Presidential Political Primer

[SlaveToTheGrind]

Okay, I for one do not follow politics much and the agendas of each candidate. I usually don't get into the foray until the election is close and the candidiates have been weeded down with the use of the two-party system. My biggest concern is gun control and who wants to tell me to do what with my firearms and what ones they'd like to ban. From what I have heard, the Democrats have reduced their stance from 4 years ago and Gore's agenda. My political views lean toward republican although I am registered as an independent. Can the enlightened planners out there give me a one or two sentences on each of the Democratic hopefuls?

 

[Greenescapist]

I saw something on the Web recently that was a matrix of all the candidates' views on all issues. I'll try to look for that. Do you just want to know about guns? I would guess that all of the Democrats except Howard Dean tow the usual Democrat stance on guns...keep assault weapons banned and close those gun show loopholes, etc. Dean has the most unusual stance for someone whom people regard as a liberal (even though he's not). He's in the NRA and when he was governor of VT would not allow any anti-gun bills to be passed. John Edwards might have moderate views on guns, too, since he's from the South.

 

[Cardinal]

I was just skimming an article about Clark, who was opposed to concealed carry, and/but said gun laws are essentially a state issue.

 

[Repo Man]

It seems that condidates are beginning to realize that some core beliefs of the hard-core party members aren't worth persuing. With the democrats, it is gun control. You will rarely see a democrat come out in support of more gun control, unless it is conceal carry laws. The republicans have seemingly given up on a hardline stance on abortion, unless it is partial-birth. I think they have done this to get the votes of the "one issue voter," the people who let a stance on one small issue dictate who they will vote for. There are people out there that agree with the democrats 100 percent but won't vote for a dem because they are afraid the democrats will take their gun away. There are people who believe in the republican platform that won't vote for a rebublican because of their anti-choice stance.

 

[GeogPlanner]

Candidate info at NPR

 

[GeogPlanner]

Presidential candidate info from Congress.org

Washington Post's Compare the Candidates

 

[Lee Nellis]

All you need to know is that anybody who actually wants the job should NEVER be allowed to have it.

 

[el Guapo]

Presidential Rate Maker

Here is one I found Select Smart - President

My results:
1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) (My guess: Pat Buchanan or Alan Keyes? ) :-D
2. Bush, President George W. - Republican (74%) o
3. Libertarian Candidate (53%) (pass the weed dude)
4. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (40%)
5. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (39%)
6. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (35%)
7. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (35%)
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (34%)
9. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (33%)
10. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (29%)
11. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (20%) :-#

More:

Websites:
www.concordcoalition.org - The Concord Coalition
www.atr.org - Americans for Tax Reform
www.ntu.org - National Taxpayers Union
www.childrensdefense.org - The Children's Defense Fund
www.bipac.org - Business-Industry Political Action Committee
www.nra.org - The National Rifle Association
www.gunfree.org - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
www.plannedparenthood.org - Planned Parenthood
www.nrlc.org - National Right to Life Committee
www.lcv.org - League of Conservation Voters
www.naacp.org - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
www.aclu.org - American Civil Liberties Union
www.vote-smart.org - Vote-Smart.org

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Who is "Your ideal theoretical candidate"? This candidate adamantly endorses all of your political views. The problem is that they may not exist, unless you write-in your own name on your ballot.

Looks like I'm voting for myself this year.

 

[Seabishop]

Here is one I found Select Smart - President

I got Kucinich! I never would have guessed that. I guess the survey overlooks whether you think the candidate will actually do a good job. You can't run Cleveland into bankrupcy and expect to be president.

The survey asks a lot of "do you support the NRA / NAACP?" questions when its really not that simple. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

 

[GeogPlanner]

The survey asks a lot of "do you support the NRA / NAACP?" questions when its really not that simple. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

i agree...here are my "ideals"

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (88%) ^o)
3. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (87%) ^o)
4. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (82%) |
5. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (81%) :c:
6. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (79%) :-D
7. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (77%) ^o)
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (59%) |-)
9. Libertarian Candidate (27%) :-s
10. Bush, President George W. - Republican (21%) :-c
11. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (4%) :-s

 

[SlaveToTheGrind]

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. Me? (100%)
2. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (54%)
3. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (53%)
4. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (53%)
5. Bush, President George W. - Republican (46%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (44%)
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (44%)
8. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (44%)
9. Libertarian Candidate (38%) Click here for info
10. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (35%)
11. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (31%)

How did Sharpton get above Bush?

 

[giff57]

H'mmm

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (83%)
3. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (80%)
4. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (79%)
5. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (76%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (69%)
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (62%)
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (39%)
9. Libertarian Candidate (34%)
10. Bush, President George W. - Republican (12%) 11. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (11%)

 

[BKM]

Typical commie planner!

Your Results:

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Click here for info
2. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (80%) Click here for info
3. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (76%) Click here for info
4. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (73%) Click here for info
5. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (73%) Click here for info
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (62%) Click here for info
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (60%) Click here for info
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (39%) Click here for info
9. Libertarian Candidate (32%) Click here for info
10. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (15%) Click here for info
11. Bush, President George W. - Republican (13%) Click here for info

It's strange that Weird Al Sharpton ranks higher for me than kerry or Edwards.

 

[Lee Nellis]

Hmm? I ended up agreeing with Bush 4% of the time. And that still seems like too much.

 

[Tranplanner]

A Canadian Perspective...

Here's my list!

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (78%)
3. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (69%)
4. Green Party Candidate (69%)
5. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (67%)
6. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (65%)
7. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (64%)
8. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (63%)
9. Socialist Candidate (62%)
10. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol, IL - Democrat (61%)
11. Gephardt, Rep. Dick, MO - Democrat (52%)
12. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (43%)
13. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (40%)
14. Libertarian Candidate (34%)
15. Bush, President George W. - Republican (34%)
16. Hagelin, Dr. John - Natural Law (19%)
17. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (9%)

Sharpton must look really good on paper or something...bizarre how he is turning up near the top of a lot of people's results.

I'm still waiting for El Guapo to spill the beans on Clark, who I thought at first would make a good candidate. I've cooled considerably since then, but I'd really like to know more about the man.

 

[mendelman]

another fun list!

My Results:

1. Don't really have an ideal candidate
2. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (83%)
3. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (72%)
4. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (71%) - Sharpton, ah, no
5. Green Party Candidate (70%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (67%)
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (65%)
8. Socialist Candidate (59%)
9. Gephardt, Rep. Dick, MO - Democrat (59%)
10. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (50%)
11. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol, IL - Democrat (48%)
12. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (46%)
13. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (40%)
14. Libertarian Candidate (32%)
15. Bush, President George W. - Republican (17%)
16. Hagelin, Dr. John - Natural Law (12%)
17. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (8%)

Apart from Sharpietown, I guess this list looks about ok. This is a good launching pad for investigating the candidates, which I have not done yet.

Me bad citizen.

 

[Seabishop]

Interesting that somehow Lieberman, who's one of the most centrist candidates is only about 30-40% on most of our lists - usually below Sharpton and 3rd party guys.

 

[DecaturHawk]

Interesting that somehow Lieberman, who's one of the most centrist candidates is only about 30-40% on most of our lists - usually below Sharpton and 3rd party guys.

Mayhap the Cyburbian majority is not so centrist? ;-)

My list...ever a member of the loyal and respectful minority...

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Bush, President George W. - Republican (88%)
3. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (51%)
4. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (49%)
5. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (47%)
6. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (43%)
7. Libertarian Candidate (35%)
8. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (29%)
9. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (29%)
10. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (25%)
11. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (15%)
12. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (14%)
13. Socialist Candidate (9%)

 

[BKM]

Go, Go Lyndon Larouche! You are a radical, Decatur Hawke: 29 of ol' Lyndon
Is it the "Queen of England is a drug dealer" platform?

 

[The Irish One]

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Click here for info
2. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (80%) Click here for info
3. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (77%) Click here for info
4. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (69%) Click here for info
5. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (68%) Click here for info
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (66%) Click here for info
7. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (64%) Click here for info
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (49%) Click here for info
9. Libertarian Candidate (44%) Click here for info
10. Bush, President George W. - Republican (25%) Click here for info
11. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (14%) Click here for info


I like Sharpton and Kucinich more than Dean, Clark, Lieberman, Bush, Phillips,

Kerry and Edwards are the two most likely to get anywhere and those are the guys I've been watching.

 

[martini]

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Gimme the post, I can run this place better'n any of youse!
2. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (86%) B-) huh?
3. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (83%) B-)
4. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (82%) |-)
5. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (81%) ;-)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (72%)
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (68%)
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (40%) :-\
9. Libertarian Candidate (31%) :-D
10. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (10%) |-)
11. Bush, President George W. - Republican (6%) :-c

I'm not so sure about Sharpton man. I like the guys passion, but sheesh ease off on the hair products. Dean's(screamer boy) lost it. Clark? Don't really know anything about him. Kucinich? All I know is he's single and a veggie. Oh, and ran Cinici into the ground. I like Edwards and Kerry. Kinda torn between them. Kerry's got the Masshole thing going against him though. Lieberman? Please! The only reason he's a Dem is that he's Jewish (sorry jews)! Other wise Rep in my book. I've always thought I had a bit of Libertarian in me :-} The other two? Whatever. I am curious about the Cyburbia/Sharpton link though. What is it about that man?

 

[Cardinal]

Kucinich? You've got to be kidding! I'd like to see the methodology behind this one. Also, are these decisions based on what the candidates say they will do or what I believe they will do?

 

[DecaturHawk]

I'd like to see the methodology behind this one.

So would I. I also think some of the questions are loaded. For instance, question 1. You are asked to choose between:

a) Reduce federal spending and taxes, even if this means shifting responsibility for providing services to state and local government, private industry, charitable groups and/or individuals.
b) Increase federal spending and taxes--if needed to provide services and protection to the Americans.

Notice that choice a) contains a negative, while choice b) contains a positive. This steers people to the first choice. To attempt to balance, choice b) could say something like "Increase federal spending and taxes--even if this means that you have less income to meet your family's needs." Or choice a) could read "Reduce federal spending and taxes, so that there is more investment and job creation, lessening the need for state-supported welfare." One wonders why the survey designers chose these words, unless they hoped to influence the results.

 

[DecaturHawk]

Go, Go Lyndon Larouche! You are a radical, Decatur Hawke: 29 of ol' Lyndon
Is it the "Queen of England is a drug dealer" platform?

LOL!
Wow, I never would have thought that I would agree with 29 percent of Lyndon's platform. Says something about Dean and Clark, though, since they appear to be further left of LaRouche. Perhaps Dean's "my brother was a POW" gambit could be evaluated in the same light as some of Lyndon's colorful quotes. Or Clark's "I've never supported the war" line, which has been refuted by several of the General's own articles and speeches he's done over the past two years.

 

[BKM]

On Clark-I would follow Martini's comment. He was a pro-war Republican until a few months ago.

Decatur: I have trouble, looking at his overall record, at accepting the media meme that Howard Dean is some kind of screaming radical.

Oops. Freudian slip SCREAMING radical LOL!

 

[giff57]

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Bush, President George W. - Republican (88%)

And they didn't kick you out of Iowa City?

 

[jlong]

Here are my results

Your Results:

1. Bush, President George W. - Republican (100%) Click here for info
2. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Click here for info
3. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (44%) Click here for info
4. Libertarian Candidate (37%) Click here for info
5. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (28%) Click here for info
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (20%) Click here for info
7. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (19%) Click here for info
8. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (19%) Click here for info
9. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (17%) Click here for info
10. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (11%) Click here for info
11. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (7%) Click here for info

 

[Zoning Goddess]

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Click here for info
2. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (60%) Click here for info
3. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (56%) Click here for info
4. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (55%) Click here for info
5. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (50%) Click here for info
6. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (45%) Click here for info
7. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (42%) Click here for info
8. Socialist Candidate (40%) Click here for info
9. Bush, President George W. - Republican (40%) Click here for info
10. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (36%) Click here for info
11. Libertarian Candidate (36%) Click here for info
12. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (13%) Click here for info
13. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (6%) Click here for info

This is odd because I don't even know who this Kucinich guy is.

 

[Mud Princess]

That survey is hardly FAIR AND BALANCED.

(Then again, neither is Fox News.)

 

[gkmo62u]

I don't know, seems pretty fair to me. The questions don't have nuance but I thinks that is ok.

I got Bush 74 %, then Kerry 57%.

Interesting.