Every town hall meeting seems packed. Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, New Gingrich, Rick Santorum all draw full audiences (though of course the respective campaigns carefully choose venues depending on the expected crowds to ensure the venues look full). Even Jon Huntsman is drawing decent crowds. Looking at the events, one would think this is a multi-way race, and that all the candidates will get similar number of votes.
But the key point is not all voters attend town hall meetings. Most see some ads, look at some news, look at endorsements. And they cause elections to turn a certain way. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone who voted attended a town hall meeting? An informed voter is the best voter.
Some time ago when we had a local community meeting to decide whether we should have a rotary or traffic lights at a nearby intersection, folks who attended really knew the pros and cons. They had done their research. It was a lively and informed dialogue. It is a pity that all voters are not able spend the time understanding all dimensions of issues and candidates. A democracy can only work well when everyone is equally well-informed and invested in the process! I can't blame it all on lack of interest - people who need 2 or more jobs to make ends meet simply do not have the time.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Pride
People have such pride in their country. A veteran at a Newt Gingrich meeting asked for an autograph on a photo of himself and Newt in 1995. He choked in front of the whole group, so proud was he of getting his picture with the speaker of the house when was in service.
With pride comes the real deep concern that the country they take so much pride in is changing to something they are not familiar with, to something different. The country they grew up in is what they are familiar with, and they so firmly believe that that is the right way. They might not know much about other models. They want to elect leaders who will continue the country they take pride in will continue to be the same.
This veteran had pride in his country and leaders, it was sad to see how un-leader like politicians really are. Concerned only about themselves, not the country and the people.
With pride comes the real deep concern that the country they take so much pride in is changing to something they are not familiar with, to something different. The country they grew up in is what they are familiar with, and they so firmly believe that that is the right way. They might not know much about other models. They want to elect leaders who will continue the country they take pride in will continue to be the same.
This veteran had pride in his country and leaders, it was sad to see how un-leader like politicians really are. Concerned only about themselves, not the country and the people.
Fear. Strength. Best place in the world.
Fear works miraculously well in an election. Nothing attracts a voter to a leader like the feeling that that leader will protect them in a dangerous situation. To feel the warmth of protection, one has to feel fear first. So, Iran.
Strong is another word that resonates. We should not be weak, but should be strong, parrot politicians. Strong, standing up to bullies, bad people. We should be able to stare down people over the barrel of a gun. We should not be seen as weak in the eyes of the world, but strong. Strong, so that noone dares to do anything against us.
Prosperity for children and grand children is good, but nothing like the feeling that we live in the best place in the world to achieve it. It is not nice to think that there are other countries in the world which might more successful. We are the most successful people. This experiment, America, is by far the most successful country in the world. How can it possible go wrong or need changing? We won't face that.
Strong is another word that resonates. We should not be weak, but should be strong, parrot politicians. Strong, standing up to bullies, bad people. We should be able to stare down people over the barrel of a gun. We should not be seen as weak in the eyes of the world, but strong. Strong, so that noone dares to do anything against us.
Prosperity for children and grand children is good, but nothing like the feeling that we live in the best place in the world to achieve it. It is not nice to think that there are other countries in the world which might more successful. We are the most successful people. This experiment, America, is by far the most successful country in the world. How can it possible go wrong or need changing? We won't face that.
The Republican Primaries are in New Hampshire
After all the action in Iowa, the candidates have all landed in New Hampshire. The action here has been mostly muted till now, probably because Romney is the perceived front runner, given that he was the governor of Massachusetts. Jon Huntsman has been living in the state, and the local Nashua Telegraph interviewed all the candidates, both the well-known and the lesser-known ones (this time they held some interviews at Nashua High School, with students organizing the whole thing and telecasting them live on the internet - pretty cool). Standard primary stuff, but the buzz was missing, the buzz of having most of the state and also national attention focused on the race.
After Iowa, the buzz is here. The fun begins for primary watchers like me!
January 4, 2012.
After Iowa, the buzz is here. The fun begins for primary watchers like me!
January 4, 2012.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Great speech
I thought this part of Obama's Labor Day speech at Milwaukee was brilliant. “They drove our economy into a ditch. And we got in there and put on our boots and we pushed and we shoved. And we were sweating and these guys were standing, watching us and sipping on a Slurpee.And they were pointing at us saying, how come you’re not pushing harder, how come you’re not pushing faster? And then when we finally got the car up -- and it’s got a few dings and a few dents, it’s got some mud on it, we’re going to have to do some work on it -- they point to everybody and say, look what these guys did to your car. After we got it out of the ditch! And then they got the nerve to ask for the keys back!"
Simply and crisply makes the point.
However some bloggers have pointed out that this could alienate voters as it presents a picture of the economy having only a few dings .... for some people it is a lot worse.
Still, a good speech. I wonder how much input Obama gives to his speech writers - how much creativity come from him and how much from the speech writers?
Simply and crisply makes the point.
However some bloggers have pointed out that this could alienate voters as it presents a picture of the economy having only a few dings .... for some people it is a lot worse.
Still, a good speech. I wonder how much input Obama gives to his speech writers - how much creativity come from him and how much from the speech writers?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Questioning candidates
It is amazing to me that the Tea Party candidates refuse interviews and choose to speak to only "friendly" reporters. Is it because they don't have the confidence in their views to have a dialogue on them? If they cannot discuss their views with a reporter how will they listen to alternate points of view if and when they govern? My first thought that it is extremely unacceptable for any candidate to refuse questions from any reporter.
But then is the point that reporters are partisan and the media will spin things out of control? Did I want candidate Obama to be interviewed by Rush Limbaugh and have him quoted out of context for a zillion news cycles?
When you look at it in the abstract, it is unfortunate that detailed dialogue, especially with people who hold an opposing point of view, is avoided while running for office. It reminds me of a situation when a co-founder of an organization I volunteer for was severely criticized for speaking at event organized by a group many didn't approve off. His answer to them was that he saw no harm in speaking at any forum he is invited to speak at - whether it is to the left or the right or somewhere in the middle. Any forum is a place to talk about his views, and answer questions on his views. That seems mature compared to political candidates refusing to answer questions from people they don't agree with.
I think it at least partly comes down to the fact that voters do not take the time to go through the fluff and logically discuss issues and weigh candidate positions. They get carried away by media storms.
But then is the point that reporters are partisan and the media will spin things out of control? Did I want candidate Obama to be interviewed by Rush Limbaugh and have him quoted out of context for a zillion news cycles?
When you look at it in the abstract, it is unfortunate that detailed dialogue, especially with people who hold an opposing point of view, is avoided while running for office. It reminds me of a situation when a co-founder of an organization I volunteer for was severely criticized for speaking at event organized by a group many didn't approve off. His answer to them was that he saw no harm in speaking at any forum he is invited to speak at - whether it is to the left or the right or somewhere in the middle. Any forum is a place to talk about his views, and answer questions on his views. That seems mature compared to political candidates refusing to answer questions from people they don't agree with.
I think it at least partly comes down to the fact that voters do not take the time to go through the fluff and logically discuss issues and weigh candidate positions. They get carried away by media storms.
Tea Party Momentum
I have been telling friends and family that the Tea Party enthusiasm is going to backfire on the conservatives. The Tea Party might be successful in getting their candidates win primaries, but in the general election this will help the democrats because mainstream America will simply not vote for the Tea Party candidates. They will either stay home or vote for democrats. But then comes the news that in the last quarter the republican candidates (including the Tea Party candidates) have raised more funds than the democrats and the democrats are really struggling ....Is my faith in mainstream America misplaced? I would be surprised if 'mainstream America' has moved this much to the right.
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