What has happened in America?

[Stone]

Boomers.

Yep,...exactly like Kamala HARRIS,...a Boomer just like her.

 

[Stone]

Voting against Trump doesn't necessarily mean approval of Democrats, though.

Hey,...guess what? Less then 2 weeks and YOU will be gone from here! Just exactly like any typical Democrat politician does. Go slumming for votes at election time then as soon as the election is over............POOF!!! Just GONE! Not to be seen for another 4 years.

 

[Jarod]

You don’t believe any of what you just posted

I do

 

[NiftyNiblick]

Maybe this is cynical maybe it's not but you almost have to ask why, outside of the obvious desire for power, a well educated and informed person would want to run for office?

But let me ask this, you wrote: I want to vote issues and ideology because the character consideration should be a moot point.

Think about party primaries. You get ten people on stage and they may agree 90 to 95% on the issues and ideology. So how do you differentiate yourself? Character, leadership, past performance etc. I don't know how you avoid that being a part of any political race - local or national

A person might run for public office because it's the kind of work for which he/she has an aptitude.
That's why I like the idea of career politicians and why I don't believe in term limits.

You have a certain political party with a particular core ideology and definite policy preferences.
NOW they need candidates of like mind who would actually be good at that sort of work.
Each office is in fact a job.

The problem is, in addition to potentially being good at that type of work--and this includes being POTUS--
the person has to be electable.

This is where a stupid electorate voting for people instead of policy positions screws everything up.
The PARTY LREADERSHIP should pick the candidates, not the people at large in a primary election.
The people know whose personality that they like.
They don't know a goddamned thing about how good a new, unknown candidate is at either executive or legislative work.
They should trust the leadership[ of their party...the party that they chose to join for ideological reasons.

The people chose Joe Biden in the primary.
The party had the now rare luxury to ignore the primaries
and choose the best candidate for the job to run in the general election.
The Obamas are rare. The rank and file rarely chooses the best candidate.
This fall, Kamala, not the incumbent chosen by the rank and file, was the right choice.

Summed up, the general electorate knows jack shit about the work capabilities of the candidates.
They know whose personality that they like, but they should trust their party leaders to know who can do the work,

THIS is also why I distrust BUSINESS people who run for office.
Their aptitude is business, not public service work.
I have to question their motives for running.
And so should everybody else who isn't a corporate oligarch.

 

[cawacko]

A person might run for public office because it's the kind of work for which he/she has an aptitude.
That's why I like the idea of career politicians and why I don't believe in term limits.

You have a certain political party with a particular core ideology and definite policy preferences.
NOW they need candidates of like mind who would actually be good at that sort of work.
Each office is in fact a job.

The problem is, in addition to potentially being good at that type of work--and this includes being POTUS--
the person has to be electable.

This is where a stupid electorate voting for people instead of policy positions screws everything up.
The PARTY LREADERSHIP should pick the candidates, not the people at large in a primary election.
The people know whose personality that they like.
They don't know a goddamned thing about how good a new, unknown candidate is at either executive or legislative work.
They should trust the leadership[ of their party...the party that they chose to join for ideological reasons.

The people chose Joe Biden in the primary.
The party had the now rare luxury to ignore the primaries
and choose the best candidate for the job to run in the general election.
The Obamas are rare. The rank and file rarely chooses the best candidate.
This fall, Kamala, not the incumbent chosen by the rank and file, was the right choice.

Summed up, the general electorate knows jack shit about the work capabilities of the candidates.
They know whose personality that they like, but they should trust their party leaders to know who can do the work,

THIS is also why I distrust BUSINESS people who run for office.
Their aptitude is business, not public service work.
I have to question their motives for running.
And so should everybody else who isn't a corporate oligarch.

So basically you're arguing to go back to the old school party leaders pick candidates behind closed doors type primary.

Let me ask this though. Most of the people who run for Congress, the Senate or the Presidency have held previous elected positions. So is it accurate to say we (the public) have no idea about their ability as legislators?

 

[NiftyNiblick]

So basically you're arguing to go back to the old school party leaders pick candidates behind closed doors type primary.

Let me ask this though. Most of the people who run for Congress, the Senate or the Presidency have held previous elected positions. So is it accurate to say we (the public) have no idea about their ability as legislators?

1st question: yes.

2nd question: a FEW of the people first running for Congress have held local office.
They're only voted for by people in their own districts who know them.
Many congressional candidates have NEVER held even a local school committee seat.

Only POTUS / VEEP are on a national ballot.
We don't have a clue who most of the new, regional congressional candidates are, nor do we have to vote for them.

Political junkies know who the senators and governors are who run for POTUS,
but most people don't until the detrimental primaries and STUPID televised debates.
Then they vote for the personalities that they like.

I became enamored with Kamala Harris over her outstanding performance in Senate hearings.
How many people watch them regularly?

 

[cawacko]

1st question: yes.

2nd question: a FEW of the people first running for Congress have held local office.
They're only voted for by people in their own districts who know them.
Many congressional candidates have NEVER held even a local school committee seat.

Only POTUS / VEEP are on a national ballot.
We don't have a clue who most of the new, regional congressional candidates are, nor do we have to vote for them.

Political junkies know who the senators and governors are who run for POTUS,
but most people don't until the detrimental primaries and STUPID televised debates.
Then they vote for the personalities that they like.

I became enamored with Kamala Harris over her outstanding performance in Senate hearings.
How many people watch them regularly?

I understand the argument you are making but it is interesting to hear in light of all the talk of supposed threats to our democracy. It's like saying we want democracy (to a degree) but for the most part people are either too stupid, ignorant, or simply don't pay enough attention to be trusted making most decisions (short of who we select for you).