 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Tuesday is Election Day, and the day we possibly find out whether Republicans will maintain control of the Senate and Democrats take control of the House. After voting, most Americans will tune in to watch for the results, so what's the best course of action? Read our main commentary below. |
| And if you're watching regional races, know that all local sites under the USA TODAY Network (e.g. Detroit Free Press, The Arizona Republic or The Des Moines Register) will be providing election coverage for free during a two-day period Tuesday and Wednesday, that means no paywall! |
| — Josh Rivera, Opinion NOW and reader engagement editor |
Liberals should watch Fox News on election night |
| By Bill Goodykoontz |
| You've informed yourself, you've weighed your options, and you've voted. |
| And now you wait. Who's going to win in what everyone with a microphone or a laptop has described as the most-important midterm elections either in human history or since 1994, take your pick? |
| We'll find out. But how will we find out? That's the question, and I've got some professional election-return-watching advice. Talk about must-see TV. Be advised, however — you probably won't like it. |
| That's because it involves something potentially unpleasant, something that simply isn't done anymore, something now considered so loathsome you'll likely think I'm crazy: Listening to the other side. |
| That's right. I've touted this before, but it really is more important than ever now: If you consider yourself a liberal, watch Fox News. If you consider yourself a conservative, watch MSNBC. |
| Of course, you also have the CNN option, as well as more traditional broadcast-network coverage. In reality, all of us will probably engage in a fair amount of channel surfing. Most networks fall all over themselves trying to balance the appearance of objectivity with the need to attract viewers, and that can be a nice break. |
| With Fox News and MSNBC, of course, all that objectivity flies out the window. |
| Not on the news side, as a reminder. The two cable networks are ridiculously partisan in their talk and opinion shows, but their straight-up reporters do a nice job of reporting the facts. It's what their talking heads do with those facts that can drive you crazy. |
| But if crazy you must be, so be it, because it's the best way to gauge the mood of the country and to hear what people who don't blindly agree with you are saying and thinking. It can be tough. There is no story whose facts cannot be bent to the will of Sean Hannity or Rachel Maddow. |
| It's a bitter world out there. And it can be difficult to watch someone trash your strongly held worldview in no uncertain terms. But it also can be a reality check, a break from preaching to the choir (or being preached to). |
| Will Democrats win control of the Senate? Can Republicans hold the House? Maybe, but wishing for it won't make it so. Thus, it's informative to hear analysis and commentary that you don't agree with, to help steel you for the results, whatever they might be. |
| You also ought to follow some of these folks and their networks on social media for the same reasons, though honestly, for the past couple of months just scanning your Twitter feed can make you question the future of humanity. |
| And then, sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday (with any luck), it will be over. For about five minutes, and everyone turns to 2020. |
| Cheery thought, isn't it? |
| Bill Goodykoontz is a film critic and media columnist at The Arizona Republic. You can follow him on Twitter: @goodyk. |
 | | The cartoonist's homepage, indystar.com/opinion/varvel | | Gary Varvel/The Indianapolis Star/USA TODAY Network | |
What our readers are saying |
| Comments taken from USA TODAY's Facebook group "Across the Aisle, Across the Nation": |
| Although I lean to the right, I have voted for a Democrat many times. Blindly voting, or straight ballot, without information hurts our republic. Research is important. If anyone is on the fence, do some research and go to isidewith.com, it'll give you some insights. |
| — Mark Applegate |
| I always vote the person, not party. That being said, in my state election on Tuesday, I have people from all parties that I'm voting for, but for candidates going to Washington, I am voting 100 percent Democratic. Republicans have shown they have no ability to stand up to the president and his lies, and that is unacceptable. |
| — Julia Werbinski Fitzgerald |
| I normally vote according to the candidate, but this year it is a straight Democratic ticket. And probably the next election too, if President Donald Trump keeps his craziness up. |
| — Tracy Hart Tracy |
| I have always voted for Democrats, but have been slightly drawn to a few Republican candidates (on the state level, never the federal) based on the fact that several of them are moderate Republicans and share some similar values with me. I have always voted Democratic even though some Republicans have tempted me to vote for them. |
| — Robert W. Smith |
What others are saying |
| Brian Dickerson, Detroit Free Press : "A democracy (or, if you want to split hairs, a democratic republic) is not like a booster club bake sale, where a handful of committed contributors can make up for the lethargy of the majority. ... The best we can hope for, when we come together in significant numbers for this secular rite, is to remind those we select in whose name they serve, and to how many of us they must answer. ... The last thing we want is for those who represent our communities in Washington to imagine that most of us aren't watching." |
| Suzette Hackney, The Indianapolis Star : "We're so close to the finish line. And I hope that through all the rhetoric and mudslinging, you've done your homework related to the issues that are so important to our state and country. Because frankly, we need to do better. ... It is (the news media's) job to help you make smart choices at the polls, not tell you how to vote. You must decide which candidates best align with your values and political ideology. Now, more than ever, I ask that you to reach out to family members, friends and neighbors and encourage them to vote Tuesday. Let your voice be heard." |
| To join the conversations about topics on USA TODAY or provide feedback to this newsletter, email jrivera@usatoday.com, comment on Facebook, or use #tellusatoday on Twitter. |
| |
| More Stories |
| |
| |
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment