The In Box: Your Election 2012 bookmark
The last couple of weeks, NCPR has slowly been gearing up to tackle the big story of the 2012 political season.
We’re working on the tools and strategies that will help us gather and pass along the best possible information about the campaigns and the issues.
Be sure to bookmark our Election 2012 page, which will be evolving pretty quickly in the days and weeks ahead, with info about local, state and national races.
If you go there now, you’ll find Tasha Haverty’s fascinating interview with Don Hassig, the NY-21 Green Party candidate. You’ll find the latest on the political shake-up in Saratoga County.
And you’ll find NPR’s latest take on the Obama-Romney contest.
But things will be expanding rapidly, with candidate and issue information to help you cast an informed vote, and a lot of deeper, more technical information for folks interested in the nut-and-bolts of the election season.
Then, beginning on July 30th we’ll begin our 100 Day Sprint special, with daily updates on the campaigns, the debates, and more.
For non-political junkies we’ll make sure to keep a lot of other issues alive in the In Box. But if you love the sound and fury of democracy, this will be a good place for meaningful information and conversation.
Finally, I want to encourage you to chime in with requests: What specific stories or data sets would you like to see? Are there features or interviews that you think would add to the conversation?
We’ve heard loud and clear that people want more than the “horse race” stuff and we’ll work hard to deliver a lot of depth. Help us out by throwing out topics or questions you think we should tackle.
Again, bookmark us here now as we dive into the crucible of Election 2012. Then you’ll be part of the conversation right up to the day you walk into the ballot booth.
In addition to bookmarking us, and putting us on your election
Tags: election12
I don’t want to walk into the ballot booth.
I want to vote from home via computer.
If I could do it now, I would vote now.
If there’s going to be a separate Election 2012 page for boring, dime-a-dozen “analyses” of the national races, can we please reserve the Inbox for local and regional items? You know, the thing which NCPR does best and what makes it unique.
But Pete – then you wouldn’t have time to read up on my dime a dozen analyses of national races before casting your vote! :)
Brian, NCPR
But Brian,
No offense meant but I don’t care. My vote is set unless who I intend to vote for is sent to jail.
Pete, does that mean you are leaning toward that “felon” Romney?
It is funny he really strikes me as a pretty good guy, even if you hate his policies. If I had to pick one in the “who would I have a beer with” test – Obama wins hands down.
Brian Mann, I read in a New Yorker cartoon that there is an app for your email that scrubs out all of those faces made with keyboard symbols. Don’t make me have to get the same thing for this blog!
Thanks for the laugh, Paul. No, not leaning toward Romney
Pete, I figured maybe not. Who gave that comment a thumbs down? I thought we said get rid of those things?? What the guy can’t pick who he wants to vote for?
The mark of Bret!
What Brian said. I can get bad national analysis from Politico.
Brian: Thanks but no thanks. It’s only July but I have had my fill of politics! I watch little TV but now even less. Obama has the airways full of ads slinging mud at Mitt. It’s only a matter of time and Mitt will sling it back. The mute button on my remote gets a good workout these days. Then there is the Sunday morning robo calls I get from the Owens camp! I know you have a real passion for politics but I don’t share it.
Gary – The latest estimate of the mud slinging percentages by Romney and Obama, that I either read or heard, was Romney 94% mud Obama 89% mud. I do not think it is going to be a matter of time before Romney begins to sling the mud back. Apparently you either missed or ignored the mud the Romney campaign flung at his republican competition and Obama during the highly entertaining process to select a republican candidate to face Obama in November. The flinging of mud by the Romney campaign has continued to the present with the added bonus that now all of the mud can be slung toward Obama.
To be clear, Brian M’s analyses are not awful IMO. They just aren’t particularly unique, except when he somehow ties in rural issues. Mostly he does the same boring horse race, overuse-of-polls stuff as everyone else.
And given how many he does and how much I donate, it probably does work out to about a dime a dozen. =)
Maybe we should ban all political ads on TV. Let them sling their mud in print only. It’s easier to not read than it is to not listen or watch.
As far as robo calls go, I never pickup.
Pete, it’s not that difficult– just get rid of your cable connection. I did it eight years ago, and I’ve never looked back. Now I only see political ads when someone links to them, or I hear them if they’re used in an NPR news story. The world is much quieter this way.
I’d request some coverage of the Green Party candidate for President, Dr. Jill Stein. Specifically, analysis of her platform. Also, perhaps some discussion as to how and why the media and the dominant political parties will work hand in hand to exclude her from the presidential debate process.
Ditto Clapton.
Dr. Stein will be the only progressive on the ballot in many states and quite possibly in NYS as well. Anyone who supports Occupy would be advised vote for her rather than the two corporate party candidates Obama and Romney who are working against Occupy’s agenda. With all the coverage you’ve given the Tea Party, you should also give some to progressives.
Brian (MOFYC) –
I know how you feel about my ‘race analysis’ pieces, and there are some other regular In Boxers who share your view.
Here’s why I’m sticking with them:
1. They actually don’t make up as large a percentage of my posts as you sometimes suggest. (We tend to remember thinks that irritate us…)
2. These posts generate some of the most interesting and active discussions that the In Box sees.
3. They also give our regional audience a chance to talk about national stuff.
4. As I’ve argued before, the horse-racey stuff actually matters. Maybe we all wish it didn’t, but it does. It shapes the outcome of elections and, hence, our civic lives.
5. I have fun writing them, and no one gets hurt in the process.
None of this is to say that these essays aren’t open to criticism and feedback – they are, of course. Have at it.
And it’s also completely unnecessary for anyone to read them (though, obviously, I hope you will).
–Brian, NCPR