|
|
"A collaborative political resource." |
An Explanation of My Optimism
|
| Parent(s) |
User
-
|
| Contributor | Stephen Yellin |
| Last Edited | Stephen Yellin Dec 27, 2004 04:47pm |
| Category | Speech |
| News Date | Dec 27, 2004 12:00am |
| Description | To my fellow OCers,
Today a thread was created at OC concering "Overhyped Candidates", and most of those mentioned/joked about in the thread concerned candidates that I had strongly backed. Now, I wasn't angry at anyone at all, but it did get me thinking about why my favorite candidates end up losing most of the time.
The reason is, I suppose, is that when I find a candidate who is not necessarily a favorite to win, but someone I find reasons to heartily support, I tend to contact that candidate. In many cases, that candidate and I are in touch often, and I develop a bond with that candidate. Usually this leads to me wishing so strongly that the candidate will win, that I tend to turn wishing into "hyping". One candidate in particular was Chellie Pingree, who I still speak with every so often. She was so kind, so helpful to me that, at 14 I was sure she would win-that Mainers would see her as I saw her. It's the same for any other candidate in their area of candidacy.
I've decided to call this "Yellin's Law of Political Optimism", since nobody else has a name for it, as far as I know. It's basically how I end up creating (admittedly biased) optimistic predictions, such as Senator Pingree and Congressman Brozak, as examples. Sometimes I do end up being correct, as with Congresswomen Bean and Schwartz. However, most of the time I'm wrong, and sometimes pretty badly too (see OH-3 2004 results as one example). I just hope that you all will understand that while I'm an optimistic person, I'm not trying to fool anyone or look omnipotent. Thank you for your patience.
(Thanks to Mr. Moderate for helping me generate the idea for this speech) |
|
|
