How emotionally invested are you in the 2012 Presidential election?

One thing I really enjoy is monitoring the developments of our political goings on, chatting it up with others, debating the issues, etc. Its really like following sports. What ruins it for me and probably others as well is when people become so emotionally invested in the outcome of their team willing they turn what should be fun into something comparable to bi-polar disorder breakdowns.

I remember back in 2008. It was one of the most exciting elections of our lifetimes on several levels: the first female to seriously contend for the White House, the first African American and a legitimate American hero. Then exciting zany stuff like a running mate making the craziest gaffes ever, an embarrassing pastor of one candidate and another candidate breaking down into tears on television because she thought it was in the bag and though all she had to do was show up and take the oath of office. Then all the damage control. Better than any movie for sure. Then you want to talk about it with friends, in person and online, and all many can do is go completely postal because their candidate isn't in the lead. I've seen friends lose their minds at lunch fearing the next thing was plates were going flying across the room. I was on a discussion board where the moderators started banning any and everyone who didn't wholeheartedly support the side they wanted to see elected for reasons they even admitted were enforced based upon a double standard. Absolutely mental stuff.

Just curious. How invested are you emotionally in the outcome of the election? There is probably no way to get accurate answers since almost everybody would probably think they're completely level headed and although they have a preference they get that he might not win and that's just part of how American politics works. I guess the best way to know if you're the emotionally invested type is do people who might not agree with you enjoy talking politics with you and/or at your job does it help you get along with others if you don't mention anything about politics at the water cooler.

Smeagol said:

One thing I really enjoy is monitoring the developments of our political goings on, chatting it up with others, debating the issues, etc. Its really like following sports. What ruins it for me and probably others as well is when people become so emotionally invested in the outcome of their team willing they turn what should be fun into something comparable to bi-polar disorder breakdowns.

I remember back in 2008. It was one of the most exciting elections of our lifetimes on several levels: the first female to seriously contend for the White House, the first African American and a legitimate American hero. Then exciting zany stuff like a running mate making the craziest gaffes ever, an embarrassing pastor of one candidate and other breaking down into tears on television because she thought it was in the bag and though all she had to do was show up and take the oath of office. Then all the damage control. Better than any movie for sure. Then you want to talk about it with friends, in person and online, and all many can do is go completely postal because their candidate isn't in the lead. I've seen friends lose their minds at lunch fearing the next thing was plates were going flying across the room. I was on a discussion board where the moderators started banning any and everyone who didn't wholeheartedly support the side they wanted to see elected for reasons they even admitted were enforced based upon a double standard. Absolutely mental stuff.

Just curious. How invested are you emotionally in the outcome of the election? There is probably no way to get accurate answers since almost everybody would probably think they're completely level headed and although they have a preference they get that he might not win and that's just part of how American politics works. I guess the best way to know if you're the emotionally invested type is do people who might not agree with you enjoy talking politics with you and/or at your job does it help you get along with others if you don't mention anything about politics at the water cooler.

Click to expand...

I can only compare this year with 2008. In 2008, I was Mad Woman -- as in crazy nutz. I was angry that McCain picked Palin . . . then angry that she was skewered on a stick . . . pissed off that Obama was so damned condescending and smug in his debates with McCain . . . mad at the Republican Party for putting up what I finally came to see as a longshot ticket. And I didn't want Obama to win -- I'd say I was more invested in that election than in any time in my life.

This one? I'm resigned that Obama will win. The power of encumbancy is so great that I don't think a "Romney" has a chance. The Republican Party needed to put up a hero. And I guess we don't have one this cycle.

Emotionally?

0 - not a bit emotionally.

I avoid basing my political votes on emotional issues.

Zero...probably not gonna vote in the Presidential race this year. It's Congress that's the real problem.

Only in as much as my frustration continues to mount at the petty character assassinations on both sides and the lack of focus on issues.

Otherwise, hardly.

Somewhat emotionally invested.

If you're not emotional at all, you come off as cold, and people don't like that. It makes you seem like a computer.

Emotion?

This is an election...not a soccer championship.

Daktoria said:

Somewhat emotionally invested.

If you're not emotional at all, you come off as cold, and people don't like that. It makes you seem like a computer.

Click to expand...

Or an egotistical self centered dumb**** which I strive to avoid in my life. LOL

I'm not really emotionally invested, but I am mentally invested to the extent that I care about the future stability of the country, and our ability to remain solvent and economically viable. For the past 12 years, I've seen us go from a collectively sensible population (for the most part), to a highly anxiety-ridden nation, and it doesn't bode well for us imo.

aunt spiker said:

or an egotistical self centered dumb**** which i strive to avoid in my life. Lol

Click to expand...

Hey! You know what I shay!

Back in the day we had to walk in the snow uphill both ways to school, and all they taught us was readin, writin, and rithmetic!

Spanish wadaya need that for?




Dorothy! I need another diaper! My bladder's gone again on its own!

MaggieD said:

I can only compare this year with 2008. In 2008, I was Mad Woman -- as in crazy nutz. I was angry that McCain picked Palin . . . then angry that she was skewered on a stick . . . pissed off that Obama was so damned condescending and smug in his debates with McCain . . . mad at the Republican Party for putting up what I finally came to see as a longshot ticket. And I didn't want Obama to win -- I'd say I was more invested in that election than in any time in my life.

This one? I'm resigned that Obama will win. The power of encumbancy is so great that I don't think a "Romney" has a chance. The Republican Party needed to put up a hero. And I guess we don't have one this cycle.

Click to expand...

I really like your honesty.

Did the conservative pundits have any influence on your initial perception of Obama? Middle name is Hussein so that can't be a good sign. Goes to a black nationalist church so must have the same affinity for white people as Louis Farrakhan. His closest friends are terrorists. The man cannot stand America but loves the Islamic Middle East and all of its dictators. Is no friend Israel of Israel. Blah, blah, blah. Did any of that have an affect on your opinion of him?

Interestingly, once elected he goes on to practically wipe Al Qaeda off the map. Appointed a Jew as Chief of Staff who volunteered in the Israeli Civil Air Patrol when Saddam was shoot off Scud missiles at Tel Aviv. Has more whites and fewer blacks in his cabinet than Bush. Key in role in the overthrow of Gaddafi. I digress, sorry.

Not all that much. I dislike Obama, but there's not some "OMG HE'S GOING TO DESTROY THE COUNTRY" fear going on. At the same time, I'm hardly a fan of Romney. I don't inherently dislike him, I just don't really care for him much. So my investment in the election is somewhat...meh.

Had Gingrich won the primary, I likely would've been more positively emotionally involved as I would've thought the election itself would've been very interesting and would be exciting to see the clash of ideas being presented by both. Had Santorum won the primary, I would've been more negatively emotionally involved absolutely hating the election cycle. Had Paul won, I likely would be more positively emotionally involved as I would like the Republican candidate and would be enthralled to see how the process came out. Had Huntsman won the primary I would have been entirely emotionally invested to the point where it would likely be a huge, HUGE letdown if he lost.

But Romney won the primary...and thus I'm kind of.........meh

Smeagol said:

Did the conservative pundits have any influence on your initial perception of Obama? Middle name is Hussein so that can't be a good sign. Goes to a black nationalist church so must have the same affinity for white people as Louis Farrakhan. His closest friends are terrorists. The man cannot stand America but loves the Islamic Middle East and all of its dictators. Is no friend Israel of Israel. Blah, blah, blah. Did any of that have an affect on your opinion of him?

Click to expand...

Do you realize how insulting this is, whether you intended it or not? It's like finding out someone online is black and asking them if they like fried chicken, watermelon, basketball, rap music, and fat assed white women. Someone suggested they didn't like Obama and the first thing you jump to is that it may be because they possibly viewed him as having a bad middle name, hated black people, liked terrorists, and had ties to muslims.

Smeagol said:

What ruins it for me and probably others as well is when people become so emotionally invested in the outcome of their team willing they turn what should be fun into something comparable to bi-polar disorder breakdowns.

Click to expand...

I don't refer to this as emotionally invested, I refer to it as being brain-dead, being a party follower, not being a free thinker, and several other terms. People ignore facts, ignore history, ignore that there 'team' does the same thing that they are bitching about the 'other' team doing, all to blindly support their own team. It is a sad fact of life. The real question is how do you get people to wake up, to care, to actually take in data from both 'teams' and see the bigger picture?

I don't think you can. People are too self-involved, there is no immediate and direct pain brought upon them by the bad decisions of politicians, so they sluff it all off.

To one extent or another, similar to the start of the downfall of many other societies that came and died before ours.

Zyphlin said:

Do you realize how insulting this is, whether you intended it or not? It's like finding out someone online is black and asking them if they like fried chicken, watermelon, basketball, rap music, and fat assed white women. Someone suggested they didn't like Obama and the first thing you jump to is that it may be because they possibly viewed him as having a bad middle name, hated black people, liked terrorists, and had ties to muslims.

Click to expand...

yea, what is that cultural fascination with fat ass white women?

back to the topic question: "How emotionally invested are you in politics?"
when Rock the Vote! polled its members abut their plans for the 2010 election, the single biggest reason that young people gave to explain why they did not plan to vote was "because no matter who wins, corporate interests will still have too much power and prevent real change"
that should be of huge concern
they are now turned off
if voters have no trust in the mechanisms of government then they quit trying to work within government - believing it is not worth the effort
i think we see some of that at work in this poll's results

Smeagol said:

I really like your honesty.

Did the conservative pundits have any influence on your initial perception of Obama? Middle name is Hussein so that can't be a good sign. Goes to a black nationalist church so must have the same affinity for white people as Louis Farrakhan. His closest friends are terrorists. The man cannot stand America but loves the Islamic Middle East and all of its dictators. Is no friend Israel of Israel. Blah, blah, blah. Did any of that have an affect on your opinion of him?

Interestingly, once elected he goes on to practically wipe Al Qaeda off the map. Appointed a Jew as Chief of Staff who volunteered in the Israeli Civil Air Patrol when Saddam was shoot off Scud missiles at Tel Aviv. Has more whites and fewer blacks in his cabinet than Bush. Key in role in the overthrow of Gaddafi. I digress, sorry.

Click to expand...

In an alternative universe where McCain had won, the exact same thing would have happened.

Not terribly invested at all. I said "mildly invested" because I do have a preference, although I don't think much will change no matter who wins. Over the years, I have usually preferred a president that was the opposite of the major congressional makeup, because having a congress rubber-stamp a president's every whim and vice-versa rams a political ideology on the populace virtually unopposed.

In California, for example, we have a democratic governor and a democratic legislature. It has been, clearly, a disaster. This year I voted a straight republican ticket for the California legislature as a counterbalance. Nationally, we have a republican-heavy congress, so I'll be voting for democratic congressional candidates, also as a counterbalance.

In a country gridlocked by partisian ideology, the good of the people or the good of the country is no longer even a pretense of our politicians. Everything they do is for the good of their own political party and the destruction of the "enemy" party. This is why we suck as a nation right now.

It's hard to be emotional about Romney, but I'll be the first to admit that I do want to laugh hysterically or break down and cry when Romney is accused of not being patriotic or saying he wasn't born in the US when those things were completely out of bounds to say about Obama.

justabubba said:

yea, what is that cultural fascination with fat ass white women?

Click to expand...

I've got no grounds to talk....I like big butts and I cannot lie.

Mildly invested. There's no point in worrying about it more, because regardless of who wins, nothing will change in a major way.

Smeagol said:

I really like your honesty.

Did the conservative pundits have any influence on your initial perception of Obama? Middle name is Hussein so that can't be a good sign. Goes to a black nationalist church so must have the same affinity for white people as Louis Farrakhan. His closest friends are terrorists. The man cannot stand America but loves the Islamic Middle East and all of its dictators. Is no friend Israel of Israel. Blah, blah, blah. Did any of that have an affect on your opinion of him?

Interestingly, once elected he goes on to practically wipe Al Qaeda off the map. Appointed a Jew as Chief of Staff who volunteered in the Israeli Civil Air Patrol when Saddam was shoot off Scud missiles at Tel Aviv. Has more whites and fewer blacks in his cabinet than Bush. Key in role in the overthrow of Gaddafi. I digress, sorry.

Click to expand...

Yeah...you did digress...into a ridiculous arena of race-baiting.

You know, in 2008, my oldest son turned 18 a month before the election. He was really interested and eager to vote. He asked me what I thought, and I said only one thing to him: "If Obama is elected, hold on to your wallet...because he's going to do everything he can to grab what's in it."

Turned out I was right.

Not remotely, I don't get emotionally involved in any rational decisions and this is just a rational decision: which one would make the least bad President. I can't make a decision about which would be best because in this, like most Presidential races, there isn't a best choice, only a least bad choice.

I really don't care who wins, because it really doesn't make any difference.

Cephus said:

Not remotely, I don't get emotionally involved in any rational decisions and this is just a rational decision: which one would make the least bad President. I can't make a decision about which would be best because in this, like most Presidential races, there isn't a best choice, only a least bad choice.

Click to expand...

but at least you are invested enough ... care enough ... to cast a vote

justabubba said:

but at least you are invested enough ... care enough ... to cast a vote

Click to expand...

Only because it directly affects me. I have to live under the regime of whoever wins. I want that to be the best outcome I can get.