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What Presidential Campaign Are We Talking About Again?
The Pew Research Center has released a new poll showing that 41% of Americans responding are unable to come up with the names of any Republican presidential candidates without prompting.....no more than 45% came up with the name of GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani -- and even among Republicans the figure was only 57%.
iih|10.25.07 @ 9:26AM|#
And somehow they come up in droves to vote for G or HRC. Well informed democracy.
|10.25.07 @ 9:36AM|#
I recently saw my family, who are pretty good proxies for
"everyman." None of them had heard of Ron Paul. None of them knew
who they were voting for. None of them knew who belonged to which
positions. One (of four) couldn't name ANY non-HRC candidates. And
they live in an early-caucus state.
People just aren't ready for it to be political season yet. They'll
start paying attention the second week of January. You know, 2 days
before they all vote.
T\'Mershi Duween|10.25.07 @ 9:47AM|#
They're all the same.
There's no need to remember individual names.
The catch-all "lying politicians" is all the label that's
needed.
It's not like the candidates are human or anything...
|10.25.07 @ 9:47AM|#
I bet that the people who can't think of the name of a single Presidential candidate could give you the name of every winner of the big truck pull for the last ten years.
|10.25.07 @ 9:48AM|#
"no more than 45% came up with the name of GOP frontrunner
Rudy Giuliani -- and even among Republicans the figure was only
57%."
And these fuckers are still allowed to vote
anyway?
I hereby propose a "Knowledgeable Voter Filter" for all polling
sites. The goal would be to prevent a voter from placing a vote for
any office for which they can't name a candidate without looking at
all the freaking red, white, and blue flag-waving posters at the
church/school entrance.
Hell - it could be a multiple choice test for that matter. I don't
care. Just don't let these putzes mess with my community and
country!
|10.25.07 @ 9:48AM|#
Maybe they'll start caring when we get to be less than a year away from the election.
robc|10.25.07 @ 9:50AM|#
And somehow they come up in droves to vote
Ummm, Americans never vote in droves.
iowan|10.25.07 @ 9:52AM|#
Maybe the ones that don't know anyone yet are the ones that don't care yet and are the ones that actually have their priorities in the right place ;-)
|10.25.07 @ 10:01AM|#
2008 the year we take this county back
RON PAUL
Hope for America
be part of it.
|10.25.07 @ 10:02AM|#
Most Americans are oblivious to the primary process anyway, and
just worry about who their party picks, and then vote for that
person when November comes around.
These are people like my grandmother, who lives in Maryland. When
my mom asked her what she did that day (this was November 2006),
she said that she went out to vote. When asked for whom she voted,
she said she didn't know who any of the candidates were, so she
just voted all Republican.
|10.25.07 @ 10:06AM|#
Maybe the ones that don't know anyone yet are the ones that
don't care yet and are the ones that actually have their priorities
in the right place ;-)
Except that it's completely impossible to listen to *any* news,
watch any news, read any newspapers, or visit any news sites
without hearing the names of candidates repeatedly. So yes, these
people are complete and total morons. Idiocracy is
starting to look like a documentary.
|10.25.07 @ 10:15AM|#
Idiocracy is starting to look like a documentary
Chris S.
That movie actually was really depressing. Especially the part in
the beginning with the two family trees...And the part with the
sports drink... heck, the whole thing was too close to home.
Episiarch|10.25.07 @ 10:21AM|#
I find it reassuring that people don't know. It means that most
people aren't fucking political wonks who live and breathe
politics, and instead just have regular, real lives.
However, it would be nice if they voted that way, i.e. that the
less government the better as we could all just get on with our
regular, real lives.
|10.25.07 @ 10:28AM|#
How abut restricting voting to property owners, or men, or
whites, or people who can read and speak English, or people who can
afford a poll tax?
Listen, there have always been underinformed and uniformed voters
and there always will be. There is no need to clutch the pearls
over the situation. We've muddled through and become a fairly
successful nation in spite of the fact that we're basically a bunch
of 'tards. (Don't worry scrote. There are plenty of 'tards out
there living really kick ass lives. My first wife was 'tarded.
She's a pilot now.)
In fact, I'd argue that it is irrational to spend valuable time and
resources fretting over presidential political maneuvering well
before the first primary / caucus unless you live in Iowa or New
Hampshire (and maybe South Carolina and Nevada) since whomever is
perceived to be the front runner after these votes will be the
nominee. Unless you live in these two (or four) states and you plan
to vote, all your angst and fervor and agita and glee will be for
naught.
By February 5th (or whenever it ends up) it will be over and we'll
have the general election monkey business to suffer through.
Chances are very high it will be Hillary vs. Rudy. Which will be
mildly interesting from an inside baseball perspective (Hillary is
loved, loved, loved by Dems; hated by Reps and 50/50 with Inds vs.
Rudy's support among Reps is shallow but Inds don't hate him; and
then we throw in the Iraq War wildcard).
Most people rightly ignore politics because it doesn't really
matter to their lives except at the very margins and about stuff
they really don't care fuck all about even if they should.
Meanwhile, Welcome to Carl's Jr. Would you like to try our EXTRA
BIG ASS TACO? Now with more MOLECULES!
Someone Who Doesn\'t Want to L|10.25.07 @ 10:30AM|#
There's no chance I'll vote and I can name all of the Democratic
and Republican candidates (except Duncan Hunter).
... there's something wrong with my life.
|10.25.07 @ 10:37AM|#
Who cares? For one thing, this is rational ignorance; of the
many people running now only a few have any real chance, so why
waste time and energy learning about all of them? It is efficient
to let other people winnow out the inferior candidates.
For another, people that don't pay any attention to politics worry
me less than the leftist fanatics and religious fanatics who are
obsessed with politics, always coming up with ways for the state to
steal my stuff or keep me from seeing girl's boobs. Libertarians
(and conservatives, too) should be happy there are such people out
there.
Reinmoose,
Voting party line is also an efficiency measure; figuring out every
candidate's positions and life history is time consuming, and not
fun for a lot of people. It makes sense for them to choose a party
that roughly fits their values or interests, and vote for whoever
that party selects.
Chris S.,
It is impossible to not hear about sports, and yet I still know
nothing about sports. For some people following politics is a fun
hobby, but not for everybody. I know people who carefully follow
sports, and I know people who carefully follow Broadway. I don't
know jack shit about sports or Broadway, but I doubt the Broadway
and sports aficionados think I'm an "idiot" or a "moron." Life is
brief, and you should spend your precious time on things you
enjoy.
|10.25.07 @ 10:53AM|#
mitch -
only a few have any *real* chance because people only pay a shred
of attention to politics. It's not the other way around.
I understand the efficiency of voting party line, but that doesn't
mean that the party is representing you except for on the
high-publicity items that they don't actually do anything about
once elected.
|10.25.07 @ 10:55AM|#
"The Pew Research Center has released a new poll showing
that 41% of Americans responding are unable to come up with the
names of any Republican presidential candidates without
prompting."
That's why I love Hit & Run! In a world of bad news, they
always see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Just as I was starting to fear that people were starting to think
that politics were important, here comes Doherty to set the record
straight. Thank you for that. ...this has restored my faith in
humanity again--at least for the moment.
|10.25.07 @ 10:56AM|#
I'm not sure I'd want to eat a taco with molecules in it. Isn't that dangerous?
|10.25.07 @ 10:57AM|#
The year away election...
I never understood this. I hear it all the time, but I just don't
understand it. If you truly care about your country, your freedom,
and the future of your children, you MUST pay attention. It is ONLY
through the primaries that you really get a choice.
The wrong people get to control who will be your next dictator
because so few people participate in the primaries. And then we
hear people actually WHINE about being forced to deal with it. On
political blogs no less!! What, did you think you were here for
sports?
Yep. It's true. We really do get the government we deserve.
|10.25.07 @ 10:58AM|#
joe,
Thank you! Your account has been charged. Your balance is zero.
Please come back when you can afford to make a purchase.
|10.25.07 @ 11:05AM|#
It is impossible to not hear about sports, and yet I still
know nothing about sports. For some people following politics is a
fun hobby, but not for everybody. I know people who carefully
follow sports, and I know people who carefully follow Broadway. I
don't know jack shit about sports or Broadway, but I doubt the
Broadway and sports aficionados think I'm an "idiot" or a "moron."
Life is brief, and you should spend your precious time on things
you enjoy.
Yeah, following politics could be called a hobby (particularly for
some people - myself included), and voting itself isn't necessarily
rational. On the other hand, if you're not at least aware
of changes in your world that could alter your take home pay by as
much as 10%, completely change the way you receive medical care,
etc., then yes, you are a total moron. People have every right to
be stupid, and every right to be ignorant, but they're still stupid
and ignorant.
|10.25.07 @ 11:11AM|#
Oh, I forgot. My last two posts were sponsored by Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator.
|10.25.07 @ 11:41AM|#
Except that it's completely impossible to listen to *any*
news, watch any news, read any newspapers, or visit any news sites
without hearing the names of candidates repeatedly. So yes, these
people are complete and total morons. Idiocracy is starting to look
like a documentary.
You can get by just fine (and not be a moron) without paying
attention to the news, in whatever form. Believe it or not, there
are people out there who have other things on their minds.
It's early yet. The campaigns are still in fundraising mode. Once
they get into actual campaigning mode, the carpetbombing of TV and
radio with campaign ads will change those numbers.
The Democratic Republican|10.25.07 @ 11:57AM|#
Thank you Scott McDonnell -- you're absolutely right.
Libertarians are the worst about griping and moaning and then doing
NOTHING about it. Ron Paul matters, if for no other reason than
that he got some of those people to get off their asses and do
something.
I have to admit that the statement I hate the most is that the
"real" election is in November 2008 and, as a result, hearing
pundits and other morons talk about how we need fewer choices so
that we can get down to the "real" debate. Maybe one of those
political geniuses can explain to me how you have MORE debate with
FEWER options and ideas.
The Democratic Republican|10.25.07 @ 11:59AM|#
ChrisO -- You can "get by just fine" without paying attention to the news, but you don't have any right to gripe about the way things are. The last thing we need is people taking their voting cues from TV and radio ads.
|10.25.07 @ 12:00PM|#
It is impossible to not hear about sports, and yet I still
know nothing about sports. For some people following politics is a
fun hobby, but not for everybody. I know people who carefully
follow sports, and I know people who carefully follow Broadway. I
don't know jack shit about sports or Broadway, but I doubt the
Broadway and sports aficionados think I'm an "idiot" or a "moron."
Life is brief, and you should spend your precious time on things
you enjoy.
mitch, a spokesman for perspective! Well said.
|10.25.07 @ 12:06PM|#
The last thing we need is people taking their voting cues
from TV and radio ads.
TDR, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but that is the
FIRST thing we have.
|10.25.07 @ 12:19PM|#
Except that it's completely impossible to listen to *any* news, watch any news, read any newspapers, or visit any news sites without hearing the names of candidates repeatedly. So yes, these people are complete and total morons. Idiocracy is starting to look like a documentary.
Bull. If you have foxnews, cnn, cspan, or msnbc on 24 hours a day -
sure you may have a point. But the other 9000 tv stations and other
media outlets barely spend more than 5 minutes or a few inches of
space on the primary campaign.
It is impossible to not hear about sports, and yet I still know nothing about sports. For some people following politics is a fun hobby, but not for everybody.
Well said.
|10.25.07 @ 12:37PM|#
ChrisO -- You can "get by just fine" without paying
attention to the news, but you don't have any right to gripe about
the way things are. The last thing we need is people taking their
voting cues from TV and radio ads.
Sadly, much of the "news" isn't really news anymore, but
infotainment. I doubt a person loses much by not paying attention
that.
As to relying on campaign ads, I agree with you. However, I was
confining my point to the narrow context of this thread, which is
candidate recognition. That undoubtedly will increase when the
candidates are busier getting their names out to the non-donating
portion of the public.
|10.25.07 @ 12:39PM|#
Wouldn't the Pew poll results suggest that current polls on candidate preferences aren't worth very much? Or do those polls screen out unlikely voters? Same question for the Pew poll itself.
The Democratic Republican|10.25.07 @ 12:44PM|#
J sub D -- Of course. Paid ads are pretty much the ONLY thing
people hear. It makes me cry soft tears at night.
(Well, not really -- I don't take it THAT seriously...but I am
making plans to flee in the event of a Hillary v. Rudy
showdown).
|10.25.07 @ 1:06PM|#
Paid ads are pretty much the ONLY thing people
hear.
Make that "the only thing people pay attention to." To
expand on someone else's post, I'm sure I heard who won the Stanley
Cup last year. I'm sure I read the headlines about it. I'm sure
that people talked to me about it. Hellifino who won the damned
thing. I read and hear about it, but it just doesn't go into
pemanent memory. Disclaimer, I like sports, just not hockey.
|10.25.07 @ 1:28PM|#
ut I am making plans to flee in the event of a Hillary v.
Rudy showdown
I'm with you there, pal. Grand Cayman or Switzerland? Beach bunnies
or snow bunnies? So tough to choose.
robc|10.25.07 @ 2:01PM|#
ChrisO,
Personally, I would go with the Caymans. I use to be one phone call
away from a job in Switzerland but its been too long now, probably.
Its been over 16 years since I lived there and about 12 years since
I contacted anyone. Not that I have any contacts in the Caymans,
but its closer and has beaches. Plus, once the Swiss joined the UN
it wasnt as obvious of a great fallback plan.
|10.25.07 @ 2:21PM|#
I wish the media would report facts like this along with the
countless polls that tell us who is "leading". If only 25% of the
country is paying attention at all, why should undecided voters put
any credence in the results of the so-called "scientific" polls
this early?
And why should the media limit its news coverage to the so-called
front-runners, or give the early poll leaders proportionately more
time in the debates?
Mike Laursen|10.25.07 @ 3:08PM|#
I find it reassuring that people don't know. It means that
most people aren't fucking political wonks who live and breathe
politics, and instead just have regular, real lives.
However, it would be nice if they voted that way, i.e. that the
less government the better as we could all just get on with our
regular, real lives.
Amen, Episiarch.
|10.25.07 @ 3:44PM|#
Grand Cayman or Switzerland? Beach bunnies or snow bunnies?
Or Moundhouse Nevada, where the bunnies actually put out! (for a
fee, of course)
T|10.25.07 @ 5:30PM|#
I find it reassuring that people don't know. It means that
most people aren't fucking political wonks who live and breathe
politics, and instead just have regular, real lives.
But without fucking political wonks who would post here?
|10.25.07 @ 5:39PM|#
"I bet that the people who can't think of the name of a single
Presidential candidate could give you the name of every winner of
the big truck pull for the last ten years."
True. That sounds like the majority of folks inj south VA, upstate
NY, and almost all of ILL to me. Those states should be excluded
from voting.
|10.25.07 @ 5:40PM|#
Also western michigan. They are truck-pull lovers too. Exclude michigan from voting.
|10.25.07 @ 5:52PM|#
I just read the bare majority of people living in DC dont know who Rudy is. Exclude DC.
|10.26.07 @ 2:07PM|#
It depresses me that I can name most of the Republicans and Democrats who are running. What a miserable pack of vermin they all are.
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