Election Season 2005

candicissima

Am I really the only person who keeps running into candidates around the train station and such? The other day, Anthony Weiner was around the Grand Army Plaza for the 2nd time this summer. And today outside out of the Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum station about 20 mins ago was Gifford Miller, shaking hands with his own personal cheering section.

And I got my switched over Board of Elections registration and "Voter's Guide" thing in the mail today.

daveb

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

Candicissima wrote: Am I really the only person who keeps running into candidates around the train station and such?

Absofrickinglutely not. The Eastern Parkway stop is ridiculous, AM or PM. Fucking flyer doling, hand-shaking goons block my way to the stairs while pitching to other people. I had to body check some bitch just to get into the station this morning. What, am I supposed to wait for this tool to finish their spiel and make way for me? It's ridiculous. I got boxed and practically tackled by a group of 4 when I got home tonight. It just makes me have to be rude and i really don't like that.

daveb

I just had an epiphany!

Ever seen "Mall Rats"? Remember the chocolate covered pretzel? Maybe NOW I'll start shaking hands! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

carnivore

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

daveb wrote: [quote=Candicissima]Am I really the only person who keeps running into candidates around the train station and such?

Absofrickinglutely not. The Eastern Parkway stop is ridiculous, AM or PM. Fucking flyer doling, hand-shaking goons block my way to the stairs while pitching to other people. I had to body check some bitch just to get into the station this morning. What, am I supposed to wait for this tool to finish their spiel and make way for me? It's ridiculous. I got boxed and practically tackled by a group of 4 when I got home tonight. It just makes me have to be rude and i really don't like that.
I disagree. Although I don't always have time to listen to politicians' spiel on my way to work, I think it's a good thing that they're putting feet on the ground in our neighborhood. This is our opportunity to make our voices heard when these guys are really listening.
Additionally, I'd much rather they have people out in the community talking to constituents then just have them buying ads on TV.

You can't have it both ways. You can't complain that they ignore our community and then complain when they come to talk to us during election season. This is the time to engage them- hopefully if we make an impression on them, they'll remember us after election day.

One thing is for sure- politicians are much more likely to listen to politically active involved citizens than to communities that they see as disengaged from politics.

daveb

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

Carnivore wrote: [quote=daveb][quote=Candicissima]Am I really the only person who keeps running into candidates around the train station and such?

Absofrickinglutely not. The Eastern Parkway stop is ridiculous, AM or PM. Fucking flyer doling, hand-shaking goons block my way to the stairs while pitching to other people. I had to body check some bitch just to get into the station this morning. What, am I supposed to wait for this tool to finish their spiel and make way for me? It's ridiculous. I got boxed and practically tackled by a group of 4 when I got home tonight. It just makes me have to be rude and i really don't like that.
I disagree. Although I don't always have time to listen to politicians' spiel on my way to work, I think it's a good thing that they're putting feet on the ground in our neighborhood. This is our opportunity to make our voices heard when these guys are really listening.
Additionally, I'd much rather they have people out in the community talking to constituents then just have them buying ads on TV.

You can't have it both ways. You can't complain that they ignore our community and then complain when they come to talk to us during election season. This is the time to engage them- hopefully if we make an impression on them, they'll remember us after election day.

One thing is for sure- politicians are much more likely to listen to politically active involved citizens than to communities that they see as disengaged from politics.

Well yeah sure. I just don't like being blocked and harassed. It's just the method. I appreciate that they're there. I think they're all fucking tools, but at least they're there for me to approach, but maybe we're not on the same boat. Do you take the Eastern PKWY 2/3? I mean I get BLOCKED. It's one thing to be available to introduce yourself and answer questions/hear concerns and an entirely different thing to have your staff block the stairs and aggressively latch on to you. I wasn't kidding when I said I had to body check some bitch to get to the platform. This was after the "excuse me's" and "no thank you's"

carnivore

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

daveb wrote: Do you take the Eastern PKWY 2/3? I mean I get BLOCKED. It's one thing to be available to introduce yourself and answer quastions/hear concerns and an entirely different thing to have your staff block the stairs and aggressively latch on to you. I wasn't kidding when I said I had to body check some bitch to get to the platform. This was after the "excuse me's" and "no thank you's"

I do take the EP 2/3, but rarely during rush hour, so my experience is surely different than yours. Obviously there are limits to what's acceptable. If you want them out of the way quickly, I'd suggest something like "You're not winning my vote by blocking me from getting to work."

daveb

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

Carnivore wrote: [quote=daveb]Do you take the Eastern PKWY 2/3? I mean I get BLOCKED. It's one thing to be available to introduce yourself and answer quastions/hear concerns and an entirely different thing to have your staff block the stairs and aggressively latch on to you. I wasn't kidding when I said I had to body check some bitch to get to the platform. This was after the "excuse me's" and "no thank you's"

I do take the EP 2/3, but rarely during rush hour, so my experience is surely different than yours. Obviously there are limits to what's acceptable. If you want them out of the way quickly, I'd suggest something like "You're not winning my vote by blocking me from getting to work."

Yeah yeah yeah.

alafairnadia

whoa! am I ever glad I take the Q. I've only been approached by two politicians at 7th avenue and I just took their literature and kept walking. I'd be furious if I had to fight with them to get down the stairs.

daveb

I recommend a swift jab to the jugular.

alafairnadia

daveb wrote: I recommend a swift jab to the jugular.

I'll sharpen my skills this weekend at ripple.

jamesondean

Subject: Try shouting "I'M LATE. PLEASE MOVE."

Campaigners shouldn't be oblivious, but I agree it's one more thing we kinda have to put up with in this city. There are those times of the year when I can't approach or leave a subway without four people asking me "Are you Jewish?" I'm fine with that. Similarly, even though I'd like to, I don't decapitate tourists who block the sidewalk in Times Sq, around Central Park, etc. They're bringing money into the city.

I guess the difference is that candidates live here, and they should know better. It's not quite as self-absorbed as cellphone staggerers, but it's in the same realm.

bluedove

Heh. Nobody messes with the shuttle. 8)

daveb

Subject: Re: Try shouting "I'M LATE. PLEASE MOVE."

JamesonVandy wrote: I can't approach or leave a subway without four people asking me "Are you Jewish?"

You know what's fucked up and a bit retarded? I have extensive, painful and extremely violent experience on how not to get your ginsu knife stuck in the spinal cord after decapitating said errant peasant...for real. No jokies and not necessarily even remotely cool . Yet, I dodge these blockades. Re-fucking-dislocating-tarded

alafairnadia

Subject: Re: Try shouting "I'M LATE. PLEASE MOVE."

daveb wrote: [quote=JamesonVandy]I can't approach or leave a subway without four people asking me "Are you Jewish?"

You know what's fucked up and a bit retarded? I have extensive, painful and extremely violent experience on how not to get your ginsu knife stuck in the spinal cord after decapitating said errant peasant...for real. No jokies and not necessarily even remotely cool . Yet, I dodge these blockades. Re-fucking-dislocating-tarded

this sounds like a story.

jamesondean

Subject: Re: Try shouting "I'M LATE. PLEASE MOVE."

daveb wrote: [quote=JamesonVandy]I can't approach or leave a subway without four people asking me "Are you Jewish?"

You know what's fucked up and a bit retarded? I have extensive, painful and extremely violent experience on how not to get your ginsu knife stuck in the spinal cord after decapitating said errant peasant...for real. No jokies and not necessarily even remotely cool . Yet, I dodge these blockades. Re-fucking-dislocating-tarded

Yah, Dave. Tell us a tale.

flute

Subject: Re: Election Season 2005

Carnivore wrote: I disagree ... they're [the politicions] putting feet on the ground in our neighborhood. This is our opportunity to make our voices heard when these guys are really listening. Additionally, I'd much rather they have people out in the community talking to constituents then just have them buying ads on TV.

You can't have it both ways. You can't complain that they ignore our community and then complain when they come to talk to us during election season. This is the time to engage them- hopefully if we make an impression on them, they'll remember us after election day.

One thing is for sure- politicians are much more likely to listen to politically active involved citizens than to communities that they see as disengaged from politics.

That's very true --- I think it is important to make a distinction between the legitimate (oxymoron alert :!: ) politicans, who are just doing what they all have to (or at least, in my opinion, at least should) do during election season --- and The Soon-To-Be Headless Tourists.

I was perfectly happy to shake the hand of Norma Jennings, wannabe Civil Court Judge, at the Eastern Parkway stop of the 2/3 on Friday afternoon.

BUT, at the same time, they should, at the very least, have the good sense and courtesy not to block the subway entrance (particularly given the proclivity of some people to carry ginsu knives and/or who are inclined to remove body parts from people who get in their way). :shock: