A Perfect Storm Abrewing?
May 14th, 2008 by ACTivist
I have been following all that is said and questions raised about this election and the candidates involved. Politics is a dirty, messy business and I often wonder why anyone would subject themselve to the abuse and mud slinging that goes hand in hand with campaigning. We have 3 liberals vying for a single position when along comes a spoiler that says he is a true conservative and an alternate choice. This brought back elections with Ralph Nadar, Ross Perot and Lyndon LaRouche as well as some others. It got me to thinking and I would like to present this for all to contemplate.
Competition is what makes business and the world go round. We get a better product and a better price when companies and people compete. If nothing else, we get choice in what we would like to have. This election will be a stinker of great proportions. Apathy abounds. There is no one great candidate now or on the horizon. So that everyone has a chance to feel good about pulling a lever (or whatever means to make vote) I propose that all parties start their signature campaigns to get on ballot for all 50 states. Let’s have the Independents, Constitutionalists, Nazi, Communist, Queer, Blue Hair, Julio, Bikers-R-Us, Green, Veagan, Whig, Tory and any other party that wants to get involved. I am dead serious here, folks. There is absolutely no reason that this counrty needs to be a 2 or 3 party system. Most other countries aren’t. And being that the Republican Party is no longer my party of choice since they ate and vomited their values and mission statement, I would like to have other choices. Why eat chicken every day when you can have beef, pork or fish. We need the competition and it will help to remove the eletists from the ranks of the “2″ parties. The main concern is that there are steadfast differences between parties and I mean more than just one issue or belief.
I want my friends to vote. I want voting to be fun and soothing. I want people involved in the political process and understanding their country. I want us to be “We, the people..” again. Most of all, I want to be heard. Give me some choices!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 5:43 pm and is filed under Campaign 2008, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
ACTor,
While I agree with you on many points I would argue that it’s all from the perspective where you sit. I don’t mean to get relativistic about it but statements like, “This election will be a stinker of great proportions. Apathy abounds. There is no one great candidate now or on the horizon,” sound pretty politico-centric given that, at least within the Dem race, people are energized and turning out in record numbers. I don’t think apathy and “stinker[ism]” abound throughout.
This is a pretty passionately felt election on the other end, methinks.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Kevin,
“While I agree with you on many points I would argue that it’s all from the perspective where you sit.”
That’s the point, isn’t it? As a good little liberal, you would see it exactly as YOU are seeing it. And it would be reality-your reality. If illegal aliens see that by being here they may get an amnesty, wouldn’t they be “energized” to remain and get more of their countrymen to come over? Does that mean it is a good thing or a right thing? That would be your perspective. I’m on the otherside of the fence from you. This is MY perspective.
Hey, I was nice about it. These Valium work!
May 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
The trouble is that the difference between the two parties is not worth a tinkers damn. Look at them. If you reduce the size of domestic spending by 16% you would still not erase the increase in government domestic spending since GW took office. The war spending is another matter yet. What we have is a congress without ANY integrity on either side of the aisle. We have presidential candidates who talk about change but do not tell you much of substance from the stump.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
ACTor,
“If illegal aliens see that by being here they may get an amnesty, wouldn’t they be “energized” to remain and get more of their countrymen to come over? Does that mean it is a good thing or a right thing?”
This little bit is neither here nor there. I wish I had some valium. When did I ever say I was a liberal? That’s just it with your type. If I disagree with you I must be a liberal, it’s either black or it’s white with this crowd. Goodness! All I was saying was that you are looking at things in black and white (check) and that to say this year’s pres race was a boozer may be true for you (check) but it seems like a more accurate thing to say would be something along the lines of:
While the repubs can’t seem to find a voice and have nominated some dopes who don’t seem to represent anybody except politics itself, the independents continue with their game of muddying waters, and the dems have really latched on to some people who have taken like wildfire for the people they at least PURPORT to represent.
That seems like a fairer statement. Tinker around with it a little because I know it’s not as clear as it should be and may not be fully representative. It’s at least a closer approximation of this year’s race.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
The reason we have a two-party system is that we have winner-take-all elections. If we had proportional representation in Congress, we would have more than two viable political parties. The only reason Lincoln was elected was that the Democrat Party ran two candidates.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
This is going to be a transformational election that will result in a political reallignment that happens every 30 years or so. Note the recent house elections. The neo-cons, soon to be excons, had their chance and have come close to destroying the fabric of the country. Now the pendulum is swinging back. My only hope is to see members of the current administration frog marched up Pennsylvania Avenue and be held accountable for their crimes.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
There is a fundamental flaw with the way a non-mainstream party tries to enter the political fray. These folks hide under a rock for four years, and then crawl out, pound their chest, “I am the XXXX Party Candidate for President.”
Mistake number one, the party must establish a brand name at the local level, and then move up the totem pole. I would be much less apprehensive about electing a member of the The People of the Ozone Layer Party for BOS or County Attorney than I would a national office. Once the party has established name recognition in the short grass, move on to do the same at the state, then national level politics.
Mistake number two, hiding under a rock between elections. A viable political party remains engaged 365 days a year. This time must be spent building a grass roots level of party loyalists, building a consensus on their issues, and most importantly, remaining on the radar of the voters, and building a party infrastructure.
Mistake number three, where in the heck do they get their candidates ? Do they have a convention, or do they draw straws ? Build an infrastructure, build a base, and develop some big guns of your own, rather than just shrink wrapping cast offs from another party.
I agree with you ACT, it’s slim pickens for POTUS.. But, if 2008 is anything like 2006, any Republican seats lost in Congress, will hopefully be lost to less liberal Democrats.
Thirty years ago we did have a transformation beginning. What was building was a strong dissatisfaction for the Carter Presidency that led to his getting bounced out on his ear. We also had a transformation of record level interest rates interest rates, an oil crisis, hostages in Iran..
May 14th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Boy, Bob Barr just had a pretty impressive interview on Glenn Beck. He is against a border fence, but this seems to be for the same reason TJ Bonner of the Border Patrol Agents’ Association: Start prosecuting employers who hire illegals, and you won’t need a fence.
I disagree because of the national security part of the equation and because it will make it harder to get in, but overall Barr has a pretty good message.
But I’m not going to help Obama get elected, so that’s my only observation.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Every election is important to me, I’ve picked a candidate, and I’m frankly tired of all the whining from people who think they are conservatives, but who are really just malcontents and grumblers. You’ll have your choices in November; you’ll need to pick one. The Virginia primary is past and Obama or Hillary will have been sorted out by their convention. At least you have fewer names to pick from than in some other years.
I don’t want voting to be “fun and soothing.” Fun and soothing is for hacky sack tossing hippies. I’m a Republican, so I don’t own a hacky sack. “Stuff” that makes you think hard and pick a choice rarely is fun and soothing. That’s not the real world. With all its strugging and strife and choices to make, I like the real world.
My grandmother emigrated from Russia where she never got to vote in a real election and I take it as my sacred duty to be there to vote - even if it is for dogcatcher, I will get up an hour early to go to the polling place and pick one of the candidates. Do you know that she actually broke down in tears after voting because she was so overwhelmingly happy? I’ve never missed voting since I turned 18 and I’ve never expected fun or soothing. Going out and pulling a level is a pretty easy price to pay for representative government. I think we can all handle it, no matter who gets our vote for President.
Embrace your freedom, make your choice, and quit yer whinin’!
May 15th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Chick, I agree on embracing freedom and exercising your right as a citizen to vote. I think if more people took advantage of our freedoms and rights we would not have the poor choices we do today.
BTW: I had a grandmother that was born to an immigrant Ukranian family in the early 1900’s. She worked at the polls till she was in her late 80’s and voted in every local, state and federal election since the late 1930’s. She didn’t care if they were electing a librarian or voting on a new park in her tiny PA town, she cast her ballot. I wish more people cared and considered it their civic duty to vote. God Bless the Eastern European Grandmas!
May 15th, 2008 at 9:24 am
This talk about getting people to vote just for the sake of voting is BS. The truth is that you only want people to vote if they vote your way.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:46 am
The aptly named Common Idiot: Just for the sake of voting? Men have fought and died for this right, if you take this lightly I am sorry for you.
If you don’t like the current crop of candidates (at any level of gov’t) write in “Ham Sandwich” like I did for one of the Loudoun County offices. Apprently Mr. Sandwich got a number of votes.
And it would not a complete rebuttal if I didn’t add - if you don’t vote your complaints fall on deaf ears.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
No, I actually don’t want people to vote my way, Common Idiot. I want them to vote. That’s really not asking much of citizens. Of course, Common Idiot, I’m one of those flag waving, ex-military types who actually loves America and what its supposed to stand for. People who complain and moan when their candidate doesn’t make it to nominee and who pick up their little toys and go home and stay home in the general election are the ones who are totally full of BS in my book. All you have to do is go to the polls and vote. Boo hoo. Such a burden.
In local elections, I have written in citizens not on the ballot if I don’t like an incumbent running unopposed. Anything to make their vote less unanimous. I wouldn’t do “Ham Sandwich” if I could come up with someone who could do the job and I generally can. When I was 18, we had a citizen who won a local election by a grass roots write-in against a “party machine” incumbent who was running unopposed. Low turnout by the incumbent’s friends and high turnout by the disgruntled wiped him off the map. His head was spinning. It’s rare, it was stunning, but anything can happen in politics. A vote is still a vote.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Chick, I considered it my “protest” vote of the decade (Ham Sandwich), but I got a good laugh out of it. I also thought it proper that the winner see that a there were a handful of people in LoCo that thought so little of him that they chose Mr. Sandwich.
I do agree that anything can happen, politics is weird and wacky. When people make predictions for the general election and future administrations based on today’s headlines I roll my eyes. Do they know how many candidates and campaigns have been ruined/stopped/lampooned by a single event or comment?
May 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
When I voted in 2004 and 2006, there were many other boxes on the ballot other than the presidential race. There will be local issues and those that choose to stay home in “protest” will be the first ones whining if something they don’t like passes.
I fail to see how staying home in “protest” differs from writing in your preference for the office. Can a write in vote not also be a “protest” ?
Chick nailed it, staying home is not a protest, but a cop out, and a disservice to the memory of those that sacrificed to provide you with these civil liberties.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Dan, If more people voted their preferences (OK, not ham sandwich) even in the “write in” box there would be differences in elections. Not a lot mind you, but the larger point is that people are not voting at all, for whatever reason. Me checking “write-in” on one office in a local election does not discount 20 plus years of voting.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Chick,
I would prefer to see people vote once they have teken the time to educate themselves on the issues beyond the jingoistic ‘time for change’ or ‘compassionate conservative’. Knowing why you voted for someone is far more important than voting red or blue. I see a lot of that and that is why we have politicians who can spend a half an hour not answering a question and not getting called on it.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Cathmac,
I don’t know what you think you read, but you certainly didn’t read my post (or you read too much into it). I very much believe in MY vote. If you vote for Ham Sandwich, that’s great — my vote just counts that much more.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Cathymac, I was not writing as a response to your post, just a general statement to those advocating sitting on the sidelines. Yes, I did get your drift..
Me, I would prefer egg salad.. I be be ok with ham sandwich as long as the VP is swiss cheese
May 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Bill and Opus!!
Jacob, before they are allowed to vote, everyone should have to take the same test the immigrants have to take before they can vote.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Kevin,
I will give you your due. Your second statement will hold water. No, I don’t want to play around with it (it’s called manipulation-a liberal trick
) and, yes, I have been accused all my life of only seeing things in black or white. It’s what I believe in.
“Just a yes or no will do Mr. Erlichman!”
May 15th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Idiot,
“This talk about getting people to vote just for the sake of voting is BS. The truth is that you only want people to vote if they vote your way.”
That is the liberal/Democrat way. I want people to exercise their right to vote and the cards fall the way they fall. As Jack states, the immigrants’ test quizzes you on the workings of the U.S. government. Something you don’t get in public school! Just remember, YOU picked your commentor name.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Dan,
I will have to disagree with you on the establishment of a party and total year recognition. If Barr steps in now then this would be a spoiler for the RINO party, yes? And there are already enough blindfolded idiots in the Democrat camp. If we put out enough spoilers to match every idoits need, what is left over (hypothetically) would be those informed and/or serious voters. People need a party to call home. I think I would pick the naked party; wherever they have it!
May 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
ACT, what ??? YOU disagree with me ?
Never pictured you as a nudist.. don’t want to either.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Chick,
“Every election is important to me, I’ve picked a candidate, and I’m frankly tired of all the whining from people who think they are conservatives, but who are really just malcontents and grumblers”
And you fit where in all of this? Oh, I see. We pick the lesser of 2 evils and pray (quietly) we get a better crop of candidates to choose from. Do you see “conservative” lurking anywhere in this scenerio? Is it different from years gone by?
“I don’t want voting to be “fun and soothing.” Fun and soothing is for hacky sack tossing hippies. I’m a Republican, so I don’t own a hacky sack. “Stuff” that makes you think hard and pick a choice rarely is fun and soothing. That’s not the real world. With all its strugging and strife and choices to make, I like the real world.”
“Going out and pulling a level is a pretty easy price to pay for representative government.”
You sound like an illegal alen bricklayer! Just having fun with ya. Your statement is flawed in that we don’t always GET the representative government that we paid for.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Ham sandwich in a primary election is one thing but a Ham sandwich in a general election, no way. In a general election you have to upgrade to lets say a French dip ( which would be the same as John Kerry )or a Reuben.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Idiot, Didn’t you write people who advocate voting only want them to vote the way they do? Your vote is your vote, I am not trying to convince you one way or the other.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
The real question is: If Ham Sandwich is running against Egg Salad, which one is the Republican and which one is the Democrat? A French Dip is obviously a Socialist.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
This is getting tooooo deep for me.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Not sure, but I do know with absolute certainty, A Spam sandwich is the Democrat.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Lovisa,
Ah, you want to vote for the Chicago Pizza, I knew you where a communist.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Jack,
I love that idea. You cannot vote unless you take a test showing you know the difference between the constitution and menu at the macaroni grill.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I don’t like Spam!
May 15th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Deeper and deeper //// I’m in an abyss!
May 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
NoVisa,
The pool may be deep but the reflection is shallow. Don’t read too much into it. It’s just food.
BTW you can take “abyss” and rearrange the letters to change the statement like “I’m in an ass by” or “I’m in by an ass”. See? A liberal just recently showed me how to manipulate things to make them work for you.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I think Egg Salad would be the Democrat — a cracked egg-head with God-alone-knows-what mixed in.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:06 am
ACT - It figures you’d be in the nether regions with your ideas.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:16 am
NoVisa,
Just trying to be helpful. You gotta think OUTSIDE the box, not the univerise.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
ACTivist, thanks for making me smile, but actually I’m happy as can be. I don’t angst over politics like some people I’ve met. You’d think it was all there is! Have you ever been to a County Committee meeting for either party? Lotsa people who need to lighten up in those ranks in both camps. But I really do believe if you stay home on election day, that you have little standing to complain. Also, even if you aren’t that invested in the whole thing, it is sort of like the office Final Four pool. You’ve gotta have some interest when you crack a beer and settle in front of a bunch of talking heads with too much hairspray going on tweaking their various result maps.
I agree that God wants us to be happy. He also wants us to be responsible. That’s why he saddled us with free will and constantly being faced with choices. (Like whether to write in Ham Sandwich or Egg Salad Sandwich.) I don’t have to be happy with my choices, but I’m happier to have choices than not to have them. Aren’t you?
As to lunch foods as write-in: Ham Sandwich probably would be a Republican, I agree, but in the sandwich match up, I’d probably have to go for Egg Salad, even if it were “suspect” Egg Salad. I never really liked Ham very much. South Park had their equivalent in one of their many fine parody epoisodes, but to keep the blog G rated I’ll refer to them as “Turd Sandwich” (I can say “turd,” right?) and “Giant D–che.” Did anyone see that one? Funny!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Chick,
The embryo developes, the egg hatches and a Chick comes into the world. I knew that there had to be another side of you that I would like. Welcome aboard!