Irrefutable proof that U.S. politics is nothing more than a popularity contest

[Spindrift]

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

Is Aiken unqualified? Aiken seems to be reasonably intelligent and taking it seriously. It doesn't appear to be a stunt. He has selected issues he is running on.

Popularity and likeability are always major factors in elections. That is always true, everywhere, unless it's a rigged election. Don't confuse popularity with being well-known. Just being well-known doesn't get one anyone anywhere, even if backed by money. Look at William Randolph Hearst, Donald Trump or any other well-known person who couldn't get elected dogcatcher. (BTW: Where do they elect dogcatchers?)

Besides this is a primary to become a sacrificial lamb in a secure Republican district. It's actually surprising the Dems in that district found two people willing to run in a primary.

 

[Dr. Imago]

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.

Again, thanks for (again) proving (perhaps unwittingly) my point. I'm not even going to fully respond the "government is not a business" comment because it is well beyond the scope of this thread. But, suffice it to say that your sentiment is precisely why this country is in so much trouble financially.

~Dr. Imago

 

[TragicMonkey]

Again, thanks for (again) proving (perhaps unwittingly) my point. I'm not even going to fully respond the "government is not a business" comment because it is well beyond the scope of this thread. But, suffice it to say that your sentiment is precisely why this country is in so much trouble financially.

~Dr. Imago

So you blame democracy for America's problems? Here I was blaming electric shopping cart scooters. Politics is truly a panoply of the bizarre.

 

[plague311]

Is Aiken unqualified? Aiken seems to be reasonably intelligent and taking it seriously. It doesn't appear to be a stunt. He has selected issues he is running on.

Popularity and likeability are always major factors in elections. That is always true, everywhere, unless it's a rigged election. Don't confuse popularity with being well-known. Just being well-known doesn't get one anyone anywhere, even if backed by money. Look at William Randolph Hearst, Donald Trump or any other well-known person who couldn't get elected dogcatcher. (BTW: Where do they elect dogcatchers?)

Besides this is a primary to become a sacrificial lamb in a secure Republican district. It's actually surprising the Dems in that district found two people willing to run in a primary.

That's what I was kind of driving at with my post, it's been a lock for the Repubs for quite some time. Looking over Mr. Aiken's bio it's not like he doesn't have other options to make money, or to make a living. He has the desire to make a change, and he's attempting to do so by following the correct channels.

 

[Dr. Imago]

Is Aiken unqualified? Aiken seems to be reasonably intelligent and taking it seriously. It doesn't appear to be a stunt. He has selected issues he is running on.

Popularity and likeability are always major factors in elections. That is always true, everywhere, unless it's a rigged election. Don't confuse popularity with being well-known. Just being well-known doesn't get one anyone anywhere, even if backed by money. Look at William Randolph Hearst, Donald Trump or any other well-known person who couldn't get elected dogcatcher. (BTW: Where do they elect dogcatchers?)

Besides this is a primary to become a sacrificial lamb in a secure Republican district. It's actually surprising the Dems in that district found two people willing to run in a primary.

Trump is more infamous than famous. And hardly likeable. At least in mine and most other Americans' minds. Bad example.

Schwarzenegger is a better one. A complete RINO that ultimately did nothing great or lasting for California except serve his own ego, and whose administration ended in scandal and divorce. Yeah, he was a popular and likeable guy before he took office. If he hadn't been "Ah-nold" and just some unknown Austrian weightlifter from the local gym, he would have been laughed out of his first debate.

As it stands, you can go far on celebrity in politics. And when people vote them into office and they do a terrible job, they have no one but themselves to blame.

~Dr. Imago

 

[plague311]

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.

It's perfectly serious. According to Wiki:

Aiken attended Raleigh's Leesville Road High School and took courses at Campbell University before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He found his interest in special education while directing YMCA children's camps as a teenager, and at age 19, he served as a substitute teacher for a classroom of students with autism at Brentwood Elementary School in Raleigh. While attending college in Charlotte, he took a part-time job as an assistant to a boy with autism, and it was this child's mother, Diane Bubel, who urged him to audition for American Idol. Although his American Idol activities temporarily delayed his academic pursuits, Aiken completed his course work while on tour and graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education in December 2003

It might not be Harvard but I would consider him an educated man. He stuck to his desire while going to school as well, his desire being helping special needs children.

Maybe you should stop looking at the 1 thing YOU recognize him for, and start looking at all the other things he's done.

Achievement

2005 Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award[121]
2006 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus Award[122]
2007 National Center for Learning Disabilities' Children's Advocacy Award[123]
2009 The Family Circle Award from the Family Equality Council[124]

 

[Minoosh]

And, this is good for North Carolina how exactly?

Elections are popularity contests. Do you think we should change that?

 

[Alferd_Packer]

How did "Gopher" from the love boat get elected?

 

[NoahFence]

As it stands, you can go far on celebrity in politics. And when people vote them into office and they do a terrible job, they have no one but themselves to blame.

But one of them made it to President, and is sainted by the right.

 

[Minoosh]

It's not easy to get past Simon.

 

[Dr. Imago]

How did "Gopher" from the love boat get elected?

I'm assuming that's a rhetorical question.

~Dr. Imago

 

[Dr. Imago]

Elections are popularity contests. Do you think we should change that?

Yes. Duh!

The question is "how". I'm sick and tired of people using their celebrity as some automatic imprimatur that they are qualified to run for office. I'm sick and tired of people who are disgustingly rich doing the same. Just because you are well known and/or rich doesn't mean you are necessarily the best candidate, and the better ones get squeezed out. Ability to get elected shouldn't be the qualifying trait. It's a real problem with our current system.

~Dr. Imago

 

[tyr_13]

Yes. Duh!

The question is "how". I'm sick and tired of people using their celebrity as some automatic imprimatur that they are qualified to run for office. I'm sick and tired of people who are disgustingly rich doing the same. Just because you are well known and/or rich doesn't mean you are necessarily the best candidate, and the better ones get squeezed out. Ability to get elected shouldn't be the qualifying trait. It's a real problem with our current system.

~Dr. Imago

It also doesn't mean that they're a bad candidate. Your objections to Mr. Aiken seems to be nothing more than his participation in a singing contest and that he's somehow 'unqualified'. Others have pointed out that your criteria for 'qualified' are not theirs (thankfully) and that Mr. Aiken has done a lot to build related experience.

You might have a point somewhere about the American people not paying enough attention to real issues and real qualifications, but Mr. Aiken isn't a great example. Your ideas on business equating well to politics probably makes most people's idea of 'real qualifications' different from yours.

 

[Spindrift]

Trump is more infamous than famous. And hardly likeable. At least in mine and most other Americans' minds. Bad example.

But that's the point. Fame alone doesn't do much.

Schwarzenegger is a better one. A complete RINO that ultimately did nothing great or lasting for California except serve his own ego, and whose administration ended in scandal and divorce. Yeah, he was a popular and likeable guy before he took office. If he hadn't been "Ah-nold" and just some unknown Austrian weightlifter from the local gym, he would have been laughed out of his first debate.

As it stands, you can go far on celebrity in politics. And when people vote them into office and they do a terrible job, they have no one but themselves to blame.

~Dr. Imago

Celebrity might give someone a headstart in name recognition but it is no guarantee of success. There are lots of celebrities of varying degrees who have tried and failed in politics. Norman Mailer, Shirley Temple, Gore Vidal, Upton Sinclair, Linda McMahon and on the level of Clay Aikin: Nancy Culp from the Beverly Hillbillies and Ralph Waite from the Waltons and on the joke level, Gary Coleman, Pat Paulsen and Mary Carey.

Dismissing someone because of their celebrity is just as bad as voting for them just because of their celebrity.

 

[Dr. Imago]

It also doesn't mean that they're a bad candidate. Your objections to Mr. Aiken seems to be nothing more than his participation in a singing contest and that he's somehow 'unqualified'.

I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.

I'll clarify: the better candidate is going to lose simply because Aiken is popular and known and that gives him an unfair advantage, IMHO.

~Dr. Imago

 

[Dr. Imago]

Dismissing someone because of their celebrity is just as bad as voting for them just because of their celebrity.

Again, slightly missing the point.

The people you named didn't ride on "popularity", which in this case is a combination of being famous and being likable and is what this is a about. This is a popularity contest. That's the point I'm trying to make. Aiken is a popular figure and famous person. His opponent is not. I can assure you if Aiken was an unknown he almost certainly would not have even been recognized in this primary with regards to votes.

~Dr. Imago

 

[Spindrift]

I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.

I'll clarify: the better candidate is going to lose simply because Aiken is popular and known and that gives him an unfair advantage, IMHO.

~Dr. Imago

Anyone who is more popular and better known than their opponent is going to win an election, by definition. Our elections are a result of popular vote, so if the more popular and better known person didn't win, then I'd suspect something was wrong with the election.

As far as who is the better candidate, it may be your opinion that Aiken isn't it, but according to the people voting, he is.

 

[Spindrift]

Again, slightly missing the point.

The people you named didn't ride on "popularity", which in this case is a combination of being famous and being likable and is what this is a about. This is a popularity contest. That's the point I'm trying to make. Aiken is a popular figure and famous person. His opponent is not. I can assure you if Aiken was an unknown he almost certainly would not have even been recognized in this primary with regards to votes.

~Dr. Imago

Really? You don't think that when Shirley Temple ran for Congress and lost, she wasn't trying to play off her popularity and likeability? (And her husband and hers sizeable wealth.)

ETA: And you are ignoring the fact that Aiken is not unqualified. He may not have the qualification you specifically desire but he does have qualifications.

 

[Dr. Imago]

Really? You don't think that when Shirley Temple ran for Congress and lost, she wasn't trying to play off her popularity and likeability? (And her husband and hers sizeable wealth.)

Bad example. That was an era which (is fortunately over and) when women were not generally perceived to be, with exception, anything more than good at being wives and mothers. Plus, I never said (ala Trump) that it means you will win. Schwarzenegger is a much better example of high office going to a moron.

ETA: And you are ignoring the fact that Aiken is not unqualified. He may not have the qualification you specifically desire but he does have qualifications.

I never said he was "unqualified." That bar is pretty low anyway. I said he is going to win the primary due to his popularity, not his qualifications. If this was otherwise untrue, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

~Dr. Imago

 

[Dr. Imago]

As far as who is the better candidate, it may be your opinion that Aiken isn't it, but according to the people voting, he is.

Again, that's not the point! People wouldn't even be voting for him if he was an Everday Joe and otherwise a nobody.

~Dr. Imago