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Candidates In Comments Board
updated: Aug 13, 2009, 1:40 PM

Do you think that candidates running for office should openly participate in online comments boards on Edhat and elsewhere?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 34136	2009-08-13 01:49 PM
As long as it was moderated so that vulgar questions / answers were filtered.
EDONE	2009-08-13 01:53 PM
Well, as you all know, we have a strict policy on Edhat against vulgar comments directed at any participant on our board.
COMMENT 34139	2009-08-13 01:58 PM
I think it is a great idea. Why restrict the Q&A to townhall meetings where not everyone gets to ask questions. I think that the politicians are too scared that they might lose their error of importance. I am not much of a David Pritchett fan, but his willingness to engage us ordinary people in a open forum is commendable.
COMMENT 34141	2009-08-13 02:15 PM
I think it might be detrimental to many of the candidates. You really get the flavor of the man's personality through Pritchett's condescending snark.
COMMENT 34142	2009-08-13 02:24 PM
Last weekend, first David Pritchett's wife and then David himself came by our house to introduce him(self). We have a "No Solicitors" sign on the door and David's wife very politely asked if that was for political solicitations as well, and on the spot we decided no. David was very open and answered all of my questions and I did not get any "condescending snark". He was actually pretty helpful, I thought. I actually appreciated that he and his wife were taking the time to go door-to-door. I'm still not sure who I'll vote for but he's got a little more "in" now that I've met him, and on his time too! Isn't that how our political representatives should work? Get to know who you are representing? He actually "knew" me from clues I've posted here on Edhat (which was a little creepy but my own darn fault for posting on the internet). And I "know" him from his posting here too, so... Of course I'd appreciate Q&A here on Edhat!
COMMENT 34144	2009-08-13 02:47 PM
Hey "EL_Smurfo" good job snarking, attributing snarking to Pritchett! Channeling Karl Rove much?
COMMENT 34145	2009-08-13 02:49 PM
Sorry Ed. Yes, an excellent idea.
COMMENT 34147	2009-08-13 02:54 PM
I'm not running for anything.
COMMENT 34148	2009-08-13 02:57 PM
It could be good maybe a question of the week with follow ups to their responses moderated of course, a different thing that was clearly marked. I dont mind politics as long as its in its clear place so people know what they are getting and it might further peoples awareness going into the elections.
COMMENT 34151	2009-08-13 03:06 PM
Okay, E_S, that was weak. Guess you don't need to be for something when you can be against some one, is that it?
COMMENT 34152	2009-08-13 03:08 PM
A more convenient idea might be to emulate the Freakanomics blog...They solicit questions for guests in a comment post, then submit the questions to the interviewee. The candidates who wish to respond then can craft more thoughtful answers and the ones who don't respond may have told the voters even more by that act alone.
GOWEST	2009-08-13 03:19 PM
I like the idea of candidate jumping in here and telling us what they think. It's not like this is a big town or anything and I've had enough of candidates drafting watered-down answers. Let's make it real!
COMMENT 34162	2009-08-13 04:20 PM
I think it's a great idea. How about having a question a week, limiting the responses to the candidates (that's about 16 qualified at this point with 6 more possible for mayor/council.) Those who want to reply will; those who don't, won't. There are going to be many forums, 12 plus or minus, but even so, all of us can't attend all. Maybe we could submit the questions and edhat could choose one/week. There are quite a few weeks until the election on Nov. 3 (too lazy to count.)
COMMENT 34168	2009-08-13 05:40 PM
I don't see why we should submit questions to them. There are plenty of hot topic discussed here. They can read them any time they want, and I'll bet some of them do. But instead of just lurking, they should sign-up for Edhat with their real names, and pipe in when they have something meaningful to say.
BECKY	2009-08-13 07:01 PM
Heck Yeah! But sign up with real names, so we know who they are. Not all of us can make it to candidate forums. Most of the candidate mailers and web site are too much "what they think we want to hear." The more I know about what and how my candidates think, the better I can evaluate who to vote for.
ROB EGENOLF	2009-08-13 10:11 PM
I find it comical you want "them" to use their real names when "you" do not. All posters should use only "real" names when posting If they are not proud enough of their comments to take credit for them they should not be posting them in the first place
COMMENT 34195	2009-08-14 07:40 AM
Yeah, like anyone actually has a last name that's "Egenolf"
COMMENT 34197	2009-08-14 07:57 AM
I am not running for office.
BECKY	2009-08-14 08:39 AM
What part of "Becky" or "Betsy" isn't real? Women often don't supply their full names, as weirdos are out there. I actually love the humor and speculation of Queen WhackAMole and El_Smurfo, etc. They have online identities in and off themselves, and... most important, they aren't running for office.
COMMENT 34210	2009-08-14 09:03 AM
Yes, I would really appreciate a chance for Edhat folks interact with council and mayoral candidates.
COMMENT 34213	2009-08-14 09:14 AM
Yo - Ranger - there really is a Rob Egenolf . . .
COMMENT 34214	2009-08-14 09:15 AM
If Justin Trevis' revolting behavior at the 8/13 Capps healthcare refor rally is any indication of what to expect (I have video of him screaming at and deriding a person who had lost their job and their healthcare) - NO THANKS.
COMMENT 34251	2009-08-14 03:30 PM
Edhat can fulfill its potential by asking candidates questions and posting as a news item. SB City voters are welcome to call me at 805-569-3179, or send me an email, and visit my website: www.DavidPritchett.org
COMMENT 34259	2009-08-14 05:09 PM
I, for one, would like to hear answers to questions from all of the candidates and be able to make an informed vote on election day. It is really good to see David make the effort and speak with individuals one on one. Where are all of the other candidates?
COMMENT 34705	2009-08-20 02:52 AM
I don't know which is more comical, someone doubting that the well known and readily googleable Rob Egenolf is real or Rob's descent into moralism. C'mon, Rob, as an extremely bright guy you surely must realize that your "should not" has no more moral authority than anything heard from the Sunday pulpit -- especially considering the longstanding right to anonymity and a noble tradition of it (e.g., Brutus, Publius, Cato, Centinel, Junius in this country's infancy) -- and rational people are free to ignore such prescriptions, and will.

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