2008 Election Match-O-Matic

[maddogmark25 58]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/page?id=3623346

Interesting game here, you take a quiz based on the hot issues of the 2008 election, and then it spits out the top 3 candidates that best match your opinions.

Of course #1 for me was Ron Paul, but Hilary at #2? Ouch. Tancredo got #3.

Interesting idea here, try it and see how you all do.

[hym 358]

Interesting idea that ABC had. I took the test, and while I won't share my picks, the top two were exactly as I expected.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I got Joseph Biden... I dunno if thats good or bad.

To be honest, some of the questions I didn't really understand that well... lol...

[MrCinatit 30]

Excellent link, maddogmark!

I kind of wish there were some extra options in there - There are quite a few other issues out there I am very curious about.

I, however, will share my three, as I am actually a bit proud of them.

Dennis Kucinich was on top (fellow Ohioan...very nice).

Mike Gravel was second - also very nice, a guy with a lot of history behind him.

Finally, Ron Paul came in third, which again is very good, because I also like the guy.

Even better yet: No one named "Hillary", "Rudy" or "Fred" on my list.

[Duke87 1,070]

1) Ron Paul (no surprise)

2) Mike Gravel (who?)

3) Chris Dodd (funny, he's one of my state's senators...)

Keep in mind, though, that something like this is a rather poor method of matchmaking.

Key Flaw #1: It's multiple choice. They really should be short answer or essay questions, so you can say what you actually think as opposed to having to pick from a set of predetermined options. Of course, a computer couldn't evaluate those, and it would require that people actually think, which is more than you can expect from a lot of the American public, so....

Key Flaw #2: It only asks for your opinion on each issue, not how important the issue is to you.

Flaw #1 got me in a few places, to be sure. My actual opinion wasn't an option and thus I had to kinda look and see what was closest. The question I really didn't get was the one about what kind of experience is important (has run a business, has been a senator, has been in the military, etc. as options). To me, it doesn't seem really relevant which of those experiences you have. Wat you need is experience at life, and with dealing with people in general. That, and a good head on your shoulders. I don't care where that experience comes from so long as it isn't from shady business. Someone who's not a professional politician would be nice, though....

[Zelgadis 638]

I got Kucinich. I like him but I find him a bit too flakey for President

Mike Gravel. Love him!

Chris Dodd. I like him too.

ISF

[belfastuniguy 18]

1. Binden

2. Dodd

3. Clinton

Kinda surprised, but was expecting Hilary in there.

EDIT: Seems all mine were democrat, not at all surprised by that.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

As the minority resident Republican... here's my top three... with humorous nicknames.

1. Mitt "The Mormon" Romney

2. Fred "Law & Order" Thompson

3. Rudy "9/11" Giuliani

Personally, though... I'm rooting for Thompson, but his chances are looking bad these days.

[Joesocwork 4]

Ditto(es)! 

Despite rooting for Fred Thompson, I'll be comfortable with the other two.  I think The Magistrate might have problems w/ Rudy Guilani b/c of morality issues, but fr my perspective we're not voting for an elder of a church.

[OffTopic 3]

Mine were Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, and Duncan Hunter.

[Duke87 1,070]

Yeah, that's another thing you see a lot with religious types. They don't trust secular types and consider them unstable and immoral because of their lack of god.

The thing that really gets me is the whole holier than thou attitude, though. As if being religious somehow makes you superior to people who don't share your views.

This comic isn't mine, but I share its sentiments, so here goes:

[football_fever 6]

Kucinich

Mike Gravel

Ron Paul

DK has been one of my tops for years. It's a shame he doesn't get more coverage and no one takes him seriously.

[Joesocwork 4]

I know its off subject but I agree wholehearted with your cartoon Duke. Speaking only for myself, if I were remotely perfect or right or better than anyone else or didn't have to improve my own self with such a long ways to go, I wouldn't need God.

And you know in the gospels, Jesus associated with the secular types and was highly irritated with the religious types as well.

annnnnyway...

[purpledaddy 6]

You know as a charter member of the Party Party I couldn't find a dang answer that reflected I what about any of the questions! I kept experimenting and experimenting to get to the end and with the quiz saying I would vote for any of them sooner or later! All I want for a president is a boss that will let me keep my job with the Real Life Bureau of Bureaucracies!

[Meg 368]

1. McCain

2. Huckabee

3. Obama

Which leaves me scratching my head and wondering how that happened. 

btw, I love Duke's cartoon too.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy 1. Binden

2. Dodd

3. Clinton

Kinda surprised, but was expecting Hilary in there.

EDIT: Seems all mine were democrat, not at all surprised by that.quote>

I got exactly the same

Just happens were both British too

Agreed with Dukes cartoon aswell... my thinking exactly.

[Duke87 1,070]

Heh. You guys obviously have little experience with webcomics. I don't think I've ever seen someone refer to a sprite comic as a "cartoon". The authors of many hand-drawn comics would object to it being given such an honor, I assure you....

...in case you're wondering, that's one of about a dozen strips which made up a satire/commentary comic called "High On Life" (I have only two of them on my hard drive, though). Now, I would link you to the original location of the comic to give credit where it's due, but it vanished off the face of the internet over two years ago, so that's not a possibility.

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy 1. Binden

2. Dodd

3. Clinton

Kinda surprised, but was expecting Hilary in there.

EDIT: Seems all mine were democrat, not at all surprised by that.quote>

You mean like... Hillary Clinton?   Or is there some dude who's last name is Hilary that's running and I didn't hear about.

Originally posted by: SkiGeek 1. McCain

2. Huckabee

3. Obama

Which leaves me scratching my head and wondering how that happened.  quote>

If I had to take a guess, I'm going for the experience question that they ask you at the end.  For example, I took the test a few times, using the same answers each time, except for the preferred experience question (which I think is a totally bogus question).  Also, I'm including their compatibility to my beliefs.

Has run a business:

1. Mitt Romney - 50%
2. Rudy Giuliani -40%

3. Joseph Biden -40%

Has served in the U.S. House of Representatives:

1. Bill Richardson - 40%
2. Mitt Romney - 50%
3. Joseph Bidden - 40%

Has served in the U.S. Senate:

1. Joseph Bidden - 40%
2. Hillary Clinton - 40%
3. Mitt Romney - 50%

Has served in the military:

1. Mitt Romney - 50%
2. Joseph Biden - 40%
3. John McCain - 30%

Has served as governor or mayor:

1. Mitt Romney - 50%
2. Rudy Guiliani -40%

3. Bill Richardson - 40%

On a temporary side note, take notice of the fact that the most compatible person for me is a person I don't even like who's only 50% compatible, indicating a truth to what I said about picking politicians being more of a matter of picking the lesser of two evils, as opposed to just being stupid and voting for bad candidates.

OK, back on topic, it would appear that the only question it really cares about when picking your best vote is what you put down for your preferred source of experience.  The most compatible match can end up somewhere other than first just because you picked a different experience source.  For example, I'm sure you can tell from the stuff I've posted that I'd never vote for Hillary.  Yet she comes in second when my preferred source of experience is the US Senate.  She never shows up anywhere else in that list.

Anyway, it looks like I'll be yet again having to vote for people I don't like.

[MrCinatit 30]

Interesting observation, VT.

The last question was the one I had the most problem with, because I thought the choices were too restricting. I would prefer a candidate who hasn't done simply one or a couple of those things - I would like a candidate who has done a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. But, at the same time, I would rather have a candidate who is not a life-long politician (I believe those who live their lives in politics lose all touch of reality with their constituents - look at the "bubble" many talk that Bush has been living in for many years).

In fact, should I find any of them spent five years or more after high school in the "real world", aka has worked as an hourly associate, then they would garner some extra points from me.

[Zelgadis 638]

I wonder how many people are actually more well-suited to support a bottom-tier candidate and don't know it. People often go for top tier because of popularity or name recognition.

Perhaps that's why I will be voting for Mike Gravel even though I know he won't win. My second choice is John Edwards.

ISF

[belfastuniguy 18]

@El Burro - lol maybe we Brits should be doing the voting LOL

@VT - I do like Hilary, not all aspects of her campaign but do like her. I would vote democrat so would vote for whatever candidate is selected to run.

[1dera3 29]

I got Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Mike Gravel. I've never heard of Biden or Gravel, but that's probably because I can't vote yet and because I tend to not really care as long as they're not nearly as, erm, strange, as who's currently in office.

[Micah 16]

I'm very confused by my results:

1. Rudy Giulliani

2. Mike Huckabee

3. Hillary Clinton

How can completely different people be my choices?

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Micah

I'm very confused by my results:

1. Rudy Giulliani

2. Mike Huckabee

3. Hillary Clinton

How can completely different people be my choices?quote>

Join the club.  I couldn't make any sense out of my results either.

[krbe 193]

Who the hell is Mike Gravel? He is my number one, followed by Mr. K (whose name I'm never able to spell, somewhat similar to the Iranian guy), and on number three: The candidate most likely to turn the US into a theocracy, Mad-man-Mitt, with or without magic underwear.

As one who'll probably never vote in a national election, this seems rather pointless (even more as I'm not even living in America)

Originally posted by: Micah I'm very confused by my results:

1. Rudy Giulliani

2. Mike Huckabee

3. Hillary Clinton

How can completely different people be my choices?quote>

 

Micha, I think this is due to a right/wrong structure (more "right" mean higher rating). I.e. the tax system question: If you want to overhaul the tax system, only the candidates who agree with you on this question are awarded points, instead of awarding the most to those who agree with you and some to those who agree with you somewhat (like "start over" would probably be closer than "do nothing")

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: krbe

The candidate most likely to turn the US into a theocracy, Mad-man-Mitt, with or without magic underwear.quote>

hmmm . . . I do believe there are people who want to turn the US into a theocracy but I do not believe most Mormons are among them.   A bit conservative for my tastes (I don't consider caffeine a drug to avoid, for instance) but I think they are less dangerous than the people who actually have the agenda of turning the US into a theocracy. 

and I don't see how it's my business what kind of underwear the candidates wear.  

[Taylor1 0]

Wow, tell me if this is right or wrong, everyone has hillary in their top 3 let me know if anyone doesn't because wow thats weirder than i thought. i had hillary second huckabee first and romney last ***** is this?

[Voar Tok 4]

Hillary wasn't in my original top three. Thankfully.

[Micah 16]

Originally posted by: Voar Tok Hillary wasn't in my original top three. Thankfully. quote>

 

You were fortunate, indeed.

[MrCinatit 30]

There are quite a few of us without Hillary on our lists, Taylor. As for those with her and Rudy on the same list, I am not surprised as both have very similar agendas and beliefs.

As for Mike Gravel, I am embarrassed to admit I was not too familiar with him either, until I looked him up. Seems the guy does have quite a history - doing away with the draft and releasing the Pentagon Papers is no small feat.