The Spinward Marches

Hi again

Think about it, why do you vote for a candidate? Let's say , for the presidency/

The political season is begining to heat up to the point where the non politically obsessed are starting to get involved. The viewership for the debates is rising (but let's not get carried away, when the cable channels brag that 4 million watched, it means a cool 296 million didn't!) and the rhetoric is getting louder.

I find it interesting and sometimes troubling to see how people judge candidates.
What I often hear is" I really like him( or her); does it matter how personable a candidate is; does that transfer to decision making, hard bargaining on the world stage, an unterstanding of markets etc.
How important is it to you that a person plays well on Oprah or Jay or Jon?
Some people vote as if they're selecting a pastor or deacon, someone who displays a perfect home life with a charming family and has good personal values: how does that translate to running the world most powerful nation at a time when the world has become so much smaller and infinitely more nasty and dangerous. Haven't some of the greatest leaders in history lived lives that are not right off of a Hallmark Card?

What is most important, where a candidate stands in what is called the culture war, on issues like gay marraige and unions, abortion, affirmative action, Terry Schiavo etc; or are these domestic issues that will always be in play or can you disagree on those issues and still vote for him(okay,her) anyway?

Is there one issue,Iraq, ilegal immigration, the economy that determines your vote?

When election day comes, there is aways a hugh push from the media to get out and vote. Most of the stations and companies i've worked for promote the get out the vote theme. and I find myself going against the grain. If we have to beg you, I prefer that you don't vote I don't think it's elitist to say that ...do you?

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
My best