August 16, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Some states have moved their 2008 presidential primaries to January possibly forcing Iowa to hold its caucuses in December. When do you think the first primary for 2008 will take place? What do you think of the idea of these early primaries? (Asked at Starbucks on Camden)


“Can’t go too much farther back because 2007 is almost over. It can’t be any earlier than October or November. It can’t be any earlier than that this year. If they keep it up at this pace, they started campaigning two years before the election. The next thing you know they will start campaigning right after the election.”

Dee Anderson
Almaden
Office manager


“If they start in December with Iowa it could put the presidential election in the forefront of the news for a long time now.”

Don Gootee, 48
Almaden
Owner, information system consulting firm


“The campaigns are usually long and drawn out no matter what. I don’t know, I think we need better candidates.”

Lynne McDonell, 61
Almaden
Administrative assistant for a civil engineer


“Frankly I find the issue of juggling the primaries irritating. I’d rather spend time and energy learning about the candidates than when these primaries are going to happen. It’s just gossip, gossip, gossip and then you’re supposed to make a decision. Each person should get the same platform, the same amount of time and then let us decide.”

Paula Koehler, 31
Almaden
Librarian


“Yes, the primaries are difficult to regulate because our state freedoms must be preserved. The states should be allowed to do what they want, but the campaign is going on too long. Certainly another law won’t solve the problem, but there should be a balance between the states’ rights and the federal system. There’s no question about that."

Paul Chaplin, 51
Almaden
Engineer for NASA


“I think it’s wrong to keep moving the primaries back. I liked the primaries the way they were. I think it’s stupid that everyone is trying to be the first.”

John Beacher, 52
Almaden
IBM engineer


"I think it’s silly to be moving the primaries up so soon. I think there is too much campaigning and too much hype. Other countries, like France start their campaigns a few months before, not years. It’s become kind of like a circus. I think that people can get the idea of [who a candidate is and what he or she stands for] one and a half years before the election. I think there should just be one debate for the Republicans and one for the Democrats as long as each candidate gets his or her fair share of time.”

Lauren Goldstein, 21
Almaden
English teaching assistant in France


“I think that the government should concentrate on doing its job before it resorts to campaigning for office. Moving the primaries up too soon, doesn’t give the government a chance to work."

Audrey Makres, 50
Almaden
English teacher at Leland High School