Oh I just read some more info on Clinton, Obama etc and just felt like it had been going on for such a long time.

I am an Aussie and I am sick of reading about them, how do you American People feel?

It must be doing your head in?

All the BS. We had our elections and 2 weeks before the placards are up and it is oversaturated in the news but that is it.

For sanity's sake, how long has this been going on for? AND how much longer!?

If anyone needs to vent in exhasperation, please feel free to u2u me.

It has been going on for a year or more and the election is still 8 months away! Yes, it is enough to drive any sane person crazy no matter where in the world they live, apparently. I live here in the US and have decided to stop watching any news on television. I can get any news I need to know online.

Sure the election coverage can get a bit over-the-top for those of us who consistently pay attention to current events, and those of us who care about the state of our nation and where it is headed.

However, for those of us who only care about politics once in a blue moon, i think this exhausting political coverage is a good thing. When the donkey down the street finally turns the channel to CNN after American Idol is over, they'll have a chance to get at least some information before casting their vote.

OMG going on for more than a year...and 8 months to go!

urgh!

thing that urks me is all the celebrity hype. Maybe thats what the 'star spangled banner' is all about!?

reply to post by Thurisaz

---

Greetings to you in Australia.
The most frustrating part of all of this nonsense is that with over 300,000,000 citizens, these clowns are the best we can come up with. Maybe it's because any decent person wouldn't want the job. They're all crooks, and that's putting it mildly. Please don't judge us by our "leaders". Most of us aren't that stupid.
Bush today had a news conference, and when one of the reporters started by saying something to the effect of
"Since news reports indicate that we're heading to $4 a gallon gasoline soon....."
Bush replied by saying that he hadn't heard of that.
It just shows how out of touch he is to the American people. Most people are at the point, where they are avoiding any unnecessary travel, which of course, adds to the economic woes in this country, since that means not buying things. We've cut down on grocery trips to once every two weeks now, and even then, we only buy things that we really need-no goodies like cookies, etc. Although we could afford it, who knows wht the future brings here. Our kids are in worse shape, in their case, it truly is a burden, trying to balance the family budget, raise kids, heat their homes, and keep the gas tank full.
How are things "Down Under" economically?

Your second sentence answers your first. It truely is a sad, sad statement that these are the best we can come up with, out of a population of over 200 million.

I've already begun exploring third party alternatives. Not the best alternative perhaps, but it doesn't matter who gets the GOP or Democratic nominations, I am not voting for either one or the other. All are nauseating for various reasons.

Ah well, there are many other issues and people to be concerned with as well. Local politics and issues are more important to me in many ways then are national politics. In fact in some ways, gridlock in Washington DC keeps the feds out of my hair, save for April 15th.

Sometime around October, I'll finalize my choice, such as it is, for Priesident.

You know what I would love to see? A voting system, where one of the choices is "None of the Above", and if that gets the most votes, then all of the candidates "above" are removed, and not allowed to run, in a re-vote. All new candidates must be chosen to run.
Of course, the problem is that the politicians that run the voting would never allow this, because we might then be able to throw the bums out.

And you got a mention on the latest Above Politics Show.

It seems the hype is bigger in the US and as you have noted, seems to last for ever but we should all be interested in who will be the next president as it will impact all our lives for the foreseeable future.

I haven't heard of the AP Show??

As an Aussie, I was sick of reading and hearing about it, especially when Oprah got on the band wagon and then the other celebrities...it just seemed so unintegral to be hyping it up with celebrities.

Feels a bit like one big circus...

I tell you what I've been getting worked up about it.
Mostly the looseness of the reporting on it. They act like the bad candidates with reported bad dealings are good and the few good candidates there were they treat like they don't exist or their not worth the time. I've decided to slow down on my input of the whole mess for awhile. Mainly because Mcain "took" the GOP. There is a group called the Granny Warriors who are trying to prove that the Electronic voting machines are faulty. If this is true it could change everything on both sides. Also If My guy Ron Paul holds on long enough for that to come through the way I hope. Then we'll all be free again. Also when the final race starts up and the Democratic nominee and Republican nominee start flinging mud at each other all Hell will break loose. Unless Doctor Paul now Texas Represenative Paul makes it. The Democratics will have an impossible time finding dirt on him.

Ron Paul for President for Freedom For America

This is an excellent question, Thurisaz!

I havn't been around here (ATS) in quite some time because I've been involved in covering the election for the newspaper I work at. I can tell you this, I will be MORE than glad when this race is over!!!

I just told a friend at work a day or two ago, that I now wake up every morning DREAMING of the candidates!

I am gonna need serious deprogramming when its all over!





[edit on 3/8/08 by EastCoastKid]

I must add one more thought to this mix. As someone who has watched and covered politics for years, this election season has been one for the ages.

For most of my life (I'm 38), participation/voting has been anemic, at best. And we've seen where that has gotten us - Clinton/Bush dynasties from hell and endless war.

Finally, a compelling candidate emerges (Obama) and electrifies the electorate. I have never seen such a thing in my life. It is INCREDIBLE! And I welcome the intensity of interest.

The number of those who have voted in this years' primaries/caucuses has shattered records and taken aback the establishment (both political and media). I cannot tell you how I savor that shock! As of right now, the elstablishment has NO control over the outcome.

How they are gnashing their teeth! (Hillary included)

So, I am watching this race with great excitement and yes, HOPE. HOPE that we might, for the first time, in SO long, actually elect a president who will represent we, the people (Obama) and not the interests of the establishment.

Irregardless of the outcome, though, democracy has been the winner this year. I can only hope those who have come out and taken part in the process will continue to do so in future elections. Our freedom depends on it.

Peace.

The concern that everyone should have, is what happens to these "awakened individuals", if Hillary manages to steal the nomination, through back-room manipulation? In fact, it is looking like that is what will happen. Lanny Davis has been on all of the Cable news shows presenting why the Super Delegates should be able to vote whatever way they wish, even if Obama has more delegates, more votes, and more states.

Knowing the Clintons, I have no doubt that this will happen. Of course, when it happens, and it WILL, Clinton will offer Obama the VP slot. I hope Obama has the courage to turn it down.

BTW, I don't support any of the remaining candidates. I felt Ron Paul was the only candidate that could do something about the declining dollar, and the impending Depression (first the US, then the entire globe). Yes, depression, because we are already in a deep recession. Yes, I know, 2 successive quarters... GDP....blah blah balh. Remember who keeps the stats on GDP. I've posted on other threads the several different GDP figures that are available... Anyway, the US economy is in deep trouble, and even those countries that despise us know that if we fail , eventually the rest of the world will be severely affected.

For those who care, Hillary's machinations should be of great concern. To get a good look at what happens when a similarly losing candidate dragged it all the way out to the floor of the convention and applied the same self-servingly ruthless tactics, look at the 1980 battle between Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. Kennedy just couldn't wrest that nomination away from Carter; and yet, it was damaging to Carter. He lost to Reagan in the general.

Hillary will do ANYTHING to gain the nomination; even if it means destroying the Democrats' chances in the general.

I personally believe Hillary would lose to McCain.

And here's an even crazier thought: I wouldn't put it past McCain and Hillary to team up against Obama. You know, on a nice, bi-partisan ticket.

Here is a HUGE reason to be concerned if Hillary wins:
prorev.com...

I think it is instructive for people to visit this site. It chronicles the vast number of scandals and alleged crimes that Hillary has committed.

Need a creepy reminder of all those weird Clinton scandals unearthed in the 90's? I saw a story yesterday from the AP saying that the Clinton Library Builder's CFO disappeared recently, without a trace. See here for more on that.

Scary. One more to add to the body count. Vince Foster, Ron Brown, .....thirty some odd others, now John Glasgow. I wonder if he had something on Hillary.

I don't know, but I find the timing of this story odd. Barack Obama has been pressuring Hillary Clinton to release certain records, some of which pertain to the Clinton library. The house this missing guy built. How weird is that? How revolting.

reply to post by Thurisaz

---

Not heard of The Above Politics Show!!! ATS's flag ship discussion show with Justin Case and me. Just look at the top panel of any post/thread and see the ATSMIX and then look for the Above Politics Show. we are currently are show number 8. Check out the podcast and the show threads