Bill Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in part: >> What you're asking for is impossible where there's even a vestige of >> democracy. Why the hell would voters elect politicians FOR THE REASON THAT >> they'll ignore the voters' wishes on most major issues of policy?
>I've asked them. The answer was suprising at first though only because I >never expected it even while I suspected it. A while back we had Helen >Chenoweth here in Idaho. She served, IIRC, 2 terms in the House. >Yet I've not talked to a single person that "admits" to liking her, or >her positions, or her votes ... and didn't vote for her. It may well be >a local phenomenon. She was very .. shall we say 'outspoken'. The >'press' loved to lambaste her as a right-wing militia loving nutcase. >Pretty much everyone I've talked to about here really disliked/hated >her. yet even those who did, voted for her. Why? >The answer I suspected was that they knew exactly what they were >getting. It was clear that her positions were *hers* and that she spoke >what she believed. That was the impression she gave. And that is the >answer I get back. There was no equivocation on where she stood. She >made it clear and voters here at last, loved that even though they >disagreed with her. >Perhaps it also was the case that they knew she couldn't really do much, >being about a quarter of one percent of the vote in the House; or maybe >just maybe, it was the fact that she stood here grounds and we all knew >it. Likely a combination. >Why is she not in office now, you may ask? If everyone loved to vote for >her? She wanted to only serve a term or two, and did just that. >> I mean, >> we know voters vote for all sorts of reasons, but I can't conceive of a >> plurality getting together to deliberately elect someone to ignore them >> from then on!! >How about a majority, as we had here? ;) >I know, it is really odd, bordering on inconceivable. But it happened >here. That entire scenario is what launched me into analyzing these >things. In other words, it seems they liked her spunk. Like the way people liked the lady who succeeded the Long Is. Congressman because he blew her off after she'd complained about her husband having been shot dead on the train. I have to admit I liked her gumption too (even though they say she was a puppet). Even Howard Stern, who opposes gun controls, favored her election because of her spunk. And I suppose posturing as someone who'll deliberately ignore your future wishes demonstrates spunk too. Ed Koch served several terms in Congress and as mayor of NYC (and emceeing "The People's Court" and radio programs) and seemed to be someone people loved to hate. Yes, people vote for all sorts of reasons. Be Irony? Is Truly, Robert _______________________________________________ Libnw mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://immosys.com/mailman/listinfo/libnw http://immosys.com/mailman//pipermail/libnw
