anotheranon | political catching-up

I know I haven't posted anything overtly politically contemplative lately, but this is because I've not been paying as close attention. I've not been watching the debates, mostly because with all the rules involved, I question just how spontaneous the "debating" really is. Also, I think it's highly unlikely at this point that I'm going to change my mind about who to vote for :P (Don't worry - I still plan to watch the Jon Stewart reviews of the debates!)

I talked to my Mom last night, and that the discussion moved to politics is almost a given. Both she and my grandmother are on fire against Bush & Co., and my grandmother even fumed about moving to Canada (she won't, of course, but the fact that an 80+ year old woman who has happily lived in the same ~10 square miles for the past 30 years says something!). Both agree that the upcoming election is the most crucial of their lives, and as both of them have seen far, far more presidential elections than I have, I'm inclined to take them seriously.

They aren't the only ones, I suspect - the sheer number of books out about Bush and his administration are more than I've ever seen about a sitting president, or even a former/historical one. People are interested, people are concerned.

So what I wonder from my isolated liberal vantage point is - who the blazes is going to vote for this yo-yo in November's election? I see the polls, I hear all the stories about people who want to vote for a president they can "have a beer with" (WTF? I want a president who is terrifyingly brilliant and soul-burningly boring, so s/he has nothing better to do than run the country obnoxiously well), but I don't actually know these people.

I do know a couple of very mercenary types who will vote for Dubya under some percieved notion that they'll benefit from his tax cuts, but that's about it. Still, the overwhelming impression I get is that the Kerry election is not a slam dunk. Can someone offer me some insight here?

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who the blazes is going to vote for this yo-yo in November's election?

People who think that America's turning into a "godless nation" and want a stronger religious presence in government. People who think that he's doing a fine job with Iraq, and that there really was a connection between Saddam and al Qaeda. People who think that his tenacity in sticking to a decision is a good thing. (And I know some of these latter folks, actually.) I can think of at least one person who seems likely to vote for Bush because he despises John Edwards for some reason. (I still haven't quite figured out how Edwards is a greater evil than Cheney, but I suppose there are those who can say the same in reverse.)

I'd love real statistics on those voters who really, truly believe that the U.S. is a "godless nation" and are basing their vote solely on religious values. I've always percieved the extreme Christian right to be vocal, organized, but definitely a minority.

People are stupid. They don't seem to see the massive corruption, unbelievable lies etc. because it's easier to keep their heads in the sand. I can't tell you how many undecideds I've seen interviewed who can say "Well, Bush did this, that and the other thing but John Kerry -- he's too liberal so I don't know who to vote for!"

I don't get the whole fricking "I want to have a beer with him" mindset. I don't get the whole Dr. Phil/Oprah/warm and fuzzy crap either. I don't want a warm and fuzzy president I can hug and drink with. I want a smart guy who knows what's going on, who isn't a former alcoholic-cokehead-slacker, who won't sit there with a glazed look in his eyes for 7 goddamn minutes in the middle of a national crisis the likes of which we've never seen before, who won't sell us out to his corporate buddies.

I really DON'T understand people but yes, there are about 30% of the American Public who are the idiot god-fearing mindnumbingly loyal sort who are afraid that if a Democrat gets into the White House, there will be legalised sodomy, legalised goat-fucking, Bible Burning, Terrorists dancing in the street (because we all know how strong Dubya is on terror...) and believe that John Kerry, despite being a decorated veteran, spent his time in the Nam smoking dope and making up ways to see us out to the VietCong.

It makes me crazy. On the other hand, from everything I'm reading (you might want to join Democrats.com for some positive reinforcement!!), there's a lot of lying and manipulation of the polls out there. They (the major media outlets) are purposely ignoring things like people with cellphones (the majority of kids from 18-24 tend to use cell phones as their primary telephones, not a home phone), 'weighting' the polls, only talking to 'likely voters' (who tend to be white, suburban middle-class sorts) and not realising/not caring that a lot of UNLIKELY voters are registering and plan on trying to get the jerks out.

There's such crap going on out there it's disgusting.

I sometimes suffer a cynicism not unlike your own, that the majority of people are willfully ignorant and sheep-like - "Muggles", my sister calls them, after HP - and that living with such throngs of unwashed masses it's a wonder we've not devolved into rioting in the streets between Dems and Repubs :P

Fortunately, I have friends, family, and other acquaintances whose very existence reassures me that not everyone in the continental U.S. is a flake, and from talking to them it seems the non-flaky people are going to be voting in droves this year.

I am also starting to suspect that polls are innaccurate, whether they are manipulated or not. Like you've pointed out, phone polls don't catch everyone, and people who fill out online surveys are only likely to come across them by being politically involved/aware already, which is another limitation on the selection sample....

I'm just not completely convinced that Kerry is doing as badly as mainstream media says he is, or that Bush is doing that well.

Thanks to Air America and Democrats.com and a few other outlets, I've learned that not everyone other person in this country is an absolute sheep. After the 2000 election, I really was beginning to wonder. I just don't understand why it seems like half the population give or take is still clueless or maintains that Bush is their guy. It makes no sense.

I do think Kerry is doing better than expected, that the polls are inaccurate (weighted in favour of Republicans, not taking into account the fact taht most young people use cell phones as their main telephone, guessing that even if they did call low income blacks and hispanics about political polls, they wouldn't want to give any answers etc) and that the media is biased in general because they're owned by huge corporations who have a lot to lose if a Democrat gets in.

I'm cautiously optimistic but it's hard these days. LOL

(she won't, of course, but the fact that an 80+ year old woman who has happily lived in the same ~10 square miles for the past 30 years says something!).

I had an old relative up in the very north of Sweden. Lappland, Arvidsjaur. never traveled anywhere. at the age of 80 she decided she had had enough of the countryside...and promtly emigrated to America. you never know.

I hear all the stories about people who want to vote for a president they can "have a beer with"

yeah? as if a oil millionair son of a President, current President with habits of hanging out with other oil millionaires would ever have a beer with them? it may be me being a Swede but is that so very likely?

I do know a couple of very mercenary types who will vote for Dubya under some percieved notion that they'll benefit from his tax cuts

there is people here too, who vote with their wallet instead of with their heart and *brain*. where did the ideals go? it is sad x 2 :(

yeah? as if a oil millionair son of a President, current President with habits of hanging out with other oil millionaires would ever have a beer with them? it may be me being a Swede but is that so very likely?

Just so - there IS a class strata in this country, whether we'd like to admit it or not, and frankly the son of an ex-Pres, ex-senator oil baron is NOT going to get off his pedestal and shake hands with the guy who runs the gas station :/

As for voting with one's wallet - in this case, it won't even work, as most of Bush & Co.'s tax cuts only benefit the very rich. The great majority of Americans might see a little bit of cash back after filing their yearly income tax, but nothing that's going to make a huge improvement in their standard of living or anything.

" - - Still, the overwhelming impression I get is that the Kerry election is not a slam dunk. Can someone offer me some insight here?"

I can only direct your attention once again to Morbien's Universal Field Theory of Human Behaviour: Human beings are stupid. ;)

"my grandmother even fumed about moving to Canada"

Tell your grandmother that she has good taste in stompin'-off-to- countries! ***grin***

political catching-up

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