Zoopy_T

I don't understand the purpose of whoring out party leader nominees to the media. Americans are stupid.

xTYBALTx

Presidential nominees are not party leaders.

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Current good song: Justice - Stress

xTYBALTx

Presidential nominees aren't party leaders; American parties don't really have "leaders" in the sense that people from other nations are accustomed. In the American system, political power is so disperse amongst the various state and federal congresses, judicial systems, and executive offices that long lasting coordination along party lines is the exception, not the rule.

People seeking the office of President are frequently unknown to the vast majority of Americans. For examples from this particular campaign, take a look at Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney. Each of these figures were literally unknown to typical Americans two years ago. Heck, even one year ago. In order to get their name out and have a shot at established figures like Clinton and McCain, the unknown candidates must whore themselves out to the media. They trade control over their image for national visibility.

The fact that nominees for political office are frequently unknown is precisely why campaigning is so much more crucial in the American system than those of other nations. In Britain, for instance, the party leaders and Parliamentary representatives are selected by party elites (as opposed to party voters, in America). This results in potential party leaders who have been in the national spotlight for some time before attempting to seek the highest office: And because they have been in the spotlight, there is little need to make voters familiar with their platform, ideology, or leadership style. There is less need for aggressive campaigning.

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Current good song: Justice - Stress

AMosely

I don't know about the rest of the voting public (well maybe I do) but 1,000 people in San Antonio are confirmed as 'uninformed':

http://www.ksat.com/politics/15220830/detail.html

MagnaCentipede

Mitt Romney's been well-known for years. The other two, not so much.

They must've failed to escuchar the date correctomenté.

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El_Gringo_Grande

What? I think many people like the candidates. Dems are split among themselves. It isn't that they love one and hate the other or can't decide which one they hate more. It is that they can't decide which one they like better.

Most of the moderate independents I know are not unhappy. Compared to last round I am very, very happy.

Conservative Republicans may be losers. But I have no idea what they really want.

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Sen. Barack Obama (IL) For President '08
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I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette

xTYBALTx

Amongst people like us, yes. Amongst Joe Six Pack, Mitt Romney was unknown. Unless they were from Utah or Mass.

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Current good song: Justice - Stress

MagnaCentipede

Amongst Joe Sixpack, 99% of: current state governors, sentators, and the nation's line of presidents are unknown. You're more apt to get the names of five of the six James Bond actors than five of the six American figures on circulating paper currency.

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Kerostasis

I am sad. It's shaping up to be a Hillary vs McCain fight in the general election, so I may get to follow through on that promise to vote Bloomberg with you, Gambit.

Obama isn't quite out of it yet, but he's fast running out of time to make a move, and the Super-Delegates will probably split for the Clinton, so he's got to be significantly ahead at convention time to have a chance.

At this point, Romney couldn't win unless Huckabee dropped out and endorsed him, and Huckabee has pretty well shown that he hates Romney so that won't happen. I'd almost suggest that Romney should drop out and endorse Huckabee just to prevent McCain, except again, Huckabee hates Romney so that won't happen either.

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Zoraster

Yeah. I feel sorry for Joe Sixpack who makes his decisions without the clarity of the poker analogy.

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|TG| Zoraster | Tactical Soccer Managing

mentholated

Chavez, obviously.

Morganan

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter.

AMosely

Or just 'person.' Or 'president.'

JMJ

I dunno, maybe it's who we hang around with. I haven't spoken to many people who are happy with the choices we have. You have 2 people preaching socialism (universal healthcare and a slew of other garbage) and someone who says he's conservative but legislated campaign finance reform (crapping on the first amendment) and also helped legislate amnesty for illegal aliens (which we "the people" shot down). The only thing that would remotely make me think about pulling the trigger for McCain is the possiblity he might make conservative judicial appointments.

El_Gringo_Grande

I don't think you are not giving enough credit to the Clinton political machine. It is vast and it is well organized. Powerful stuff.

I don't deny that there some racial animosity between the Hispanic and black communities. But from my experience Clinton's success with Hispanic voters is because they like the Clinton's. All the Hispanics I know just like her. They liked her before ABM ever entered the race. Many people still living in Central and South America like the Clinton's. I asked my wife (only recently moved to America from Ecuador) why. Mainly it is name recognition created by the fact that Bill made a name for himself down their during his presidency. He and Hillary always got pretty good press down there. Bush and his ilk, nada.

LOL

Many of the red okies I know like McCain because of his attempts at campaign reform. Of course they are more of the conservative in god but liberal with money type of conservative. But overall McCain isn't godly enough for them when compared to Huckaby. ("But better than a woman or a black" as I heard one guy in the wal-mart line say today.)

But my point was at least 1/2 of the population like both the Dems front runners. A good number like McCain. You have people coming out in record numbers in a primary. This is amazing stuff and seems to me the American people are actually gaining because of it.

So you shouldn't say "the American people are loosing", I think you should say "Me and my kind are loosing".

__________________
Sen. Barack Obama (IL) For President '08
---
I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette