In the current political climate, would you ever run for office?
Posted at 5:00 AM on October 28, 2010
by Eric Ringham
(27 Comments)
Filed under: Politics/Government
Veteran politicians say voter anger is high this year. Attack ads are crowding the airwaves. Today's question: In the current political climate, would you ever run for office?
Comments (27)
I'd make sure the public knew and we'd take action on the truth of the Unconstitutional Criminalization of Hemp/Cannabis/Marijuana/Ganjika, THE WORLD'S MOST USEFUL AND VERSATILE PLANT. Hemp/Cannabis/Marijuana/ Ganjika should be available to be cultivated by whomever for every good use.
The rest would be a piece of cake.
I would, but I'm afraid the pain of the experience would outweigh the good I would hope to accomplish. A colleague of mine is currently running for office. I don't agree with many of his views, but he's a good and sincere man of integrity. He's been dealing with vulgar phone calls at home, a supporter finding someone has defecated on a campaign sign in the yard, and generally being told he is a terrible person. I wouldn't want to subject my family to that level of incessant personal attack.
Walk or skip perhaps, my spondylolisthesis suggests refraining from running.
What Party?
to borrow from Richard Bandler,
The Pagan Party.
Nope. I'm neither interested in begging for money for the campaign, nor taking graft and special favors should I win. I'll leave all that to the alpha dogs and just do my omega thing.
Hell no. Like my mother once said when Obama was running for president, "who would want the job?" To begin with, I'm not a millionaire so I can't buy the office. I don't make friends with snakes living under rocks, (lobbyists). I don't associate with pirates, (corporations), and most of all, I don't like to tell LIES!
Absolutely. The right to vote and be represented is something Americans have fought long and hard for (the American Revolution, the Civil War, etc.). I consider it the most noble thing we can do in this country, and quite honestly, equal representation seems to be a point missed by politicians, businesses, and the electorate.
Yes, because others have asked me to run and because concerns and ideas wake me each morning. Further, I consider the present, major candidates for Governor and 6th District Representative to the Congress of the United States of (North) America, to be negligent in many ways; especially in failing to address the use of our Minnesota National Guard in deployments around the World. Our warring, wasteful ways (with 700 + military bases in 120 + countries) is bringing us to bankruptcy in dollars and in friendship. I may have had a part in finally getting information into the media. We feel the costs in suffering and in lives. In dollars, it is reported Minnesota has deployed over 13,000 guard--It is also reported that the cost per year for each deployed soldier is $ 1.2 million dollars; this indicates $ 15 billion dollars. One national organization states the cost has been $ 25 billion for the foreign use of the Minnesota Guard. Most people have only one wallet for payments whether costs are state or federal. Governor Pawlenty failed to answer my cost question to him at a press conference. Further, I consider it irresponsible for the major candidates for Governor to not address their potential role as Commander and Chief of our Guard. Both life and the $ 15 billion are bigger than the possiible $ 5.8 billion they, and the media, have spent months bickering over. Why are members of the media not asking them to address this concern? For this, and many reasons, I registered as a write-in candidate for 6th Dist Rep. I encourage All to ponder the 3rd, 4th, 5th...and the write-in choices. This is real; and in real time, we All need to work together towards a more perfect and sustainable union.
My set of further concerns, that I believe are not being adequately addressed by the candidates, involve: Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Friendship with Friendly Energy. I welcome your write-in-vote (we may have gone to school for a reason after all). I also welcome opportunities to meet up and to share dialogue as we seek defendable perceptions of reality. Cheers--Have Fun--Here is hoping to join together in celebration of worthy results through meaningful activities, Dennis for Life in General and also for TENNIS. Let's Play !
I AM! Because of, and despite, many of the reasons given above.
I'm an IP candidate with minimal party financial support, and zero PAC, special interest or lobbyists support. I want to see the politicians in Saint Paul recognize that they are on the same team when the session starts. They can share their varrying political views in the debate of the issues, but they need to come to a consensus and approve legislation that moves this state forward.
I may not get the most votes on November 2nd, but I have already won in this election. My run has motivated the incumbent to "work harder than he ever has" to retain his seat according to one of his colleagues. I have also given a voice to the mainstream majority of Minnesotans in my district. The Republicans and Democrats in my district now know that if they don't work to represent the moderates in their district, I will. They should also know that I will have an entire election cycle of campaign experience under my belt in 2012 when I step up to the plate again.
I won't run for office but I do plan on writing myself in as a candidate next Tuesday. And, I suggest you do the same. It's a low cost campaign and it would drive all the lobby and special interest groups nuts!
Go ahead, you know how to spell your own name, write yourself in! Truly put someone into office that doesn't have special interest groups to pay back!
I know three people who walked away from elected office on their own terms. The amount of time and resulting effect on their personal finances took their toll.
However, the final straws for each of them were when their spouse and even their children were subjected to verbal abuse. I also heard about family dinners in restaurants that were interrupted--and ruined. And 2 am phone calls.
Also note that all three of these folks I know were elected--and left office--in the early days of the internet.
I saw one of them two weeks ago and asked her if she would ever consider running again. The answer was a [bleep] NO, even though her kids are grown and gone now. She had no interest in dealing with any of the sewage that modern American politics has become.
Intelligent people who would make good elected officials are the same folks that are smart enough to recognize--and stay away from--elected office, That's a large part of the reason we are in the mess we are in.
Absolutely. Governance is too important to be left to politicians.
I might not win, and might be maligned in the process, and I might not end up being any better than the politicians I disapprove of today. But in today's political climate, voting alone may not be enough civic engagement to change things significantly. The most direct alternative is new candidates, and it would be unfair to demand that others shoulder a burden I refuse, to make things better in my own view.
If I could afford to live (pay bills, eat, ...) then I would run for office. However, my distaste for special interest groups (including PACs) and negative advertising would place me at a major disadvantage in today's political environment.
As an elected official, I would buck the system and choose the needs of the voters over that of the party. It would make me a 1 time elected official since parties gang up at re-election time against those who do not toe the party line.
Nope. I've said far too many things on Today's Question, NewsCut, and Insight Now that would come back to haunt me.
If I had the bank I sure would. My platform would be very similar to Richord Pryors character in "Brewsters Millions". Vote NONE of the above!
The trouble with running is when you get someone like Mary Kiffmeyer who was in charge of when classes for training on finances for running schedule the class in June..... Any hope of a effective campaign are well over with by then. Glad she is no longer in charge of that.
There are politics just to get into politics.....
And the whole thing of having to raise money UNLESS you pimp yourself out is JUST WRONG. And too many politicians are selling out to large money interests. (Don't care which side of the isle your on with that one.)
I find it interesting some thing once you get a job the pay is not great enough to survive with. Well actually its more then what I am making currently.
It would be great if real campaign finance reform occurred, transparancy and limits on who can donate occured, and spending was limited. That any and all ads that endorse a candidate just be approved BEFORE it airs. That any ad advocating any point of politics must have facts checked and cited on the commercial, remove opinion and add reality to the add. And that those advocacy ads be restricted.
And I am a big fan of nothing on the air (And I even be willing to say even in print) 3 months before a election, limit it to 2 month, and the last month nothing on the air. That should be enough time to get your message out, and any additional you could post to your own web site.
Yes. I'm retired and if I was not involved with caring for family members would love to run for office.As a young person I was under the illusion that our leaders were all knowing.Now I believe that they are just struggling to figure out the world like the rest of us.I admire intelligence where ever I find it and am good at looking at all aspects of a problem I am a good listener and play well with others.
No I would not. No way.
Unfortunately I don't have enough personal wealth to support (buy) a campaign - see Dayton, Whitman. Also, the sick part, the other side of the aisle scouring everything, even your garbage, looking for any mistake you made in the last 20-30 years. Politicians are partly at fault for this since their campaign rhetoric is just that and not truthfully what happens when they get in office so what are the voters to judge you on - your so-called record or what can be dug up about your past.
By the way, the interviews with the candidates for Governor of Minnesota that focused on their personal lives were very enlightening. These are good, honest men and I am heartened that they put themselves out there for scrutiny in this cut-throat climate. They must really believe in what they are saying. Kudos.
Absolutely not. A scene from the movie Second Hand Lions comes to mind. You know, the one where Duvall and Caine are on their porch with shotguns and blast any knucklehead stupid enough to drive up and sell them something (e.g. politicians).
given the political climate why not people are desparate for change and if i can contribute in some way or form in effecting some sort of progress then bring it on!
Not a chance, screw that.
No. I'm a public employee at the county level- that's enough public service for me.
This question would be interesting, when put to the current members of the political arena.
"So tell me please, why are you in this position???!"
"Does your record say so??"
No way! Not even if the "political climate" was peachy. The level of ego and hubris needed ... plus $$$$ ... is off putting to put it mildly.
J
No. What's truly sad about the current political nastiness is that too many potentially good candidates aren't willing to subject themselves to having their names dragged through the mud. The only people willing to put themselves forward are those who don't care how many enemies they make, as long as their ideology caries the day. People who are willing to make pragmatic compromises for the sake of the common good are squeezed out.
No way. I've thought about running for public office, because I do think that I could contribute in a meaningful way, but when politicians and the public at large are (broadly speaking) more focused on rhetoric and personal attacks than on actually solving the problems we face, it doesn't make me want to get involved. I'll still vote, but not because I actually whole-heartedly support any particular candidate - I use more of a "lesser of two evils" approach.
Sure. I love to have people malign my character, wrench my words out of context, deliberately misconstrue my actions, question my intelligence and integrity, and delve into my personal history looking for dirt. (NOT!)
Thought about it.
I'd wait until my son is out of high school.
Problem is, what if I won? The job doesn't pay enough and I can't do what I'm doing now and being a part time legislator.
Many people tell me I should run, I tell them to hire me and if I win keep me on part time with flexible hours so I could be at the statehouse.
No, sadly. My goals of consensus-building and working for the common good would get pummeled by the current political climate.
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