at least 50% plus one Tuesday. ;)

[KingMaker]

I'll do my part in getting Riley to 50%+.

[Augustus McRae]

I think voting for Ricky Cole is my primary reason for going to the poll Tuesday. I have been a political "junkie" for a long time, but there ain't another swingin' candidate that I have a burning desire (or even "flickering" desire) to vote for. 'Cept maybe Jim Patterson in Lamar County. I don't give a rip if he was 100 years old - he's the nicest man in politics!

[KingMaker]

I think voting for Ricky Cole is my primary reason for going to the poll Tuesday. I have been a political "junkie" for a long time, but there ain't another swingin' candidate that I have a burning desire (or even "flickering" desire) to vote for. 'Cept maybe Jim Patterson in Lamar County. I don't give a rip if he was 100 years old - he's the nicest man in politics!

McRae,

Has Cole promised to share his Dapper Dan Pomade with you or something?

[Augustus McRae]

McRae,

Has Cole promised to share his Dapper Dan Pomade with you or something?


Nope, I just get a kick out of the ol' boy....

[wilebill]

would someone please publish a list of all the candidates the Beav is backing or is it safe to assume they're all GOPers?It's safe to assume they're all GOP'ers, except for the guy running against Fillingane. Whoever is running GOP doesn't even have to have a resume or a pulse for TDB to vote for them.

[carsalesguy]

can i still vote?

[Bluesman]

It's safe to assume they're all GOP'ers, except for the guy running against Fillingane. Whoever is running GOP doesn't even have to have a resume or a pulse for TDB to vote for them.
Provided their last name isn't Fillingane.;)

[TDaleBeavers]

Not necessarily, there's at least a couple more I have not ruled out voting for -- including Terry Jerrall in the Lamar County Tax Assessor's race, Mike Sumrall for Auditor, and one other that escapes my mind. And, remember, I didn't vote for Lester Spell on August 7th either....

I'll still be thinking between now and 7:00 something A.M. on Tuesday when I go to the polls.

[TDaleBeavers]

No savage, just making the most thorough and best informed decision I can.

[Bluesman]

Not necessarily, there's at least a couple more I have not ruled out voting for -- including Terry Jerrall in the Lamar County Tax Assessor's race, Mike Sumrall for Auditor, and one other that escapes my mind. And, remember, I didn't vote for Lester Spell on August 7th either....

I'll still be thinking between now and 7:00 something A.M. on Tuesday when I go to the polls.
Are you sure you didn't vote for spell? cause reading back through some of your posts it seems as if you was taking up for him there a time or two.

[Hob684]

Waiting on the highest bid?


nah.. TDB is gonna wait til Wednesday to figure out the out come then go all in on Haley.

[TDaleBeavers]

ME[/b];376265]In any event, a thought crossed my mind this morning, and it is a question posed to Rickey Cole. Sid Salter brought up the point this morning that you and Riley could well pull enough votes to prevent Lester Spell from getting fifty (50) percent of the vote. As we well remember from the 1999 Governor's race, in order for a candidate to be elected, that candidate has to win more than 50 percent of the vote and win a majority of the House districts Statewide. Otherwise, unless the candidate with fewer votes concedes, the House of Representatives determines the winner. In spite of some efforts to change the antiquity in election law, this procedure remains in effect.

Let's assume on Tuesday Lester Spell won 48 percent of the vote, Rickey Cole, you win 44 percent and Riley the remaining 8 percent. Would you concede defeat, or put the election to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where a Democratic majority, might ignore the wishes of a plurality of the voters and elect you? And, of course, the same question should be fairly posed to Lester Spell as well, although I could not imagine him fighting on if he comes out with fewer votes on Tuesday.


I saw Rickey Cole visit this afternoon and wanted to bring this question to his attention in case he missed it.

[politically incorrect]

Ok, Bluesman, just to let you know - I voted for your boy Les. I don't think he has a chance to win, but I couldn't vote for either of the other two. Hope you're happy. :-D

[RileyDad]

For those who were among my 47,000+ votes -- thank you.

For the rest, thank you for giving my campaign a hearing.

I would post this in a new thread, but for some reason, I do not have permission to start a new thread, only post replies (?)

This is a story ballot access news did about the Ag Com Race. (Anyone interested in "3rd party"/ minor party/ new party politics should find the site of interest.)

http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/11/07/mississippi-constitution-party-sets-record/

Mississippi Constitution Party Sets Record (http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/11/07/mississippi-constitution-party-sets-record/)


<SMALL>
<SMALL>November 7th, 2007 </SMALL>On November 7, the Constitution Party nominee for Agriculture Commissioner, Paul Riley, polled approximately 7.0% of the vote. He had both a Democratic and a Republican opponent. With 99% of the votes counted, Riley has 49,382 votes. The Republican nominee has 356,483 and the Democratic nominee has 295,151.
This is the highest percentage of the vote for a minor party candidate for state or federal office in Mississippi in at least 100 years, if one is including only races in which there was also a Democrat and a Republican in the race.
Although Strom Thurmond carried Mississippi for president in 1948, he was on the ballot in Mississippi as the Democratic nominee (Harry Truman was listed as an independent). In 1968, George Wallace carried Mississippi for president, but he was on the ballot as an independent candidate.
Mississippi voters in recent years have been very supportive of minor party nominees, if the race was one with only one major party in the race. For example, in 1998, Libertarian William Chipman polled 28.84% for U.S. House and even carried one populous county in his district, but he had no Republican opponent. In 2003, Reform Party nominee Billy Blackburn received 23.69% for Auditor, but he had no Democratic nominee.
Also in the November 7, 2007 election, a Constitution Party nominee for State Senate, Parker Dykes, running in the 35th district, polled approximately 32.1% in a two-party race.

</SMALL>

[RileyDad]

And, for those who are interested, here's my thank you letter .. . .


Thank You from The Wasp that Won't Die

Dear Friends of Freedom & Farming in Mississippi,

I called Commissioner Spell this morning to congratulate him on his victory. When I got off the phone, I heard Dr. Marty Wiseman ( Director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State) being interviewed on the radio about the election results and our race came up.

Dr. Wiseman, told the host that "third party candidate is like a red wasp. They sting & it hurts, but then they go away & die."

As Mark Twain quipped, "Reports of my demise have been greatly exagerated." I think Dr. Wiseman may need to go over to MSU's entemology dept & check his facts. Unlike bees, wasps do not die after they sting and can sting multiple times.

I am writing to thank the voters of Mississippi for giving me nearly 50,000 votes (7%) -- even though we did not have the resources or name recognition of my two opponents; to thank the handful of media outlets that gave our campaign a fair hearing; to let people know that Les Riley and the Constitution Party have a lot to build on and will be heard from again; and to declare victory on several fronts -- even though we weren't able to get enough votes to take the office this time.

1) We won because we did our duty. Stonewall Jackson & John Quincy Adams both made similar statements along the lines of "Duty is ours, results are God's".
2) We won because we introduced ideas & principles about the role of government that were long since thought of as forgotten.
3) We won because we ran a postive, honourable, issues-based campaign. We pushed our ideals & our vision. In this age of vicious character assasinations and surface level marketing of a candidate like any other product we have done things the right way.
4) We won because we have given Mississippians something to vote for rather than merely something to vote against.
And
5) We won because we have made so many new friends and built a grassroots coalition that we can work with to have a postitive impact on our state for years to come .

So, again, I want to thank the people that supported the Riley for Agriculture campaign and to let people know that the Mississippi Constitution Party & Les Riley will not be "dying & going away" anytime soon. I hope to be a voice for reform in farm policy, for limited government, for rural development & for safe food.
And the Constitutition Party may be stinging again quicker than the experts think.

Thank you again,
Paul Leslie (Les) Riley,Jr.



And, in showing that he is a class act ( whatever you think of his politics) I got this reply from Dr. Wiseman . . .


Mr. Riley,
<O:p
I preceded that quote by saying it was one used by a journalist on the national scene. It did not originate with me. This comment was about third party candidates in general. If you heard my response to the many questions that I got about your specific candidacy you would know that I spoke very favorably of your campaign, your effort, and your family. I was particularly impressed by your performance at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.myhattiesburg.com/forums/ /><st1:PlaceName w:st=Mississippi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></ST1:p in the debate. I’m sorry if you were personally offended by my off hand comment. It certainly wasn’t directed at you. <O:p</O:p
<O:p
Marty Wiseman

[TDaleBeavers]

Les,

Have gotten beaten myself against long odds in the past year, I have a great measure of respect for your effort as well, and by all accounts you did well at the debate, as Dr. Wiseman stated. I was particularly impressed by your near first place showing in Yalobusha County, where Mississippi Beef Processers was Located, and your gracious concession, exhibited above.

Best wishes in your future endeavors.

DB

[Conveyor Belt]

This race lacked getting facts out to non-involved voters. You have to find some way to let them know WHY the post is important and WHY the other two guys needed to be sitting in a jail somewhere instead of on a stage.