Representative Democracy?

[MacAllister]

So if you were to nominate an AW P&CE regular to send to Washington, to represent your voice, views, and interests - who would you want to send and why? Anyone who has posted in P&CE more than three times this year is eligible.

There's method to my madness, here, in terms of wanting to talk about how people comport themselves in these threads, how well we're doing at learning to express ourselves articulately and passionately, how many of us are perceived to be able to listen, learn, and evolve our opinions and strategies, and so on.

Also in terms of how people make their determinations about who would best represent their voices.

Also, I have to be gone all day, and it should be a really fun and interesting thread to come home to, if it doesn't get locked while I'm out...

[escritora]

Rugrat because I find him intellectually honest.

[Medievalist]

nighttimer

He cares, passionately, about how issues affect people, all people, and he thinks hard.

That said, I wouldn't object at all to rugcat.

[III]

Is there enough time for Don and RobStarbuckVowels to have a lovechild? It might not be pretty but it'd fix the economy for good.

[cray]

*grabs mic from III before he's finished talking,...*



rob of vowels.









*kills self*

[shawkins]

rugcat

He's who I want to be when I grow up.

Robert Toy and robeiae would both be strong contenders if I agreed with anything they said ever.

[tiny]

Williebee. He seems mellow and even handed enough to listen to every side and do what's best for the entire group and not just his group.

[Cranky]

They're going to think I've flipped my wig, but I'd go with a Weird Science, man-with-two brains version of Rugcat and Robovowels all smushed together, with bits and pieces from both of them.

:D

[Don]

Is there enough time for Don and RobStarbuckVowels to have a lovechild? It might not be pretty but it'd fix the economy for good.
I was hoping for a robovowels-Haskins clone myself. :)

[Duncan J Macdonald]

I'll toss Mscelina's hat into the ring, and back that up with Haskins.

Not that I agree with either of them, 100%, but they both look beyond the immediate into the land of consequences.


ETA: Yeah, yeah. You said "an" AW PC&E Regular. Like any desire of yours is gonna make a difference in thread drift and the ignoring of the rules of the OP.

[dmytryp]

Rob, maybe Contemplative (where is he, by the way). Haskins would scare all the others to death, though this might be actually a good thing :)
Oh, wait, I can't vote in US. Shit.

[Don]

I think the "merged-personality representative" concept has legs. :D

And thanks for a great thread concept, Mac. :)

[Duncan J Macdonald]

I think the "merged-personality representative" concept has legs.
"And to think that the fellows at the Institute called me crazy! Crazy!!!. Muahahahahaha! I'll show them all! Igor, raise the platform, there's a storm coming!!"

[Romantic Heretic]

Is there enough time for Don and RobStarbuckVowels to have a lovechild? It might not be pretty but it'd fix the economy for good.
Diana, because she's got a good heart.

[tjwriter]

This is tough.

Rob was my first thought.

I also like Williebee, Don, Cranky, Perks & Celina.

[Perks]

Is there enough time for Don and RobStarbuckVowels to have a lovechild? It might not be pretty but it'd fix the economy for good.
I'd probably vote for that guy.

But to represent me? That's easy and completely impossible: William Haskins. His clarity and the breadth of his knowledge makes up the easy part. The fact that he would decline to represent me, because he disagrees with me on a few key points, makes it impossible, but also respectable.

I have been impressed with quite a few of our usual P&CE suspects. Beyond who I've already mentioned, I often find my thoughts well-stated in commentary from blacbird, Jcomp, rugcat, and Williebee.

[quickWit]

In the true spirit of democracy, I decline to cast a vote, but reserve the right to bitch about any member chosen.

Thank you, and have a good day. :)

[Gregg]

Yeah, I vote for Rob, but Don also gets consideration.

But if it had to be somebody I agree with most of the time, I'd have to vote for me.

[Gretad08]

Rob or William Haskins all the way...I'll start printing the campaign t-shirts now!

[robeiae]

You people are in-sane. And if Don and I are having a love-child, he better buy me dinner first.

Anyway, I think I'd probably choose Haggis. Not because he and I see everything the same way, but because he's good at sniffing out bullshit and because--if nothing else--he'd at least show up for every vote.

Plus, it would give Byrd a napping partner...

[dclary]

nighttimer

He cares, passionately, about how issues affect people, all people, and he thinks hard.

That said, I wouldn't object at all to rugcat.

Except NT always makes a topic about race. Like Bravo makes everything about Israeli/Palestinian/Muslim issues. Or like I make everything about snarky rejoinders. None of us would be a good choice.


The best choice is clearly (for well-reasoned arguments, education, and elucidity), Robovowels.

[AncientEagle]

I'd prefer alternating terms, Rugcat one term, Blacbird the next. Or vice versa. Wait a minute...can't have any vice. Just versa.

[Perks]

I forgot that I specifically told tjwriter that she should run for office.

I haven't actually said that to anyone else I can think of.

[tjwriter]

I forgot that I specifically told tjwriter that she should run for office.

I haven't actually said that to anyone else I can think of.
Hey now!

[Diana Hignutt]

I guess Higgins is out of the question? No one would have any idea what he was talking about. Which would be fun.

I'm going to go all teacher's pet and say MacAllister Stone. No, actually, how she puts up with all of us, she should qualify for political office, if not sainthood. She strives very hard to make sure everyone's point of view is respected. What more could you ask of your representative?

(It's better to be king-maker than king, anyway).

[Williebee]

So if you were to nominate an AW P&CE regular to send to Washington, to represent your voice, views, and interests - ...
...in terms of wanting to talk about how people comport themselves in these threads, how well we're doing at learning to express ourselves articulately and passionately, how many of us are perceived to be able to listen, learn, and evolve our opinions and strategies, and so on.

This is a fun thread. You've a two part question there. Each part is similar, but so crucially different.

Who best represents my voice, views and interests? In other words who do I agree with and trust the things I learn from them most often?

That's important to get my views out there and represented in the decision making process.

Who do I think is most likely to be able "to listen, learn, and evolve our opinions and strategies"? In other words, knowing that I don't have all the information, so there is no way I can be "right" on everything, who do I think is going to be able and willing to 1) take in the information I need honestly and most completely; 2) get it back to me in as unbiasedly filtered a fashion as possible; and 3) act and react in a way that best represents my POV when the second step isn't possible.

hmm gotta think on this a bit.

[Gravity]

If we lived in a representative democracy I'd vote for Haskins in a heartbeat.

But as we live in a constitutional republic, I'd have to go with ... uhh ... man, I dunno. Me, I guess.

[Perks]

Hey now!Wha? That's a compliment!

[Mr. Pocket Keeper]

Rob and Don were the first two I thought of.

Sooooo, their love-child seems like a logical choice to me. :D

[rugcat]

ColoradoGuy without a doubt. No one else even comes close.

His ability to understand complex issues and articulately present his views, without ever expressing anger (well almost never) even when provoked is amazing.

Of course, he is a commie pinko liberal.

[Bravo]

this guy:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9329/96590223.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/i/96590223.jpg/)

[Magdalen]

My first thought in response to the OP was: Haskins, at which point I visualized a very large Costo-size can of worms bursting open and splattering squiggly bilateral invertebrates that would cling or dangle with impunity from seats and railings in Congress. Then I read the rest of the comments and discovered I might stand (a bit apart, somewhat removed from complete solidarity) on the common ground beneath those who would place their confidence in Haggis or Robaeae.

[tjwriter]

Wha? That's a compliment!

I know, but now my name's...out there. *Hugs reclusive self*

Naw, I do it if people picked me because I think there lies an inherent responsiblity in things of this important nature. :)

i resent that.

and you havent been as snarky (or funny?) since you upgraded to this neutered 3.0 version.

Have you reported this software glitch to the proper support team?

****

Also, I've been wishing we could have an AW respresentative for Washington. They seem to need some different perspectives.

[III]

Like any desire of yours is gonna make a difference in thread drift and the ignoring of the rules of the OP.

Oh, I forgot about that ThreadDrift guy. I vote for him!

[Perks]

ColoradoGuy without a doubt. No one else even comes close.

His ability to understand complex issues and articulately present his views, without ever expressing anger (well almost never) even when provoked is amazing.

Of course, he is a commie pinko liberal.Oh right. I forgot about him.

Nevermind. I'm useless in this discussion. There are just too many brains I'm vastly impressed here.

ColoradoGuy is brilliant.

[CACTUSWENDY]

:nothing

[Jcomp]

I guess Higgins is out of the question? No one would have any idea what he was talking about. Which would be fun.


I actually was going to vote for Higgins just for the fun of maximizing obfuscation...

[Medievalist]

ColoradoGuy is brilliant.

Also compassionate; excellent choice.

[Kurtz]

Don because of the inevitable fallout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkmjI8gLKYI) or Higgins on LSD.

[tjwriter]

Oh right. I forgot about him.

Nevermind. I'm useless in this discussion. There are just too many brains I'm vastly impressed here.

ColoradoGuy is brilliant.

I'm having this exact same problem. ColoradoGuy is also brilliant.

One of the things I love most about AW is that there is such a large group of strong minds with such varied opinions. The conversations here are often amazing.

Can we mush everybody into one person and send them off?

[quickWit]

I actually was going to vote for Higgins just for the fun of maximizing obfuscation...

*looks up obfuscation*

I vote for Jcomp, 'cause he gots mad vocabulary sizllz, yo. :)

[Jcomp]

I'm having this exact same problem. ColoradoGuy is also brilliant.

One of the things I love most about AW is that there is such a large group of strong minds with such varied opinions. The conversations here are often amazing.

Can we mush everybody into one person and send them off?

But then that raises another question: if AW were to form like Voltron who would be the head?

[Kurtz]

But then that raises another question: if AW were to form like Voltron who would be the head?

And Mac, Macallister is just a genius; she’s the backbone of the whole joint… She the head. Let’s put it that way. We form like Voltron and Macallister happens to be the head.

[AMCrenshaw]

Rugcat or ColoradoGuy

[darkprincealain]

I seem to have come to a very dissonant place, in terms of my political beliefs. If I were to think socially, I would vote much differently from the way I'd vote if I were thinking economically.

I might have to look back through the threads a little and see if there's a clear winner.

[Perks]

I vote for Jcomp, 'cause he gots mad vocabulary sizllz, yo. :)


Word.



(eeeep! I did it. I swore I never would.)

[Ken]

... difficult decision. Most here have much to offer. I'll go with Cranky. She has her way of looking at things, but maintains objectivity and listens to what others have to say, which is important.

[Haggis]

You people are in-sane. And if Don and I are having a love-child, he better buy me dinner first.

Anyway, I think I'd probably choose Haggis. Not because he and I see everything the same way, but because he's good at sniffing out bullshit and because--if nothing else--he'd at least show up for every vote.

Plus, it would give Byrd a napping partner...

If nominated, I shall not run. If elected, I shall not serve. I will, however, take a nap with that there Byrd feller.

I'm thinking a Celina/Blacbird clone would be perfect. Brains, snark and both genders represented.

[JoNightshade]

I don't hang out in PC&E too terribly much, but I am going to throw my vote in for Roger J Carlson. Mainly because I usually agree with him and he always keeps a cool head. Oftentimes I will think about posting something and then don't because he already said it in a much nicer way. :)

[Duncan J Macdonald]

If nominated, I shall not run. If elected, I shall not serve.
That makes you the perfect choice!

[raburrell]

Tossing in for CG :)

[Synonym]

I propose a puppet candidate, ruled by committee. (Nationwide rules, of course.) Then we could pick our favorites without having to fork over money for dinners to facilitate love children, which we may have to raise to adulthood. Said favorites could gather, debate, celebrate and get nothing done. Problem?

Please ignore me, I'm delirious.

[MarkEsq]

Some good choices to be had, I'd probably go with rugcat, though. Intelligent, thoughtful, and says stuff I agree with. :)

[Williebee]

Been pondering this. I'm thinking JComp.

But, I could be bought.

[aadams73]

William Haskins, definitely. Although I don't always agree with him, he is sane enough that when he speaks I'll listen. He sees the bigger picture beyond most people's id-ridden world views.

[Bartholomew]

I think I'd do a good job. I'm very good at representing; despite my left-leaning, I'd make sure that every portion of AW's political spectrum was given consideration.

This would be hard, given some of the diametrically opposing viewpoints--but I know it'd be possible.

[benbradley]

Can I vote for someone just because I would want to see what happens if that person got elected?

How does that song go?

"Imagine no conservatives..."

[MoonWriter]

Don, hands down. I believe Don hates wasteful spending as much as I do. Just look at how much use he's gotten out of his book of quotes. :)

[Don]

(Psst... I'm even cheaper than that. I use Google)

[darkprincealain]

After much careful deliberation this afternoon, I'm going to say Cranky and Haskins. Though there is much I disagree with them on, they're articulate and able to take a look at the whole picture.

[regdog]

Willie, Mac, Cranky

Each looks at a situation and thinks about both sides and respects differing opinions while supporting theirs

[Gregg]

Sorry, not Haggis. I don't go for quotas.
Plus I'm afraid he'd bite me.

Maybe aadams. I loved it when she she used the word "dipshit"

[astonwest]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and wonder how this thread has gotten to three pages now, without a mod shutting it down (granted, the big cheese herself started the thread)...didn't these type of "name your favorite" threads run afoul of the rules?

;)

[rugcat]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and wonder how this thread has gotten to three pages now, without a mod shutting it down (granted, the big cheese herself started the thread)...didn't these type of "name your favorite" threads run afoul of the rules?

;)I would bring this to Mac's attention.

[Don]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and wonder how this thread has gotten to three pages now, without a mod shutting it down (granted, the big cheese herself started the thread)...didn't these type of "name your favorite" threads run afoul of the rules?

;)
Did the phrase "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" not ring the tiniest little bell somewhere in there between your ears? :ROFL:

[Medievalist]

I don't hang out in PC&E too terribly much, but I am going to throw my vote in for Roger J Carlson. Mainly because I usually agree with him and he always keeps a cool head. Oftentimes I will think about posting something and then don't because he already said it in a much nicer way. :)

You know, Roger is one of the most caring, thoughtful people I know. He gives Christians a good name.

[Bravo]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and wonder how this thread has gotten to three pages now, without a mod shutting it down (granted, the big cheese herself started the thread)...didn't these type of "name your favorite" threads run afoul of the rules?

;)

if you're going to pull a kanye on us, you're going to need to retype that in all CAPS.

[MattW]

I'm gonna say Celina.

I might have said Haskins, but I'm not sure I can handle that much brutal honesty.

[MacAllister]

Here's the thing. I really, really did NOT want this to turn into a popularity thread - I was sort of hoping for a discussion of what we expect from someone representing us (ALL of us) as well as a discussion about presenting arguments and beliefs, and succeeding at compromise and evolution of ideas. I'd hoped by bringing it home to AW, making it more personal, it would be both more interesting and more thought-provoking.

Heh. At this rate, I'll have to shut it down myself. :)

[Medievalist]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and wonder how this thread has gotten to three pages now, without a mod shutting it down (granted, the big cheese herself started the thread)...didn't these type of "name your favorite" threads run afoul of the rules?

Dude, you are like so out of it . . .

I'm the official Cultus Gopherus MacAllister. I'm not volunteering her because, like, she'd end up with the world's biggest ulcer. I'm not volunteering Dawno, or Roger Carlson, or Colorado Guy, either, because they'd be fabulous—and have ulcers, or coronaries, or both.

nighttimer, much as I genuinely like him, is a survivor of an urban news desk. He knows stress. Stress has got to be one of his best things.

The ulcer would like run away in a panic.

[Williebee]

We're going to shut this one down and try again. Please stand by.