Biggest election year pet peeves!

[PrincessFiona]

For me it is the negative ads. (I'm agreeing with Cheri by starting a new thread about it). The SwiftBoat ads make my stomach turn...and then it just seems like everything Kerry says is with an angry,biting tone. All TV campaign interviews involve mudslinging. I just can't wait for this election cycle to end!

Any other pet peeves?

kris

[SueC]

I agree about the mudslinging--it's unfortunate that negative campaigning is so effective because I'd like to see a campaign run without them.
My biggest pet peeve is that everybody doesn't agree with me! :argue:
I was running with my neighbor the other day and we had a very heated discussion as we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Luckily, we can fight about it and still be friends.

[HeartRN]

My biggest pet peeve is hearing all of the media people giving their take on the election. My husband and I have a (bad) habit of listening to Fox News. Could Alan Colmes or Sean Hannity or Susan Estrich be any more annoying? I'm really sick of the blathering, but I continue to listen to it! :argue:

I, too, will be glad when this is over!

[DCJenn]

The problem is that our culture has dumbed everything to the lower common (or dividing) denominator because that's what "everyone" responds to. The assumption that Americans are no longer able to think critically is patently offensive.

I refuse to participate in the perpetuation of this- so I read, read, read, as much as possible, and from as many sources as possible (and I love sites like smokinggun that actually do research on the mudslinging and the rumors).

If more people would actually participate in the electoral process- contact an elected official, (local or national) and tell them what their issues are, go to a neghborhood meeting, volunteer somewhere, speak out for whatever it is that gets you excited- then maybe, just maybe, we could start to effect some change in the process. Until people start to speak up and talk (not yell, not assume someone is wrong because they feel differently about an issue, not condem someone's opinion) the negativity will continue. People need to be taught to think for themselves. And we need to raise the bar on our expectations of the media.

(and really- the corporations that we all refer to as 'media' are no more journalists than I am. I'm sorry, if a company gets "conglomerate" stuck to their name- they no longer count as a realistic source of news- when you own restaurants, magazines, airlines, newspapers, radio stations, gas stations, tv stations and a pet store [ok- I might have made up the pet store part] all of whom have bottom lines that are impacted BY THE NEWS itself- its not unbiased media. When the left hand profits from the reporting of the right hand, it's the head that's in charge)

The talking heads (no matter from which 'side') need to be called on their own offensive behavior as well. (and the whole 'side' thing- what the F? There are really ONLY 2 sides to every possible issue? because we're too stupid to see nuance??? Steams me just thinking about it)

What ever happened to common sense and civility in public discourse?

Ok, jumping off the soapbox and going to the grocery store now...

Jenn

Woo-hoo!!! :ra:

Jenn, of DC, for President- 2004 :star:


(cue: presidential music here)



I am tired of..."and I approve this message" after ever flippin commercial, be it TV or even on the radio!

Nov 3rd can't get here quick enough!!

[DCJenn]

I'm Jenn from DC and I approved this message...

My pet peeve is the push on MTV to get the younger age group to vote. I feel it's turned trendy and I worry that these young adults aren't reading up on the issues and just voting for whoever candidate's daughters are the best dressed or the coolest. I also have a feeling this could heavily contribute the Democrat's side.

[Meenah]

My daughters are both voting for who I tell them to vote for or their funds are cut off!!!!!!
Luanne

Jenn, where do I send the check?

At this point, pretty much every aspect of the elections are my pet peeve. ::

As to registering young people to vote....I'm all for it. In fact, I'm all for registering anyone eligible and having them actually *go* to the polls. Voter participation in this country is abysmal and pathetic (hey, I think that is my pet peeve) and the way that people take the right to vote for granted gets me a little fired up. While it clearly shows lack of insight and maturity to vote for the hippest, best dressed, best whatever candidate, I don't think that is a whole lot worse than picking a candidate based on how they look or what their wife is like. And that sort of behavior crosses party lines, age, and gender.

nmh - a fine counterargument to my pet peeve. I never really saw it that way. Thanks for opening my eyes!

[mommax3]

My pet peeve is the "demonization" of the other side, regardless of who you will vote for. My third-graders almost become apoplectic in class about how "BAD" the other side is......and I know they are only echoing what they hear at home. I HATE that.

After all, I don't think Jenn, Luanne, Nellie, or Kris are demons!

Sally

[PrincessFiona]

Sally,

It's so easy to get into that mindset too...I know that for awhile I was having a lot of fun debating the issues....and I became guilty of that black/white demonization....I know you know that though. When things blew up here last time I did some soul-searching on the issue of how I talk about/think about politics. I realized I had become what I complained about. :disappointed:

I really had to back off from reading about politics for awhile...and stopped debating my dad on the issues. He and I are both hotheads that feed off of each other.

I've gotten much better since I stopped listening to hours of FoxNews/CNN while I cleaned up etc......I have to admit almost no reading about politics/listening to politics on the boob tube lately....I feel happier for it.

kris <---- demon

[Sheherezade]

Truly a pet peeve: candidate yard signs. In our town there is a virtual war going on with these things. People put them up, other people steal them. Angry people write letters to the editor calling other side "terrorists". (please note: it is happening with both parties) GIVE ME A BREAK ALREADY!!!!! Someone wrote a letter that really p**sed me off. It said that yard signs were necessary to educate young voters. In what? Peer pressure? I thought we taught kids to think for themselves these days. Maybe we are all supposed to know who our neighbor supports so we can just go along with everybody else. That's a good way to run a country. They should be illegal. ( That's how much this pet peeve is getting to me ! ) I saw in the paper that they've distributed a quarter million of these in my county. I think they are all on my street.

I'm with Jenn. At this point, what I am most wishing/hoping/praying for is a HUGE voter turn out. Like 90%. Even if it went for the "other guy". I think it would wake up the political community that times have changed and they better start paying attention to the previously "silent majority".

Angie

[Sheherezade]

And honestly--can we request a moment of silence for those of us living in "battleground states"???? I thought it was cool the first time the president and his entourage drove by my house. Now I think he and Kerry are stalking me.......

Also--I just want to note that it took me 4 tries ( and 3 months) to actually get registered to vote here. They gave me a hard time about many different things--including that my application was on an incorrect paper-weight and that I had not yet obtained an OH license. Thank goodness I resubmitted in time on heavy cardstock (''). I will not be at all suprised to see the post election legal challenges----

Angie

[PrincessFiona]

And honestly--can we request a moment of silence for those of us living in "battleground states"???? I thought it was cool the first time the president and his entourage drove by my house. Now I think he and Kerry are stalking me.......

Also--I just want to note that it took me 4 tries ( and 3 months) to actually get registered to vote here. They gave me a hard time about many different things--including that my application was on an incorrect paper-weight and that I had not yet obtained an OH license. Thank goodness I resubmitted in time on heavy cardstock (''). I will not be at all suprised to see the post election legal challenges----

Angie

I'm right here with you, Angie. Maybe that is why I feel so inundated with those blasted ads!!