Cancel the General Election

[Red Arrow]

Polling is very important for fundraising. Everybody wants to give to a candidate who is going to be winning.
It is like betting on horses. There ain't no gain in picking losers.

If your candidate is going to win, s/he probably doesn't need your money.  If your candidate has a rough road ahead, s/he probably needs your financial support. It's not much like betting on horses except in the case of patronage jobs.

[nathanm]

It's not much like betting on horses except in the case of patronage jobs.

These days it's more likely to be a pet subsidy, relaxed regulation, or what have you. If you manage to land your nephew a $150,000 a year government job you're a lot worse off than getting some loophole written into the tax code that gets you $1,500,000 off your tax bill every year or some no-bid DOD contract.

[Red Arrow]

These days it's more likely to be a pet subsidy, relaxed regulation, or what have you. If you manage to land your nephew a $150,000 a year government job you're a lot worse off than getting some loophole written into the tax code that gets you $1,500,000 off your tax bill every year or some no-bid DOD contract.

Same basic idea though, a specific benefit for "you", a friend, or relative personally for having contributed to a candidate.  It's one of the less savory parts of politics in my opinion. 

[nathanm]

Same basic idea though, a specific benefit for "you", a friend, or relative personally for having contributed to a candidate.  It's one of the less savory parts of politics in my opinion. 

I agree, it's a difference of degree, not kind. It just amazes me that patronage jobs are such a low return way of getting government money compared to the modern alternatives.

[Teatownclown]

No need to cancel the election just yet....A Federal Judge has done the right thing!

Federal Judge Blocks Florida Voter Suppression Law

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/31/493196/judge-blocks-florida-voter-law/?mobile=nc

A federal judge blocked much of Florida's year-old voter suppression law today as an unconstitutional infringement on speech and voting rights.

Gotta watch those neo-confederates closely.

[guido911]

Only poll that matters is the final one.

I agree. But this one is a close second. Pucker Alert.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120607/NEWS06/120607030/Poll-Barack-Obama-dead-heat-Mitt-Romney-Michigan-popularity-slips