I have a new rule. If you tag me in a note on Facebook, you may become a guest columnist on Peach Pundit. Or you may not. Todays involuntary post comes to us from Kellie White Weeks, f/k/a Umustbekidding:
Have you ever thought about running for political office? Or have you ever noticed it’s always the same people running, with the same group of supporters backing them?
Whether you want to run as an independent or against an incumbent, it’s like going up against a well oiled machine. These days a campaign can cost you a pretty penny which is why most are discouraged to run. If you’re running as a third party candidate you’ll need a petition from 5% of the voters which is a daunting task.
Just a shot at the City Council could cost you $25,000 for a part time position that only pays about $10,000 per year. If you look at the last run for our State Senate, each candidate spent around $100,000 for a job that pays $14,000 per year. You might as well forget about a Federal level position, that could cost a small fortune and you’ll need an army of volunteers.
Why would anyone spend or donate so much to a campaign? What is the pay off? It all comes down to power and influence. Those who want the job believe they have the knowledge and judgment to do the right thing; they just need the votes and contributions to get their ideas heard. That’s where the “machine” comes in handy. It can get you the volunteers and money but it comes with a price, it now has influence over you and how you vote. So, now the wonderful candidate that set out to make a difference is obligated to a group or individual that helped him get elected.
How are we going to change politics without changing campaigns? We can’t.
If you want to start getting people in offices that aren’t tied to anyone, you have to start volunteering and you have to start voting the incumbent out. They all need to be fired! It is time we really “Change” politics.
Have you ever voted outside your party? Have you ever really looked at a third party? You should. They may share more of your beliefs than the traditional Republican or Democrat platforms. Once we get more independents in office, there will be no votes “divided straight down party lines”.
We have people on every level of government that have been in office for years with no real results. Every time they are up for election, they give us the same old song and dance that keeps them in power for a few more years. We vote they back in because we are afraid the challenger is worst or the challenger won’t hold the clout the incumbent has. After all he has been in office since the dawn of time.
Time is money and they’ve wasted enough of that already.
Next election let your voice be heard loud and clear, lets vote out everyone and start over!
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Bill – I’ll scratch your eyes out for that.
5-10 challengers in that race.
I think any of what I jokingly refer to as the big 3, Cagle, Handel and Oxendine could successfully primary Isackson. Those are in alphabetical order, not preference on my part.
Each of the 3 have a statewide name recognition, networks and campaigns in place.
I makes me sick to see the 3 of them campaigning on our dime. They have jobs to do yet they spend more time out on the campaign trail. Anyone running for an office, who is already in office, should resign!
Terran:
I readily admit to being an ideologue – and I would argue that virtually every one else here is as well.
Think about it: How often have any of our discussions here on any issue of philosophy changed a single one of our minds?
Besides, when you ideology is nothing more than FREEDOM, those who are against you are against FREEDOM – a very bad place to be with the average American citizen.
“and I would argue that virtually every one else here is as well.”
Nope.
when your ideology is nothing more than FREEDOM
…you really need to broaden your horizons.
those who are against you are against FREEDOM
The anarchist could say the same.
DKB wrote How often have any of our discussions here on any issue of philosophy changed a single one of our minds?
I don’t know about any single issues, but I can firmly declare that the gang here on PP has made a tremendous move away from GOP incumbency worship and toward recognition of just how corrupt and flawed the party establishment has become.
When I first came to PP, I regarded most GOPers on here with deep mistrust, because they were blindly supporting people who were doing the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the party stands for. Folks like that cannot be trusted. Now most here realize the huge disconnect and that they were supporting a lie.
PPunditeers have a diversity of attitudes, but I feel much more comfortable now with you folks than I do with almost any politician.
I can respect a different opinion.
I cannot respect those supporting performance that is opposite to those stated opinions and beliefs.
If you believe it, support it, don’t assist in gutting it by electing butchers, then resume proclaiming the principle you vicariously killed.
Dash:
I’m a minarchist myself, so I tend to agree much more with the anarchists than with the Second Coming of Our Lord, President Barack Hussein Obama.
They STILL have it wrong, however, because even I admit that SOME government must still exist. (National defense and courts primarily)
Just nowhere NEAR the level we have right now, and in many ways even less than many Libertarians are comfortable with.
[The anarchists] STILL have it wrong, however, because even I admit that SOME government must still exist.
By your own analysis, you are against freedom. You have given the anarchist the rhetorical high ground all wrapped up in a bow. So what have we learned? That life and politics is more complicated than “if you’re agin’ me you’re agin’ freedom”?
Nah.
I don’t want anarchy/ Chaos even though Charlie thinks I might. I just want us to vote out everyone who has been in office too long; start term limits so no one has so much control over other members; stop spending, then cut all unnecessary spending and programs; stop all foreign aid until we have our own house in order – at that time we will consider it for countries who like us, maybe not; pass a law that anyone running for office must resign from their current office to do so; give powers back to the states so each state can decide what’s best for it citizens and the federal gov’t will go back to having limited powers and lower taxes so we can prosper. I’m sure I missed somethings but you get my point.
I’m mad as heck and I’m not going to take it any more!
I just love that line.
I don’t know exactly what Herman Cain is dealing with right now physically, medically, etc., but if he is able to run, someone needs to talk him into hitting the trail again. I think his second shot against Isakson could be very successful.
“Anyone running for an office, who is already in office, should resign!”
A rule like that could create a lot of chaos in the year leading up to each election. As people resign, their positions have to be filled, and a lot of shuffling would happen down the political chain from each seat as people ‘move up.’
Dash:
Like I said, I’d rather THEM be in power than the Fascists that have been running the country for quite a while now.
As has been pointed out recently:
It is far easier to GROW govt when it is too small than it is to LIMIT govt when it is too big.
jsm,
I agree. Everything Cain said about what kind of Senator Isakson would be was 100% accurate. As Cain said back then, it’s time for bold leadership.
Of course, I would rather see Herman as governor.
JSM- you’re right resigning could cause a problem it could also stop people from running b/c they won’t have their safety net / current job to fall back on. We are paying them to campaign while “regular” people who want to run, have to work and try to campaign on the weekends.
What stops you from running for office?
I would love to see Herman Cain run again but he has such a good job on the radio, where his voice is heard, that I doubt he’d do it. After all he would have to RESIGN!!
Dash:
Like I said, I’d rather THEM be in power
Hmm. Anarchists in power. That would be something. Exactly what I have no idea.
WOLVERINES!!!!
(for those of you who happen to be a fan of the movie Red Dawn…which is rumored to have an updated release called Green Dawn when people wake-up one morning to see their communities taken over by the “Green Police” who are after eradicating every possible source of carbon production in your home and on your property).
people wake-up one morning to see their communities taken over by the “Green Police” who are after eradicating every possible source of carbon production in your home and on your property
I try to sleep. They’re wide awake. They won’t let me alone. They don’t get paid to take vacations or let me alone. They spy on me. I try to hide. They won’t let me alone. They persecute me – they’re the judge and jury all in one.
If / when Eric Von Haessler officially announces he’s running for Senate, I’ll be supporting him…
http://www.youtube.com/user/vhforsenate
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69466138922&ref=share
David, Is he still on the radio? I’ve never heard of him so I looked him up and saw he is a radio personality.
Will you be at the LP convention on Sat?
Let’s start with something simple: Ban all candidates from running for more than one office at the same time.
I just read that I am a Rightwing Extremism because of my views according to the new homeland security report. If you believe in the Constitution, freedom, securing our borders and lowering taxes, you too are a Rightwing Extremism.
“What stops you from running for office?”
A full-time job.
JSM,
Exactly. That’s my point. I’m sure you’d be a great candidate but you work while full time politicians get paid to campaign.
We need more people who have actually “worked” for a living and are willing to limit their time in office.
Justice would have the enablers of the fraud in office when the collapse comes, not some truly patriotic reformer getting there too late to save the day.
We are past the point of no return.
Sane people need to be there to pick up the pieces, but winning a U.S. Senate seat before or during the collapse is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Johnny participated gleefully in the spending orgy. He is soaked in offal and reeks, yet he is pretending that he was on Pluto, Mars, or the moon – anyplace but in Washington DC, destroying America.
He broke her, but he can’t fix her, nor can any successor.
Johnny yucking it up after plotting with Kennedy
He can be beaten and soundly, but no one in their right mind would want it.
I actually feel sorry for the man. He learned and practiced ‘old school’ politics only to achieve high office just in time to be blamed for destroying the country. I would hate to live with that legacy.
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