If you were a flower, what kind would you be?

Posted at 2:55 PM on April 14, 2006 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

I'm interested in big weighty political issues and all, but one of the things I like about campaign season, is when you ask a candidate questions they don't expect that aren't about big weighty issues. Since they don't expect it, they usually don't have an answer prepared, and the ones that do come out are illuminating because they can often reveal the person beneath the persona.

Laugh if you will, but this is what made Barbara Walters' interviews somewhat enlightening. Don't get me wrong, I don't recommend asking a politician, "if you were a tree, what kind would you be?" But I often sit around thinking of questions that I'd ask. This year, I only got to pose them to Kelly Doran -- and I didn't have that many at the time.

I could send out surveys for candidates to fill out, but there are two problems with that: (a) an increasing number of candidates -- Peter Hutchinson comes to mind as the latest -- refuse to fill out surveys and (b) you don't really know if the candidate, or some staffer, is filling them out and you lose the spontaneity of the candidate and the look on his/her face when they realize they are now working without a net.

The Associated Press does this every year, but usually not until August or so. Too late for my purposes.

Most of these include things like: what car do you drive, what's your favorite movie, what's your favorite song etc. But I'm thinking of some more and so far today I've come up with:

1. What's the last thing you tried to fix at your house that resulted in disaster?

2. What's the one record album (OK, CD you whippersnappers) you purchased when you were younger that you're now embarrassed to own?

3. If you told loved ones that when you die you want your ashes scattered somewhere, but a law was subsequently passed allowing ashes to only be scattered in a Home Depot, what department would you want to be scattered in and why?

4. What was the last argument about with your spouse in which you finally admitted you were wrong and he/she was right?

and my new favorite

5. Who was the last person you talked to that made you change your mind about something.

So, I know all the candidates seem to keep a close eye on Polinaut. If you want, feel free to answer any of these.

For everyone else, feel free to add your own.

(By the way in the interest of full disclosure, my answers would be (1) a lawnmower. I bought an engine repair manual, followed it as best I could...put it back together and was thinking 'man, i could do this for a living,' threw all the parts that were left over on the workbench and started 'er up. It caught fire and belched smoke. I rolled it down to the end of the driveway and put a "free" sign on it.

(2) Learn to Do the Hustle - And that's all I have to say about that. And, yeah, it was an 8-track.

(3) The tool crib. And, no, it's not even close.

(4) I have absolutely no clue.

(5) It's usually the last person I talked to. But if it's one I listened to (as opposed to talk to), I think it would be the soldier from Anoka who we profiled a few weeks ago. But I think I've changed my mind again since then....and again...and again...

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Comments (2)

Whoa, MPR dude guy — candidates don't answer online questionaires! So, on their behalf...

1. What's the last thing you tried to fix at your house that resulted in disaster?

A. Mike Hatch: Two headstrong daughters.

2. What's the one record album (OK, CD you whippersnappers) you purchased when you were younger that you're now embarrassed to own?

A. Ford Bell: Rick James' Superfreak.

3. If you told loved ones that when you die you want your ashes scattered somewhere, but a law was subsequently passed allowing ashes to only be scattered in a Home Depot, what department would you want to be scattered in and why?

A. Mark Kennedy: Power Tools, because I've met all three of them, and they're really nice guys.

4. What was the last argument about with your spouse in which you finally admitted you were wrong and he/she was right?

A. Marty Sabo: That DC is no place to spend the rest of our lives.

5. Who was the last person you talked to that made you change your mind about something.

A. Randy Kelly: Karl Rove, who somehow convinced me that winning isn't everything and anyhow everyone loves George, he's the new Reagan.

Posted by da Wege | April 14, 2006 11:09 PM

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Most of these include things like: what car do you drive, what's your favorite movie, what's your favorite song etc. But I'm thinking of some more and so far today I've come up with:

1. What's the last thing you tried to fix at your house that resulted in disaster?
nothing
2. What's the one record album (OK, CD you whippersnappers) you purchased when you were younger that you're now embarrassed to own?
1812 overture
3. If you told loved ones that when you die you want your ashes scattered somewhere, but a law was subsequently passed allowing ashes to only be scattered in a Home Depot, what department would you want to be scattered in and why?
The lighting dept.
I want to be a light to brighten life for all
4. What was the last argument about with your spouse in which you finally admitted you were wrong and he/she was right?
paying bills
and my new favorite
children
5. Who was the last person you talked to that made you change your mind about something.
my son
So, I know all the candidates seem to keep a close eye on Polinaut. If you want, feel free to answer any of these.

For everyone else, feel free to add your own.

Posted by Sheryl Little | February 25, 2008 11:49 PM

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