What is your process for selecting a presidential candidate? [Archive]

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Smiling JOe

12-07-2007, 07:15 PM

Just curious -- What is your process for selecting a presidential candidate? Maybe you hear them in a debate, hear things about them on CNN or Fox News, maybe you actually go to their websites and read their reported beliefs, or maybe you google them, or run them through Wikipedia. :idontno: Do you typically just grab onto the first one you hear say something you like, or do you actually research them all, even the ones which don't get much airplay by the major networks? Just curious. I've only just started actually researching candidates in depth, and I plan to read about each with interest. Just curious as to how YOU pick a candidate with whom to side.

:idontno:

JustaLocal

12-07-2007, 07:26 PM

I use their websites, news, as much of the debates as I can stand, and other Internet searches. For instance, I like John McCain, but remember last time there was some point I felt was important we disagreed on. I tried to find what it was. I wish there was a candidate I agreed with 100%. No, scratch that & turn it around! :D

WileCoyote

12-07-2007, 07:27 PM

This will be interesting !

Darts anyone ?

NoHall

12-07-2007, 09:06 PM

Whoever sends me the nicest autographed glossy photograph. Her Royal Clinton promised cupcakes on her birthday, which is tempting...

I'm actually looking for the one who will offer me the least micromanagement, thereby the most freedom for me so I can spend the next four years minding my own business.

p.s. SJ, do you realize that Wikipedia is not exactly a great source for accurate information?

scrltbegonya

12-07-2007, 09:27 PM

Try this - Select a Candidate Quiz 2008 (http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460) :idontno:

Smiling JOe

12-07-2007, 10:06 PM

p.s. SJ, do you realize that Wikipedia is not exactly a great source for accurate information?As I understand it, Wikipedia info is derived from many online sources. Perhaps that means that not all of it is accurate. However, it can be a good source if you verify the content. At least it gives you a direction to search.

Miss Kitty

12-07-2007, 10:16 PM

I usually wait until after the conventions. It really narrows it down. :wave:

SHELLY

12-07-2007, 10:24 PM

Just curious -- What is your process for selecting a presidential candidate?

:shock:

:blink:

:floor:

.....this is FLORI-DUH--remember?

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics43/2000-florida-recount01b.jpg

.

Smiling JOe

12-07-2007, 10:26 PM

Oh, My! that is one funny photo, and it looks real, too! Scary!

Dune-AHH

12-07-2007, 10:34 PM

To the extent that I can stand...I read, listen, and research, both the good & the bad, on each viable candidate; discarding any information delivered in shrieking, bombastic, over-wrought tones ... or those that fall back on partisan generalities or devisive cliches. I don't give much credence to personal views that are always 100% glowing or 100% critical.

I take state congressional seats & potential supreme court openings into consideration ... seeking a balanced team rather than focusing on one partisan individual. This helps me crawl out of the "EVERYBODY SUCKS" abyss...truly...No 1 person can ever provide it ALL...it's just unrealistic to pursue that as a fantasy. I often vote completely opposite on the STATE level than on the FEDERAL level.

Then I create an excel spreadsheet (which I do for EVERYTHING because I'm adore Excel spreadsheets) listing pro/con particulars for each candidate/combination. Then I employ a "reverse" process of elimination. I make very few definitive decisions early in the game because I wait to see what the candidates do as pressures mount. (I recently got a bad taste in my mouth for a candidate I've supported for years due to a recent 'change' I find distasteful.)

Around Nov.1, I shut it all down, and round file all the crap I've gathered and get in touch with my gut. Because sometimes, no matter what all the "facts" show...sometimes your gut just says "NOT that 1".

Voting for the "lesser of 2 evils" is better than NO VOTE at all.
I ALWAYS vote, because I don't think one has the earned the right to biatch if they haven't voted. And I REALLY like the right to biatch. ;-)

30abob

12-07-2007, 10:39 PM

Try this - Select a Candidate Quiz 2008 (http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460) :idontno:

Probably one of the least scientific "tests" I've ever completed. Eleven questions to pick the leader of the free world based on the "what flavor ice cream I like" model.

No big surprises here! Top pick went to Ron Paul... we're alike on all but three issues, I guess I'm now certifiable. I'm not surprised at the bottom three either; the three democratic front runners are in a dead heat - just like in Iowa.

SJ - as for your original question:
I think I have spent more time this go around than ever before. I can't boil it down to a 1-2-3 scenario. But I certainly don't think it's as easy as answering a few "hot button" questions. As for research, in the beginning I just looked at the front runners' in each party - the ones the media was covering. After 4.6 minutes I realized there wasn't much "gold in them hills", so I went to each party's website to see who else was there. I looked at each of the remaining candidate's websites and saw that I had several key issues (for me) in common with Ron Paul. I have felt more Libertarian than Republican for the past several years and the last time I rooted for a Dem was in 76' when I was 7 (I grew up 15 miles from Plains and spent my Saturday afternoons with my Dad at Billy Carter's gas station). As Libertarian sympathizer I didn't really expect to find ANYONE!

I also watched a lot of YouTube clips of the candidates, from debates and sound bites, and found the more I watched Ron Paul the more he made sense... to me. The FREEDOM/LIBERTY message is very appealing to me. IF Hell freezes over and he gets elected I'm not real optimistic about him accomplishing everything in his "cost/department cutting" plan, but I do think he'll get out of Iraq faster than anyone else.

Smiling JOe

12-07-2007, 10:45 PM

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

Dune-AHH

12-07-2007, 10:54 PM

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

Why bother at this point? After the conventions, people who have spent months slandering one another will kiss, make up, and team up.

Dune-AHH

12-07-2007, 10:56 PM

florida girl

12-08-2007, 01:30 AM

Here's a site I found informative, http://www.votehelp.org/.

JUL

12-08-2007, 08:48 AM

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

YES...

Andy A.

12-08-2007, 10:31 AM

I usually wait until after the conventions. It really narrows it down. :wave:
AMEN, Miss Kitty! Your arrow hits dead center once again!!!:clap:

wrobert

12-08-2007, 10:37 AM

AMEN, Miss Kitty! Your arrow hits dead center once again!!!:clap:

Waiting does reduce it to the choices that the involved minority wish to have. But I do not think that is a good thing.

hnooe

12-08-2007, 04:24 PM

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

In 2008--absoultely, look at how much political control and influence Cheney now wields over Jr....

As far as I am concerned, the answer is YES--example: I like Obama, but his lack of foreign policy experience would ordinarily rule him out for me. Now, if he were to get a Chris Dodd or Joe Biden to be his running mate, I would feel more comfortable with Obama as far as a balanced ticket....

Smiling JOe

12-08-2007, 04:31 PM

InletBchDweller

12-08-2007, 04:33 PM

I just saw a bumper sticker that said

"elephants and asses are conning the masses"

:floor:

Smiling JOe

12-08-2007, 04:35 PM

I don't like it. I LOVE it!

30A Skunkape

12-08-2007, 04:37 PM

Wouldn't it be interesting if a Presidential Party Nominee had to select a VP from a Party other than his or her own, in order to provide some balance? However, that might also draw more assassination attempts.

I think the way it originally worked is that whoever got the second most electoral votes became the VP. It didn't work too well:lol:

Dune-AHH

12-08-2007, 05:26 PM

I just saw a bumper sticker that said

"elephants and asses are conning the masses"

:floor:
I'm not pro-bumper sticker...but this one might change my position!!:clap:

30A Skunkape

12-08-2007, 05:47 PM

I vote for whoever the movie stars tell me to vote for. Duh.

Minnie

12-08-2007, 05:50 PM

Eeenie, Meeny, Moe,

Moe is running, isn't he. :idontno:

Miss Kitty

12-08-2007, 06:07 PM

Eeenie, Meeny, Moe,

Moe is running, isn't he. :idontno:

No, but Miney is. ;-)

Mango

12-08-2007, 07:10 PM

No, but Miney is. ;-)

I always thought it was Eeenie, Meany, Hiney, Toe.
Y'all have ruined it for me.

Miss Kitty

12-08-2007, 07:31 PM

I always thought it was Eeenie, Meany, Hiney, Toe.
Y'all have ruined it for me.

yankees. :roll: :biggrin: :wave:

Minnie

12-08-2007, 07:45 PM

Have to agree Miss K. I see no need to support someone that might not make it through the convention process. I will wait till then. If I listen to them now, I won't like anyone by then.

Bob

12-08-2007, 10:57 PM

:shock:

:blink:

:floor:

.....this is FLORI-DUH--remember?

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics43/2000-florida-recount01b.jpg

.That's Chad!

Miss Kitty

12-08-2007, 11:25 PM

That's Chad!

That's Chad, dangling!

Bob

12-08-2007, 11:33 PM

What if had been a tie? And this guy decided?

SHELLY

12-09-2007, 12:06 AM

What if had been a tie? And this guy decided?

I think he did.

.

scooterbug44

12-10-2007, 09:41 AM

I go for the "whole package" rather than selecting a candidate based on a few hot button issues. It is most important for me to have someone in office that I feel will make sensible decisions that are in the interests of the majority of their constituents and that will not use scapegoats and political pandering to screw over the minorities.

My gut does a lot more politician selecting for me than a checklist and unfortunately, I have to do a lot of selecting the "least of the evils."

ckhagen

12-10-2007, 11:41 AM

Well, last time I watched the news... big mistake. I won't ever do that again. The media is so tainted with sensationalism that nothing of any importance really gets through.

I think my number one issue (or litmus test you could say) is national sovereignty. Because, the way I see it is, none of these other issues matter if we end up with some union making the decisions for us. So, I chose to seek out the candidate that I felt was most voraciously going to protect our sovereignty.

Btw, WaltonGOP... is South Walton going to have a headquarters this time? I heard that was up in the air.

Romeosmydog

12-10-2007, 01:05 PM

Just curious -- What is your process for selecting a presidential candidate?

:idontno:

His last name isn't Bush.

Smiling JOe

12-10-2007, 01:19 PM

I'd vote for Sam Bush. 8 )

wrobert

12-10-2007, 05:24 PM

Gypsea

12-10-2007, 07:55 PM

His last name isn't Bush.

Wish we could trade in Jeb for George!

Romeosmydog

12-10-2007, 11:33 PM

I'd vote for Sam Bush. 8 ):blush: Oh yeah, I forgot. Sam Bush for President!! Can Bela Fleck be the VP??;-)

Smiling JOe

12-10-2007, 11:36 PM

Don't think so, but maybe Bill Nelson, I mean Willie Nelson, can fill in for VP.

goofer44

12-17-2007, 04:20 PM

John McCain is my candidate. He got the endorsement of the Des Moines Register, The Boston Globe and Joe Lieberman. He is by far the most qualified person to be president. He is universally respected by both democrats and republicans in the senate and house. He can reach out to dems and independents and get people to work together. I have never been more enthusiastic about a politician in my entire life than I am for McCain. He is an authentic American hero who posseses all the attributes I look for in leadership. I don't agree with him on all the issues but he was right on the surge, even though I disagree with the Iraq policy. He puts principle above politics. My criteria for President is :
1. Judgement
2. Temperment
3. Intelligence
4. Integrity
5. Character
6. Experience