This past week, Q-line asked: “Do the national conventions typically affect the way you vote? Can President Bush’s speech sway you one way or the other in light of your current leanings”
Here are your responses: ✆ “I would like to know how John Kerry is going to do all he says and legalize 30 million illegal aliens to become citizens. And I’d like to see a break down of what legal citizens are costing us with housing assistance, Medicaid, education and health care.” ✆ “No. The rhetoric of George W., weapons of mass destruction voice, will not sway me. I will not be tuning in.” ✆ “The national conventions don’t really affect me in any way that I vote. I’m going to vote for John Kerry no matter what the convention say. He’s the only one to vote for. Bush had never been in office, he was never elected, he’s only appointed. Whatever he has to say is nothing but a lot of hooey. He should get those kids out of Iraq, he should get those swift boat people that are talking against Kerry outta the way, and then maybe he’ll be able to talk about something. But whatever he talks about won’t amount to a hill-a-beans. Thank you.” ✆ “The charade of the political conventions most certainly does not affect the way I vote. The overall character of the nominee, his track record over time and what he has done toward resolving key issues like securing our borders, employment, fair and equal taxation, health care for those that are uninsured and saving our environment. It’s not what they say or promise, it’s what they do or already have done, for good or ill. Thank you.” ✆ “In response to the question do the national the conventions typically affect the way I will vote, no it definitely would not affect my way I’m going to vote this time, particularly with Bush running as the president and wanting to get another term. I think it’s obscene all the money that goes into conventions, not only this year but in past previous years. I think we need to start looking at a better way to elect presidents and our senators and our house of representatives. Thank you.” ✆ “Nothing that George W. Bush could ever possibly say publicly or privately could induce me to vote for this crazy person. Thank you.” ✆ “No. I’m a numbers guy and I don’t mean street numbers or poll numbers. My feeling is when I look at numbers, I’m talking about the economy. I’m talking about the unemployed. I’m talking about the border patrol people we have at our borders — one for every 300 miles. I’m talking about numbers like how many American people decide they want a change. I look at different types of numbers and I am never influenced by the polls and certainly not the president’s speech one way or another.” ✆ “Absolutely not. All his speech would be is political rhetoric and is likened to locking the barn after the horse has been stolen. His, like his father’s presidency, has led us into needless war. As you know, they refer to themselves as war presidents. What happened to finding Osama bin Laden? Oh right, the Bushies are oil men. God help us if anyone is swayed by his speech.” ✆ “National political conventions are obsolete. They are nothing more than self-serving, bias party commercials. President Bush has lost his credibility big time. His being a ‘compassionate conservative,’ he has led the charge in causing why this partisan division in many decades.” ✆ “I think that convention speeches can affect the way you vote, if you have an open mind. Unfortunately, most people have already made up their minds before the conventions and do not even watch or listen. Too many vote their party’s candidate, even if they do not particularly like their party’s choice.” ✆ “If President Bush would talk about stem cell research, I think that would be a really good thing.” ✆ “Bush has messed things up so badly, nothing he could say would make me want to vote for him, except possibly telling me that he was gonna make me Vice President. Then I’d vote for him, but I’d still want to see him impeached.” ✆ “No, and the conventions don’t sway me, especially this year. It would be sheer lunacy to vote for the incompetent (Sen John) Kerry, who should have been tried for treason along with Hanoi Jane. It’s no contest. I will vote for President Bush.” ✆ “There is nothing which can sway me, especially Kerry. My vote is for President Bush. God bless him, and God bless the world. We thank America for being willing to help others.” ✆ “Only idiots would be swayed by a politician’s speech. Of course, most people are idiots, which is why people like Clinton and Bush get elected.” ✆ “President Bush is a liar. You can’t believe anything he says.” ✆ “Nothing that President Bush could ever possibly say, publicly or privately, would induce me to vote for this crazy person.” ✆ “No, it definitely does not affect the way I vote, particularly as Bush running as the President and wanting to get another turn. I think it’s obscene all the money that goes into conventions, not only this year, but in previous years.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.