Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumI find the inevitable Iowa diner meet & greets alienating
This is a small thing but it's bugged me for years. Who are these people who have the time to sit down for breakfast at a damn diner on a weekday morning? A lot of them look old enough to be retired, so I guess there's that, but seriously I have trouble accepting this as a thing. And they talk about having breakfast there every morning for the past hundred and fifty seven years. Every morning? Do you have a job? When does it start? How are you managing this?
I want a more relatable breakfast meet & greet: I want candidates to talk to people hastily gulping down a still-half-frozen Hot Pocket while waiting in the sleet for a bus.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,391 posts)It IS frustrating as hell. Of course, the mother that's cutting work to pick up a sick child from school (for the 4th time this semester) probably has neither the time or inclination for a friendly little "so how are you feeling about the economy" chat with some putz with a microphone. And if she did .. chances are pretty good those "sentiments" are going to end up on the cutting room floor anyway. (just a wild guess)
But here's another really frustrating thing .. chances are REAL good that every last one of those old farts in the diner ARE going to cast a vote. Single father catching two buses to get to night school classes? Maybe 50-50? If we're lucky?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)The cutting remark, and the putz with a microphone jab show me you have no clue how to connect with people.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,391 posts)and of course that remark about the woman was intended as derogatory.
--
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)I apologize, sincerely. I think talking to people at bus stops is a great idea. No microphone needed.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Sinistrous
(4,249 posts)Some start as late as 10:00 AM.
Some of these folks may have just gotten off from a mid-shift.
There are many work schedules that allow people to have an early morning meal or snack.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'm sure there probably are midwest factories that run three shifts, somewhere, but that kind of gets to the point of how unusual this is from a nationwide perspective.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sinistrous
(4,249 posts)Health care workers,
Police,
Firefighters,
Sanitation workers,
Farmers who bring in product and stop by for a bite to eat.
I get alienated when words such as patronizing and elitism keep running through my head.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thank you.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Sorry, I don't buy that: the people candidates parade in front of for approval are simply not getting off overnight shifts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Are you suggesting that 107 year old guy (I'm assuming hyperbole here) still is out there working anyway?
What an extremely weird, and odd post. Almost as if an alien is trying to grasp how humans operate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Historic NY
(37,457 posts)of old age. He is in Guinness Book of world records. Truth.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)is wondering how people manage to do it all the time.
I'm also wondering how this gets somehow presented as "normal" or "real" rather than a really, really rare subset of Americans who can do this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)I do this every single day.
I guess it could be a diner. Or a coffee shop.
The fact you find this so utterly strange and unique is more an indictment on you than anyone who has this opportunity.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)That is damn near no one. Literally.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)Out of touch is your statement. You should try visiting a diner at 7 am. It will be a great experience for you.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's simply not a situation I or anyone I know can imagine emulating.
Can you at least grant that? That a lot of the country just doesn't understand this and probably never will, and this is kind of an affectation of a particular small minority of people?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)That's a great start!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Which of the two sets of voters do you imagine there are more of?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)Considering over forty percent of the population doesn't even have access to public transportation, an even higher percentage not having access to public transportation that would actually get them to work.
As someone who took the bus to work for years it was very rare for me to see someone waiting at the stop with a breakfast burrito. I'm sure some even just came from the diner. Not sure how you view people who take the bus but it's not what you think it is.
I would wager that more people eat in a diner at least once a week than people you will find waiting for a bus eating a breakfast burrito.
BTW, for the price of a breakfast burrito meal at McDonalds you can get a sold breakfast at many diners. You seem completely unaware of that. Go look at a McDonalds in the morning. People buying breakfast burrito meals aren't who you think they are, as a whole. It's not even that you are broad brushing. You are broad brushing and using the wrong side of the brush.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cwydro
(51,308 posts)During my working years, I ran before work every day. Then showered; then made a good breakfast.
Not a diner kind of person, but I ALWAYS ate breakfast that I took time to cook at home. SO I could have had time to go to a diner if that had been something I desired.
Anyone who has to settle for a half frozen hot pocket (yuck), is either staying up too late or not getting up early enough. Ew, I wouldnt even want a fully cooked hot pocket.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Recursion (Reply #29)
Recursion This message was self-deleted by its author.
getagrip_already
(14,907 posts)But just about everyone in a part time job has really wierd hours, all the time. One day you might come in at noon, the next 8 am, and then then 4 pm. You never know your shift schedule more than a week in advance, so your life kind of sucks. It makes having more than one part time job almost impossible (that's intentional).
So duhhh, yes, there are millions of people who can have a meal in the morning and not screw up their workday. Sure, most wouldn't eat in a diner. But in a small town, your options are limited. You might not even have a real supermarket you can easily get to.
Oh, and that high and might bus stop? Guess what, even in des moines, it's mostly commuters. Not low wage earners. It's a hub and spoke system, not point to point. The objective is to get people in and out of the city, not across town.
You are more likely to get an office worker or professional than a worker at a hospital or hotel.
I don't give a royal crap where they interview people in iowa. They are all the same. And they aren't who will elect the next president. They are nice enough if they aren't a gop zealot. but they don't amount to page of trumps tweets in the end. RI would be a better choice for an early voting state; it is actually diverse.
So save your russian image of what goes on in a diner. Go to one. See who is there. It isn't just retired republicans. But for some reason, thats who they seem to like to interview. You have to ask the tv producers why (hint, it's what people like you expect)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(25,505 posts)Yeah, that's where I'm leaning. I think this is some weird form of satire.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'm saying a commonly-represented aspect of "American life" isn't actually representative of a whole lot of Americans. What about that do you find satirical?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,348 posts)My partner comes from small town rural Illinois. The diner is the busiest place in town.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'm still looking for the still-frozen Hot Pocket moment.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)Sorry you have such a short sighted view of them as many of these farmers are under brutal attack.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,391 posts)sympathy for the farm crowd (which I claim) is completely different from saying they represent anything more than a very tiny minority.
And the frustration in the OP .. and on down through the string .. is the continuing hackneyed efforts by the media to try to frame them, and small town life, as the "real America" or the "true Americans." (and the implied corollary that the guy standing on a subway platform really isn't!) THAT'S the short-sided (actually to be more accurate, fictional) point of view.
And .. given results dealt up by the electoral college, and a few other things .. it's starting to kinda' piss people off a little bit that we're still playing this game!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)And the media. No one in their right mind would think its just farmers. There is a higher chance they would be attached to the industry.
I take minor exception with two things you state but overall agree. You came at the same issue without shitting on people you(the op)admittedly have never known and acting offended that the media acts like the media.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Funtatlaguy
(10,890 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,714 posts)"Make your own breakfast, you big dummy" so he pretends he's not hungry and goes to the Chatterbox Cafe. At least in Lake Wobegon. And my hometown.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
whistler162
(11,155 posts)maybe have the candidates stand in the drive-through lane, would trim down the candidate field quickly (oops not quick enough to jump out of the way of that pickup so sorry you are out), of McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts, or equivalent.
As others have said not everyone has a 9 am to 5 pm job.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(25,505 posts)They're advertised pretty heavily, particularly on TV. Most people would likely understand the reference.
The OP's assertions on diners, however, are woefully misguided.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)in a Mid-western diner is so hackneyed it's not even funny. It's sad and shows the persistent lack of diversity among assignment editors and reporters in journalism.
The people most often interviewed may be typical repug voters but they are not the majority of hardworking voters who don't have time to gab at a diner in the morning, or the voter who doesn't have the money to eat at a dinerthose interviewed are typical though of people who have time to spend 3-4 hours participating in Iowa's totally exclusionary and undemocratic caucus.
The state should get rid of that archaic system, and a 95% white state should not be the first vote as that undue influence has repercussions on which candidates continue on and who gets more funding.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,808 posts)The candidates see value in going there. I'm sure the blogosphere knows better.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)And candidates only see value because Iowa's undemocratic caucus is first. Come on!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,808 posts)If Ohio was first, do you imagine the campaign would run differently?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)Tuesday states that represent the Democratic Party demographic instead of 95% white Iowa or repug Ohio.
This is DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, remember?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,808 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)Other states that aren't 95% white and vote repug in the GE have diners, and actual primaries. Who thinks what comes out of 95% white Iowa is representative of Democratic Party sentiment nationwide?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,808 posts)Andrew could announce today that he'll no longer campaign in Iowa as an unrepresentative State. I'll wait with bated breath...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)there are black voters, who no Dem candidate can win without.
I like Mayor Pete and his stand on reparations but that's just me. He's not resonating with the rest of the African American POC constituency.
That's just reality. See betsumi's post #18 on this thread.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Well played
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)It was pointing out that people are at diners in the morning. What state it is is irrelevant. Go into any diner in the morning and you'll find people. The OP seems to just not grasp that this is a real reality.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And I'm willing to bet more Americans have gone to a quinceañera than regularly eat breakfast at a diner. But our candidates line up to talk to the latter group, and the media talks about "authenticity" when they do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Not just diners.
I've seen 'em at Labor Day picnics. 4th of July parades. Churches. Factories. Schoolhouses. Pizza places. Coffee shops.
Candidates go to where the people congregate the most.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)If the media stopped making the diner scene a rite of passage the candidates would stop doing it. It's just not a scene the majority of the country relates to.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,808 posts)Candidates go where there are voters and the media follows.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)But I could be wrong.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Again: I love diners. I've just never had time to make a habit of eating breakfast at them on a weekday.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)But a lot of Americans do. Cool.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Not really all that many
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)very busy gas station on the northern end of that city. I worked about 12 hours a day at that job, and for not a lot of pay, back in 1965. Every morning, at 6 AM, I went to a diner about a block away from my work. I sat down and ate a fried egg sandwich with bacon on it. It cost a dollar. I didn't have a kitchen where I lived, so I ate at that diner every morning, and I worked there six days a week.
Every morning at 6 AM that little diner was full of people doing just what I was doing - having breakfast before going to work nearby. I got up early enough so I could do that.
The place also made burgers. About half of the time, I called that diner and ordered a cheeseburger for myself and whatever the guys working at that gas station wanted. Then, I walked down there and got the food and carried it back to the gas station.
Diners are full of working people who eat there because it's the most convenient place for them to eat. Working people. The food's cheap and the service is fast. The cook is standing right in front of you at the flattop grill and knows what you want when you walk in the door. You eat, chat with the person next to you, and then you go to work.
I think you have a mistaken idea about small town or urban diners and cafes. I truly do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)Come and drop in on Mickey's Diner in downtown St. Paul. See who's in there any time of day. You'll be surprised, I guarantee.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)I like diners. I seek them out wherever I go. I eat in them. When I do, I see a cross-section of the people who live in that place.
I don't see just one demographic group in the diners I visit. I never have. What I see, instead, is people of all sorts in there to eat.
I don't go to fast food restaurants when I travel. I go to small cafes and diners. I've been doing that for decades, because I find them reflective of the local population and they're generally friendly to strangers. That's true in small towns and large cities. You just walk in and sit down at the counter. Soon, you'll be in a conversation with someone who is local to that place.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)a diner and on any morning that's where you'd find some people. Not all, but some. Your op is a cry
out for understanding. The people in the diner could help you out there. It's good to remember that it
takes all kinds of people to make up this world.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It also sounds completely unrepresentative of the vast majority of Americans' experiences.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)How many Americans make up this vast majority you speak of?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Look, I'm from a small town in Mississippi: I get what you're saying. But the fact is that there just aren't that many people who live like this.
I don't understand why small-town people get so damn defensive when I point this out. We're one of many smaller special interest groups.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,714 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)At this point, only the most political active are even engaged. Seriously. These are people who are in campaign 360 days per year, every year. There are exceptions but I find these conversations informative but understand it's like Japanese to most working Americans.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Historic NY
(37,457 posts)one would get to see the breakfast club. When I was on days I head first thing to a meet up to the breakfast club, day in and day out it was mostly the same people. When one gets older it becomes and important thing, I don't do it any more since the old Perkins place was torn down, it was an independent.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Personally when I got done I stopped at the 7-11 for a burrito (they were 39 cents back then) and fell the fuck asleep. I think there even were diners in the area (this was SW Virginia) but I could never imagine staying awake long enough to go to one.
(I also want to be clear I'm not anti-diner. I absolutely love diners. On a Saturday morning. When I have time to eat.)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)and its every state, not just Iowa.
For some reason (lazy stereotypes?) the media goes to backwater diners to interview the 'man on the street'.
That usually means they find old, white, retired men. Interviews at diners are a con.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,925 posts)during the NY primary. I used to go to those diners and they were full authentic POC voters too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Very few places in Iowa have public transportation. When I go to such a meeting, I have to arrange my day to do so. There are evening meetings and those in larger venues. The older people in the venues you refer to are citizens and voters. They deserve the same respect and access to candidates as any other prospective voters.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)They get much, much, much more respect than that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)of assembly do you think occurs? Until Obama ran, we had no candidate for president from the Democratic party set foot in our county in decades. Our county was red because people saw Grassley blow through as surrogate. The impression was that only the Rs gave a damn. That visit from Obama and one other turned this county blue. It carried through until this midterm when we were finally able to oust the GOP rep. Don't underestimate the power of the rural voter.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)So, it goes back at least that far, though back then it was probably a good deal more representative of the country.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)that left this "flyover country " abandoned to Republicans for decades? That older people left by their children in small towns were not worth the time of Democratic party candidates? Is this how the Republicans could so readily claim they had our interests at heart even though there were Democrats out here who would have welcomed the support?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)So, no, it's not that. It's just that I want us to stop pretending that ancient white people with lots of leisure time are somehow more important than everybody else.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)I have breakfast and dinner with my family almost every day. One day a week, without fail, I also have breakfast at 7 am with forty business owners.
One of my best friends eats at a diner for breakfast with friends five days a week. He does it before going into the landscaping job he has had for almost two decades. One of the hardest workers I have ever met.
I wish they would come talk to us over a meal. Sounds awesome. Stability isn't something to fear. That is not to say that all people who don't take part in something like this are "unstable". Gotta put that in there for those who read things that aren't there.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)What I don't do is go to a diner and sit around while somebody brings me food and coffee. Like, do you get that for a lot of the country that's simply not imaginable as a normal thing on a workday morning? Nor do I sit around with "business owners", incidentally, but otherwise I'll let that part go for now.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)But as you can see from my post above, I don't broad brush as you do and think it's really bad form.
You should stop by a diner at 7 am and see how many extremely hard working people you will find in them. Really sad to see this kind of attack on american workers on a progressive board. And you admittedly come from a position of ignorance. You literally say you really know nothing about the people and then in your next breath absolutely trash them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'm not saying it's a bad life, in any way, I'm saying it's a life that just doesn't at all connect with the vast majority of Americans.
What can we do to get small-town diner-goers out of this bubble? How can we get them to reconnect with the majority of the country?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)I do see a lot of people with more real world experiences chiming in. That is a good thing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TheRealNorth
(9,500 posts)You are attacking people on this board by saying that they don't have "real world" experience -whatever that means.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TheRealNorth
(9,500 posts)The point is that the news organizations are not interviewing voters outside of the narrow segment of diner-goers, who in my experience skew a little older.
You don't see News Organizations camp out at the local Starbucks or McDonalds at lunch time to see what those voters think.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)"You don't see News Organizations camp out at the local Starbucks or McDonalds at lunch time to see what those voters think."
That still invalidates the point of the op. Many value meals at McDonalds or a drink and pastry at a Starbucks will run you more than the cost of breakfast at a diner. The op trashes them far more than you are stating in your reply.
"The point is that the news organizations are not interviewing voters outside of the narrow segment of diner-goers, who in my experience skew a little older."
I do find this to be an acceptable argument. It doesn't really mean much in the big scheme of things but I do get your point. Millenials and younger voters are far more likely to get breakfast from a McDonalds than going to a diner. There are actually studies on this. Probably didn't need the studies. Just like I don't need to state that many in the younger generations will substitute their McMeal with a diner experience as they age. I really don't think it's strange for a news organization to talk to people who are far far far more likely to vote.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sarge43
(28,946 posts)Fed up with the wait staff being pushed out of the way, cameras all up the face and so forth.
Answering your question, upcheer most everyone stops at the diner for breakfast, providing they want the daily news. The Selectmen are doing town business in the corner booth, the road crews have the counter filled up except for one seat. That's the town cop's. The waitress knows where all the bodies are buried.
Iowa's may vary.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(25,505 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's really just not a regular thing for most of the country. We need to find a different scene to get the media to report.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
redqueen
(115,103 posts)If one doesn't have much disposable income, then diner meals are a luxury. That's just not the lifestyle of a good portion of the working class. Maybe even the majority.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It takes a good 30-45 minutes to get breakfast at a diner, even a fast one. I just can't think of a morning where I've had that much time to spare.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
redqueen
(115,103 posts)I just happen to know more people in the former group.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)He's really, really good with small groups like that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,472 posts)The people who go to diners are the ones who have the time and ability to go to diners and want to eat diner food. They are a small segment of "real people," in that every person in the world is a "real person." In the small town I live near, the people who go to diners are going to be retired, tourists or cops. Shift workers get fast food so they can get home and go to sleep. Part-time workers have to get to their next job or don't often have money to eat out.
Any news story that starts at a diner just tells me the journalist is lazy. It doesn't give me the perspective of a class or town, it gives me the perspective of people who have the time to sit at a diner.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)That's what I'm getting at. It's not that there's something evil about eating at a diner, I just am sick of the idea that this is something normative that the rest of us should "learn" from. Everybody is a real person.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,472 posts)of time to talk and are seen as salt of the earth, and the diners themselves are owned by people who are generally happy that their business is getting the attention. But the coverage around diner visits is routine, tiresome, and unoriginal, and perpetuates the idea that the people we see in them are more authentic people than those who don't go to diners.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)Public transportation is largely a non-entity in rural states which is why a party with a base that is overwhelmingly urban and suburban should not rely on a rural state to significantly impact the nomination. Not only that but most candidates would not stand in the sleet at a bus stop to talk to mostly poor people.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Ames has 13
Iowa City has 2
Davenport has 3
Des Moines has 26
This is what I'm talking about. People -- real people -- use those buses every day to get to work. But nobody pays attention to them at all.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(25,505 posts)Your assertion to the contrary is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen on this site. It's so laughable that one has to assume that you're not serious.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'd be ecstatic at that, personally.
Even though I'm willing to bet significantly more Iowans wait at a bus stop than eat a leisurely breakfast at a diner.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bettie
(16,134 posts)are "not real enough"? I'd like to get that straight.
People in Iowa/flyover country: Not Real.
People on the coasts: Real
People who drive to work: Not real
People who take the bus: Real
Any other categories of not real people I should add? Oh, wait..people who eat breakfast in diners, Not Real.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
getagrip_already
(14,907 posts)Diversity is real, but that includes iowans.
As long as they interview a diverse set of people, I'm fine with it. The problem with iowa is diversity doesn't really exist on election tv.
Sure, the people are there; poor, disabled, students, minorities, homeless, multi-worker families, even lgbt couples. But they never show up on election tv.
Are elderly, affluent, republicans real? Unfortunately, yes. And that's who you tend to see. Or maybe its a gaggle of bernie supporters, or warren supporters, or whoever manages to get a group of supporters there long enough to smile on tee vee. But really, they all end up looking and sounding alike.
But lets face it. Iowa means about as much in this election as trumps last tweet. And probably a lot less.
Iowa sends 56 delegates to the DNC out of a total 4,366. Of those 56, each candidate gets a proportional share. So the "winner" of iowas causus might get 5-10 more dlegates than the next runner up. Out of 4366.
Iowa isn't even a pimple on a pimple. It isn't a bellweather for how the primary or the election will end up.
I like Iowa, and most people I've met from there, but really, it isn't a player in anything except bragging rights.
Real people? Really? Enough of this flyover BS. It's a fox talking point, nothing more.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)We're all, of course, real, but every 4 years somehow white people living in the middle of nowhere are the only "real" people.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
getagrip_already
(14,907 posts)Believe it or not.
But it's a hub and spoke system, designed to get people into and out of the city quickly (express routes don't even stop in most communities they pass through), not across town. If you live in one part of the city, and work in another, it could be a whole lot of transfers before you get to work.
So yeah, there are people at bus stops, but they are more likely to be professionals or office workers than hospital staff or hotel maids.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)People wait for them in the morning, to get to work. Why not have our candidates talk to them? Is that less important than the people eating in a diner?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
getagrip_already
(14,907 posts)You are still wrong. No entertainment value there. The people they would talk to wouldn't want to talk to them. They have tried. They end up standing around for hours trying to find someone with something colorful to say. Bad from a producers viewpoint. The people are in a hurry, and even though they are waiting for a bus, they don't want to talk.
Same with places of work. Either the owners/managers order them to be there or they don't want anything to do with the reporters.
But diners have the right mix of chatty/colorful people that producers like.
What, you think this is about educating the public. Now that right there is a funny thought.
So you have your answer. They have done it, and it is a disaster for them at showtime.
The real question is so what. Nobody really cares what ethyll and bruce have to say over pancakes and coffee.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nsd
(2,406 posts)Say it's 9:30 in the morning. Sure, most people are at work, but a candidate can't just barge into the typical workplace. So they spend that time talking to the retirees and construction workers at the local diner. Why not? What's wrong with that?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bettie
(16,134 posts)but hicks who deserve to be maligned every day for something they didn't set up?
I get it, we suck simply by virtue of living in this state.
We deserve all the scorn heaped upon us because our location is in flyover country. We should feel lucky that we're still permitted to vote at all.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Rather than "we have had crammed down our throats for years that these are the only real people".
Come on.
This is a tiny fragment of American society. It's real. So am I. I'm tired of being told that this is the only reality.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bettie
(16,134 posts)only "moderates" are real people.
We all have our frustrations.
I would much prefer a primary over a caucus. Do you know who listens to me? NO ONE. Because I am one middle aged woman living in a small town. No one gives a fuck what I think.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)activists for years and can be counted on every election to organize and work to elect Democrats. Attendees at these breakfasts are often beginning very long days when the candidates are in town.
Good news, though. What you say you want to happen is what most candidates do, every day. Wherever they go during their long, exhausting hours in town after town. Busboys and cooks, shift workers picking up lunch, LPNs and maintenance folk in nursing homes, people on the sidewalks as they head for their next appointment... on and on. Smiles, chat, selfies, sales pitches. Go find some pix and get happy.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)My idea of a good candidate that I like is that I never meet him or her, but am comfortable with their policy proposals.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden