Clay Aiken? That Clay Aiken? Really?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/clay-aikens-race-in-north-carolina-too-close-to-call/
And, this is good for North Carolina how exactly?
~Dr. Imago
Irrefutable proof that U.S. politics is nothing more than a popularity contest
- Thread starter Dr. Imago
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Clay Aiken? That Clay Aiken? Really?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/clay-aikens-race-in-north-carolina-too-close-to-call/
And, this is good for North Carolina how exactly?
~Dr. Imago
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
Because the point of a representative democracy is that the people get to vote for whichever candidate they want to?
Alferd_Packer
Philosopher
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People elected "gopher" from the Love Boat to Congress.
Upchurch
Papa Funkosophy
People elected Peter Boyd from Bedtime for Bongo to the Presidency.
Ladewig
I lost an avatar bet.
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First off, it is a primary, not the actual election.
He is an eighth-generation North Carolinian. GW Bush appointed him to a presidential panel. He has been an outspoken advocate for special education students. One of the primary planks in his platform is equal rights for homosexuals.
He seems as qualified as many other first time candidates.
..........
Add Sonny Bono to the running list being created.
He is an eighth-generation North Carolinian. GW Bush appointed him to a presidential panel. He has been an outspoken advocate for special education students. One of the primary planks in his platform is equal rights for homosexuals.
He seems as qualified as many other first time candidates.
..........
Add Sonny Bono to the running list being created.
Upchurch
Papa Funkosophy
Properly formatted:
People elected Joe Selucci from Airplane II: The Sequel to Congress.
NoahFence
Banned
Al Franken got elected...
The additional examples are not disproving the popularity contest argument.
Aiken is 35-years-old and his inexperience is trumped by his mass appeal. That makes him bad for North Carolina alone, or at least not the ideal man for the job. The candidate he is up against is far more qualified and would do a better job. Instead, he has to outshine an American Idol winner.
No wonder we're generally perceived as a bunch of morons by the rest of the world.
~Dr. Imago
Aiken is 35-years-old and his inexperience is trumped by his mass appeal. That makes him bad for North Carolina alone, or at least not the ideal man for the job. The candidate he is up against is far more qualified and would do a better job. Instead, he has to outshine an American Idol winner.
No wonder we're generally perceived as a bunch of morons by the rest of the world.
~Dr. Imago
Bikewer
Penultimate Amazing
One should not disparage the intellectual level of the "average voter" in this country....
Well, I will anyway. During the Obama/McCain cycle, when Palin was riding her wave of popularity, NPR solicited comments from folks attending her speeches.
"Why do you like Sarah Palin?"
"She's a MOM!"
"She's just like us!"
And so on.
Well, I will anyway. During the Obama/McCain cycle, when Palin was riding her wave of popularity, NPR solicited comments from folks attending her speeches.
"Why do you like Sarah Palin?"
"She's a MOM!"
"She's just like us!"
And so on.
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
I see. If you like a candidate, it's because they're the best person for the job. When other people like another candidate, it's because they're stupid.
Border Reiver
Philosopher
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How is the US representative mocracy any different from any other representative democracy on the planet?
Every elected politician has to win the popularity contest that is a general election where first they have to convince the party that they will represent the party's interests, and then the local area that their ideas for what to do once in office. If they cannot convince their electorate that they are the right person to represent them, how can they be reasonably expected to convince other politicians that the policies and programs they put forth are any good?
Every elected politician has to win the popularity contest that is a general election where first they have to convince the party that they will represent the party's interests, and then the local area that their ideas for what to do once in office. If they cannot convince their electorate that they are the right person to represent them, how can they be reasonably expected to convince other politicians that the policies and programs they put forth are any good?
mumblethrax
Species traitor
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I've even heard that some B-actor who played second fiddle to a chimp got elected president! Truly, we are on the road to perdition.
plague311
Great minds think...
It's a largely Republican district that I don't see any democrat even getting close to winning. Neither of the two candidates have massive amounts of experience, and I think both are running to get their names out there. Can you please explain what would make one "far more experienced" than the other?
So, in your mind it's about who's more "likeable" vs. who's more qualified? Thanks for (perhaps unwittingly) proving my point.
~Dr. Imago
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
Not what I mean at all.
You might want to consider the actual meaning of the word "popular" and what that means in relation to a representative democracy. It's kind of the point.
A guy with an MBA from Harvard vs. an American Idol winner? Your question can't be serious.
~Dr. Imago
P.S. I have no dog in this fight. I don't live in NC.
Yes, that Clay Aiken. The one who is a long-time activist on behalf of children with disabilities, and who co-founded the National Inclusion Project. I'm surprised, if you are familiar with who Clay Aiken is, you need to ask "Really?"
I knew nothing about Aiken before reading your post, so I took a few moments to look him up. Here's his video explaining who he is and why he's running. It's 5 minutes long and well worth watching. I would also recommend those interested in a serious discussion of the thread topic take a look at the issues page of Aiken's website before making knee-jerk comments about his candidacy.
Here is a candidate who has spent more than a decade doing low-key work on behalf of special needs children. Here is a candidate who believes in the need for working cooperatively with others (including those with beliefs or party affiliations different to his) on behalf of the people he'd be representing. I don't live in North Carolina, but that sounds good to me. This is someone with good experience for the job and good attitudes for the job. I wish we could get representatives like that in Tennessee!
I disagree with a number of stands Aiken takes, especially his support for increased military spending, but even so I think that he is the kind of person we need more of in Congress and that he would make a very good representative for his state if he were elected. What is it about him or his campaign which makes you think he would be a poor representative?
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
An MBA is somehow a qualification for office? You do know government is not a business, don't you? Expecting a degree in business to prove ability in government is like, I don't know, expecting an MD to prove ability in political reasoning.