I felt used

[Coemgen]

I expect my politicians to treat me well. If they don't, they don't get my vote...hey, that kinda rhymed!

Which is why I almost never support an incumbent or former office holder. There are some very few exceptions, but I seriously doubt the honesty of a person whose job is to convince people to vote for them. Sad, really.

[Makeitstop]

Last year I got a call on behalf of a politician who wanted to use me. She wanted to trot me out in front of the cameras at a press conference because I was on a list of people affected by a certain issue. There was a chance I would have even given a short little speech. Had the speech been guaranteed, I would have been very tempted to use the opportunity to embarrass and undermine her (I was on the other side) by actually speaking my mind on the issue, as it was sleazy politicians (including her) causing the trouble to begin with. Never would have been given the chance, and probably would have been stopped quickly anyway, but I was amused by the idea for a while.

I found the whole thing to be quite distasteful. They didn't care about me and most certainly not about my opinion. They just wanted me to play the victim in order to get some press coverage and so their side would look compassionate while laying the blame on their opponents. Worst of all, the manner in which they got my information, as well as how they contacted me was not only sleazy and unethical, but almost certainly illegal.

Politicians really sicken me sometimes.

[Dirk Skene]

Friendly evenings of hoisting brews was in one era a time for politics, but not today methinks.

[ozone]

For those interested, Perhaps a reading from Alexis de Tocqueville would be enlightening regarding democracy and its foibles and its politicians. Long ago, he made observations about the USA that still ring true today. You can find the entire text, free, on google here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=r-o...bs_toc_s&cad=1

Also, just for fun, quoted from that book is this:

".....This point deserves attention, for if a democratic republic
similar to that of the United States were ever
founded in a country where the power of a single individual
had previously subsisted, and the effects of a centralized
administration had sunk deep into the habits and
the laws of the people, I do not hesitate to assert that in
that country a more insufferable despotism would prevail
than any which now exists in the monarchical States of
Europe, or indeed than any which could be found on this
side of the confines of Asia. "
- page 291...Harbinger of our Iraq troubles perhaps?

[Makeitstop]

For those interested, Perhaps a reading from Alexis de Tocqueville would be enlightening regarding democracy and its foibles and its politicians. Long ago, he made observations about the USA that still ring true today. You can find the entire text, free, on google here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=r-o...bs_toc_s&cad=1

Also, just for fun, quoted from that book is this:

".....This point deserves attention, for if a democratic republic
similar to that of the United States were ever
founded in a country where the power of a single individual
had previously subsisted, and the effects of a centralized
administration had sunk deep into the habits and
the laws of the people, I do not hesitate to assert that in
that country a more insufferable despotism would prevail
than any which now exists in the monarchical States of
Europe, or indeed than any which could be found on this
side of the confines of Asia. "
- page 291...Harbinger of our Iraq troubles perhaps?

Careful. Let's not kill the topic by bringing up actual politics.

[ozone]

LOL....i was just quoting a dead guy from 1859....now how is that actual politics? The point of that quote is: the more things change, the more things stay the same. And, DeTocqueville's writings are frighteningly current sometimes

[Makeitstop]

I was referring to the iraq statement, not the quote. Probably could have singled it out, but I didn't want to take it out of context either.

[Raphael]

Use it to YOUR advantage... Ask her for help with a tartan day celebration. Ask her to help you promote wearing the kilts... More photo ops for her and it gives kilts more "media coverage"...

Just a thought

The Vancouver City Hall is thinking about declaring April 6th as kilts Day and she wanted some kilted folks to be presence during the proclamation.

[AlexMDN]

The Vancouver City Hall is thinking about declaring April 6th as kilts Day and she wanted some kilted folks to be presence during the proclamation.

Modern runs are very, very expensive and they have some limitations on budget sources and so on. Don't expect her to spend a night in the pub with some folks just because they are good ones. Everything on the scale of votes and attention from the public groups. This isn't her, but image makers and advisers, the best she can afford, planing such events. And if they did this they probably see potential advantage and so you suppose. You may use this or get used. You can't imagine how match you can achieve for yourself or group you might represent,if decided to go along.

[Ayin McFye]

Although we all know that politicians usually have their own agenda, I will still give her credit for coming out and hanging even for a little bit. You may feel a little used, but like a few people have said, try to use that to help your own agenda. Her excuse to leave so quickly may have not sounded real and could possibly have been fake, but "what if" it was a real excuse. I would just hate to see you ruin a possible valuable contact because she had to leave.

My suggestion is to shrug it off, and be happy that you are going to have some pictures in the spotlight, and call upon her later when needed. Just try not to take things too seriously. Have a pint, laugh it off, and enjoy life.

Just my two cents.

Slainte!