Okay people, here is a question for you.

 

So I am a relatively young person (not to 30 yet.. but close) and I've wondered what strategies you all use when deciding where to cast your vote. I realize a lot of people align with the political parties but with me, I don't care what party you're from if I think you're going to help. The other issue I run into is it seems like all ads and everything you see is more about what the other person has done in their past or what they have failed to do rather than what the candidate running the ad is going to do for us. I realize I am asking the million dollar question here.. Just wanted to see how some people go about researching and making sure certain candidates are really about what they claim.

Challenge your leaning. If you lean right listen to what the left candidate says and prove to yourself that he/she is wrong. You will be smarter than 90% of the voters.

I listen to what the candidates have to say about the issues important to me and go with whoever is more aligned with my position. Rarely do I vote only within my party lines and would never vote for someone solely based on their political party affiliation.

 

Find out where candidates are going to be and go talk to them or just listen to them. For instance, Campbell County candidates for judge executive have the 1st of, I think 3 debates coming up next week. I hope to catch it.

Okay people, here is a question for you.

 

So I am a relatively young person (not to 30 yet.. but close) and I've wondered what strategies you all use when deciding where to cast your vote. I realize a lot of people align with the political parties but with me, I don't care what party you're from if I think you're going to help. The other issue I run into is it seems like all ads and everything you see is more about what the other person has done in their past or what they have failed to do rather than what the candidate running the ad is going to do for us. I realize I am asking the million dollar question here.. Just wanted to see how some people go about researching and making sure certain candidates are really about what they claim.

On the national level, the political reality is that candidates who are members of the minority party in Congress have very little impact on the bills that get sent to the president's desk. If you think Harry Reid and Obama have done a great job these past six years, then vote for the Democratic candidate for the Senate and the House of Representatives. If not, then cast your votes against them.

 

My second piece of advice is that some of the best people in the federal government are members of Congress who have not been in Washington very long. The longer they "serve" here, the more corrupt they tend to be. There are very few Senators that I hold in high regard because most of them were corrupted by the money and power of their offices long ago.

 

Lastly, do not pay any attention to political campaign ads. Campaign promises are worthless. All that is important in judging politicians is their past performance. If they promise to do something different in the future than they have done in the past, then they are almost certainly lying to you.

On the national level, the political reality is that candidates who are members of the minority party in Congress have very little impact on the bills that get sent to the president's desk. If you think Harry Reid and Obama have done a great job these past six years, then vote for the Democratic candidate for the Senate and the House of Representatives. If not, then cast your votes against them.

 

My second piece of advice is that some of the best people in the federal government are members of Congress who have not been in Washington very long. The longer they "serve" here, the more corrupt they tend to be. There are very few Senators that I hold in high regard because most of them were corrupted by the money and power of their offices long ago.

 

Lastly, do not pay any attention to political campaign ads. Campaign promises are worthless. All that is important in judging politicians is their past performance. If they promise to do something different in the future than they have done in the past, then they are almost certainly lying to you.

 

12-year term limits for both houses of Congress.

 

But it'll never happen.

Okay people, here is a question for you.

 

So I am a relatively young person (not to 30 yet.. but close) and I've wondered what strategies you all use when deciding where to cast your vote. I realize a lot of people align with the political parties but with me, I don't care what party you're from if I think you're going to help. The other issue I run into is it seems like all ads and everything you see is more about what the other person has done in their past or what they have failed to do rather than what the candidate running the ad is going to do for us. I realize I am asking the million dollar question here.. Just wanted to see how some people go about researching and making sure certain candidates are really about what they claim.

 

I look at 3 or 4 issues that are the most important to me, study up on the candidates, & then make my call.

I would say vote for what's right. Put your morals before your political views. With that being said, there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Don't overlook the good ones.

There will seldom be what you would consider a good candidate if you really weed through the fluff of the campaign. I know the issues that are important to me, and voting record of the candidate is probably the most key factor for me. They can say what they want, but they can't erase their record. I'm a fan of their history dictating their future.

Don't watch the ads and/or get your information from television. Don't get your information from the front page of your local newspaper...ie. the Lexington Herald Leader which is a liberal rag.

Follow much of the advice above and do you own research on the issue important to you. However, the issues "important" to many people are issues that they have now been told are really important and maybe in the whole scheme of things maybe shouldn't be national issues....such as gay marriage....sorry, I just don't care one way or the other.

 

Lastly, I frequently write letters to my congressman and senators regarding issues of importance to me. Their response determines whether they get my next vote.

National level - many was to go. Rarely is one a clear cut choice. Lesser of two evils, party power base in Congress, weaken the Executive branch, new blood, getting rid of insider are all valid reasons to go one way or other.

 

State-wide - have you ever sent an email to representative? Did they respond? Even if they did not support your point? If so - they are pretty good and worthy of a look or keeping. If not - do they really care about what you think? I always got responses from the opposite party representative and supported him every election. The same party Senator - no so much. Party is less critical in the State - most are good people and you have better access to them.

 

Local - popularity contest. Do you know them? Like them? Dis-like them. Did they come around with flyers in person? Where they nice and seemed competent when they did? Usually its hard to do much 'research' at this level and their budgets are small so information is limited to flyers, last minute mail campaigns and personal gatherings.

 

There is no silver bullet to process.

Don't watch the ads and/or get your information from television. Don't get your information from the front page of your local newspaper...ie. the Lexington Herald Leader which is a liberal rag.

Follow much of the advice above and do you own research on the issue important to you. However, the issues "important" to many people are issues that they have now been told are really important and maybe in the whole scheme of things maybe shouldn't be national issues....such as gay marriage....sorry, I just don't care one way or the other.

 

Lastly, I frequently write letters to my congressman and senators regarding issues of importance to me. Their response determines whether they get my next vote.

 

^ That's fair enough.

Quite simply I look for candidates who's views most mirror my own, knowing full well that I will never find an identical match.

I'll vote for anyone not named McConnell

I'll vote for anyone not named McConnell

Tommy Turtle is the lesser of the evils, sadly.

Tommy Turtle is the lesser of the evils' date=' sadly.[/quote']

 

So very true. When Mitch's people called me for money, I told them he was lucky he was getting my vote.