So...where do you get your fix?

[radhak]

Just wondering - since we don't do politics here - where do you turn to with political questions or doubts? eg - Does a Governor have to resign if campaigning to be President/VP? or Has any Governor lost nationally and gone back and become state Governor again? And other similar questions.

I know, we could always have those type of questions here and try to remain apolitical, but we all know how that goes ! Particularly because I can think of many questions that seek opinions rather than just facts...

Of course, discussion boards might be even better - so long as there's at least some sane discussion!

[twistsol]

As far as specific questions on procedures etc, I usually talk to my wife's little sister, #4, who has an advance political science degree. She can answer most questions off the top of her head, and while technically accurate, they are always presented from the most conservative viewpoint possible.

I like to read Fox news and the New York Times on line. Fox leans right and the NYT leans left and both are deluded enough to think they're unbiased. Read both and somewhere in between is usually the truth.

The trouble with discussing politics and/or religion on line is two fold. First, people's passion often outweighs their reason, and second, the relative anonymity of online discussions emboldens people to say things they otherwise wouldn't.

[radhak]

I like to read Fox news and the New York Times on line. Fox leans right and the NYT leans left and both are deluded enough to think they're unbiased. Read both and somewhere in between is usually the truth.

The trouble with discussing politics and/or religion on line is two fold. First, people's passion often outweighs their reason, and second, the relative anonymity of online discussions emboldens people to say things they otherwise wouldn't.

Great - you summarized it very nicely!

I find it very tiresome that almost all media talks down to you. Irrespective of their leanings, their tone is - 'you may not know this, but this is what you should know/do/listen to...' etc. And it seems like even their 'facts' are colored !

[pelligrini]

Yea, I do much of the same for my news. I also throw in some CNN and listen to NPR a lot too. Once I get some info from all the sides, I like to just grab a shovel and then bury my head in the sand.

I usually stay away from online places where political discussions are approperiate, they're usually silly places.

Sometimes I wish we would allow discussions here. I think I would trust the info and get a more realistic view from the folks here than I would anywhere else, but I do understand why we don't.

[dbhost]

I tend, as most folks would I think, to have friends that are of a similar mind, which can be bad... I catch some CNN, and then for the opposite extreme, Fox News, and then swing hard back to the left with NPR, and then go hard right with a little talk radio, and generally get disgusted with it and go back to the garage...

[Alex Franke]

I usually bounce between CNN and Fox -- but I like the NYT idea, too.

I've been wanting to (but afraid to) ask pretty much the very same question -- and several others, as well, that I have feared might be mistaken as politically motivated. I value the thoughts of others in this community, but I just don't like when it spirals out of control.

I'd be happy to set up a private forum for honest and respectful conversation and debate on these and other sensitive subjects, but I wouldn't want to be seen as trying to steal eyeballs from here...not really sure if it would or if it wouldn't, but I appreciate that others (like myself) sometimes crave respectful conversation on these otherwise forbidden topics...

[RAFlorida]

Radhak brings up an interesting post.

Most of the news networks tend to give you facts of what THEY want you to hear. "...facts...", let me rephrase that to so called information. I lean to the books that are written about certain candidates and past experience while they were in office. And yes, even books can be biased, but generally they are pretty factural because they are written before that person runs for an office.
Also, Chr (Twistsol) said a mouthful, "First, people's passion often outweighs their reason, and second, the relative anonymity of online discussions emboldens people to say things they otherwise wouldn't." That was right on the mark about many people and politics. About the only way to decide on political issues is to absorb as much info as possible, take it with a grain of salt, and try to logically think for an answer.
Also to Radhak question of, "Does a Governor have to resign if campaigning to be President/VP?", I really don't know.

[ironhat]

I used to listen to Dr. Laura for a change from the politicos. In the final analysis she was just about as nutty as her callers - she would go off on the strangest stuff. Now, we can't get her and I usually spend my time in silence (in a shop?!) because I get tired of the backround noise, be it music or talk.

[LCHIEN]

the question of sitting gov runinng for other office...is a government question, not a political one, so I think it can be answered if I don't go into politics.

I believe the answer is that there are few rules dictating what a governor can and can't do, that of course would be up the the individual state's constitution. I doubt any say that the governor or other elected official cannot run for other office while holding office. Indeed, many cndidates run for other offices while still in office, whether it be city officials running for state positions, or state official running for federal positions. In fact most do that very thing to advance positions. Being an incumbent gives them some leverage, the titular advantage of being called "Senator" or "Governor" during the race, and maybe some free time (if the governing body is in recess). Some perks such as travel, office staff, and franking (free postage) should be reimbursed by the candidates election campaign lest be run afoul of personal vs. official use and issues of unfair advantage.

Usually when elected to a new position they will resign their old position. The old position will be filled by the Lt. Gov, or, if a senator or rep there are laws regarding how replacements are either appointed by the governor or elected by special election, sometimes dependent upon the length of time remaining in the term.
Now there may be some laws regarding holding two offices at one time, I don't know. But the fact that they can't do a real good job holding two positions will prbably be held against them at some time.
If they lose they can keep on holding the old office since they don't resign for the most part unless they win.

[Wood_workur]

I ask my dad. Between that and anything involving money, hes got all the answers I need.

[newood2]

If you want to hear nothing but the facts, listen to Bart Simpson from Springfield. Avoid that little egghead baby on that other show, he just talk trash.

[Tom Slick]

Fox news and NPR. what I like about NPR is they don't just regurgitate the same news everyone else does, it usually has a little different and more intelligent angle, even when I don't agree. I can always change the channel when it leans too far either way.

[Hoover]

Simon and Garfunkel lyrics "I get all the news I need on the weather report." Song is The Only Living Boy in New York.

[shoottx]

I ask my dad. Between that and anything involving money, hes got all the answers I need.

And he will get smarter as you get older

[cabinetman]

When I was a kid, I asked my dad. The older I got the smarter he got. Now as an adult I ask the one who has all the answers...the LOML.
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