Its only an important election if there is a candidate worth a damn

[Stryder]

Might sound cynical but is it true? Think back to history and all the elections that have come and gone. Certainly each one attempts to call it self the most important election ever, etc... But some elections just don't have candidates that care about America rather their own political career. To me Reagan was the greatest President in my lifetime. Elections like 1996 didn't really matter because Dole was well Dole, flat. I think the 2000 election was important but the rest have been duds. Certainly in history the 1960 one was significant. And probably the 1940 election. But all in all the presidential elections have been historical snoozers. In fact most presidents have been duds as well. Taft comes to mind.

[The Senator]

The funny thing is, though, that the candidates who are worth are damn aren't considered so until after the election is over and that President is well into his or her term.

Also, saying that Presidents are only worth a damn if they don't care about their political career is bullocks. All presidential candidates run because they want to be President, not because the American people think they are revolutionaries in waiting. FDR ran as the VP nominee in 1920, then became governor of New York eight years later, before running for President in 1932. LBJ ran for President twice before settling for VP, which ultimately made him President. Nixon ran in 1960 and 1968; Reagan ran in 1976 and 1980... these guys ran because they wanted it. They just managed to convince the American people they were worth their attention and support.

Timing also happened to be on their sides. The Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, the Cold War... each of these issues coincided with the candidates' message and decided who got elected. The fact that the candidates handled it decently just worked out for them, and history ultimately judges who was and wasn't "worth a damn" because of it.

Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mike Bloomberg, etc. all may be "worth a damn," but their fates arguably won't be decided until well after the next president is in the White House.

[Stryder]

By political career I mean feathering their own nests. Certainly every political candidate still has an ego and wants success. But at what price are they willing to gain that success? By selling out the interests of our national soveriegnty to the highest bidder? I think globalism is one of the key issues no candidate will talk about. Surely all will be judged by their actions but what they say now is a big part of that.

[SuBe]

Don't forget that we are in WW4, my friends. Cold War was WW3 without a round fired. WW4 is against Islamic Fascism. We are in a brink of a holy war, and we have the Government reaching a boiling Point unlike any of our fore fathers could have imagined. With the politicians using our tax structure as a free playground to push "Social Reform" that is putting every American neck under the boot of the Government. We are in a VERY important election year. Are you going to let this be another election of bland candidates with bland policies pushing tasteless history down the throats of our grand children? Or are you going to be the American that pushes the Nanny-State, Big Brother Governmetn back in there place? The Place of Fiction?

[The Senator]

Don't forget that we are in WW4, my friends. Cold War was WW3 without a round fired. WW4 is against Islamic Fascism. We are in a brink of a holy war, and we have the Government reaching a boiling Point unlike any of our fore fathers could have imagined. With the politicians using our tax structure as a free playground to push "Social Reform" that is putting every American neck under the boot of the Government. We are in a VERY important election year. Are you going to let this be another election of bland candidates with bland policies pushing tasteless history down the throats of our grand children? Or are you going to be the American that pushes the Nanny-State, Big Brother Governmetn back in there place? The Place of Fiction?

I prefer the nanny state route myself, versus a continuation of a government routed in fear-mongering and deception, provoked by unnecessary wars with complex ethnic groups which are then reduced to inaccurate, xenophobic sound-bites such as "Islamic fascism." Place of Fiction indeed.

[XFanTim]

Nah, it's an important election so long as one candidate is far worse than the other. In order for it to be an unimportant election, it's not enough that the candidates suck -- they have to both suck to the same order of magnitude.

[Arkady Rossovich]

No,Politics are important when people have a stake in it. As they do now.

[Raiden]

No,Politics are important when people have a stake in it. As they do now.

With the ongoing war over at Iraq, impending recession, and an inflation that is getting worse, I'd say this election is extremely important and will dictate where we go from here.

[Kel]

I think there are a few in these races that would do a good job as president....I may not agree with all they believe in, but I'm excited about this election......

[cookiva]

Might sound cynical but is it true? Think back to history and all the elections that have come and gone. Certainly each one attempts to call it self the most important election ever, etc... But some elections just don't have candidates that care about America rather their own political career. To me Reagan was the greatest President in my lifetime. Elections like 1996 didn't really matter because Dole was well Dole, flat. I think the 2000 election was important but the rest have been duds. Certainly in history the 1960 one was significant. And probably the 1940 election. But all in all the presidential elections have been historical snoozers. In fact most presidents have been duds as well. Taft comes to mind.

I haven't responded to this because I couldn't think of a proper answer until now.

You are on the right track, but you missed something. Its only an important election if the incumbent/lame duck president is disliked by a majority of the population. Major change happens when this is the case.