Walking in the rain

May 18, 2006 at 5:27 pm | In Walking and Talking | Leave a Comment

I walked in the rain a few times over the past two weeks.  I really did not have a choice because it has rained so much and I have alot of ground to cover.  I did not think I would mind it and at first I did not think I would need an umbrella. Wrong!!!  Not only did I get wet (less important) but all of my stuff got wet (my campaign literature) and worst of all my pen would not work on the wet paper.  I just never thought this would matter but it really does.  Part of what I am doing when I am walking around is keeping track of what people talk about, what they care about, if they are interested in what I have to say.  I cannot remember all the people I talk to if I cannot write something down about them to help me.  It was a big mess and I was wet and cold.  I did it for a few days but I also took a break.

Walking the district

May 16, 2006 at 9:52 am | In Walking and Talking | Leave a Comment

I started walking door-to-door in my district; it is the most old fashion way of campaigning. I have heard from many that this is the most effective way to meet voters but I have also talked to critics who say is an ineffective use of time? I am not sure who is right here; I guess we will find out in November. It’s time intensive and if I want to walk the entire district once it will take me nearly five months (thus the reason I started so soon). I already have a load of funny, interesting and intimidating stories about my experiences at people’s doors and when I started sharing some of them with my husband, he suggested I put them on the blog. Good idea.

So far, I am surprised at how many people simply say, “This is the year for a Democrat” or “it is time for a change” it is so interesting but people’s disenchantment with our president and Congress is far reaching. I have heard this many times from Republicans, Democrats and Independent voters. People are disturbed in a frightened kind of way. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues as I walk into different communities and different economic circles. I will let you know.

PAC Money

May 15, 2006 at 11:57 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

So… as a challenger I do not expect a lot of PAC (Political Action Committee) money. It is just the way the game works, I am told. My opponent, on the other hand, will probably receive much of her money via PAC’s. Again just the way it works.

I never really appreciated what all the talk was about. How many say PAC money is bad and how it negatively affects the system, until recently. I was contacted by a PAC organization that has a vested interest in seeing my incumbent challenger removed from office, thus they have a reason to talk with me. I agreed to meet with them simply because I was interested in learning more about the issues they represent?!?!? That’s what they do, right, represent various issues of importance?

I wanted the meeting to be a discussion/education about their issues. My idea was that I could learn first hand why they cared so deeply about the groups they represented. The problem is that they treated the meeting as an opportunity to, quite literally, dangle a carrot of money and support in front of me. If I was willing to promise that once elected I would vote a certain way, they would support my campaign heavily with money and man power? Talk about cut to the chase.

I was sort of stunned that they were taking my candidacy so seriously that they were actually trying to bribe me before I was elected to anything. I guess I should be honored, but I wasn’t, I was offended. I was offended that when I refused to promise to vote a certain way and said I wanted to understand both sides of the issue fully they were visibly annoyed. It was a you are with us or against us mentality with no room for reason or compromise. When I asked questions about why they were seeking certain policy changes, I got vague, undetailed answers. The type of answers that make anyone think, there has to be more to this, they are hiding something?

So, I stood my ground, refused to offer anything but a promise to completely understand the issue and left the meeting a bit shaken. I decided I would not like to take any PAC support and certainly I will not take money from this group. Since, I have to raise a ton of money that may be easier said then done, we will see.

Why is PAC money a bad deal for the average voter? I now know first hand it is because they are trying to buy their way into the system from the inside and affect change that may not be best for the common good.

The irony is I think I may have supported them in the long run, ……….. Well, actually maybe not!

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