Can someone point me in the right direction to go learn about our candidates? I've never been very interested in politics but I'd like to become some what involved, starting with this presidential election...
I am a noob at politics
- Thread starter mh47g
- Start date
PottedMeat
Lifer
- Apr 17, 2002
- 12,363
- 475
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The onion is an excellent source of unbiased material.
Did you know Hillary has 3 murder convictions and reproduces by depositing her eggs in the hosts' intestine then fertilizing them herself?
Did you know Hillary has 3 murder convictions and reproduces by depositing her eggs in the hosts' intestine then fertilizing them herself?
I am a noob at politics.
Good. That means you already know as much as anybody here. All you need is not more information, but the certainty that what you do know is right.
Good. That means you already know as much as anybody here. All you need is not more information, but the certainty that what you do know is right.
TastesLikeChicken
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2004
- 16,852
- 59
- 86
Politics is a a combination of football and flyfishing.
You'll need full pads and a pair of hip-waders.
You'll need full pads and a pair of hip-waders.
its a bit like asking "I am a noob at computers, where do I start?" - there is no single source or book, simply the more you read about it, the more you learn about it.
Whenever you're reading about something, just trying wiki-ing everything you don't know. So yesterday the dems debates over NAFTA, so you could read up on that, what people say for it, against it, etc.
Whenever you're reading about something, just trying wiki-ing everything you don't know. So yesterday the dems debates over NAFTA, so you could read up on that, what people say for it, against it, etc.
hopefully even with this mentality, you voted.
However, if you didn't, this mentality is what gets us a president like Bush. And if you do not like the candidates running, I have to be honest, bite the bullet, pick whichever one is better to you. Can't complain if you didn't vote.
As for the original poster, read ontheissues.org, you can take a quiz there to see where you stand, and also see what candidate you line up with best.
Debates are also good sources of picking a candidate. I think the main thing is, try to figure out what your stances are on the issues and then go from there.
Don't completely blindly support someone just because of their emotional appeal, their inspirational appeal, or their rhetoric. Although I voted Obama, I did so because I felt that he had the best chance against McCain and to unite some Republicans so we could get things done, issue wise, I am much more with Hillary Clinton. And, i mean, someones appeal on the surface will probably be part of your vote (the emotional appeal, inspirational, someone's rhetoric), and it should be, however, the stances on the issues are actually what that candidate will be implementing in the white house, and at the end of the day, someones stances on the issues are actually what could be effecting your life on a daily basis.
Don't be scared away by politics, that is one of the main problems with political junkies, we all think we are better than everyone, so we just shut off all the people that do not know anything. However, we should be embracing newcomers to politics.
And watch out for the media, a lot of it is extremely biased.
For a very basic outline try:
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
Don't take the things on there as gospel as there are plenty of caveats to most of their stances, but it will hit the big areas.
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
Don't take the things on there as gospel as there are plenty of caveats to most of their stances, but it will hit the big areas.
I'm not going to recommend you start with the simplest info - I think that ends up misleading you, really, by leaving out too many important things.
Instead, I'm going to recommend that you - well, ideally, I'd recommend good books, but in case that's a bit much - read some good magazines and web sites. For magazines, I recommend The Atlantic Monthly; for web sites, check out www.salon.com. It has a lot of good info, but especially see Glenn Greenwald, 'How the World Works', and for current events, The War Room.
Ultimately, you really can't make a lot of sense of things, IMO, without good books. Want an excellent one to see the issues we've faced a long time? Try Walter Lippman's "Public Opinion".
Instead, I'm going to recommend that you - well, ideally, I'd recommend good books, but in case that's a bit much - read some good magazines and web sites. For magazines, I recommend The Atlantic Monthly; for web sites, check out www.salon.com. It has a lot of good info, but especially see Glenn Greenwald, 'How the World Works', and for current events, The War Room.
Ultimately, you really can't make a lot of sense of things, IMO, without good books. Want an excellent one to see the issues we've faced a long time? Try Walter Lippman's "Public Opinion".
Or if the system gives you two shitty candidates then what? What if either one you pick is detrimental to you and/or your freedoms? What if it turns out every candidate running does not represent you? Then you have an obligation to not contribute or participate.
In that case, I'd recommend supporting an alternative group that seeks the lawful overthrow of the powers that be.
Best place to start is the library.
Find several books on the function of gov't - local, state and federal. Focus on the federal 'triad' of judicial, legislative and executive branches. Develop the general concepts of the 'partnerships' that exist in gov't on the national, state and local levels. Develop an understanding of the legislative process and what goes into the passage of the laws that govern us ....
The Supreme Court has determined that ""money equals free speech"". Visit the Center for Responsive Politics to see who is 'giving' and who is 'receiving'. Judge for yourself the influence of money in politics.
Look inward. What are your 'core' values? Your opinion matters and you have a voice if you chose to get involved. Attend the local precinct meeting of your choice.
Politics of the statesman is interaction and compromise for the general welfare. Politics of the hack is blood-letting personal attacks, obstruction and obfuscation.
It's as simple as that.
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
To learn about the candidates why not start with their websites?
There you should check out their campaign platforms, their stances on the issues etc.
I'd generally ignore any resume-type stuff. That's mostly self-promotional fiction.
You can also go to the Dem or Repub party websites.
Then I'd look at their opponents criticisms of them. The quality of the criticism tells you a lot about the opponent and the one being criticized.
Fern
And yet you probably could have run a more effective campaign for Hillary than the current one...
And of course, this makes sense. It truly does, however, if you take a step back, face reality, and say, hey, look, one of these people is going to be elected, which one is going to be better for me?
I wish it wasn't that way, but sometimes that's the best way to go about things.
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On this issue of checking a candidates website, a candidate is trying to get elected, so their stances on the issues maybe pretty broad, general, and try to make everyone happy. I find that how someone voted on things is the best way to know how they would be as a president. But again, that is only one piece of the puzzle.
However, party platforms are legitimate, and hardly looked at.
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heyheybooboo pointed out something with the simple word - "precinct," that got me thinking. I got to be honest, when it comes to how my life is affected everyday, local politics, state delegates, senators, etc. have a big influence on my life. Also, I can usually simply call them, email them, or something - it is very easy to get in contact with them. These local elections, that have the lowest voter turnouts of any other election, really make a difference! When I was canvassing for our local delegate, i knew what he had done as a delegate really hit home with voters, such as, when he voted yes on a bill to help flood victims. The area i was canvassing in had been hit by a flood. Later on, we were invited to his victory party at his home, got to talk to him, etc.
Local politics is where you get less (or no) BS. You don't get the politics of Washington, all dealing with money. I mean, it still is there locally, however, you will find a lot better people at the local level. Local government is where it is at. Not only that, but it can lead you to upper levels, such as the presidency. The local level is where it all starts, right?
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