Our US Congressman came to my daughter's school and watched the seventh grade basketball game. Of course,his granddaughter is in my daughter's class and on the team, too. But it is still pretty neat.

Neat, and it could be a useful link if you or anyone connected with your daughter's school needs the ear of a politician about an issue or matter.

Very neat! Is he going to fund more team sports in the schools?

If he were still in the state assembly, I'm sure he would. LB, as for the ear, we've thought about that more than once. He knows my hubby better than me (Rick coached his son in HS Basketball). But I'm sure that if my younger son ever wants an appointment to one of the military academies, he could get it (if he keeps his grades up). It was such a strange contrast to the US Senator who visited a month ago and had to walk through our sleeply little town of 5000 or less with an entourage of body-guards. If she hadn't had them with her, she could have had a nice peaceful business and wouldn't have drawn attention. Instead, she got the kind that wasn't very good in an election year.

Originally posted by amethyst Instead, she got the kind that wasn't very good in an election year.

Yeah, I can't see people being too keen to support a candidate who acts like she thinks her constituents are going to assault her! My brother was stationed in Bosnia in '99 and flew some visiting Canadian politicians around in a helicopter -and one of them turned out to be our Dad's MP (Canadian equivalent to a member of congress). Apparently, on the odd occasion he encounters my Dad, he still asks how my brother is doing.

That's pretty neat, too. It is always nice to be able to recognize or approach representatives as people, and vice versa, rather than having them be some vague concept of a person in the capitol.

Originally posted by amethyst That's pretty neat, too. It is always nice to be able to recognize or approach representatives as people, and vice versa, rather than having them be some vague concept of a person in the capitol.

You're right, Amethyst! Sometimes we forget that they're human like us! One of my brothers had run for the national elections to try and become a Member of Parliament a few years ago! Unfortunately, he didn't make it for just a few votes ... if I remember well there were only 20 votes between him and the candidate who had surpassed him! At first, he didn't take his not being able to be in Parliament so well, but, as time passed, he have learnt to exploit his political abilities through his business, and is still active in our country's politics in an indirect way! He has learnt, together with us, as his family, that being a politician also means to have many drawbacks, not to mention enemies, even if you're in the right! Being a small country, it's easier for us to meet such VIP persons, also! Presidents and Prime Ministers often make regular visits to posts of work and children's recreational areas ... especially when the elections approach! I am treasuring a photo taken of my son, when he was four, sticking his fingers out from the crowd to indicate the President how old he was, when the President visited the football grounds in which my son is training! I'm so proud that the President had chosen my son to talk to out of the many other boys!

Only 20 votes? Yikes, I can see why that would have been very frustrating for your brother! When I was in elementary school, my mother was elected to the Halifax County School Board -it was sure a weird thing seeing all these signs saying "Vote for *my mother's name* for School Board" (made by my father) stuck up all over the place! People in school kept asking me "Is that your mother?" She ran again when I was in junior high school, but didn't win (though a certain number of positions on the School Board were appointed by the Dept. of Education, not elected, and later when I was in high school, she got one of those).

I can see what you mean, LB, regarding the fact of finding strange seeing a family member's name all around you! I've also did a lot of canvassing for him! One thing I don't actually like about all this, though ... the fact that, many a time, I'm known as that person's sister and not for whom I am! Moreover, people tend to be sure that, once my brother has an opinion, mine would surely be the same! I'm so happy to hear that your mother has been awarded her deserved position! You must surely be proud!

You make a realy good poit, Marie. People would automatically assume that you have the same opinion. Of course, in California, we know differently. Our Governor, Arnold Schwartzenegger, is a Republican (toward the right) but his wife, Maria Shriver, is a Kennedy, and politically her entire family leans toward the left. She campaigns for her husband, but still calls herself a Democrat. I guess it works for them!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Of course, in California, we know differently. Our Governor, Arnold Schwartzenegger, is a Republican (toward the right) but his wife, Maria Shriver, is a Kennedy, and politically her entire family leans toward the left. She campaigns for her husband, but still calls herself a Democrat. I guess it works for them!

These type of cases you're mentioning, TJ, are very rare here! Unfortunately, in my country, you could still find a lot of extremists! And, I'm saying "unfortunately" because, most of the times, people are not aware of the difference between what is being done good, or bad ... they follow their party with their eyes closed! Moreover, the same parties aren't that good of an example, also! Opposing parties are always in conflict, and contradicting each other, no matter what is being said, and no matter how good and productive a certain choice could be for our country! It's also not normal to have a partner with a different political view ... you could find members of a family not sharing the same opinion but, most of the times, their families do not talk much about it! It's only these last years that things are changing slightly! It seems that the younger generation is more wise than the old!! I, myself, have most of my best friends who follow a different party, and we've learnt well how to go along without including politics in our friendship!

Marie, are you sure you're not from the US? The political situation you described is very similar to our current political state.

Guess, wherever there's democracy there are always the same issues!

I agree, Marie... it's better not to discuss political issues with others. Here in the US (more so than in Canada) people are extremely touchy about their politics, and offense is given and taken easily. If we leave political views out of discussions, it's much easier to retain friends.