Comments on: What good are endorsements? http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2012/01/05/what-good-are-endorsements/ Tue, 21 May 2013 04:28:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: davidedenden http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2012/01/05/what-good-are-endorsements/#comment-613 davidedenden Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:06:16 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/?p=478#comment-613 Endorsement by a person's fellow politicians who have worked with them closely and who can vouch for their integrity is very important to me especially the candidate is an unknown quantity. I also look to political columnists that I have trusted over the years for guidance. I am never influenced by newspaper editorials by anonymous media executives. I have no idea if their positions are dictated by what is right for the country or what is right for their company or themselves. We need a law to stop these smarmy, elitist, arrogant, presumptuous, pathetic, Smarty-Pants-Know-It-Alls meeting in smoke filled back rooms to tell us what we should do. The punishment ... waterboarding ... remember waterboarding IS NOT TORTURE. Endorsement by a person’s fellow politicians who have worked with them closely and who can vouch for their integrity is very important to me especially the candidate is an unknown quantity.

I also look to political columnists that I have trusted over the years for guidance.

I am never influenced by newspaper editorials by anonymous media executives. I have no idea if their positions are dictated by what is right for the country or what is right for their company or themselves.

We need a law to stop these smarmy, elitist, arrogant, presumptuous, pathetic, Smarty-Pants-Know-It-Alls meeting in smoke filled back rooms to tell us what we should do.

The punishment … waterboarding … remember waterboarding IS NOT TORTURE.

]]> By: SeattleMark952 http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2012/01/05/what-good-are-endorsements/#comment-611 SeattleMark952 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:13:19 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/?p=478#comment-611 I'm surprised that Jack Shafer does not realize that much of what we see is "political theater", insomuch that much of what is said during a debate (or campaign) is for public consumption to win the contest in question. Once the camera is off, many leader from opposing parties dine and socialize together. After Romney dropped out in 2008, he endorsed McCain and gave him full personal and staff support against Obama. Endorsements may often carry little weight, but, sometimes, they provide the 1 or 2% that the candidate needs. In recent elections a 1% advantage has not been trivial. I would examine Shafer's motivations in criticizing endorsements at this juncture--since his analysis has a lot of holes in it. I’m surprised that Jack Shafer does not realize that much of what we see is “political theater”, insomuch that much of what is said during a debate (or campaign) is for public consumption to win the contest in question. Once the camera is off, many leader from opposing parties dine and socialize together. After Romney dropped out in 2008, he endorsed McCain and gave him full personal and staff support against Obama. Endorsements may often carry little weight, but, sometimes, they provide the 1 or 2% that the candidate needs. In recent elections a 1% advantage has not been trivial. I would examine Shafer’s motivations in criticizing endorsements at this juncture–since his analysis has a lot of holes in it.

]]> By: travisolated http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2012/01/05/what-good-are-endorsements/#comment-610 travisolated Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:30:29 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/?p=478#comment-610 I endorse Jack Shafer as the best damn columnist in the contemporary world. This was a brilliant column. Just keep writing, Jack. I endorse Jack Shafer as the best damn columnist in the contemporary world. This was a brilliant column. Just keep writing, Jack.

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