Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 35

Thread: Live and In Person Presidential Candidates

  1. #1
    Yppej
    Guest

    Live and In Person Presidential Candidates

    I enjoyed this four years ago so I am back at it.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr

    Due to the assassinations he is nervous and spends a third of his campaign funds on private security. They wanded us all and also looked in my bag. They didn't have much left for refreshments and only gave out napkins not plates since you can't put much on a napkin without it breaking. While we waited we heard from his campaign manager Dennis Kucinich, a nice guy, and very short, something I didn't notice when he was on TV. They played jazz as if appealing to the donor class.

    Due to a medical issue RFK's voice is raspy but you soon forget that because he speaks so compellingly of restoring the age of Camelot that grew the middle class and made America loved not feared. He took quite a few questions and answered them all in detail demonstrating great mastery of both domestic and foreign policy. Twice as many people showed up as expected (a couple hundred). A group photo was taken and he took selfies with anyone who wanted but I did not stay for that.

    I was very enthused and then crushed when I found out he is not even trying to get onto the Massachusetts ballot. But I intend to vote and being an independent can pick either party, so on to:

    Ron DeSantis

    I was prepared to like DeSantis because of the way he handled covid, but things did not go well. We weren't wanded or anything, but there were a couple security guys there, not suited and polite like RFK's but thuggish, wearing short sleeves to show off their heavily tattooed and likely steroid enhanced arms, abrasive in manner, and refusing to let anyone use the bathrooms.

    The wait music was odd. First was Michael Jackson the child molester, next gay Elton John, then Sweet Caroline which should have been at the RFK event since it's about a Kennedy. It didn't match DeSantis's anti-woke messaging, later reinforced when he pointedly asked a questioner if he was from the area because he got a question on abortion which he skirted. He seemed afraid he was being set up. There were lots of media present and the campaign staff were hostile to them and seem to have a siege mentality.

    Although the event was in a city it had maybe 100 attendees, whereas RFK's in a small town had twice as many. I have seen DeSantis advertising for canvassers and his staff didn't appear to be local. Usually at a bigger event you might have several area politicians talk up the crowd before the candidate appears, but they only had one woman and they had to bring her in from another county. His ground game is very weak, and coming from a big state like Florida he is not good at retail politics. There are certain traditions, like you say, "We have time for three more questions." Instead he abruptly said, "Thank you folks" and left the stage after what nobody knew would be the last question. He did not stay for photos and at no point did he shake anyone's hand. Even if Trump got a heart attack and died I do not think he could win.

    On substance I generally agreed with him, in part because he spoke in generalities about things like not running up the deficit. If called on I would have asked about his flip flop on Ukraine, but he made sure to mention his military credentials several times and I don't think he will risk the ire of the military industrial complex again. In the most Libertarian state in the country he offered that wing of his party little. He does not come across as a uniter but instead as a rather harsh person, one who would definitely rule the country rather than be a pawn of his handlers (like geriatric Biden) or those who flatter him (like Trump). But I think he goes overboard in the other direction and I see why people say he's not likeable.

    Would I vote for him in the primary to stop Trump? I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils and I don't think he can win anyways, so probably not. I need to hear more candidates.

  2. #2
    Senior Member iris lilies's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Always logged in
    Posts
    26,300
    Thanks jep for the summary.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    7,700
    I did not realize Kucinich was Kennedy's campaign manager--thanks for pointing that out!

  4. #4
    Senior Member Teacher Terry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Nevada
    Posts
    12,889
    I really don’t think Kennedy has to worry about being killed because he’s just not popular enough to gain any notoriety for the shooter and doesn’t have a chance.

  5. #5
    Yppej
    Guest
    I am teeing up to hear some more candidates in person - details to follow.

    One that hasn't worked out is Mike Pence.

    Usually you click on a link, fill out your RSVP, and you get a near immediate email or text back with your e-ticket which I print out as I do not have a smart phone.

    With Pence I skipped the phone step but they never sent me an emailed ticket. So I reluctantly put in my phone number and after hours eventually got a text not with a ticket but just saying, "Thanks for joining Mike Pence for President". I am not joining Pence for President, I just want to hear him speak. This is typical in NH where there is lots of tire kicking. So after being warned by my phone plan I could incur charges for doing so (which never happens when I text people) I texted back STOP to opt out of further messages from them.

    Not impressed. No wonder he had no clue that he had classified documents in his house. Total boomer.

  6. #6
    Yppej
    Guest
    Continuing to get occasional spam from Pence.

    Rawaswamy

    Turnout was about 150 people, with a diverse crowd by New Hampshire standards. His family was with him, the first time I have seen this with a presidential candidate.

    I didn't learn much at his event. He repeated a lot of things he said previously at the debate or on TV. He did refer to "Zelenskyyism" as part of a host of evils he cited including wokism, but that was about it. He criticizes other candidates for platitudes but tosses them out himself, a lot of blah blah blah about restoring values rather than policy specifics.

    We were told he would take all questions but didn't even get close to that and I didn't get mine in. Ironic for someone whose slogan is "truth".

    The event wasn't impressive either. They had a food truck but after waiting in a long line I found out you can't get anything without a ticket and you have to give up your personal information to get the ticket. I declined. Parking was also poorly managed and I was hemmed in after the event and had to wait a while to get out.

    I am still in search of a candidate who will be on a primary ballot in my state to vote for. The host was head of the local Republican town committee and invites various candidates to speak. I did get coffee - with stevia available for it, a pleasant surprise - in his barn and saw a Pence sign there tucked to the side. Apparently he's not impressed with Vivek either.

  7. #7
    Yppej
    Guest
    Haley

    I went to hear her speak at a weekday, daytime event so the crowd was older, given that retirees can do those hours more readily. There was lots of press and two reporters approached me, but one didn't interview me because I am not from New Hampshire.

    The event was held at a VFW post. About 100 people crammed into a room with anemic air conditioning and temperatures in the 90's because a lot of folks still do care about the direction of the country, and also about the divisions in it. One man asked a question on that and Haley gave a good answer about her successful effort to bring down the Confederate flag after the Charleston church murders. Another woman asked a question about Ukraine before I could, but I got one in on covid policy. She is for advisories and against mandates and did not say anything about reforming Federal agencies (or abolishing them as Ramaswamy proposed with the CDC).

    I didn't realize she was an accountant and she is big on fiscal responsibility, ending earmarks, mandating a balanced budget, and putting in term limits to stop the people who make a career out of the government gravy train. She also wants a mental fitness test for Congresspeople, but isn't firm on age 75 and said it could even be 50.

    Security was by a police detail not a private company. She definitely came across as an establishment candidate, and was introduced by Governor Sununu.

    I could vote for her in the primary to stop Trump, but ideally I would like a candidate who is not a warmonger, so I plan to continue going north and listening to more candidates.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    7,700
    Thank you! Was hoping you went to see her.

  9. #9
    Senior Member iris lilies's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Always logged in
    Posts
    26,300
    Quote Originally Posted by Tybee View Post
    Thank you! Was hoping you went to see her.
    I heard her guve the talk about the Confederate statue in a radio interview. I like what shed said.

  10. #10
    Yppej
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Teacher Terry View Post
    I really donÂ’t think Kennedy has to worry about being killed because heÂ’s just not popular enough to gain any notoriety for the shooter and doesnÂ’t have a chance.
    A man was arrested at an RFK Jr event after showing up armed and asking to be taken to the candidate.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •