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Report Card

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Jim Nowlan completed his “mid-term report card” for Governor Rod Blagojevich this week. He sends along his many thanks to this blog’s readers for their input. He also included this in his email:

Below is a Report Card which all 120 guests at Wed. luncheon panel (on G-Rod at mid-term) at Sangamo Club were asked to complete. The audience was filled with lobbyists, agency people, Frank Watson and other knowledgeable people; I got a big laugh when I declared the group a perfect random sample of the Illinois electorate.

Here are the average grades given by luncheon participants:

Mid-term Report Card for Gov. Rod Blagojevich

A-Excellent (5 pts.)
B-Good 4
C-Acceptable 3
D-Poor 2
F-Failing 1

1.92 Management of state government

1.96 Budget management

2.58 Social Services

2.00 Political leadership

3.34 Public relations; re-electability

Thanks for your help with this.

So, on the important stuff, like running the government and providing leadership, the governor tanks. But on the REALLY imprtant stuff, getting re-elected, he does much better.

Of course, the participants were mostly insiders, but you can’t help but wonder whether the public will ever get clued into how this governor really operates.

And, by the way, I want to thank everyone who participated in the report card project, including those who sent emails and didn’t post here.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 9:09 am

Comments

Since this “poll” isn’t paid for, I suspect Rausch and/or Ottendorf would, if asked, deny it has any validity whatsoever.

After all, the only polls that matter are the ones you pay consultants for.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 9:28 am
One of the things that counfounds me is how cavalierly the Blagojevich administration dismisses the opinion of people who work daily in state government. Yes, the “insiders” constitute a tiny fraction of the electorate, and a statewide elected official should always keep the desires of the general public paramount. Nevertheless, it is a mistake to think that the insiders do not reflect public opinion; they may even lead public opinion.

The problem for Blagojevich is that the insiders will not go away. Eventually, all these “insiders” become players in delivering votes on Election Day.

The Blagojevich Administration seems to think that because they have received generally good approval numbers in their polls, that it’s safe to ignore interest groups and insiders. The administration seems to forget that right now, they own the megaphone. There is no opposing candidate who is running television ads pointing out the Blagojevich administration’s missteps. There’s no one holding daily press briefings attacking the Governor. There are only whispers that the Governor has no clothes.

A year from now, the situation will be radically different. Whether it’s a GOP contender or a primary opponent, someone will get a rock concert-like stage with speakers to point out the flaws of this administration. If last summer is any indication, Blagojevich’s approval numbers tend to wilt under public scrutiny.

Every politician needs a base that will stand behind him no matter what. Blagojevich has traded his base for some quick publicity and soft approval numbers. When he’s in trouble in the middle of the election, who will stick his neck out for this Administration?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 10:08 am
Maybe this is a naive question — I’m no political expert — but given all the conflict lately between Blago and Mell, who, exactly, is the governor’s “base”?

Perhaps the notion that “Mell got Blago elected” is overstated — but, I suspect, there’s a little truth there. Mell must have helped with at least *some* support.

Is Mell gonna change his tune in a year and go back to being Blago’s quiet supporter?

The insiders around Blago all seem to be from out of state — and even a little surprised at discovering Illinois when they go downstate and travel. So, who, exactly, is Blago relying on? I’ve heard he occasionally talks with Carville when he goes out east. And he has some support out West. So maybe this is the “base”. I don’t know. But within Illinois?

(Most downstaters I’ve talked to seem to be of two minds. A) He’s doing a fine job because he’s not George Ryan or B) What’s his deal with not living in Springfield?)

Confused.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 10:28 am
Confused: you’re really not confused. You’re actually astute to point out that Blagojevich really has no base anymore.

I think there was an identifiable base when he ran in the primary in 2002. It consisted of: NW side political bosses aligned with Mell; about half the lakefront liberals — although that base was split with Vallas; a slew of progressive issue groups and labor unions that he courted; and downstate Dem chairs. The ones that really came through for him were the downstate Dem chairs, and it’s fair to say that they won the primary for Blagojevich.

Downstate and labor unions have long ago soured on Blagojevich. Mell might not fan the flames of the family feud (alliteration is cool!), but he won’t crank out his machine like he did in 2002. That leaves the progressives and lakefront voters, who split their votes in 2002, and have no real reason to go all out for Blagojevich this time. (The gay rights bill is about the only big progressive issue that made progress, and even there most of the credit goes to Emil Jones rather than to Blagojevich.)

What’s confusing is why Blagojevich let his base go.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 11:31 am
Blago’s base is the 25 or so million dollars he’s going to spend on re-election

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 3:55 pm