Get Out and Meet Your Candidates!
Here in New Hampshire we have something quite unique in the primary season, and that's the chance to meet the candidates for president from both parties up close and personal. I have to admit it's an opportunity that I hadn't taken advantage of until tonight, but if you're able to, I'd definitely recommend it as the days tick down to our primary on January 8.
Tonight I attended an event in Nashua being held by Presidential Candidate John Edwards, who was joined by singer-songwriters Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne. The night began with the two performers playing a set of four songs to a packed auditorium at Daniel Webster College (the event was such a draw, in fact, that many voters had to listen to the candidate's comments in an audio overflow room). After the set, Edwards spoke for about 20 minutes and then took questions from the crowd.
The first thing that struck me was the energy in the room, and how passionate the voters were about learning more about the candidate. There were many good questions asked, and Edwards addressed each one in detail. It was refreshing to get more than the sound byte answers usually heard in debates or the single sentences here and there that are covered in the mainstream media.
There were many highpoints during Edwards' speech and Q&A, but the loudest applause and a standing ovation were given to a comment he made about torture. The candidate stated that the recent debate about what constitutes torture was offensive to him, and that America should have a policy not to torture, period. As someone who's been following all of the candidates very closely, I don't think I ever would have heard something like this by reading the usual articles about the presidential primary horse race.
My main takeaway from the event (and it's not that I've decided on a candidate yet) was that anyone who's interested in who our next president will be should try and attend as many town hall meetings and live campaign events as possible. They give voters a chance to hear the candidates speak about their positions in great length and take unfiltered questions from the audience (in most cases).
I learned more about Edwards in an hour than I had through months of reading articles and watching debates for the past 7-8 months. If there's a candidate that you're leaning towards on either side I'd recommend seeing him or her in person if it's a possibility, and if you're undecided, then all the more reason to take the candidates up on their offers to see them on the campaign trail.
Both the Republican and Democratic races are heating up and getting tighter leading up to the New Hampshire Primary next month, and you'd better believe the candidates will be campaigning hard in our state over the next few weeks. This may be your last chance until the next election cycle to see the candidates up close, so don't miss out!
For the latest campaign events going on across the state, check out the "Campaign Watch" stories, found in the Politics section of the Concord Monitor website.
Re: Dodd vs Edwards
Hi birdflewover,
Thanks for your comment! In my post I wasn't trying to endorse Edwards, but just wanted to highlight how good of an opportunity it is to see the candidates up close and personal. From attending the event I think Edwards was speaking from his gut, and I think he will try to do what he's setting out to do if elected president. He does have a very small paper trail from his work in the Senate, though.
I think Dodd's a great candidate, and one of my personal gripes with this primary season and election coverage is that only 3-4 candidates from each side get real attention from the media. There's a wealth of talent on both the Democratic and Republican sides, and it's sad to see so many strong candidates get ignored.
~Justin
I agree sort of
Hi Justin, I agree with you except on one point on the Republican side I see only one viable candidate, Ron Paul. Whom I could vote for in the general if he were up against Clinton but if he were up against Kucinich, Edwards, Biden or Dodd I would vote for the Democrat for sure. If Paul were up against Richardson or Gravel I'd have a tough time choosing. I like Gravel for the courage he showed on bringing the Pentagon Papers to light, which ended the Vietnam war at least a year or two early yet Gravel is a bit to flaky to run the country in my opinion.
As for Guiliani, Romney, Tancredo and Hunter I see them clearly as fascists and they would destroy this country, all of them would make Bush look like a boy scout. Guiliani is the biggest crook I've ever seen run for high office, only Cheney may be bigger, Romney is super dangerous cause he's such a smooth talker at least Bush looked the idiot corporate puppet he is. I pray to God Romney is not elected. McCain is ok but his stance on the war is completely wrong, we can't save Bush's war crime no matter how hard we try, however McCain is not a fascist he has that going for him, Fred Thompson is a joke it would be like having Homer Simpson has President, we don't need 4 more years of world laughing at us as well as hating us, Huckabee though not a fascist is by no means qualified or competent to be President he too would make the US a laughing stock to the rest of the World.
My order of who would make the best President would go like this: Kucinich, Biden or Dodd, Edwards or Obama, Ron Paul, Clinton or Richardson, McCain, Gravel, as for the others if anyone of them become President I'm leaving the country pronto before I get thrown in a concentration camp for protesting.
I would like to amend my previous post
After further consideration, in my opinion there are only three candidates whom we can definitely trust, Kucinich, Gravel and Paul, however none has a chance of getting the nomination of their respective parties even if we vote for them because the game is rigged. However I will still vote for Kucinich even though I know he will not get the nomination, the reason is we have to try, even if it does seem futile, you never know miracles do happen, look at India and Gandhi or what Martin Luther King did here. So if you're inclined to vote Paul, Gravel or Kucinich yet won't because you think you will waste your vote, I disagree, we should always vote for whom we think is best.
Edwards is next in line on the trust scale, though he seems all words and no action, at least concerning is Senate record, a little bird tells me, however, that he could be our next JFK or Bobby Kennedy. He seems sincere this time around, seems to have matured to the point where I think he could take on the multi-national corporations.
After Edwards, comes Biden and Dodd on the trust scale.
Then Richardson and Obama.
Then McCain and Clinton, problem is that both McCain and Clinton, though not fascists or crooks are both mixed up in their thinking , they will keep the war going another decade, or try to, as they are both too controlled by the multi-nationals. They both want what is best for America yet they have both been brainwashed into thinking that war is best for America and it is not. War has already destroyed us morally and it will soon destroy us economically if we don't stop soon.
As for the rest, we have two religious nuts, Keyes and Huckabee, who could be great at running a church but not a country...two fascists (who make Cheney and Bush look like girl scouts) namey Romney and Hunter....and finally Guiliani who is not only a fascist but also the biggest crook our country has ever produced, who makes Al Capone look like a girl Scott.
Finally, if you get the chance to ask any of the candidates a question, ask them about MAI , the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. If you don't know what this is all about it doesn't surprise me because it is a well kept secret. Negotiated in secret among the OEDC countries (though France dropped out but with Sarkosy may now be back in), it is basically a consensus to enslave the working populations of the World. Wikipedia and Google it, you will begin to find out about this. Ask the candidats their opinion on this and watch them sweat, first they will wonder who you are, second they will give you a non answer if they are for it, i.e., a corporate puppet, or if they give you straight answer and are against it maybe you should vote for them.
What amazes me is MAI is the most important agreement of all time concerning our World economy and nobody has heard of it, because our Press keeps it out of the public forum.
Re: I would like to amend my previous post
Hi birdflewover,
Thanks for your comments! I think you brought up some good points, and I think that in the end people should vote for who they want to be president, not who the media puts at the "front of the pack" or the "top tier." I'm really hoping there are some surprises come the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary. There are definitely candidates on the "lower tiers" who have more experience and a better grip on the issues than some of those in the "top tier."
Although I'm a blogger and not necessarily a journalist, I still would like to keep my preferences for the next president to myself. Like I said, I think there is talent on both sides, and also some candidates who raise serious questions on both sides. What I think is vital is that voters really take at a look at the candidates, and not just watch the latest headlines on CNN. Take a look at all of the candidates' positions, experience, and vision of where they'd like to take the country in the next four years. Then vote your conscience, and not for who you think may win. If everyone did that, I think the pollsters would be shocked after the votes are counted.
~Justin
IMPORTANT TO GET OUT AND MEET THE CANDIDATES
I fully agree with you that it is very important to get out and meet the candidates. However, I don't feel it is necessary for any one of the candidates running for the most important office in the United States, to have to have a celebrity of any sorts, coming out for them. Whether its' one playing music of speaking which ever way it's just not doing the real work of speaking and meeting people on their own turf as they should be doing. I'm not a Democrat of Republican, I registered as Independent, so have the opportunity to make the rounds and do it.
We all need to meet our candidates, and more importantly get out and VOTE, your Vote does count. So here's hoping all will vote on January 8, 2007.
Countrygirl1761
John Edwards
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I am continually amazed at the attitudes of the people of New Hampshire. John Edwards is a fake--a sham--and yet the people up there continue to buy into his bull stuff. As one who has lived in North Carolina for over 50 years, I well remember when John Boy was running for the U.S. Senate here in N.C. He promised the people of this State that he would be the best Senator that we could ever expect or want. He would absolutely take care of the concerns of the people of North Carolina. Well, we early on found out that he lied. Barely 30 days after his swearing in, he began missing Senate votes--and continued to do so for the next 6 years. Ultimately, he missed something like 80% of the Senate votes taken during his time as a Senator. That is the official record, easily verifiable. Yet, the folks there in New Hampshire seem to ignore the facts, and buy into the slick, polished political image that he wishes to present. Oh well, it's something you folks with have to live with---we here in John Boys home state don't want anything to do with him. You can have him. |
Call your next case
GREAT STATEMENT
I certainly like your statement on John Edwards, and you should know also that not all of us here in NH think that John Edwards is such a sweet guy. I know how he is, along with how he made all his money and all, he's not at all fooling all of us here in NH. Thanks but no thanks, as we do not want to take him away from N.C., you can keep him.
I do have one question though?? If he's been so bad then why in the World does he keep on getting elected, or is he another Ted Kennedy from Mass.?
Thanks again for your great article.
Countrygirl1761
John Boy-
| Countrygirl1761: John Boy was elected one time here in N.C. That was enough for us. He could not get elected dog catcher now-if that tells you anything about what the people in his home state think of him. As for ya'll sending him back down here---how bout we pay you to keep him??? Would that work??? |
Call your next case
¸¸,ø¤*MAKE*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*YOUR*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*VOTE*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*COUNT*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*
¸¸,ø¤*VOTE*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*RON*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*PAUL*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*2008*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*
Recently Dodd, defended our freedoms with his threat of filibuster, where was Edwards? I like Edwards he's seems like a great guy and really talks the talk, but when it comes to action where is he?
Impeachment that belongs to Kucinich, Censure that belongs to Feingold, protecting the environment that belongs to Boxer, now FISA and domestic spying that belongs to Dodd...Edwards talks the talk, but does he walk the walk?
I don't know, he voted for the invasion of Iraq though at least he admits his mistake, yet I would like to see Edwards more proactive in the Senate, he was a good trial lawyer fighting against corporate corruption, that his a big feather in his hat I agree, so maybe he does have balls, yet I didn't see him offer help to Dodd for the filibuster? or maybe I missed something?