(Regarding New Hampshire’s cherished “first in the nation” primary election campaign season)
eye to eye heart to heart
and inevitably one on one
toe to toe nose to nose
not a gladhand or grandstand in sight
free to speak of one’s mind
over pancakes and coffee
it’s here on the stump
in these plain savvy precincts
where scrutiny up close and intimate
gauges the mettle of those who would govern
they come here to listen as much as to talk
in small gatherings void of shrill soundbites
in informal parlors and storefronts
around kitchen tables on streetcorners
voters and candidates trading opinions
examining national issues in light of
the localized personal prisms of citizens
living their time and their place
with their own self-held notions
of how things should be
every pol runs this gauntlet
through biting cold north country weather
and no-nonsense dialogue
endures its discomforts and finds in the end
that it makes them the better
for having been honest informed
An exceptionally fine civics lesson . . .
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thanks kindly, peter – NH is quite a nifty place for the politically interested
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I shall follow the news of the outcome in the fullness of time (9-2-2016 having just checked!) with great interest…a pertinent reminder this Englishman keen on politics right, left and centre!
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me, too
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Wow – you must love Walt Whitman 😊 I was waiting for the twist – the sting in the tale
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I do like Whitman – if there’s a sting, it will be in choosing the wrong candidate
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Being from England and lost when I enter the world of politics, could someone briefly explain what’s going on here?
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our political parties choose their candidates for president via a series of state primary elections, the results of which are ratified by each party’s national convention (next summer) – New Hampshire is by tradition the first such primary – the candidates spend about a year here in our towns and villages getting together with the voters to demonstrate their suitability – hope that helps
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It does, thank you 🙂
Was aware of something, but not how it worked! Useful and interesting information 🙂
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glad I could help
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