politics (and not even Australian politics)

[seldear]

Because I'm curious.

I know I have a considerably broader f-list (in terms of US politics) than allisnow and I'm curious about the current Presidential race. I'd vote for Obama just to have a black man in the white house! But then, as a not-an-American-citizen, I wouldn't be subject to his policies, so they're of little interest to me, while I imagine they're going to make a difference to Americans.

Besides, American politics is so much more cut-throat and entertaining than Australian ones. Who cares about Iemma vs. Debnam, or Howard vs. Rudd? Australia's sitting in this handbasket and it's getting mighty hot (although that's probably the global warming that none of the politicians wanted to believe in until the last six months). And all I know is that in the Australian political races, I'm going to vote for: a) whoever isn't in power, b) whoever isn't going to give preferentials to whoever isn't in power.

Anyway, I'm inviting my f-list to go (and skew?) allisnow's poll. I say 'skew' because a lot of the peeps I see online are of the Dem persuasion, while Alli is 100% Republican.

--

Weekend was good with suds_from_aus. We went places, did stuff, checked out the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations in town, I dragged her out to a sci-fi meeting and promised a couple of teens that a) I'd watch the rest of Heroes so he could have a conversation about it with someone who isn't i) American, ii) adolescent, and b) I'd drop her a mail during the week since I didn't get to speak with her during the meet.

Then we went to the Lindt Cafe in Sydney and had 'dinner'.

--

*listens to the rain pouring down outside, the way it has for the last day*

Yanno, if Sydney had their water catchment in the middle of the city, we wouldn't be having a water crisis. (And if Sydney Prisses had brain cells enough to realise that all water is ultimately recycled and do they think every dingo wanders around the outback with its legs crossed so it won't piss in the stream that runs into the Sydney water catchment? Where the hell do they think all the barramundi go to the toilet?) Whose brilliant idea was it to put the water reservoir for 4 million people out west where the average rainfall is significantly lower than the Sydney basin?

Oh man. Monday. *facepalms*

Can I skip this week entirely and just go for the weekend?

Comments

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Actually, from what I'm aware of I have quite a few liberals on my flist -- they're just not taking part in the poll, I guess, because they fear my wrath. Mwahaha. Only I think a lot of them are liberal cause they're fer'ners ;)

Your comment about Obama makes me laugh because, like I said in the post, I think the only reason people are even paying attention to him is because he's black (and not Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson). But I bet you couldn't get one of ten people to tell you even one of his policies, or one thing he's done as a senator. It's just the novelty of it.

I'd have no problem voting for a woman, or a black person, or Hispanic, or Asian, or whatever the hell they were, as long as I could jive with their platform.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Truly told, I don't know what platform most of my own politicians are running on, let alone yours! (If we even have platforms here in Australia.)

Most Australian politicians tend to run on social/economic policy promises - although the actual zeitgeist of political movements tend to be over decades and more difficult to sway in the 6 months that an election campaign has in which to run.

And the American stances that make the headlines over here tend to be the big dividers: pro/anti-war, pro/anti-abortion, pro/anti-stemcell research, pro/anti-...well, just about anything you can think of, I suppose.

Although this may also be a skewed perspective from someone whose interests are reasonably specific and doen't always feel that public policy should mirror her private views. :)

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

You probably have platforms, but they're spelled with an extra 'u' or something weird ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah I'm not buying that you'd vote for anything other than a WASP man. Your Barack Obama icon is revoltingly bigoted. I was going to call it racist, but you manage to hit the trifecta of racist, gender-biased, and religious discrimination. Something you can be proud of.

As for his policies, I bet you couldn't get one person in ten that would know of a policy from any of the current candidates. After all, we're still two years away from the election. And I don't care about their policies. I care about their character. I want someone who doesn't stoop to the kind of mudslinging you've displayed. I want someone who hasn't been bought by the special interests. Since he's only got $500k in his war chest as compared to Hillary's $11mil I don't think the special interests have bought Obama yet. I want someone who doesn't pander to the far right or the far left. I want someone who uses their brain instead of their polling numbers. I want someone who will do their best for ALL Americans.

Calling him a "novelty" is petty and again racist. Why isn't Hillary a "novelty"? Why isn't Guliani a "novelty" to you? He has even less national political experience than Obama. Just because the UN is located in NYC doesn't give Guliani international policy experience either.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Oooh an anonymouse! Yay!

Yeah I'm not buying that you'd vote for anything other than a WASP man.

Then it's a good thing I'm not trying to sell you anything, isn't it?

Something you can be proud of.

Anything involving the word 'trifecta' is certainly something to be proud of.

As for his policies, I bet you couldn't get one person in ten that would know of a policy from any of the current candidates.

Not something I'm especially proud of, as an American. The election may be 2 years away, but most of the candidates or candidates-to-be have still been part of the political arena for years... decades, perhaps.

And I don't care about their policies. I care about their character.

Color me shocked.

I want someone who doesn't stoop to the kind of mudslinging you've displayed.

Good thing I'm not running for President, isn't it? ;)

I want someone who doesn't pander to the far right or the far left. I want someone who uses their brain instead of their polling numbers. I want someone who will do their best for ALL Americans.

*wonders where that orchestral music is coming from*

Calling him a "novelty" is petty and again racist.

Duh, of course it's racist -- I'm conservative. I'm racist by default, right?

Why isn't Hillary a "novelty"?

Oh, I have other words for Hil.

Just because the UN is located in NYC doesn't give Guliani international policy experience either.

Oh, trust me, the UN is not what comes to mind when I think of positive international policy.

[angst-angel.livejournal.com]

Mmm, chocolate!! Did you have anything good? :D

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Dark hot chocolate and a kind of kirsche-cake.

Mmmm...

[beatrice_otter]

Republicans get a great deal of flack for being "sexist" and "racist." In my experience, the percentage of "-ist idiots" is about the same in each party; the difference is that the prejudiced assholes in the Democratic party tend to be rich, upper-class intellectuals who say the right things so they can look good and have lots of practice rationalizing their actions. The prejudiced assholes in the Republican party tend to be redneck SOBs who are at least honest about their prejudices. In practice, what this means is that the Democrats often put people of minority groups in visible positions purely so that they look good (and can then boast about it). Republicans, while not being immune to this phenomenon, are far more likely to look at qualifications and abilities, first, and skin color/gender second. Which is actually better for the advancement of those races than just trying to fill a quota. Note that Powell and Rice, who achieved higher political offices than any American of color before them, did so under a Republican administration. Note that the Democratic Black political candidate's only real qualification for President at this time that we know of is his skin color.

Me, I vote competence over color every time. Whether that color is white, black, or purple.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Note that Powell and Rice, who achieved higher political offices than any American of color before them, did so under a Republican administration.

And note that whenever the Dems talk about accomplished black people (like after the whole 'Obama is articulate' debacle), they never mention Powell and Condi. They mention Sharpton and Jackson. Eww...

Also, I think I love you. *smooch*

[skydiver119.livejournal.com]

before i'd decide who to vote for, i'd have to see how they act/react about issues. Right now, none of them are committing themselves to anything polarizing and are trying to be as middle of the road as possible.

who i would vote for? someone that's not a bigot in disguise. someone that doesn't hide predjudice behind 'family values'

someone that is willing to look at more than one side of an issue. someone that is smart enough to realize that what they might want might not necessarily be what is best for the country, and who has the wisdom to make a choice that is the best for the most, instead of the one that fits the buzzword of the week.

someone that has the balls to admit that they're wrong. someone that's gotten out of thier ivory tower lately and has some idea how the majority of the country lives.

Someone that's not gonna let thier ego make decisions and has the intelligence to seek the counsel of others...and knows when to ignore those simply wishing to pull strings..

someone that recognizes that, if they want to keep this country in one piece, they need to broker compromises on many sides instead of just blindly following one or the other.

of course, with all the calculated rhetoric and hype, i don't hold much hope in us getting the best qualified person for the job, we'll get the one who has the correct friends to purchase his/her position who will then spend the next 4 years paying back the favors they racked up getting 'commander in chief' added to thier resume.

[pandora-576.livejournal.com]

Well, in all honesty I have to wonder if anyone could do a worse job than the current President. I have absolutely no faith in Bush and the fact that he is surrounded by people who only say what he wants to hear scares me even more.