Quote from ARogueTrader:
Unless someone votes party line without thought, unless someone votes for the incumbent without thought, unless someone votes for Bush without a thought, reading the ideas of both leading candidates who are running from president makes sense.
Yes, well this pretty accurately describes (IMHO) the true Bush Republicans. NOT all Republicans. And thankfully not the majority of Americans.
We already know without question that the straight ticket voters who are pro-gun, anti-choice (yeah, yeah..."pro life"), pro death penalty, pro school vouchers, pro prayer in school, pro tax cuts for the rich, etc., they will vote for Bush no matter what he says, thinks or does for over the next year. Fortunately this minority does not control our elections. The people who are capable of making decisions based on competence and timeliness do. The often talked about "undecideds".
Why campaign at all if not for the "undecideds"? They by definition are the only voters who can have their votes affected by a campaign. The "decideds" already know who they are voting for.
Maverick and Pabst need no campaign. They already KNOW without a doubt what the outcome will be. They already KNOW without a doubt who he best candidate is. They already KNOW without a doubt where they themselves stand on every issue likely to be raised during the next campaign.
It is a great thing that the information on where candidates stand on issues is easily found. Howard Dean's website and the text of the speech cited by ARogueTrader should be (but won't be) read by those who have already made their minds up to vote against him. They may as well know what it is they are voting against. They already know what and who they are planning on voting for.
Preaching to the choir gets cheers. Preaching to the doubters may actually get a message across. As is clear, some voters don't care what the message is.
I pride myself on listening to both sides of any political argument. I have never voted a straight party line. I make an effort to enter the voting booth with some knowledge about the candidates.
It is not always possible to know about every candidate on a polling ticket. So yeah, when in doubt, I will vote against one party (generally). When no party affiliation is designated, if I am not familiar with the candidates, I will generally vote against the incumbents in small town positions. If the local dog catcher has distinguished himself, I will be aware he has done a good job and deserves another term. If I have never heard his name mentioned, I figure give the next guy a chance. But that is not as it should be. Unfortunately, that is the reality. I don't believe that it is possible to be informed about every candidate for every position on election day. This is why we see so many signs on the side of the road. The most effective way to get elected to a school board position (for example) is by name recognition. Whoever has the most signs wins.
Fortunately, when it comes to national politics, we have the ability to really get to know the positions of the candidates.
Unfortunately, many people are not interested in what these positions are. Their minds are already made up.
Maverick has proven that. Pabst too as far as I can tell.
For Maverick to say that ARogueTrader is a member of the Dean "fan club" because he posted text of Dean's speech goes to prove the point of closed mindedness. Not on ART's part, but on Mavericks.
Peace,
RS