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So what do you like about the other guy?
Nov. 3rd, 2008 10:41 amThis made for a nice change from the usual nasty name-calling level of discourse: responses from voters on both sides to a request to say something nice about the other guy.
John Scalzi did a similar exercise a while back, in which he asked people to name something you don't like about your preferred candidate and something you do like about the other guy.
Here, I'll start:
I like that John McCain has opposed drilling in ANWR. I like that at one time he had the guts to call out the religious right as "agents of intolerance", although I wish he hadn't turned around this year and pandered to them with the Sarah Palin pick. I like that he's willing to talk about climate change. I respect his military service.
I don't like Obama's FISA vote on telecom immunity. I don't like his stated lack of support for same-sex marriage. I'm not thrilled that he reversed his position on public campaign financing; take it, or don't (and "don't" was clearly the way to go, what with a $150 million fundraising month), but stick with it.
Things I don't like about Joe Biden: "Drug Czar". RAVE Act. The 2005 bankruptcy bill.
On Sarah Palin, I'm afraid I'm going to have to stick with "then don't say anything at all".
We were noticing something as we did this: The people, whether they supported McCain or Obama, seemed to be in a little better mood– in an observably more pleasant frame of mind– after they were urged to say something nice about the other guy. During a campaign year that has consisted of so many raised voices and ugly charges, they seemed to like this.
John Scalzi did a similar exercise a while back, in which he asked people to name something you don't like about your preferred candidate and something you do like about the other guy.
Here, I'll start:
I like that John McCain has opposed drilling in ANWR. I like that at one time he had the guts to call out the religious right as "agents of intolerance", although I wish he hadn't turned around this year and pandered to them with the Sarah Palin pick. I like that he's willing to talk about climate change. I respect his military service.
I don't like Obama's FISA vote on telecom immunity. I don't like his stated lack of support for same-sex marriage. I'm not thrilled that he reversed his position on public campaign financing; take it, or don't (and "don't" was clearly the way to go, what with a $150 million fundraising month), but stick with it.
Things I don't like about Joe Biden: "Drug Czar". RAVE Act. The 2005 bankruptcy bill.
On Sarah Palin, I'm afraid I'm going to have to stick with "then don't say anything at all".
