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Opinion Focus: Midterm Election
With Molly Ivins
Nationally-syndicated political columnist, author
Monday, Nov. 4, 2002; 3 p.m. ET
Approaching the end of a bitterly contested and unusual election season, many Americans are frustrated with the political process and feel disconnected from their elected officials. With the midterm election just a day away, some voters may be asking themselves, “Does my vote really count? Is there really a difference between the candidates?” In her Monday opinion piece, Politics is Personal, Molly Ivins argues that it is important for voters to recognize how politics affects them in their daily lives and to exercise their own political power.
Molly Ivins is a nationally-syndicated political columnist who emphasizes the more hilarious aspects of both state and national government. Ivins is from Houston, Texas, graduated from Smith College in 1966, from Columbia University’s School of Journalism and studied for a year at the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris. Her freelance work has appeared in Esquire, Harper’s, Atlantic, The Nation, The Progressive, and TV Guide among other publications. She is also known for her essays on the Lehrer News Hour and National Public Radio, as well as four best-selling books, the most recent being, "SHRUB; the Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush." She was online Monday, Nov. 4..
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
washingtonpost.com:
Welcome all. A special thanks to Molly Ivins for joining us today.
Richmond, Va.:
Molly, I have to believe that those who are apathetic and either won't vote or who vote from lack of information are a reflection of the poor job we do as a society to educate the polity. The more informed I have become the more I insist on voting. Of course my vote matters. Your vote matters. Everyone's vote matters, and those who do not vote abdicate their civil responsibiity.
We need to do a better job as voters to learn the issues, and our schools have to do a better job teaching the value of the individual vote. Besides, if you don't vote you don't get to complain.
Molly Ivins: How right you are! But we also have to remeber that many people don't vote because they correctly perceive thatthe system does not work for them.
Arlington, Va.:
Your column today said that voting was one of the most important things we do, yet the percentage of people voting continues to drop. I think it is because most of us are pretty much disenfranchised. The two major parties have rigged the system so that there are only 16 of 435 seats in the House that are considered competitive; most of the rest are as safe as Saddam was in his election. Until we adopt a proportional representation system (perhaps like Germany's) or cumulative voting (remember Lani Gunier?) people will continue to lose interest.
Molly Ivins: Another reader who is right.
Columbia, Md.:
Molly, you helped developed my social conscience when I was younger, attending TCU in Ft. Worth (go Frogs!). I continue to read your column 10 years later and still find it refreshingly honest.
I feel like we Democrats have not done a good job getting our message out, if we even know what that message is. The mainstream media has given the Bush administration a free ride, not calling him on many things they would have crucified the Clinton administration for. For example, saying we are a "nation at war" and therefore we can't criticize the president, but he has time to take a month long vacation and to campaign all across the country. Do you think it is the media not getting the Democratic message out, or is it that we have no message to give? What impact will this have on the midterm elections?
Thanks again for your wonderfully honest writing!
Molly Ivins: I'm not that cynical. I think we have to recognize that Saddam Hussein does present a potential threat. It seems to me there is a downseide risk to doing nothing, as well as a downside risk to invading. what we need to do is thoroughly discuss what we think would be best.
Annapolis Md.:
Do you think if the Republicans controlled the Senate, and Bush got to appoint to the Supreme Court, that Roe v. Wade would be overturned?
Molly Ivins: Yes, indubitably. So far Rove is picking the judges.
Washington, D.C.:
Since you, in your column today, profess to have the inside track on public opinion with respect to national security issues; and since you simnplify, distort and even make fun of the Bush administration's recently announced National Security Strategy "under which America dominates the world forever, and . . . attacks any country that disagrees . . .", I wonder how you think polling numbers would come out if likely voters were posed this basic question: Would you prefer a national security strategy that aggressively, even preemptively attacks serious threats to the free market, representative democracies of the developed world, or a strategy that instead treats backward, anti-modern enemies of human rights and self-determination as negotiating table equals, regardless of their access to weapons of mass destruction?
Molly Ivins: It seems to me that we do ourselves and ou country a disservice when we try to polarize and simplify difficult choices. I do think the National Security Strategy, which I have read, is raw, undisguised imperialism. The word imperialism is being used without shame by a few of the more extreme voices on national security.
Laurel, Md.:
Do you support the recent campaign finance regulations for their reduction in "soft" money and the related reduction in "attack" ads and voter awareness?
Molly Ivins: I think you are a little off-base. The campaign finance regulations have not yet taken effect. And when they do, much of their effectiveness will depend on how they are interpretated. And so far the board overseeing their application has been stacked with people who do not believe in campaign finance reform. It would have been a good fi4rst step in draining the swamp, but it looks as though it is going nowhere.
Leesburg, Va.:
I agree that "politics is personal" nowadays, and Democrats are chiefly responsible for this trend in a very negative way. This is because they constantly harp upon and dote upon women, racial minorities and gays. They push PC-based special preferences for these groups at the expense of people like me---a white male who has certain physical impairments. Hence, I resent the idea that people like me are to be personally discriminated against by morally-challenged Clintonite Democrats. Politics should be focused on more broad-based economics and national security concerns rather than the divisive personalization entailed by the Democrats' race- and gender-based issues.
Molly Ivins: There is an extent to which I agree with you, even though I think the way you put this is not helpful. I do thinks politics should be more focuses on broad-based economics, and even though I have liberal opinions on most social issues, I think they are not as important as the classic political questions, "Who is getting screwed? And who is doing the screwing?"
West Hartford, Conn.:
Ms. Ivins,
The "Sixty Minutes" piece on the Texas races last night was entertaining thanks to you and highly disdainful of the Republican candidates, depicting them as little more than attractive hair-pieces. Even if the Republicans win this time, do you think the ethnic Democratic candidates represent the wave of the future for Texas, that Texas will soon be done with the Bush-Perry-Cornyns?
Molly Ivins: On the Texas question, conventional wisdom in our state says it will take at least 20 years for the demographic changes in Texas to refelcted at the polls. I am always optimistic to the point of idiocy. It is a congenital defect.
Arlington, Va.:
Molly, in your column today you wrote: "The Bush administration has announced this grand imperial plan, the 'National Security Strategy of the United States,' under which America is to dominate the world forever, and we'll attack any country that doesn't agree with us."
That is so overblown and erroneous. Were you trying (and failing) to be funny or were you hoping to just scare people who don't know any better?
Molly Ivins: I am sorry to say I am just as serious as a stroke about the National Security plan being an open declaration of imperialism. I do not think this is the kind of world we want to make.
Forestville, Md.:
When I have a chance, without a gazillion dollars and a law degree, of becoming a citizen's representative as a member of the House Representatives, I will be optimistic. However, I serve as an election judge, and insist that everyone I know who is of age, and has a working brain, show up to their polling place and vote. It is a requirement of good citizenship. "Working brain" - know the issues and the candidates; make intelligent decisions about your vote; a little rain will not deter you.
Molly Ivins: Good on you.
Washington, D.C.:
I know that part of the settlement between the NAACP and Florida over voting rights in the 2000 election provided that the Choicepoint list of 94,000 "felons" didn't have to be fixed until 2003. Does this mean that this same list will be used in Florida tomorrow to exclude voters?
Molly Ivins: Yes, it is being used.
Washington, D.C.:
After seeing the enormous turnout for the South African elections when Nelson Mandela was a candidate, I've always thought somebody should ask him to come here sometime and do a get out the vote effort for us, to remind us how precious that right is... but I guess we're Americans, and can't ever be seen asking for help.
My question: how did this all get so screwed up? As a child of the 70s, I remember when people still (believed, at least) had a voice. When politicians were elected officials, and not just shills of big special interest money. How did the laws change to create this mess, or are we just seeing the evolution of natural human politics? (I hope not the latter.)
Thanks. And thank you for being one of the few people in the media to ever speak out about the craziness she witnesses.
Molly Ivins: how did this all get so screwed up: I guess that's the key question. I think it's, among other things, 20 years of degulated capitalism so that we're back to almost the same unregulated capitalism we had in the late 19th century. It's a great system, but it does need regulation, or it results in terrible social injustice. I think oir political system has simply been corrupted by money.
Gettysburg, Penn.:
Politics matters, but what can I do to make sure politicians are listening to people like me? If public opinion matters, why is Congress folding so easily to the president's hawkish demands for Iraq? If the politicians in a democracy ignore public opinion, then what future does democracy really have?
Molly Ivins: A vote represents real political power. So does a letter, or an e-mail or a fax, or a community organization or any activist group; or a rally; or a protest.
Montgomery County, Md.:
I love your work and agreed wholeheartedly with your column. I just wanted to add that it's particularly sad that so many people effectively disenfranchise themselves when so many have struggled throughout American history to gain the right to vote. I am constantly amazed by people who disregard the sacrifices made by the women of the suffrage movement, or by civil rights volunteers throughout the twentieth century.
Every Election Day, I am thrilled and excited to vote. I wear my "I voted" sticker with pride and exhort my friends to do the same. I plan on being at my polling place at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and will then spend the day volunteering for my political party. That is the only way to keep the American Dream, and to ensure my place in the political process.
Molly Ivins: What a lovely note.
Mt. Rainier, Md.:
Molly, God love you, I'm a devoted fan from years back. I read "Shrub" while this Bush was still running for office, and tried to press it on everyone I know. I just wish a LOT more people had read it. I think you did a great job of being factual and even-handed. Got any more books in the works?
Molly Ivins: What good taste. Yes, I am working on a book due out March.
Cottage City, Md.:
Molly, do you see any third party possibilities, now that the Democrats seemed to be as mired in big money as the Republicans? Coming from a state like Maryland, where the Democrats run the machine and the Republicans put up token opposition, usually I vote holding my nose. Lord, I wish we HAD someone like Wellstone to vote for here.
Molly Ivins: I really think we need to rebuild democracy from the bottom up. People keep asking "Is there any decent candidate for president on the horizon?" I think it's the wrong question. I think when we get active at the bottom, the top will take care of itself.
Hyattsville, Md.:
Grass roots support is totally passe, now that the pols can spend big money on TV and radio ads. They don't even respond. I got on Connie Morella's website and volunteered to have a sign in my yard - I'm in the new part of her district - and got no response. At least my neighbors would have thought twice if I was advocating Connie, because they know I'm serious about my politics. They're not listening to the ads any more than I am, because they're boring, predictable, and meaningless.
Molly Ivins: I don't agree with you. I don't believe that grassroots support is totally passe. Both parties now agree thatafter the mountaines of money they have spent on TV and radio ads, they are getting less bang for their buck, and that it all comes down to the "get out the vote" effort.
Alexandria, Va.:
Republican congressional candidate Scott Tate has mentioned in speeches the column that you wrote about his opponent, Alexandria congressman James Moran.
Moran claims the people helping him, such as drug company lobbyist/Moran lender Terry Lierman, are his "friends." Should voters care about a politician's moneylending "friends"?
Molly Ivins: Of course. The direct connection between Moran's voyting record and the loans is all the evidence you need.
Alexandria, Va.:
Hi Molly,
How many years will Clinton have to be out of office before the Republicators stop blaming him for everything from bad weather to athlete's foot? Granted the guy's a moral midget and I wouldn't want to rub elbows(or anything else) with him, but since he left my 401K has become a 201K!
Molly Ivins: There is a bumper sticker here in Texas that says "I liked it better when Monica was going down and the Dow was going up."
Washington, D.C.:
What do you think makes you so prone for criticism and controversy?
Molly Ivins: Who me?
Laredo, Tex.:
Ms. Ivins: I'm desperately looking for statistics on the Texas gubernatorial race. There is simply nothing available anywhere, including on our own TEXAS CABLE NETWORK news! It's as if we don't exist by anyone's standards, including our own! Do you have any numbers? Or can you lead me to a particular Web site? I think we're going to pull this off!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Molly Ivins: Try the Quorum Report. www.quorumreport.com...but it costs money.
Buford, Tex.:
Is Karl Rove going to come out a loser tomorrow? His hand-picked candidates in Georgia, Minnesota, Iowa, and elsewhere are going to lose. What does this say about Rove's genius as a campaign strategist? And when will other Republicans wake up -- this man is going to kill our party.
Molly Ivins: Hey Buford--you forgot his wonderful pick in California.
Woodbridge, Va.:
Why do you think GW Bush continues to be popular despite the economy mess and the war mongering he is doing?
Molly Ivins: Because of 9/11 and because we always rally behind our president when our nation is at war.
Lyme, Conn.:
Please tell us more about your next book. What is it about?
Molly Ivins: It oesn't have a title yet, but each chapter takes a change in federal policy made by the Bush administration and traces it out to see how it affects "average Americans" in their everyday lives. There is nothing better to resore your faith in democracy and this country than getting out and talking to the poeple.
Nutley, N.J.:
Has Bush performed in line with your pre-election expectations? How do you evaluate his performance thus far?
Molly Ivins: I am sorry to say I am just disgustingly smug about the book Lou Dubose and I wrote three years ago. It seems to me our predictions have been proved, chapter by chapter. The speech he gave after Sept. 11 was the speech of his life. I also liked the time he was in his "personal trainer in chief" mode trying to convince us all to get off our butts and get some exercise.
Lyme, Conn.:
Any thought regarding Chris Dodd for President?
Molly Ivins: I tend to like Chris Dodd and I think he has developed gravitas (a word I hate).
boston, Mass.:
Why does George W. enjoy appeal as a folksy man when I can't think of a more silver-spooned, elite family-connected politician in recent history? Is simply because he makes up goofy nicknames for people? What gives?!
Molly Ivins: George W. is actually culturally much more of a Texan than his father was. But the story of his life is that time after time, he has been helped out by friends of his daddy's. Jim Hightower says "born on third and thinks he hit a triple."
washingtonpost.com:
From Ms. Ivins: cont'd
Oddly enough he does a streak of anti-elitism. It is aimed at eastern intellectuals.
Laurel, MD:
Molly,
Living in a state that wasn't up for grabs, I voted for Ralph in 2000.
This year I have a hotly contest gubernatorial race in which I don't care for either candidate. What's the value of voting for someone else who has no chance to win?
Molly Ivins: Try to decide which of the two dreadful candidates will do the least harm. It really does make a big difference in people's lives.
Bowie, Md.:
Have you heard Jesse Ventura's latest rants today in regards the Independent party and the media? While I think he is slightly mad, I find much of what he says refreshing because it sounds like he actually means it. Regardless of GWB's or Paul Wellstone's politics, I think they fall along some of the same lines. I think more people would be interested in politics if politicians were consistently honest. Do you think this is part of the problem?
Molly Ivins: Yes! People are so tired of listening to pap and bull.
washingtonpost.com:
That's all the time we have for today. Thanks to Ms. Ivins for joining us and thank you to all who submitted questions.
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