Political Question - What Are You Looking for in a Candidate?

I think a well-informed voter is the best voter.

And that includes UNbiased research on all possibilities.
Sadly, I don't see too many people making that effort.

Cheryl Cheryl Cheryl, lol. I don't really have a response to this other than this. My stepson (11) asked me what if a candidate promised not to raise taxes, promised to get people working and promised to do good things for the earth, would I vote for him. I said "yes", followed by "the funny thing is, as far back as I can remember EVERY candidate has promised those same things (in some form or fashion) lol. He left the room with a puzzled look on his face....... sweet boy.
Hope this post gets to stay up, and someone doesn't get 'offended' lol

*someone who doesn't say "we must spread the wealth"
*someone who doesn't say "you have to pay back to your teachers, road construction workers, librarians, nurses, cause they got you to where you are"
*someone who doesn't start a sentence with "well the Republicans......"

there is so much more but i will stop

Can I just say the polar opposite of what we have now? Someone who doesn't want to take from the wealthy to give to those who don't want to better themselves. Someone who wants to keep this nation together and strong. Someone who believes in people's rights as they are laid out in the Constitution, and not as "he" sees fit. Someone who actually knows what the Constition is. Someone who has enough experience and world knowledge to not make America look like a fool of a country. Someone who does not want to force things down our throats, and not make comments like the other political party can ride in the back seat. I want a VP who knows how to simply keep his mouth shut when necessary, and not call fellow American's who think differently from him terrorists. I want someone with good morals, values, and ethics.

Sadly, we all see these on different fronts. And as another poster said, we need to look at the candidate and not the R or D behind their name...but most people on either side of the fence don't do that. There are a select few who honestly research unbiased opinions, but most pick what supports their party lines.

I really just hope America has enough sense to vote in someone who can undo some of this "change" that has been forced on us these past 3 years.

I want someone is not afraid to piss off political powers, and make unpopular but RIGHT decisions. I want someone who can on some level relate to the working class, and understand the intense hardships. I want someone who is not wishy-washy on their beliefs, but is clear and convicted in them. I want someone who will care about USA more then other countries. I want someone who will stop functioning as if we owe everyone else our resources. I want someone who will help THIS country first, and help others second. I want someone who is charitable, but realizes that we can't fix everyone. I want a lot, that I think is probably unrealistic.

I'm VERY worried about this next election. I do NOT want any of the current candidates, or president...running this country. I just don't know what I will do, to be very honest. I have researched my little heart out, and have been trying to educate myself with unbiased information. It just makes me more scared for our future here.

2012 elections are 12 MONTHS away.
I don't see why any campaigning season should be longer than 6 weeks, and that's being generous about it.

I truly like the way the UK handles their elections.

An election can be triggered in a few ways (not always at a fixed time) but a vote of no confidence in the current parliament is one of them.
(We have a vote of no confidence but it's purely a symbolic gesture.)
The Prime Minister asks the Monarch to dissolve Parliament by Royal Proclamation.
The Proclamation also orders the issue of the formal Writs of Election which require an election to be held in each constituency.
The election is held 17 working days after the date of the Proclamation.

That's right - 17 WORKING DAYS is the length of their campaigning season.
That's 3 weeks plus a bit.

When all of the results are known, or when one party achieves an absolute majority of the seats in the House of Commons, the first response comes from the current (and possibly outgoing) Prime Minister.
If a majority in the new Parliament has been achieved by their party, they remain in office without the need for reconfirmation or reappointment—no new "term" of office is started.
If a majority has not been achieved, and it is obvious that another party has the numbers to form a government, the Prime Minister submits a resignation to the Monarch.

Just think how sweet it would be if we could get an election completed in a reasonable amount of time rather than the lengthy mud throwing muck raking outrageously expensive multi month multi media mess we have now.
I don't find it entertaining.
I despise anyone (or any robot) who spams my phone over politics, political polls, campaign donations, etc.
At this point, I'll let the contenders duke it out amongst themselves and I'll see who's left standing come Sept 2012.
It's not a matter of not wanting to be informed or not participating in the system.
Our system is so totally whacked out inefficient I don't want to feed the beast any earlier than I have to.

Someone who will uphold the constitution. Someone who will do what they've promised. Someone who has the balls to stand his ground and do what is right for the country and not just for themselves. Someone who can spend less and cut out the waste.

All we can do is vote for whom we think has the best ideas on how to begin the repair that is so needed in this country. And then hope for the best. Of course, do research on our own in order to be the best informed voter as possible. And not just go in there and vote for this person just because, he's not democrat, not republican, or because he's black. (I throw that out there b/c yes there were people voting for him just b/c he is black) It would be the same thing as voting for someone b/c they like the way their name sounds - I knew of someone who did just that. B/c they liked the way this candidates name rolled off of her tongue, she voted for that person. Just plain ignorant.

I would rather have few people who are educated on the candidates vote than a lot of people voting who are uneducated on them. An uninformed voter is a dangerous thing.

None of it matters - at least not until it's illegal for corporations to buy politicians like they do now. Unless and until we have campaign finance reform, I truly believe that 75% of our politicians are the same. Doesn't matter what party they are. There are a few exceptions, people who seem to have some principles and do what they said they were going to do, but they're few and far between. Honestly, I've never felt so hopeless as a voter, ever in my life. The fact that voters are spewing hate at each other while completely ignoring the role that campaign financing plays in our political process, just makes me depressed.

I want someone that can run the country like a business (And not monkey business) and BALANCE the budget.

I want a man with integrity, honesty, believes we should all work for a living and that the best path to prosperty is NOT HIGHER TAXES.

I want a president that feels that to qualify for government disability, you must really be so disabled you cannot work, not just find it inconvient to work. I know a W. that worked in a job that required mental prowess. She got into an accident and lost her left leg just above the knee. She was receiving 100% disability payments. It didn't affect her mind, just her leg.

Good luck to you and yours.

This is a good question. I have started to answer this several times. I have very strong ideas and opinions, as others on here do. While, our opinions may not be the same, I do respect anyone who gets engaged in the process. What I don't respect is someone who calls me names and says I'm uninformed because I don't agree with THEM.

I want a candidate who will not apologize for everything this country has done in the past. Enough! I want a candidate who is proud to be an American. I want a candidate who understands the Constitution of this great nation and to quit trying to make it something it is not. I want a candidate who is not in bed with corporate or union operatives. I want a candidate who is conservative and is budget minded. I want a candidate who has solutions not a great 30 second sound bite. I want someone who is real not plastic. I want someone who tells the truth, good bad and the ugly. I want someone who will put America first not last. I'm an American and not globalist. Those are just some of the things I'm looking for.

I removed it because I generally keep that type of honesty to myself. I said it and immediately felt it would serve no purpose. Noone that disagrees with me would take the time to really read it and try to understand or learn anything. People don't seem to understand that this is all just a game and they are playing right into it. Telling them seemed like a fools errand and I lost sight of that for a minute.

I want someone who stands up for what he believes in. Will keep our government out of my bedroom. Understands that we are citizens of the world and as such need to be engaged in the world. Believes all people have rights - not just those who were lucky enough to be born male, white and American. Will keep his god out of my life. Is intelligent and understands science. Does not view science as a dirty word, has caught on that evolution is real and must be taught in schools just like addition, understands climate change, our part in it and our responsibility to fix it. Views opinions based upon faith with grave suspicion. Will expect me and you to pay our fair share for what we get - schools, roads, common defense, and a safety net.

personally I think that a persons' integrity is importnat. If he'll lie to his wife he'll lie to the citizens. If he'll steal from an employer or take bribes on a small scale he'll see out his consitituents in a minute.

That being said I think it's essentail that the candidate have a history of NOT being in politics. Having done something in life, successfully, before getting into politics makes the candidate much more able to accurately create legislation and make policy that will be productive. Studying political science in school and only working in the political environment creates a person who knows how to get elected and re-elected. It doesn't give the candidate any practical experience towards learning how to govern.

so for me the essentials are integrity, real-life experience and world view that matches mine.

Someone who has the sense to stop hurting and start helping.

I don't think I can put it into a sound bite because what I am looking for changes with the needs of the country. Right now I am leaning towards Cain. He knows how to run a business and how a business will play. Right now we have politicians throwing all this regulation at business without any clue as to how business will react.

Not that I consider Cain a thief but it does go to the adage takes a thief to catch a thief. If you want to make the economy recover you need someone who knows how to make a business work.

Of course all of this may change in the next year, who knows....

My DH feels that all candidates for the office of the President and Vice President should have to take and pass a US citizenship test. I have to agree. It frightens me that some of our candidates show a lack of knowledge in the areas of U.S. history, and geography, not to mention the Constitution!
Beyond that, I hope our next president will have sincere interest in cleaning up the mess and getting our country running well again- as opposed to taking advantage of the situation to help a special interest. (but sadly I think the latter is going to happen) He or She should have a deep understanding of business and human behavior as well as enough charisma to sell ice to an eskimo - because some of the fixes to our problems are going to be a bitter pill to swallow.
I don't care to hear who they sleep with and I am not interested in the finer points of their clothing or personal grooming habits.

Since I am very involved with the Occupy movement, I have called, emailed and drilled all the people running to get their view on the movement.

I have asked a handful of strangers their opinions.

And then also asked two very different walks of life. One being a Seattle PD officer. the other a person in the medical/Teaching arena.

That is just for Local elections.

When it comes to bigger things. Like the 2012 elections that is a whole other ball game.

I scrubbed everything I believed, even just three months ago.

I am educating myself rather then letting mass media educate me.

I am documenting my movement. Using True Press. and home media to spread the truth of what is ''REALLY'' going down out there.

I read everything.

From many different view points.

I can not say necessarily, what I am looking for in a Candidate anymore.

I can not trust quite yet that Obama is working in favor of the middle class or if he attempt to get things through is just merely smoke and mirrors. I think we have reason enough to question some of his honesty.

I can say though that there is only one or two Republican candidates that are speaking for the wide majority of people.

Honesty. Track record that proves honesty. No greedy ties to campaign money.

I think if someone is willing to own their mistakes and start from that point on....I could forgive. but they would not get any more chances then that. Integrity and owning who you are is one of the most important things someone can do in life.

The next few months to a year are going to be very trying. Alot has to be accomplied and we are not even sure what all that is yet.

Things are a mess.

Lies that are coming to the surfaces that are decades old. People are being outed on their part in creating this.

Clinton did his fair share to aid this misery. He has also come forward and admitted alot of it. He has done interviews where he has pointed out where he went wrong.

He is human and made errors. Big errors. He lied about STUPID STUFF. Which was maybe the door being opened into all the cruption within the system.

Maybe he was the cat outta the bag.

Who knows.

I will only vote for some one who see's the Occupy movement that has come upon us as what is needed. To hear our cries and go ''I am standing for you''.

We do not want to sell ourselves as looking for a leader*. This is my own true need for someone to be able to make it to the white house.

* The Occupy Wall St. movement will not endorse one Political candidate. We are more then one. we have different views, needs and beliefs. That is the key, understanding we are one or we are none.

someone who understands how a budget works. that's all. i don't ask for much.

Someone who isn't afraid to force people to tow the line! I think the welfare system can be a great form of assistance but it should NEVER be your only means. We have enabled generations of people to live off the system and some actually believe it is their right! I want someone to push those to want more for themselves and especially for their children...not sure any president could pull off teaching morals and values hahahaha!
I am so confused on who to vote for and thankfully it is still early. Maybe if the pi$$ing contest/mud slinging would stop and just get down to the meat of it all, then maybe I would have a better understanding of who has the fortitude to run this wonderful country!
What about Michael Douglas in The American President...I could vote for Andrew Shepherd! :o)

I agree that there is no instant fix, but there has to be a start. I can find good things and bad things from both parties. This is why I am considered an independent (in PA) or an undecided (in FL). I won’t vote for someone that “looks the part” that is crazy and I won’t choose the lesser of the evils. I would rather vote for none of the above and force Americans to find a better candidate. I try my best to keep up with all that is going on. I listen to what the candidates are saying and what their actions are. I can’t stand that they so quickly attack each other it’s so immature and confirms that most are Jack A**’s.
I am looking for someone that can be open-minded to how people live. That would be willing to change (or fix) what is broken in our government and not be bought. Someone that can set a good example by their own actions. Someone that can actually be a leader.

As a feminist Liberal Mom - I'm looking for someone who is hard on violent criminals and drug dealers but less harsh with ppl smoking pot (tho not yet legal, not sure about that aspect). I'm looking for someone to stand up for the rights of consumers and families, not corporations. I feel someone who is willing to move around the budget WITHOUT lobbyist preference for the betterment of their constituents rather than the 'donating' corporations - and consider the needs of families before voting for raises of their staff and over the top perks good.

I'll add more later... lots to do this AM