Reply #36: If you are sincere, then do your own research. Good to get fresh air and exercise. [View All]

[Bongo Prophet]

Always glad to give some tips on how to get some info.
Google rule - google is NOT always your friend. Lies and disinfo abound in the links, along with facts. If new to a subject, it is best to go with more official sources first. Gov't sites for votes, c-span for videos of congressional sessions and committee hearings, the National Rachives, etc.. These are great sources.
Stay away from opinion and forum sites for the real info - this filters out some of the noise.

Speeches, interviews, appearances at think tanks and seminars - all very informative.
The candidates web site is a must, as it reveals more than you would think.

Here you can see history, intent, message and style.

History: check out the facts of their backgrounds, both personal and career.
You can fact check them if anything looks fishy.

Intent: You may or may not believe them, based on what you learn of their history and you intuitions of their character. What they say about what they plan to do tells you what they will be running on, not necessarily what will happen if they get in office. Think about how they sell their ideas, and whether it will appeal to the electorate. More importantly perhaps, how it appeals to you. Since Congress actually has to pass laws, you should know that the final product may not look like it did at the conceptual stage. That's the system. The executive cabinet level changes are a different story. Many changes can be made there, and quickly. Overturning many presidential signing statements, whether they renew respect for the National Archives and open records - such a long list.

Message: There are often more than one message being woven through a campaign's public and private face. The exoteric messages of hope and change are the immediate hooks, but there are others that certain groups see while others do not - an esoteric set of signals there for those who can read them. There are often policy hints that can't be dealt with in detail during a speech or as a bullet point in the bigger agenda. People won't get motivated to vote based on reading a long list, or an extended explanation of a policy. (see style). Sometimes it is something that, if said overtly, it would lose votes from some part of their support base.( see dog whistle) Usually, when someone says they don't see substance, they are not looking hard enough.

Style: How that information is packaged, how convincing it is, whether the candidate is a policy dealer in the LBJ style, or inspirational big picture person is instructive to how things will get done. Each style has strengths and weaknesses, and each has adherents. Much of this is determined by personality traits, then massaged by PR and other consultants.

Yes, they are always euphemised and group tested. That is a given.
Regardless, it can give you an idea of the intentions put forward, what they will be running on. What they say they will intend to do. Never think they will do them all on their own - it involves Congress, the Courts and activist citizenry to move things forward.

when these things work together for the common good, it is a wonderful thing.
After centuries of rule by pharoahs and priests and popes and royalty - and the ocassional fascist oil cabal - government by and for the people is a pretty good thing, imperfect as it is.