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10-28-2006, 09:51 AM
| #1 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Super Moderator   Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI
Posts: 2,909
  |  Mudslinging campaigns Has anyone else noticed that both major parties are running on mudslinging campaigns? I find this to be a total turn-off. I realize that history shows that this is the norm. Let face it, the campaigns of the past make this one seem tame. I mean, Lincoln's opponent called him an ape. Andrew Jackson's opponent claim he was illegitimate. Does anyone else feel like we should be past all this? Running on the actual merits of the given candidate is really how it should be done. I think our whole voting process need a change. Sadly, the two major parties have a monopoly on the national government seats. They are also in a position to stop such things as run-off voting. I am an independent for just this reason, yet I will vote Democrat to return some balance to government. How does everyone else feel about this? Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong. ~Richard Armour There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle. ~Alexis de Tocqueville | |||||||||||||||||||||
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10-28-2006, 10:06 AM
| #2 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Community Leader   Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Posts: 834
| I agree. I was taught if you can't say anything nice about someone, not to say anything. Instant run-off voting sounds like a reasonable process to me. There are some legislators who are for it, including John McCain, Howard Dean and Barack Obama (source: FairVote - Home..) North Carolina recently passed legislation for IRV, and there are IRV proposals on a few ballots. So it is gaining interest around the country. Hmm.. perhaps if each one of us wrote letters to candidates stating our disgust at negative campaigns, calling them on their actions and holding them responsible, we would see less and less of this. Last edited by chrisg967; 10-28-2006 at 01:36 PM. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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10-28-2006, 01:30 PM
| #3 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Banned  Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha Beach
Posts: 7,363
| There's a LOT at stake, so the political parties are both pulling off the gloves! | |||||||||||||||||||||
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10-29-2006, 04:56 AM
| #4 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The Man You Love to Hate   Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ketchikan, AK
Posts: 1,700
 | Unfortunately any political analyst will tell you that negative ads work. It is part of the process. Think about it, from a time a person is elected, until the next election they are raising money. If your want true election reform, make campaign ads free. Then members will not have to raise money in such vast quantities. dmk Conservatism, I repeat is not an ideology. It does not breed fanatics....But if you want men who seek, reasonably and prudently, to reconcile the best in wisdom of our ancestors with the change which is essential to a vigorous civil social existence, then you will do well to turn to conservative principles -Russell Kirk- | |||||||||||||||||||||
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10-29-2006, 06:41 AM
| #5 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Community Leader Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Posts: 834
| It is the people who allow negative ads to work. You have a good point about money. How do we make campaign ads free? Another thought I had is that if the candidates are slinging mud before elections, how can they be thought of as "honorable" once elected? | |||||||||||||||||||||
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10-29-2006, 07:13 AM
| #6 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI
Posts: 2,909
| You all have great points. As for the money thing, Who would pay for this? Unless we got the networks to donate the ads it would be a cost our economy shouldn't have to bear. Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong. ~Richard Armour There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle. ~Alexis de Tocqueville | |||||||||||||||||||||
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12-03-2006, 04:35 PM
| #7 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Council Member Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,219
| We disagree on many topics, Tyreay; but we definitely are on the same page here! In the last election in my congressional district, a candidate named Tammy Duckworth was running against the incumbent Peter Roskam. While I respect Ms. Duckworth's service in the National Guard as a helicopter pilot; one of her ads stated that Mr. Roskam supported the NRA by thier stand that the principal of a school could not expel a child whom had brought a gun to school. When has the NRA ever advocated children bring guns to school? As far as the suspension goes; it is up to the school boards to vote on expelling a child (for whatever reason). I lost all thought of voting for Ms. Duckworth at that point. I am now an independent who will concentrate on issues rather than mudslinging. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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12-03-2006, 07:12 PM
| #8 (permalink) | |||
| Beer Man  Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: stuck in the middle
Posts: 4,608 Thanks: 28
Thanked 109 Times in 76 Posts
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Quote:
We should do away with ads all together and have more debates with all the candidates included. The Gov. race in MA Republican Kerry Healy kept trying to exclude the third party candidates from the debates. Had she put more effort into winning the debate instead of whining about only wanting to debate with the Democrat........ "We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer." - William Bradford Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right..... Now offering premium membership for only $25.00!! Click here to get started.! | |||
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12-03-2006, 07:18 PM
| #9 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha Beach
Posts: 7,363
| Quote:
If they want to pay for "air time", let the candidates pay for "airing" their debates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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