Rancor in elections: Level with me...

[R.Mackey]

I know focusing on irrelevant stuff is found in every election, but why? Particularly why now, when we actually have a pretty decent selection for a change?

I've got my own biases, and here they are. I'm for Obama, unless some shocking revelation comes up in the near future. I'm registered Green, have voted once each Democrat, Republican, Green, and Libertarian in the last four elections, and I'm in California which is destined to go to Obama no matter what I do.

I don't think McCain will spell the end of Western civilization. I don't think Obama is the second coming. I think both would be competent presidents.

I come down on Obama's side for his approach to foreign policy, his economic approach. McCain's views on Iraq, energy, and Camp Delta don't work for me.

There are nitpicks I have as well. Obama is simply a terrific speaker and motivator, which is intangible but in my view important. McCain's rhetorical drift away from the center, and his selection of a VP candidate with decidedly Christian Right leanings, probably wouldn't make that much difference after the election but still leaves me rather cold.

But so much of what is argued here strikes me as total nonsense. McCain is going senile! Obama's playing the race card! Palin wants to burn library books! Biden equates taxation with patriotism! So-and-so is against growth and against energy, whatever that means! Oh no, somebody might be thinking about not releasing their tax returns!

Who the heck cares? It seems to me that anyone who wants to make an intelligent choice has plenty of available information. The two candidates are quite distinct.

So, why -- even here, among critical thinkers -- do we focus on the minutiae? Is it minutiae?? Please take a moment to answer the poll above. Thanks.

 

[corplinx]

I think quibbling over these nonsensical things says a lot about us. One candidate wants to build nuclear plants and get us off spewing carbon in the air from coal. One candidate thinks we need to form committees. One candidate wants gay discimination to end. One wants government to micromanage marriage.

I think the nonsensical things help people not focus on the really serious issues because their candidate is weak on them and neither of the candidates has 100 percent good views.

 

[dirtywick]

It's so everyone can have an opinion. Start talking about issues, the more complex they are the more people can't have an opinion because they're lost. That goes for everybody, most people don't take economics past maybe a college course or the science behind global warming or the intricacies of global politics. And you can't even get mad at people about that. You might know more than the average guy about some things, but not everything.

But, you don't have to get a PhD in economics, or even go to college at all, to know Rev. Wright is a huge douche bag and the baby's not Sarah's. Now we all get to play along.

 

[Policenaut]

In short I think real issues are boring to most people. They care about the economy and Iraq. Everything else falls by the wayside for this election. And since you can only say so much about either topic before repeating yourself the focus is on garbage. I think this election is the tipping point for real talk about issues. When each campaign comes out with attack ads literally the same day as the other says something it is ridiculous. They're just chomping at the bit to show the other guy is a nazi that hates america and wants you to be miserable and die in squalor.

 

[leftysergeant]

I think McCain's mental state and Palin's questionable ethics are a concern.

Both expect too much personal loyalty of subordinates.

Remember Gonzo and Goodling?

 

[R.Mackey]

I think the nonsensical things help people not focus on the really serious issues because their candidate is weak on them and neither of the candidates has 100 percent good views.

It's so everyone can have an opinion. Start talking about issues, the more complex they are the more people can't have an opinion because they're lost.

In short I think real issues are boring to most people. [...] And since you can only say so much about either topic before repeating yourself the focus is on garbage.

I am in awe of the Forum. The first three replies -- all good answers, all not what I thought of, all plausible.

If I can interpolate between them: People tend to focus on minutiae because we all want a truly polarized justification for our opinions. It doesn't matter that the real comparison is complex, perhaps beyond our expertise, or not interesting -- we demand a reason, a clear-cut reason that confirms our leanings, so we find one and fixate on it. No matter how silly it is by itself.

Is that a fair characterization?

If so, that handily explains the "single issue" voter, which is something else I've wondered about for years. You know the type. "He's gonna take my guns away!" (I've been guilty of that one) "He wants to kill babies!" "He wants to let in illegal immigants!" And always voting for that reason alone, circumstance or variation be damned.

I'm still curious to see what others think, but already I thank you for your thoughts. It's amusing to see that none of my poll questions map into this hypothesis very well.

 

[MattusMaximus]

I think McCain's mental state and Palin's questionable ethics are a concern.

Lefty displays his sexism yet again, because he doesn't understand that one cannot criticize Sarah Palin because she's a woman!

Seriously: I think the elections are almost like a boxing match for some people. They want to see some haymakers and a bit of blood - it makes things exciting. I know I'm pumped.

 

[SezMe]

I'd go with dirtywick but add an additional consideration related to fora such as this. Highly complex issues such as foreign policy, GW, healthcare, etc. are not accurately summarized in sound bites or, in our context here, type-bites. But if someone posted a mini-essay here, damn few folks would read and digest the whole thing. Well, to be more accurate, I wouldn't but I'll bet I'm not alone.

So what can we rant and rave about in a couple of paragraphs? Minutiae. But that is not without its merits. Some posts are fun to read and there are some damn sharp tongues that hang out here. Finally, give me a politics thread that JDG posts in and I'll show you a thread that has filled me my quota of at least one chuckle a day.