I am frustrated!
I got a call today from my contact at NHPR - wondering why I had not "blogged" lately. My response to him was that I was frustrated and feeling a little apathetic about the "Urban Democratic" discussions I have had with my fellow voters of late. One of my responsibilities as the NH Pen Pal for this project is to be the ears and eyes around town - see what people are thinking and saying and then post it on this website. Well, I have been doing just that and I am dissapointed in the responses I am getting - I have even begun to question my own commitment to the process!
I ask people what they think of the candidates and can generally get them to say who they are supporting but when I ask why that particular candidate - the common answer is ... " I don't know - I just like him." Now these are people who I admire and respect and value their input. I have begun to wonder what makes anyone pick a particular candidate - one person said I am voting for whoever Jeanne Shaheen supports - and I had to tell her who it was! Others say because my Dad (or someone else they know) says he's the one. Now I ask you - is that a good reason to vote for someone? I began to disect my reasons for picking anyone in any election.
I believe the advertisments to be canned - the media to be selective in how they present a particular candidate - the signs to be plentiful - the telephone calls to be annoying - the 100's of emails, too time consuming to read and still have a life ~ I still just don't know!
I want to vote my heart and my concience - I want to see a Democrat in the White House - and I want that person to have integrity and to be genuine. How does anyone determine that by the information we are receiving though PSA's and the like.
I check voting history - but what if they have none? That brings me back to square one - do I go for the person that others are saying has a CHANCE of beating George Bush - even though he is not in my top 3 choices - or do I go for the candidate that I actually believe has integtrity - OR do I go with MY top pick (right now). What ultimately led me to pick him is the people he surrounds himself with - particularly his wife. Not only that - he is being supported by Jeanne Shaheen - an incredible woman from New Hampshire that that I admire and who, I believe, has had a positive impact on this State!
Ideally i would like to have a few minutes one on one with each candidate and just have a simple conversation - no media around - no posing or positioning. I think that would help me make up my mind -
Pat, Making an informed
Pat,
Making an informed choice is not an easy task!
For my own education as for whom I will vote, I have gone to different candidates' campaign headquarters to get position papers,(which I still haven't read through)and mostly gotten on the internet to find information, which so far seems to be a much better source for research than anything on television, radio(even NPR) or newspapers.
One tool which you may find to be helpful in finding your candidate is Project Vote Smart, a web site set up by a full spectrum of political
people who are interested in presenting as much information as possible about all the candidates.
You can find brief biographies, candidates positions on important issues, and if they are/have been elected officials, their voting record on different issues, what organizations and interest groups that agree/disagree with those votes, and descriptions of the groups themselves.
Whatever you do, please try not to settle for someone. As to meeting candidates one-on one, you live in a state where that is possible. Presidential candidates appear not just in big halls, but in coffee shops, restaurants, and workplaces. This is one New Hampshire "advantage" you should take advantage of.
Good luck,
Joan DeYoreo