>Because It’s Super Tuesday
>”I have something I need to tell you,” I told my husband on the phone the other day.
“What’s that?” he asked.
I hesitated. “I don’t know how to say this…”
“Just say it,” he said, sounding a little bit nervous.
“I’m…. I’m….” I couldn’t get the words out.
“You’re what? Tell me!”
“IthinkI’maDemocrat!” I said in a rush. There. I’d done it.
Hubs paused. “What makes you think that?” he wanted to know.
“I took the presidential candidates quiz online and I was matched up with Barack Obama on 85% of my answers.”
“And who was next?”
“Um. Hillary Clinton.”
“Where was John McCain?” Hubs knew I liked John McCain.
“He was down at the bottom somewhere,” I said in a tiny voice. “Dennis, what is my dad going to say?”
“Well, he’s not going to like it,” he sighed. No kidding. Look up Conservative in the dictionary and you’ll find my dad’s picture.
When Hubs got home, he insisted that I take another candidates quiz. “It’s just too weird,” he said. “I think the quiz may have been biased.”
“I don’t think so,” I said, but I was curious. This time, I took the USA Today candidates quiz.
“Oh Lord,” I said when I’d finished.
“”Who’d you get?”
“Rudy Giuliani!” That was totally insane. I wouldn’t have voted for Rudy Giuliani in a million years.
This is further proof to me that I’m neither Democrat nor Republican. I’m nothing. Never have been, really. I was raised to believe that Democrats were the scourge of the earth, but I loathe the Republican party, too. I vote because I feel it’s my duty as a citizen, but I hate the political machine and the elaborate game that goes with it (three months in CNN’s Washington bureau will do that to you). And when I do vote, I usually end up opting for the candidate who’s the least offensive, although I can’t remember a time when I was entirely happy about whom I had chosen.
Surely I’m not alone. Isn’t anyone else disappointed and disillusioned by our political system? Do you, like me, get the impression that what comes out of presidential hopefuls’ mouths on the campaign trail has too much to do with what focus groups, phone polls and political advisors have told them will get them elected, and not enough to do with what’s really on their minds and in their hearts?
>So true, so true.Every year, I feel like I’m picking the least offensive person out there, and it disgusts me. I’ll still vote today, but, gah.The problem is our two-party system. Many other countries have many more parties than we do…it’s just not working. And all the pandering for votes…uggh. McCain has always been more moderate, why is he hiding it now? Half the good presidents we had in the past wouldn’t have a shot of being elected now…they didn’t look right or had enough money…think Lincoln or FDR (okay, I don’t agree with everything he did, but for the sake of argument).I think there’s a lot of people like me who tend to be fiscally conservative but socially liberal. Honestly, I care about the economy, education, health care, international relations. I don’t care about gay marriage. I said it. DON’T CARE. And it frustrates me when a lot of focus is given to things that really don’t affect me. Okay, I’ll get off my high horse now. Thanks for posting this today. I needed it!!!!!
>Disappointed and disillusioned by our political system… false promises, polls and focus groups… nah, really? Uh, YEAH. Smiles! I’m so not politically savvy, but like you, I too vote for the least offensive and best possible candidate I can find hoping for positive change…
>yes! it drives me batty. how are we supposed to choose a canidate when there is SO much garbage to filter through? they are making it way too difficult. i can’t stand all the bashing, either. politicians are just slimy no matter left or right. i voted, like you said it’s a duty, but i don’t like being left with the feeling that i’m voting for who i dislike the least, rather than someone i actually support.
>Agreed. But I must say that this election has me the most hopeful out of all those I’ve been able to vote in (I’m 35) with a woman and a black male being front runners for the democratic presidential nomination. It gives me hope that times are indeed changing.
>So true! I’m a republican, so I pick one of those suckers, but it’s hard to be happy.
>Voting for a candidate? What a unique concept. I always vote, but I have not voted “for” anyone in so long I can’t even remember. I just go to vote against those I perceive to be the worst of the awful “choices”.
>I don’t expect politicians to be genuine, so I don’t get disappointed much. I vote for policies, nto people. That being said, I am certainly disgusted that this year I’ve actually had to investigate which candidates are AGAINST TORTURE. What a sad, sad standard for my vote.
>oh, don’t get me started. i haven’t found a single candidate i’m eager to vote for, though there are several i’d vote AGAINST.
>I am embarassed to say that I wasn’t totally sure who I was going to vote for until I got there! Even then, I don’t feel good about my choice. However, I doubt I would have felt good about any choice!!
>I vote the way my concscience tells me to vote. I have also crossed party lines in the past. Even when it looks like I’m voting for the “least worst” candidate, I feel that it’s just plain my DUTY to vote. Voting for that “least worst” candidate is often simply a vote against their competition, whether individual candidate or the party in general. Meanwhile, I’m waiting patiently for George Clooney to run for Prez and I can only hope it’s during my lifetime. 😉
>Now if you were a democrat you might have received a phone call from Jack Nicholson this morning as I did, telling me he supports Hillary Clinton. I must admit it stopped me dead in my tracks from hanging up the phone. It did make me laugh but was also a little creepy, kind of a” Shinning “ moment, to bad I had already cast my ballet. I guess this was Hillary”s answer to Obama”s Robert DeNiro endorsement.
>those online quizzes confuse the crap out of me. i always end up with a different answer. 🙂
>Absolutely. I also feel that no matter how hard I try to really get to know a candidate….I end up knowing nothing more about them than I did when I began. Having grown up a Democratic politician’s daughter in a pretty corrupt culture, I have a bird’s eye view of how quickly people swing when something that profits them is on the line. I hate politics *argh*
>Growing up I thought I was Republican, until I hit about 18 & realized that republicans are constantly trying to take my rights & all women’s right to choose. Since then, I have been Democrat. I can’t stand the political system. I wish it wasn’t all about how much money that person can raise, etc, etc. It is very frustrating.
>Yep, voting is usually a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. Sad, really.And it doesn’t just stop with the election. Our presidents today have to be president ON TELEVISION, which adds a whole new dimension to leadership that yesterday’s leaders didn’t have to contend with. The political process is a circus.
>I guess I am the loner here – I love the political process and I love voting. I am usually enthralled with my choice, although I can’t remember the last time my (national) candidate won! Seriously. I am so excited to vote this year especially since we have a woman and a black person running – what a monumental event. The amount of money needed to run for president these days though I find discouraging. I am eager for this administration to end this has been a long 7 years and that is not because I have never voted Republican it’s just this particular Republican is not my cup of tea…
>Very true.I lean more towards the left on issues. But that doesn’t make me ecstatic about any of the candidates on either side.But I’m hoping that this year is different. And something can finally change in this country. And at least Bush will be out of the office.
>Even feeling the way you do about the craziness of politics, I sure hope you participated in Super Tuesday. I agree that politics in our country is insane, but I do enjoy participating in the process – especially going to caucus.
>vote independant
>As a Canadian living in the US can I just say that I’m often terrified by the machinery of American politics?It really scares the heck out of me. And I start bugging my husband about moving back to Canada where the mi lk is RBST free, the healthcare is free and the politicians, well…, more like real people. I know no American president ever said “We were regular middle class people before I came into office and that’s what we’ll go back to after we’re done.” like Canada’s PM did a year or two back.In Canada voting is usually a much simpler dilemma. DO I choose the candidate I like, or the party I like? Rarely do the two agree.
>Try living in Italy and following politics here. American politicians look like angels to me now, and the American system rife with … efficiency and integrity!
>I’m sorry but I guess as someone involved in politics and who is concerned about issues, I don’t get either the apathy or the disgust. I’ve worked for extremely honorable people who got into politics because they cared. I know their families and I know the sacrifices they make. When you are supporting two households (one in the district and one in DC), a low six figure income doesn’t go very far. Sure, there are the arrogant rich guys (snakeoil salesman Romney for one) but many legislators aren’t exactly rich. I’m also not sure how to fix what’s going on in Washington. People say they want “change” and someone who’s not an “insider.” But would you say the same thing of a brain surgeon, a pilot? “I want change, not some guy who’s experienced and knows what he’s doing!?” I’m a die-hard democrat who’d love to see the optimism and good-will we enjoyed around the world under Clinton in the 90s, restore our reputation, start regulating again and stop allowing the fat cats to have free reign over everything and messing it up (see mortgage industry). I’m for Hillary all the way!!
>I wouldn’t feel bad. The Republican party of your Dad’s generation is not the current Republican party. And the same can be said for the Democrats. Be happy that now you can call yourself a great big independent. At least that makes you a thinking voter. Which I think is a good thing.
>I think there are a lot of changes to be made that would improve the process. But I agree with Char a little bit. I think a lot of the problem is that WE don’t want to take the time to truly learn/read/study about the issues and candidates, so they have no choice but to go for the soundbite.I also think our media’s role is definitely not what it used to be.
>The silver lining about living in Tennessee, or at least in Nashville is that LOCAL races (Mayor, school board, metro council, county freeloaders, etc…) are party free. Sure folks are republican or democrat historically (a former congressman (D) ran for mayor last year). But the parties are not an issue in the local races as they are for state legislature and national races. Also, you can pick a party on the spot to vote in a primary. In NJ where I grew up, if you want to vote in a primary, and truth be told the County and Local races were truly decided at the primary level (Burlington County republican, Camden County, democrat), you have to give the election board 50 days to change your party affilation. You had to be a Republican or Democrat based on what county you lived in, if you truly wanted to be enfranchised.While I found Super Tuesday more exciting than Superbowl Sunday, I am less than thrilled about any of the candidates who were still in the running. (I am rather conservative). I do get excited about the process, how each state adds its own wrinkles, and strategery (Huckabee winning WV with help from McCain’s delegates). I wish more people understood the process, and more non-career politicians (like our national level politicians from Tennessee) ran for office nation wide, I think we would have better choices.
>You’re not alone. Out of all the candidates running (both parties) I have strong views against a few of them. But there is no one I can really identify with and feel strongly about supporting.I don’t feel like my views align with either party. With a two-party system there is not enough middle ground. You have to try to figure out with party has more of the same views as you, but then you also have to support those views all the way to one side.One quick example is illegal aliens. Republicans are for stopping illegal immigration. Period. No exceptions. Democrats are for allowing all the illegal aliens that are in our country to stay here. Period. No exceptions.I can’t relate with either of those positions. Why can’t we give those that want to become citizens a chance to live the American dream and contribute to our country legally while at the same time throwing out all the trash, as in murderers and drug dealers back to where they came from?So I’m not red. I’m not blue. I like to consider myself one of the purple people. Do you think it is possible? Is it time for the Purple Party?
>After reading the other posts…I have one additional thought. Due to gerrymandering of the congressional districts and the redistribution of wealth (pork, entitlements and other forms of government largesse) votes are essentially bought with our taxdollars by a political class who thinks about staying in power more than running the country according to the rules of the constitution and wishes of our founders. Most people won’t vote “their” bum out, even if there are many bums in other districts or states that they don’t like and can’t. I am not advocating term limits, but a healthy amount of turnover is good for the country. We shouldn’t have congressmen and senators who have been in office for over a quarter century, but we allow it to happen. In light of the many sources of news and the internet, we all can informed to implement change at the local level (congress, even senate) but as a district and as a state, we tend not to want it enough, because we like “our” scoundrel.
>LOL (though it pains me in ’08 to find anything to laugh about, politics-wise). I heard something that would make your conservative dad totally lose it: Ann Coulter — you know HER — said the other day that if John McCain gets the Republican nod, she’ll campaign for Billary.Hearing that, I was convinced I’d seen the shadow of the Apocalypse, rearing its ugly haid above the horizon…
>I like that… a purple party. I was raised, and am registered, Republican. But in recent years a very close friend of mine has become a vocal democrat and has changed how I thought about several issues. That, and listening to countless hours of This American Life.I will still vote Republican, and I like John McCain, but I consider myself moderate (which may be surprising when you consider I am an evangelical Christian- the backbone of the Religious Right). I just wish my vote had a say– our primaries are so late (PA) that it doesn’t matter who I vote for. Why can’t they all be on the same day? I am so annoyed by this. PS. How did you weather the tornadoes that whipped through last night? Hopefully you are all OK.
>Well, I’d say on the whole, America is a pretty nice country to be a citizen of. So far, our political system seems to have worked out for us. I mean we aren’t exactly in the crapper.
>I am a registered Democrat because the things I care most strongly about (gay marriage, choice, tolerance) are usually supported by Democrats. However, I never just vote the party line–I feel like it is my responsiblity to learn what all the candidates stand for, even the things that bore me to tears. Since Clinton, I have felt that the choices on both sides were terrible, but this year I am actually feeling hopeful. I am inspired by both leading Democrats and John McCain is not a terrible choice either. Now, if Huckabee or Romney were leading, I’d be really sad.
>Hopefully you didn’t get blown away when you went to vote…hope you’re safe.On a lighter note, I like to think of politics/voting like Preparation H–most of the time it feels good on the *whole* 🙂 then there are the other times when you just can’t make it work and sitting (or voting, if you will) become unbearable….
>The Ultimate Leader said this as His last words “Fear not for I am with you always”. Don’t expect a perfect candidate to come along at ANY time. There is no such animal. More importantly, we should do self examination to determine what we really believe. Study the issues and observe all the potential candidates way before the campaigns start. You may not like our system but it is a republic not a democracy, a country of laws not men. That is the fight – to keep it that way. If you trust the Bible and the one who came to save us, He makes it very clear that He choses our leaders, Trusting in someone who is trustworthy creats peaceful days and nights.
>So funny you blog about this. I feel like I could go either way on most days. On social issues I’m very liberal. On fiscal issues very conservative. I like Mitt Romney … I think he’s hot in old guy sort of way. I also would love to see a Hillary or Obama in the office … (I’m selfish. They both already have autism plans as part of their platforms… Not that they can do much about the plans except spout rhetoric .. but still!)Anyhow, last time I voted in a congressional election I voted against every incumbent. Made it easy. I can’t stand ANY of them!
>Skunkfeathers…I think that Ms. Coulter’s comments, in context, were both humorous and with a specific point.She went on to say that if Mrs. Clinton were in office, at least the Republicans in the congress would know to oppose her liberal policy proposals rather than accede to Mr. McCain.
>I had similiar thing happen to me when I took a few different political quizzes. I know next to nothing about politics and the candidates. My hubby tries to explain certain views to me. He is a teacher and has me feeling socially Republican and economically Democrat. It makes for a hard decision.BTW I went with McCain
>Im odd man out here. I took a bunch of quizzes, and they all gave me the same top answers.In fact, I was very excited about my top choices, but none of them will end up in the Oval Office :(I love politics, not all of it, but I like getting involved; volunteering, voting, etc.I have worked in the field of politics a bit, always with candidates that I thought were stikingly honest, ethical and committed to doing good. They may be few and far between, but they are out there.Ive never really understood the apathy, as the system is what we make it. When people dont care, it gives room for greedy, egocentric nincompoops to stay in control.Some of the most passionate voters, are those that have come from countries where freedom was only a dream, where they were controlled by dictators, where they lost their rights…..spend time with someone who escaped from Cuba or Vietnam, it may change your view on things.
>Not me, I love it. I’m a political junkie and a die-hard Democrat. I’m especially excited about the election this year. Having a woman and a black man vying for the Dem. nomination just makes me giddy! 😉
>I love politics. I love the whole process, from my own analysis of the candidates to the debates to the game of it all. Voting days are always thrilling for me, but this Super Tuesday I was more excited than ever to write my candidate’s name on the ballot. And yes, I said write. My polling place ran out of ballots 30 minutes after the polls opened and we all hand-wrote our tickets. LOVED it. I can’t wait to see what happens over the next few weeks, but for the first time in a long time (8 loooong years) I feel very hopeful. Yes We Can.
>I know exactly where you’re coming from – both then and now. Especially where it comes to what my parents think vs. what I think.
>S.T.That’s the problem with the Democrat party. Identity politics. It’s the African American versus the woman. When exit polling is parsing groups it has degenerated into ethnicity and gender and how much money the voters make.At least with the GOP and their lack of strong candidates, the exit polling found the patterns to be issue related…social conservatives, economic conservatives, moderates, libertarians, etc…Truth be told, I am enjoying both races and am hoping for at least 1 brokered convention.
>I completely agree. I haven’t felt really good about who I’m voting for in a long, long time. I probably lean more libertarian, I think.