One of life's disappointing moments

[rapunzel]

First, everyone needs to take a step back and look at the big picture -- expressing opinions on a message board only ever has a positive influence if you don't waste your time attacking symbols or the branding a candidate tries to develop. If you have strong feelings or opinions on issues, then post those. Ideas, issues, and information are things we can discuss and find common ground. It also helps all of us make more informed decisions in the voting booth.

Unfortunately, the closer we get to the election, the more we see the same posters posting the daily talking points with little or no original content and at times getting a little nasty because it feels personal. There are posters that sometimes make it personal. (Yes, I'm guilty of being roped in a couple of times.:shock It makes the political forum course, and that's a loss for us all.

As for Dennis Wise -- he provided a photo of himself with Bill O'Reilly to the Sun. Why would he choose to do that? Because O'Reilly is a symbol. His presence with a candidate instantly brands that candidate in a certain way. For some, the O'Reilly brand may be no-spin, ultra right wing, defender of money, guns, and fetuses. For others, the symbol is a coarsening of politics, a bully, kicker of the least among us. Either way, it's a symbol. It's a symbol Wise used to brand his campaign in a hope that it would influence voters.

So, let's just acknowledge that in local politics most candidates refrain from taking a public stand on any real issues and rely on name recognition. Dennis Wise has built his brand as the ultra-conservative candidate in this election. To pretend it's stupid to base one's vote on the message a candidate is conveying with symbols is stupid, or even a single issue vote, is unfair.

 

[Teresa]

thanks punzy and kitty for caring about all of us on SoWal.com...

 

[Miss Kitty]

thanks punzy and kitty for caring about all of us on SoWal.com...

...and thank you for caring! One thing...PLEASE don't make me debate my little Punzy!

 

[Danny Burns]

I personally could give two swats what people say about my voting practices, that is why I live in AND LOVE America folks, I can vote for anyone for ANY reason. It may be wrong, it might even be stupid, but if I don't like the candidate's haircut, tie, the silent 'e' on the end of her name or the way he posts his mug in newspapers it is my porragative...to do what I want to do (Thank you Bobby Brown for the lyrics).
I can honestly say that on more than one occasion I have been in a voting booth and knew nothing about a particular person's political platform, especially the races that aren't popular such as judges etc. and voted for him/her based on the (lack of) signs that I saw. I am not alone here either. Call me an idiot. Say that my voting practices are stupid. I still have the right/privilege to vote no matter what. See you guys the poll~I will be the one with the big fat smirk on my face.;-)

Since you (Romeosmydog) don't "give two swats what people say about my voting practices" (and I respect your right to do whatever you want...this is America and you have that right!!), hereafter I address others on this string and anyone else on SoWal who reads this.

I am hoping and praying not many will vote without serious consideration to issues and candidates positions on them. Hoping and praying and nothing else...no name calling! I have agreed with Romeosmydog's statements on many other occasions...just not this particular post.

Don't you think that lack of consideration in the voting booth is one of the reasons why we are having some of the problems we face here in Walton County? That and just not showing up on election day (voter apathy).

See you at the poll. I will be the one with a confident look on my face because I have done my homework on each candidate and voted my conscience on each one based on the facts as I perceive them. That's my prerogative and I'm stickin'to it.

 

[Andy A]

When I posted my agreement with Andy's post, I was referring to WHAT was said, not who was saying it. Speaking to the issues is ok, personal slurs are definitely not and in this case an honest appraisal would lead one to the conclusion that no one was calling anyone "stupid" or an "idiot."

Gee, thanks a lot, IW. That is a more fair assessmesnt of what I said than a lot of others are giving me. But since my political pursuasion, lifestyle (mostly due to age) and experience is so much different than many who post on this board, I am not surprised and I do not state this to offend anyone. It is just how I view the various posts on this board. In fairness, most posts, including mine, leave little doubt where one stands on any particular issue and that's fine.

 

[InletBchDweller]

Obviously I have ruffled feathers. To the point where pm's will not even be returned to me. I think that everyone does not understand the point I was trying to make at all. I could have used another word but that was the first one that came to mind and my thesarus was packed away.

The WHOLE reason, again, I said it was b/c of Beemns comment. From what he said I interpreted that "he was considering voting for DW but when he saw the photo with o'riley he was completely turned off and would not vote for him after the photo appeared" SO, say if I was considering voting for Obama and his photo was in the paper with say....N. Pelosi, then I expressed on SoWal that I was not going to vote for him now b/c of that photo alone I am sure that comments would be given for sure.

I was not calling sowal or walton county residents idiots I was saying that particular action which I described above would be idiotic. :roll:

JDarg, I don't believe that I called you an idiot...

 

[idlewind]

Obviously I have ruffled feathers. To the point where pm's will not even be returned to me. I think that everyone does not understand the point I was trying to make at all. I could have used another word but that was the first one that came to mind and my thesarus was packed away.

The WHOLE reason, again, I said it was b/c of Beemns comment. From what he said I interpreted that "he was considering voting for DW but when he saw the photo with o'riley he was completely turned off and would not vote for him after the photo appeared" SO, say if I was considering voting for Obama and his photo was in the paper with say....N. Pelosi, then I expressed on SoWal that I was not going to vote for him now b/c of that photo alone I am sure that comments would be given for sure.

I was not calling sowal or walton county residents idiots I was saying that particular action which I described above would be idiotic. :roll:

JDarg, I don't believe that I called you an idiot...

I understood where you were going and what you meant. To quote Sean Hannity, a great American, some people have already drank the koolaid and they can't be helped.(Just kidding my friends.) Everyone should state their opinions and respect others right to agree or disagree.

 

[Romeosmydog]

Well said Analogman and Rapunzel. I think that before I post I should take a sip of wine maybe eat a little crow and chill. I was really just trying to get my point across that everyone that has the opportunity to vote should do so for what ever reason they wish. Even if they aren't 100% informed. Something as simple as a picture with someone that represents hard right (and say hypothetically you are a cock-eyed liberal) can influence a voter. As for this election season, I know enough about the sheriff's race to know who I am voting against. ;-)

 

[Miss Kitty]

Well said Analogman and Rapunzel. I think that before I post I should take a sip of wine maybe eat a little crow and chill. I was really just trying to get my point across that everyone that has the opportunity to vote should do so for what ever reason they wish. Even if they aren't 100% informed. Something as simple as a picture with someone that represents hard right (and say hypothetically you are a cock-eyed liberal) can influence a voter. As for this election season, I know enough about the sheriff's race to know who I am voting against. ;-)

YooHoo...what am I?...chopped liver? I am just kidding, I saw your thanks!

Excellent! It can be like the SATs sometime...the process of elimination!

 

[John R]

Despite the name calling, finger pointing, and backpedaling, it seems to me that Mr. Wise's meet and greet was unattended for a couple of reasons:
a. it was not advertised/marketed effectively
b. no one (except 2 ppl) care(d) to hear what he has to say, and he has become irrelevant in this race.

Regarding any photos Mr. Wise has posted; they are an extension of his vocal and printed platform and are therefor valid pieces of information to base one's vote upon.

ymmv