David Lock

Doesn't it drive you mad having constant phone calls and spotty student canvassers knocking on your door every other day begging for your vote?

In a UK general election I might get one or two door visits but no phone calls and I hope it stays that way.

And do you think there should be a limit on money spend in promotion? It seems to have got out of hand and not particularly democratic if it favours the wealthiest candidate.

FWIW (not a lot) I would feel slightly safer if Romney is kept far away from the nuclear button

dl

ReallyReallyGoodMeat

I heard on tv this morning around one billion dollars has been spent on the campaign so far. Ridiculous. Some people are getting very very rich out of elections!

Leslie

I heard it was a great deal more than that!

Les

wayne9t9

I`m not American but have been living there long enough to be sick of the t.v. smear campaigns. We get maybe two phonecalls a day but we dont get anyone knocking the door. This kid sums it up.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

What makes you think the US election is democratic? It is far from it.

Agree on Mitt the Twit though. Let's hope the 30% of the US that actually decides (maybe) who is president realise what he is like.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Obama is bound to be in front, especially after Romney's 'private' comments

Leslie

Our own voting for police commissioners is going to be pretty difficult around here.

We know nothing about the candidates, not even their names. I would welcome them knocking on my door to tell me what they are about, even who they are in fact,and they could easily produce a simple "flyer" as candidates always used to to lay out their own policies. Surely that is part of their responsibility to the voters.

It is very similar for council and general elections too.

What is the matter with these prats, are they too "important" to mix with the general public?

How can we be expected to vote when we know nothing about the candidates?

Les

Oldun

I think that it's a nationwide problem.

The candidates were on our local radio talk show yesterday, just a load of verbal posturing by them all.
Still don't have written info through my letterbox. Maybe they don't have manifestos so that they can't be critcised for not delivering their promises one year down the line.

David Lock

Les, try the Internet.......

(and don't tell me not everyone has the Internet 'cos I know that already )

d

Leslie

Of course you do David, and I say that the general public should not have to rely on the Net to discover all that information.

I reckon it is down to the candidates to tell us, face to face or written information if they are really that keen in getting the job! The money and expenses must make it worth their while to work at it a bit!

Les

hotsam

<-- American.

I have never registered with a political party or donated money, so I have probably avoided getting many phone calls. I have also blocked all "anonymous" or "private" phone calls, so if they are calling me, they probably aren't getting through. Nobody knocked on my door this year.

This election, for the first time, I voted for a third party candidate (Johnson (http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/...439_video.html)). Obamney is a choice I'd rather avoid.

trails

iTrader: (41)

call me cynical but it really doesn’t matter which party they are affiliated to or what they say...as soon as they are in a position of power they do whatever they wish to and use whatever they think is acceptable to justify those actions.

David Lock

Interesting, thanks. I wondered if you could block calls as you have. So you are living in Virginia State?

I lived in Rockville, just North of you, for a couple of years which is why I have more than a pasing interest in US politics (but a long time ago!)

david

ReallyReallyGoodMeat

Having just read up on Super PACS and the Stephen Colbert Super PAC, I am baffled as to why any individual would ever bother donating to a candidate - corrupt would be an understatement!

hotsam

I'm in Massachusetts for a two year stint with my company, and I'm moving back to Virginia next year. Call me crazy, but I like the hot summers there.

Clarebabes

Didn't even know there's a third candidate. I'm fed up with it, people are more concerned about this than our own elections!

mrmadcap

It's been on the UK news that much i've half been expecting my ballot papers to drop through the letter box so i can vote.

wayne9t9

As I said before, I don`t understand the obsession.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

Tomorrow on Scott Millis (radio 1) He will be on stupid street asking UK people who they are voting for lol

JTaylor

Well done, President Obama!

L.J.F

iTrader: (31)

Thank god the Mormon never won........

RobJenks

+1

Never ever vote for anybody that is a radical religious nut.

dpb

Wonder if Trump will stfu now

David Lock

Well done Obama and good luck for your next term. Going to be a struggle with the Republicans sticking their oar in on any proposals - worse than Labour over here.

I do hope he keeps himself safe as I did think that someone might have had a pop at him as there are still many crazy anti-blacks in US and guns everywhere.

Now I wonder if you added up all the college votes (is that the word?) what would that show in voter preference rather than pool them together if you see what I mean.

But surely they should put a cap on campaign money spent and advertising time. Completely ridiculous as it stands.

david

JTaylor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20234164

Impeccable oratory. One of the most brilliantly delivered perorations I've ever heard.

wayne9t9

Excellent delivery, sounds like it was written by Walt Disney.

Leslie

I can understand fully why you feel that way and I don't think you are being cynical under the circumstances that we see virtually every day.

Les