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For Findlay School Board, FCPolitico endorses...

When I got home from work on Monday, I asked my wife if she wanted to go with me to the Findlay School Board candidate forum being held that evening. The look I received let me know that she would rather not, but knowing how important things like this are to me (especially at this time of the year), she agreed to come along. We arrived at Findlay High School, made our way to the library (which I last saw in the late 80s when I graduated from FHS), and joined the 48 other citizens (I counted twice just to make sure) who had assembled to listen to this year's crop of school board candidates.

Findlay School Board Candidates Forum videos

Here are the videos from the 2007 Findlay School Board candidates forum. The entire forum is covered in 14 parts (yep - 2 hours total...see what I do for all of you). If you did not see the forum in person, or only read about it or heard about it from others, I encourage you to watch these and make up your own mind.

I


Please excuse the sound quality/volume. The candidates decided to not use the sound system that was provided.

-RSKnopfJr

Election 2007: Peter M. Sehnert, candidate for Mayor of Findlay

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Mayor of Findlay. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from mayoral candidate Peter M. Sehnert; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be mayor?

no response

Election 2007: Thomas M. Knopf, candidate for Mayor of Findlay

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Mayor of Findlay. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from mayoral candidate Thomas M. Knopf; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be mayor?

My decision to run for Findlay Mayor primarily came about because I did not agree with certain financial decisions our representatives had made and where our tax dollars were being spent.  $109,000 was invested in a burned out building downtown, not to mention $23,000 for a city-wide wi-fi study and decorative light poles and new lights along Main Street which cost taxpayers $206,000.  Clearly $338,000 could have been better spent towards any number of other endeavors which would have benefited all city residents.   

I want to be Findlay’s next mayor in order to ensure that the city finances, your tax dollars and mine, are spent towards worthwhile projects that benefit a majority of our residents and not the elite few who have the greatest influence within our government.    

Behind the scenes of the Mayoral Forum

Before I get to what happened on the 22nd, I want to give you some background information. Since 2001, I have worked at The University of Findlay, and have been fortunate to work with very talented people in an exciting and challenging environment. In 2006, I was asked to manage a new group, which included oversight of the University's TV station. Since I joined the team, we have taped quite a few concerts/lectures/games that make it to the small screen, but I have never been involved in a 'LIVE' event before.

Mayoral Forum videos

Here are the videos from the 2007 Mayoral Forum. The entire forum is covered in eight parts. If you did not see the forum, or only read about it or heard about it from others, I encourage you to watch these and make up your own mind.

I

If the election were held today, which mayoral candidate would you vote for?

poll conducted October 13-28, 2007

-RSKnopfJr

Election 2007: Randy C. Ward, candidate for Findlay City Council-At-Large

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from council-at-large candidate Randy C. Ward; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: John T. Urbanski, candidate for Findlay City Council-At-Large

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from council-at-large candidate John T. Urbanski; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: James P. Slough, candidate for Findlay City Council-At-Large

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from council-at-large candidate James P. Slough; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: Mario J. Bower, candidate for Findlay City Council-At-Large

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from council-at-large candidate Mario J. Bower; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

The main reason I would like to be on Findlay City Council is to try to put some contributions back into the community I was raised in and love. Over the year’s family, friends and other individuals from this area helped my out in so many wonderful ways and I would like to say thank-you in return by helping to make decisions that will effect their live in a positive manner. Things that will help open Findlay to outsiders that would like to expand and enjoy our community but will not overburden our town with negative influences that would take away from our home town atmosphere.

Halloween Parade

I know that you were expecting my views on last night's mayoral forum, but tonight was the Halloween Parade. I graduated from the Hancock Leadership program eight years ago, and the alumni association organizes the parade. Between HLAA and my colleagues from the University, it is a fun night and does not seem like work at all. My wife even volunteered this year, so if you were one of the people in vehicles, she helped send you on your way.

Election 2007: Debra E. Seng, 5th ward candidate for Findlay City Council

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from 5th ward council candidate Debra E. Seng; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

Election 2007: Michael Eier, 5th ward candidate for Findlay City Council

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from 5th ward council candidate Michael Eier; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: J. Michael Slough, 1st ward candidate for Findlay City Council

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their answers, unedited. Below are the responses I received from 1st ward council candidate J. Michael Slough; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: James W. Madison, 1st ward candidate for Findlay City Council

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Findlay City Council. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their unedited answers. Below are the responses I received from 1st ward council candidate James W. Madison; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be on city council?

no response

Election 2007: Candidates for Findlay Board of Education

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for the Findlay Board of Education. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their unedited answers. Below are the responses I received; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be elected to the board of education?

RICHARD F. HOFFMAN - no response

BARBARA A.LOCKARD - Although it may sound like a cliché, I truly do feel that good schools are the community’s most important asset.  I’m talking about schools that foster a true learning environment; places where our kids can grow intellectually and emotionally.  Our family is pretty passionate about education.  My husband, Jerry Sisser, is a long time teacher in another school district, and I returned to graduate school in my late 40’s to earn an M.A. in Education from the University of Findlay.  Even when money was tight, we always tried to afford our kids a chance to learn. . . art lessons, music lessons, travel, etc.  (This could be why we still have junky furniture, but very smart kids!)  My son is currently a freshman at Findlay High School and my daughter is a 2005 graduate.  I have a personal stake in our school system.

HAL PAUL - no response

ANNE MONTGOMERY RICKETTS - I believe that my experience in law, education and business combined with over 12 years of parenting provide an excellent background for participating in school government. All organizations can benefit from a fresh prospective. As a member of the Findlay City School Board, I would encourage the entire board to take a fresh look at the way in which everything is done. I do not believe that “that’s the way it has always been done” is a valid reason for continuing any practice.

JEFFERY C. SHRADER - no response

Election 2007: Candidates for Mayor of Fostoria

On September 28, I sent letters to the candidates running for Mayor of Fostoria. I asked them a series of questions, and offered to publish their unedited answers. Below are the responses I received; I offer no comment or interpretation about what appears...that is up to you, the voter!

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Why do you want to be mayor?

CAROL S. BOOS - no response

JOHN DAVOLI - no response

SCOTT HOFACKER - no response

PAT STERLING - no response

On the road again

Greetings from Cleveland, where I am stationed for the next few days to attend some Adobe Flash training. I am here with a few of my colleagues from work, and even though we are in another city, it feels like we are in Findlay. We went to Red Robin for lunch today, and this evening we went to a restaurant called Hoggys. The trip to arrive at our dinner locale took 45 minutes, involving I-480 and I-77. When we were leaving the restaurant, we asked the waiter how we got back to the road where our hotel was...he said go down the street and then turn right at the second light. It turns out that the restaurant was five minutes away from my hotel; you can imagine how we felt when we pulled in.

We are looking for a few places to eat tomorrow, so if you have any suggestions, please add them to the comments or e-mail me. Our training center/hotel is right at I-480 & I-77, so if you know of someplace (relatively) close that is good, let us know. Because of the Indians being home for the American League Championship Series, we weren't going to venture downtown...but Independence is where we are at, and I am sure that there are a few local establishments that we are missing out on.

On my way over here, I decided to take the more scenic route and traveled via 224 instead of going up to the 80/90 turnpike. Since I was not in a hurry to get over here, I wanted to take my time, enjoy the trip, listen to the radio and relax from a hectic and tiring weekend. Thank goodness that the Patriots/Cowboys game was good; before I knew it, New England had won, and I was at the hotel.

As I drove toward Cleveland, it was fun to count how many different campaign signs I saw along the way. It is a variation of the license plate game, and I only kept a tally sheet, but so far I have encountered 42 (OK - there may have been a few duplicates, but at least it kept me entertained). In Independence, almost every home has a sign for someone...and most houses have a lot more than one. With so many people running for office, it is natural for candidates to have unique designs to stand out. Orange on blue...blue on green...yellow on black - not traditional political colors, but any way to differentiate yourself from the plethora of candidates is needed. If I have time tomorrow, I may take a picture of some of the more unusual combos.

I'm going to cut this short tonight...we are going to try to do something tonight, or watch the Indians game (they are up 2-0, top of the 4th as I post this - Go Tribe!!). Remember to leave me suggestions about where to eat tomorrow, and I'll report back to you.

-RSKnopfJr

Time Out for Humor

Candidates stumble over campaign don'ts
Thou shalt not wear a shirt and tie at a lobster shack near a New Hampshire beach. Thou shalt not invoke upscale grocery stores while campaigning in farm-rich Iowa. And thou shalt not call South Carolina's Lowcountry "the lowlands".   >>>
Philip Elliott
Associated Press/Breitbart

"In a startling moment during Wednesday's Democratic debate, former Senator Mike Gravel's head exploded. Then, in a chain reaction starting from one candidate's lectern to the next, John Edwards' hair parted itself on the opposite side, Barack Obama's ears flapped uncontrollably, Hillary Clinton instantly shot up in the polls, and Dennis Kucinich simply vanished, leaving his little blue suit splayed out over the podium. ... On Tuesday, candidate Barack Obama proposed setting a goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world. A novel idea. He also hopes to save the polar ice caps, the whales, to make love, not war, and to buy the world a coke."
Chevy Chase
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update

Rudy Giuliani's body language
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

"Happy Columbus Day, ladies and gentlemen! ... Hillary Clinton says that although she supported Columbus going into America, she didn't have any idea he would stay indefinitely."
David Letterman
The Late Show with David Letterman

"Anyway, who's still in our coalition? Let's take a look. Romania, they've got 500 people there. That's enough to fill a movie theatre. Many of the Romanians, of course, are vampires. Armenians have got 46 soldiers, that's enough for one of them Atlantic City buses. One of the few places, by the way, more depressing than Iraq. ... And then there's Iceland. They're counted in the coalition as much as the United States is, and they've got enough people to fill a suit. That is not a typo. That is the numeral one. And she wasn't a troop. And she just left."
Jon Stewart
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Top Ten Surprises In Yesterday's Republican Debate 
The Late Show with David Letterman
10. McCain answered all questions with his sock puppet friend "Carl" 
9. Debate was held at Chi-Chi's in Dearborn 
8. The part where Giuliani slugged an audience member was odd 
7. Mitt Romney proposed a big tax cut for guys named "Mitt" -- that's crazy -- who's ever heard of such a thing? 
6. Candidates greeted each other with long, passionate kiss 
No number 5 -- writer seeing hilarious remake of "The Heartbreak Kid" in theatres now 
4. Tom Tancredo admitted even he doesn't know who the hell he is 
3. Eddie Brill claimed the audience was one-third foreigners 
2. Wayne Newton was voted off 
1. Time limit enforced by Cheney with a shotgun

"Hillary Clinton announced this week that she has dropped her plan to give $5,000 to every baby born in America. ... Apparently what happened was, they did a test where they gave $5,000 to 100 babies, and the kids immediately became Republicans."
Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

"Dennis Kucinich has asked that his name be taken off the ballot in the Michigan Democratic primary. Michigan voting officials told Kucinich, 'How 'bout we just put it up high where you can't see it?'"
Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien

"There was another presidential debate held yesterday. It was a Republican debate held in Dearborn, Michigan. It was 'Law & Order' star Fred Thompson's first presidential debate. I'd say the addition of Fred Thompson has given these debates exactly what they need -- another old white guy."
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel Live

Keep smilin'!   :-)

-RSKnopfJr

Around the Country

Carter would back Gore bid
The national Draft Gore effort isn't the only one hoping to persuade Al Gore to run for president. Former President Jimmy Carter said he supports Gore as well. >>>
Chuck Plunkett
The Denver Post

Going Up...Going Down - 10/12/07

	Candidate Information Here we are, less than a month away from the election, and people are still asking me for the names of the people running for various offices. I used to wonder how the public could not be aware of what is going on, until it dawned on me that I haven't seen much come from the candidates, scant information by the local media, and no support for a series of forums or debates amongst all the candidates. How is the public supposed to get educated about the people they are voting for?
	Hancock County Commissioners A sales tax increase? Whether you agree with it or not, it is probably inevitable that one will be needed to pay for the costs resulting from the flood and aftermath. A permanent increase...or just for 3-5 years? The temporary hike may be more palatable to voters who enjoy one of the lowest rates in the state. The next question is, what is the City of Findlay going to do?
	Al Gore After Winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his work warning of the threat posed by climate change and an Academy Award for 'An Inconvenient Truth', what else does Gore have to prove? That he can win the White House? Probably not...but deciding who to support makes him a potential king-maker and the most important person in the Democratic Presidential sweepstakes.
	Rudy Giuliani In polling done in early primary states, he has pulled even or passed Mitt Romney in all but Iowa and New Hampshire. It appears that the little fracas about certain conservatives bolting if he was the nominee hasn't hurt him too much. Or is he doing well because GOPers believe he is the only Republican candidate who is going to be able to challenge Clinton?
	October Cooler weather, leaves changing color, my birthday...and campaign signs appearing in yards. In another annual tradition, signs for candidates running in November are starting to pop up all over the city. The most I have seen so far are for Pete Sehnert and Mario Bower. A sign of things to come, or just early supporters? Let's check back in a few weeks to see how many others blossom.

-RSKnopfJr

If the election were held today, which candidates for the Findlay Board of Education would you vote for?

poll conducted October 6-12, 2007

-RSKnopfJr

Latest Numbers

Who is ahead in the early states...

I have been attempting different looks/methods to share this information with you. For this one, after putting down the first few states, I knew this was going to be lengthy (and awkward), but I was already committed. Trust me, I won't try this style again.

-RSKnopfJr

29 Days and Counting

Thanks to all of you who have asked about attending the National Presidential Caucus. There are 29 days to go until we meet.

One of the questions was about babysitting. Well, you asked...and I got it taken care of. There will be two Red Cross certified sitters available that evening, and the only thing we need to take care of now is a location.

A few of you have asked about doing this at a restaurant, and I am open to this. Does anyone want to suggest a place where we can enjoy a good meal and sit around for a few hours talking about politics?

For those of you new to this, what is the National Presidential Caucus? The organizers have put a system into place that allows communities from across the United States to hold a straw poll (Nov 9 - 6pm) and caucus (Dec 7) before the first official Presidential elections are held...you get to voice your opinion before the folks in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, Florida, Nevada and South Carolina narrow the field dramatically.

So what happens on these two days? Well, the November event is basically a trial run of the system to make sure everything is going to work correctly, but the real fun comes in December. Here is what the NPC website has to say:

"NPC Caucuses are 2-hour meetings anytime between 3pm and 8pm local time on National Caucus Day. Organizers facilitate a discussion round where participants may each speak to their most important issues and to establish a group consensus on the top 2-3 issues for that caucus. Then, a second round of discussion to express candidate preferences. The organizer then posts the results at www.NationalCaucus.com for aggregation and general reporting."

To sign-up and be part of the action, click here. If you are going to need the sitter, let me know...if you have a suggestion for a restaurant, let me know.

-RSKnopfJr

Hancock County Republican Fall Picnic

Tonight at the Koehler Center on the campus of The University of Findlay, I attended the 2007 Hancock County Republican Party Fall Picnic. Now, besides being a Republican and attending this annual Columbus Day tradition, this event holds another special memory for me.

Back in 1992 after I had recovered from cancer surgery and treatments, my family asked what I wanted to do for my birthday (which is on October 9th). Because of college, I hadn't been to this event for a few years, and I persuaded my family and fiance (now the FCP's wife) to forgo any presents and just join me at this BBQ. My mother got tickets for everyone, and they all joined me...my favorite hobby and my family together in the same room was very life affirming.

Anyway, tonight's event kicked off a little late, but soon got rolling as Judge Vern Preston got up and shared a few barbs about Democrats.

listen to Judge Vern Preston talk about Columbus Day or download the file

listen to Judge Vern Preston talk about famous books or download the file

After dinner, Congressman Jim Jordan got up and spoke to the crowd for a moment before introducing the main speaker...

listen to Congressman Jim Jordan address the audience or download the file

the Honorable Rob Portman.

listen to Rob Portman address the audience or download the file

For those who forget, Portman was a six-term Congressman from the Cincinnati area. He hit the national stage by serving on the House ways and Means committee, and later when he left to join GWB White House staff as a trade representative. He was later named budget director, but left the position this past June so he could spend more time with his wife and three children.

Portman might run for Governor or US Senate in a few years when Strickland or Brown come up for re-election...or maybe Voinovich will face a conservative challenge (unlikely, but possible considering some of the comments and votes he has made over the past few years). The crowd responded enthusiastically to his speech, and I believe he would make a great representative for the state.

I hope that the recordings and pictures are adequate. I am in the market for a nice unit to record audio at these events, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

-RSKnopfJr

Time Out for Humor

"In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Rudy Giuliani said he is guided by Jesus and the Bible, and he doesn't want people to judge his private life. He then said, 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' And then Mitt Romney hit him in the head with a rock."
Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

"It was announced this week that over the summer, Hillary Clinton's campaign raised $27 million, while Barack Obama's campaign raised $22 million. In a related story, Dennis Kucinich found a nickel between the couch cushions."
Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien

"Here's good news: George W. Bush says that he is committed to fighting global warming. Yeah, well, he nipped that in the bud, didn't he? ... President Bush says he's really going to buckle down now and fight global warming. As a matter of fact, he announced today he's sending 20,000 troops to the sun."
David Letterman
The Late Show with David Letterman

New Heart Device Allows Cheney To Experience Love
Recovering from minor heart surgery Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney stunned both the medical and political establishments when he mysteriously began to experience love for the first time in his life, sources reported Tuesday. >>>

"The Democrats had a very big week this week. They tacked a hate crimes bill onto the war spending bill. ... Apparently, attacks on gays, they said, is also actually terrorism. I don't have time to explain how this bill works, but next year, General Petraeus will be eligible for a Tony."
Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher

"Last week during a speech to the NRA, Rudy Giuliani was interrupted by a cell phone call, which he stopped his speech to answer. Giuliani then told the audience, 'That was my wife reminding me to pick up some milk at the 9-Eleven.'"
Seth Meyers
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update

"Sometimes I don't think Congress has America's best interest at heart. For example, when they convene. But every once and a while they pass a bill that restores my faith in the system, like Wednesday's Lieberman-Kyl amendment, which passed by a 76-22 margin and calls on President Bush to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. The president is prosecuting a war on terror. This makes Iran the second front. But not everyone supports our troops enough to give them the job security a war with Iran would provide. People like Senator Jim Webb who voted against the amendment, calling it, 'Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream.' Well, that is completely unfair. Everyone knows Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream is driving a bulldozer into the New York Times while drinking crude oil out of Keith Olbermann's skull."
Stephen Colbert
The Colbert Report

Education Accomplished! "Childrens do learn"
Mission accomplished! As recently as three years ago, America's education system was in a shambles. Millions of childrens did not even know that humans and fish can peacefully coexist. >>>

"As you know, if you are a minority or an interest group, the Democrats will hold a debate at your house, whereas Republicans take a slightly different approach. They have a big tent, you're just not allowed in it."
Jon Stewart
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Regarding the Republican presidential candidates skipping the PBS minority-issue debate
"Sure, blacks may be getting ignored now, but isn't that just getting them warmed up for next year, when they're really going to be ignored?"
Larry Wilmore
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Keep smilin'!!   :-)

-RSKnopfJr

Around the Country

Debate takes small army
The nine Republican presidential hopefuls and their supporters and entourages will converge upon Dearborn on Tuesday for a nationally televised debate -- an event that will seem to come off effortlessly on TV but involves countless hours of preparation and the involvement of hundreds of paid workers and volunteers. >>>
Charlie Cain & Mark Hornbeck
Detroit News

Paul: Bring troops home
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said the United States does not face any real threats to its national security and does not need to extend itself militarily around the world. >>>
Garry Rayno
New Hampshire Union Leader

Edwards sets up camp in rural Iowa
Presidential candidate John Edwards vowed Friday to continue courting support in rural areas as he tries to regain his lead in the Democratic Iowa caucus campaign. >>>
Tony Leys
The Des Moines Register

Democrats making some strange choices
The ever-spiraling conflict over Florida's Democratic presidential primary has come to this:  When 3,000 Democratic activists from the Hispanic-rich state gather in Orlando later this month, Bill Richardson -- the only Hispanic contender -- will be about 955 miles away in Michigan. Talking to Arab Americans. >>>
Beth Reinhard
The Miami Herald

GOP candidates take stand against taxes
Just in case you missed it, Republicans want to be clear: They really hate taxes. >>>
Susan Milligan
The Boston Globe

Showing up on the Sunday talk shows

• ABC: Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)
• CBS: Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), president of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins
• CNN: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan
• FOX: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle
• NBC: Presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC), NBC space correspondent Jay Barbree

Keep smilin'!   :-)

-RSKnopfJr

Going Up...Going Down - 10/05/07

Another special edition of GUGD...this time regarding the Presidential third-quarter fund-raising numbers. It's not necessarily about how much you raise, but managing the expectations game. That is why Ron Paul can feel better about how much he raised compared to candidates who raised almost twice as much.

-RSKnopfJr

If the election were held today, which candidates for Findlay Council-At-Large would you vote for?

poll conducted September 22 - October 5, 2007

-RSKnopfJr

Match Game 2008

Before you get excited, I did not discover several lost tape stocks featuring Gene Rayburn, Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly (although that would be pretty cool if I did).

Instead, I came across something interesting at USAToday; a match game where you answer questions about topical issues (you need to be honest when you respond), and you find out which of the Presidential candidates is a best match for you.

I took the test straight-up and these were my results...

Not really shocking, although I was surprised to see Giuliani so high. I thought Fred Thompson or John McCain would have been in the mix, but that is what makes this fun.

USAToday also provides another little feature where you can emphasize (by moving an arrow) the issues that matter to you. You can see what was important to me, and who came out on top...

Once again, not really shocking. Although, it was a little unusual to see Paul, Kucinich and Richardson as my next three.

So, who are in your top 3 (no - this is not a cellular commercial)? Go ahead and take the test, slide the arrows how you want, and see what happens. Share your top 3 in the comments section, and check back often to see what others put. It is a fun way to see how our personal beliefs and political convictions match up with the individuals running for President.

Warning: the results may disturb you.

-RSKnopfJr

Good Mornings!

See what you miss when you don't wake up in the morning?

No need to fear...FCPolitico is here! With apologies to Underdog, the credit really goes to Findlay Publishing online editor Rebecca Conklin for allowing me to tag along, and to Good Mornings' host Chris Oaks for doing such a great job talking about the Virtual Village.

I had a great time. Trust me when I say that I am a little shy; but put me in front of a microphone or turn on a camera, and I...okay, I am still relatively reserved, but at least I didn't freeze up. Seriously, it was fun and I would gladly do it again, and isn't that what it is all about?

Thank