Parihaka

ShawnG

You got my vote.

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"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -Adlai E. Stevenson

wabpilot

I know John McCain and I don't like him. However, he served his country with great honor and courage as a POW. That redeems his rather poor career to that point. I still don't like him, and certainly would not fly with him. But, I do respect his courage.

Again, John McCain's courage comes out. I too agree with his position on Iraq and am very impressed with his stand on torture. And yes, he is a vast improvement over the incumbent. If, as I expect, John McCain is the GOP nominee for President, I will vote for him. Further I will put aside my dislike of him personally and raise money on his behalf.

glyn

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Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

crooks

That's very true - though it's worth noting that we in Europe (bar France, though even it's not to the same degree driven as the US) have systems that put much more focus on the parties rather than the leaders, especially towards funding - the US is very personality driven, face to face, famous handshakes with important people, securing funds on your own steam, both in a genuine political sense and in national outlook.

Personally the idea of a 'fundraiser' in the sense Hillary in particular uses makes my insides squirm, I don't feel comfortable with campaigns being bankrolled by Corporations and/or wealthy individuals with an active interest in the campaign - it whiffs of vested interests.

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'Liberty - it is newly strung and shall be heard.' - Motto of the United Irishmen.

Ironduke

I caucused at DeLaSalle High School... the caucus at Coffman didn't cover the area I live in. McCain won the Republican caucus there, not sure who won mine yet.

You've got the same exact path I do to get to the convention. Two more delegate elections to go. My next one's going to be on March 15th. I sure hope McCain won my district, understandably it may improve my chances of being elected as a district delegate.

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The Buck Stops Here

Ironduke

Well Bluesman, on March 6, 2006 you wrote that you'd vote for Hillary if McCain won the nomination.

It appears you may have your wish.

Ironduke

Well I've been elected as an delegate or alternate (alternate, I believe) at the MN Senate District 59 Convention, to the MN-5 Congressional District Convention. I wish I would have been elected as a delegate to this or the state convention, but oh well. At least I'm eligible for nomination to the Republican National Convention in September.

The MN Senate District Convention had a load of Ron Paul supporters there... it seemed half the people in the room were wearing Ron Paul buttons or stickers. There were four tables at that convention, one each for those running for the Minnesota House Districts 59A & 59B, one for coffee and doughnuts, and another for Ron Paul. I hate those Ron Paul retards.

gunnut

I don't understand how you can run an election campaign without raising funds. How do you pay for your staffers? TV commercials? Brochures? Placards? Office rentals? Convention hall rentals?

I believe majority of the cash used by politicians here during an election is on office rentals and TV/radio commericials. The lavish candidates will have highly paid consultants. The ones on a shoestring budget will rely more on volunteers.

How do you guys run your election campaigns?

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"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

ofelas

John McCain will get my vote, as he is the candidate that comes closest to whom I want to see as POTUS.

Stan187

Didn't Ann Coulter say that, too? I tend to respect Bluesman's comments a bit more than Ann's, however.

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In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

Ray

I don't know what it means, but I am for you since you are the Boss.

Don't let me down!

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"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

HAKUNA MATATA

Ironduke

Well, the journey ends. I went to the MN-5 Republican Convention, there were three seats for delegate, three for alternate to the National Convention. I didn't have a hope, so many of the other people were pretty prominent locally and had organized campaigns beforehand.

Met Senator Coleman. Me and a rusty old Vietnam vet were outside smoking talking about Governor Pawlenty, and the guy says "well, here he is." Standing right beside me is Norm Coleman, he says "you guys out having a smoke?". We shake hands and I say "how are you Governor Pawlenty?" Of course I knew which one was which but I probably came across as an idiot.

If we'd been discussing anything but Governor Pawlenty I probably wouldn't have greeted him as such.

Ray

Keep trying and I am sure one day you will succeed.

Chunder

Depends, In Oz, your invited to become a member of said party and contribute, and anyone up including big business can contribute. Those donations are disclosed to the Public.

Additionally, Political parties receive funding from the Public purse if they gather a certain percentage of the vote, indexed on a per vote basis. It has the unfortunate affect of snowballing the big parties whilst sidelining the small ones, but what it has shown is that a government can only advertise its way to victory so much.

But it's not so brazen as in the U.S, if Hillary wants some funds, she'll send Bill down to NY Jewish community and say stuff like id sooner pick up a gun for israel than I would for the U.S' I personally don't get how she has obtained so much money. A politician with so much money, isn't very credible.

There are also limits - for instance you can put your posters up on stobie poles (the things that carry electricity) But if you don't take them down within 2 weeks of the election taking place, you get fined. There are a few 'blue chip' electorates also - ones that never change demographically, The Australian Electory Commission, redefines an electorates boundaries every election for example. Australias Prime Minister John Howard lost his seat of 20+ years, due to the opposition putting in a high profile candidate, and the AEC also changed the electoral boundaries, resulting in a very narrow victory for the opposition in that seat.

All this wrapping yourselves in flags crap with your name emblazoned with a red white a blue background isn't seen that often here. Personally I don't get why the logo for the GOP (why on earth is it called the grand old party, what on earth is grand about a bunch of pollies is beyond me) is a fat ugly elephant, that resides 10's of 1000's of kilometers away from the U.S in it's natural habitat is strange, what it's doin draped in stars and stripes is another thing all together. But then again you got the democratic party with some stupid styalised red white and blue gazelle logo...

The Republicans Logo should be something like Gunnuts B52, and the Dems should be a red hairwig.