Arkansas Blog

re: Bryan responded, "I could do it with one hand behind my back."

That's the stupidest comment all campaign season, and I like Rod (but not as governor)! Go back to making sandwiches, playing guitar and selling vinyl, Rob.

Quapaw , RB is one of the perks we get for being 49th.
_

How sad that the Republicrat nominee(s) are too scared to debate the third-party candidates.

I have no reason to believe these 2 guys wouldn't be as good a Governor as we could get. They'd sure be an improvement over what we've had for the last 10 years.

I take an opposite view here. Since we are in 49th and have been for years we don't really have a right to throw rocks at Jim and Rod. Let's hear that list of Democrat and Republican successes that have catapulted us out of next to last place?

We praise Rockefeller I, Bumpers, Pryor and Clinton and yet we're still 49th. Even with Fulbright, McClelland, Bumpers and Pryor in the Senate, we have been and are number 49 on every shit list.

You'd almost think it was planned this way. Let's see......if I was Massa....would I want the slaves on the Plantation to get a fancy education? Well hell no, next thing they'd be wanting big wages. And they might get smart enough to figure out the big screwing that's been going on for decades. Keep um dumb and down on the farm. Keep the women folk barefoot and pregnant.

Hmmm..short hours, low wages, little education.....Damn....I can work at Wal-Mart!!!!!

If only Lendell would lose the hair. He is a very old hippie, and scares a lot of people away.

Well those comments by Rod cement my vote for Lendall.

I didn't realize he was so clueless and naive. How would he be able to grapple with the legistlature with his simplistic mindset...

I'm predicting the governor's race:

Beebe: 51
Hutchinson: 45
Bryan: 1
Lendall: 3

If we had a non-partisan governor's race --- I bet the outcome wouldn't be substantially different. Despite what some candidates believe, there is no moral or intellectual superiority that is magically conferred by running as a 3rd party or independent.
Did you know that Nebraska has a unicameral, non partisan general assembly? I'm not knocking Nebraska, but the lack of political parties ( at least in terms of legislative elections) has not creates some type of utopia. So in Nebraska they can't make the tired allegation "there's no difference in Democrats and Republicans" Its a moot point, as far as the legislature goes. From what I've read - in reality politics in Nebraska resemble politics in Arkansas - Anyone who spends much time at the Ark. Capitol will agree than on 99% of issues - party affiliation isn't important. Unlike in the US Congress - here in Arkansas you can be a Republican, obviously in the minority, and still be a committee head.
If Arkansas turned nonpartisan overnight - we would still want leaders with experience, who receive a broad base of support, whose appeal is close to the median of the electorate's beliefs. I think Beebe has all those qualities and would win even in the absence of party labels.

oh please, JD. seth blomely has it in for Rod, always has. blomely wrote only Rod's weakest moments - which weren't many. The so-called journalist wrote a candidate's off-hand remarks, his one-liners. It's a shame blomely didn't write anything informative, say, what Rod's position is on the issues. blomely might as well be writing for Star magazine or National Enquirer. What a load of crap his journalism is... Rod is the only candidate (in a debate) to speak about the Animal ID program that worries so many small farmers. Rod articulated how a closed-loop system works and detailed how Arkansas could benefit from it. Impressive information coming from a guy who isn't even a politician. Rod has an amazing ability to speak honestly and succinctly - sometimes over a person's head, most times in layman terms. Rod has been in a rock band the last 16 years, not in the government. I find the lack of experience refreshing and Rod's insights solution oriented. Rod's few moments in the debate when he slipped into a bit of rock band interview commentary was worth a wince, but come on, was it really worse than a candidate saying intelligent design should be part of the curricula or that gays shouldn't be allowed the same civil union rights that straights have -- or any candidate who's endorsed by George W?

The last thing you should do is take at face value a pitiful article by a pathetic writer like seth blomely. Go to the source, go to AETN's website and watch the debate. If you only believe spin, then all you'll ever be is dizzy - not informed.

Good points, R4G, but hasn't Rod noticed that off-hand remarks have been getting candidates--not to mention safe incumbents, diplomats et al--in trouble? A political public forum is no place for off-hand remarks. I like Rod for many reasons, but he didn't win my vote (I voted today).

I like Jim too, for many reasons, but I didn't vote for him either, and it wasn't because of his hirsute presentation. Hell, hasn't anybody ever seen pictures or portraits of Albert Pike?

I think it will be a good thing when there are more viable parties and candidates than two, but the truth is, only one of two candidates could possibly win this election, and I cast my vote for the one I hope will hurt our state and my family and friends less.

There I stood; I could do no other.

Mouse.

I was at the debate, trying to decide between the two "small party, big picture candidates" and can certainly agree that the better part of what Rod said was ignored by the writer. I totally expected Rod to get on one of his "duopoly" speech modes and rail against corporate corruption etc. He dissappointed. He talked about real issues in a level-headed way that makes me feel good to have cast a ballot for him yesterday. It's a shame the democrats and republicans are so blindly loyal to their parties they forget about what's best for their state. Vote for who you always have, get what you always have. Nothing.

DBI,

What makes you think Arkansas is still ranked 49th? We've actually moved up in most rankings during Governor Huckabee's reign - not that the governor is personally responbilble for everything in the state. While the Governor or someone on his staff would be much better able to enumerate the improvements, I'll name a few.

According to the following:
http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm
Arkansas is number 32 in the 2006-2007 Smartest State Award based on 21 factors (http://www.morganquitno.com/edfact06.htm#FACTORS).

Arkansas has made great strides in highway quality. The state has made great progress in many areas related to smoking, obesity, and health care.

Partly thinks to the Clinton Library and Massage Parlor and the other downtown development, I believe we've improved our rankings as a tourist destination as well.

I sure don't know who deserves credit for the improvements, but Arkansas has been moving up in many state rankings.

Jim Lendall needs a haircut and beard trim if he wants to be taken seriously. I don't think we want to be ridiculed on the late night television shows for having a governor who doesn't seem to care about personal hygiene. (There's still time before the election Jim.)

Severus, How many more times daily do I have to bathe to meet your personal hygiene requirements? You must live in a very sterile environment.

Over the years, I've found that those who object to my personal appearance most likely would never have voted for my platform anyways. In my last election, I got over 70% of the vote. Apparently there are voters who care more about the message, not a beauty contest.

Jim,

I'd actually like to see you get enough votes so that your party doesn't have to go through the petition drives the next time around.

Have you been a guest on KARN yet? I'd suggest that you ask for ZZ-top bumper music when you do so.

I was multi-tasking Sunday evening and caught about 70% of this forum on the radio. It was vastly more interesting than the Smothers Brothers infomercial "debate" series.

I like Jim Lendall and I like Rod Bryan. It really wasn't a debate. It couldn't be a debate because all candidates were not present. It was more of a showcase of the guys who are not out front.

I think they both had good things to say. Their issues , unfortunately, are not ones that win elections but would make the world a better place.

I've always pulled for underdogs. I don't feel sorry for them, I admire them. Look at the obscene sums of money the D and R candidates (and support structure) spend on a campaign. Neighborhoods and rights-of-way are smothered with signs. I don't watch much TV, but I understand the D and R commercials are pretty thick.

The folks at Ad Craft seem very nice and it's a family run business, so I don't blame them for doing their jobs and making hay while the sun shines, but they must be making a killing off of signs and stickers.

Then some assmuch takes what he thinks is a pot-shot at Rod for recycling cereal boxes into campaign signs. To me, that's the right thing to do. Rod may be ahead of his time, which possibly speaks of a dubious future.

Then some other assmunch takes what he thinks is a stab at Jim for being principled enough to be himself rather than try to please everyone else on a matter that doesn't even matter. (Makes me wonder what the critic looks like. And I wonder if he'she thinks Asa Hutchinson has better hair than Jim Lendall?)

It doesn't take much to look cooler than I do, but Jim certainly pulls it off.

We want our public servants to be honest, have integrity, have good ideas, and have problem-solving skills.

But yet we keep running experts in the business of getting bought and paid for. Before long it's time for them to run for re-election, and the cycle continues.

I'd like to find a way off this hamster wheel.