dirty politics

leoHall of Famer

I started paying attention to political campaigns in the mid 80s. I remember being shocked at the tactics of Bill Baxley and Charles Graddick. Each year it gets worse. Has it always been this way? Are there any examples of a campaign where the participants actually concentrated on issues and didn't resort to mudslinging and personal attacks? I would love to be able to cast a vote for a candidate with enough moral fibre to run a clean campaign. I suppose I will never be able to, because the people of this level of moral conduct wouldn't lower their standards and become a politician in the first place. I think I will become one of the non-voters, not because of apathy, but out of sheer disgust.

5/27/103:46 PM

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RickyC31Hall of Famer

http://shoalsinsider.com/clien...fault&smenu=1&mad=No

I thought this open letter was first class.

"As I said to a group of folks assembled in Waterloo last week, the candidates are all making "closing arguments" now as we near election day. I will take a moment to say that voters have a tremendous list of qualified men and women who care deeply about Lauderdale County on the ballot in 2010. I have come to know and call "friend" just about every local candidate on the ballot, and I can honestly say it will be a tough choice when casting my votes this year. All the candidates are winners in my mind.

The candidates running for Board of Education will be the last to appear on the Democratic ballot. However, I believe the two school board seats are among the most important decisions voters will make this year. What a great opportunity voters have to make a change on the board of education! Two open seats, no incumbents, and six good candidates. Now comes the hard part: choosing the "best" from among the "good."

5/27/104:35 PM

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tigrtrekHall of Famer

Dirty campaigning has a long and rich history in this country. Go back to the Presidential campaigns of Thomas Jefferson Andrew Jackson and others. They could be really nasty. You know why candidates do it? It works. Studies have shown that negative campaigning is effective. I think its because people have such short attention spans you have to do something dramatic to get attention.

5/28/107:06 AM

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