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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Sounds of Crater Lake ... Ashland council hopes to shift some meals tax funds ... Bybee fire in Crater Lake National Park closes Pacific Crest Trail ... Sounds of Crater Lake ... Ashland council hopes to shift some meals tax funds ... Bybee fire in Crater Lake National Park closes Pacific Crest Trail ... LOCAL TAKE What's your take on the conventions? Ashlanders have criticism for both political parties, few kind words for the GOP Comment By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News There has never been an election like this one. Emotions and clashes in person and on Facebook have risen to acrimonious levels, leading to both digital and in-person “unfriendings.” As a result, the two political conventions have drawn big viewership, with endless online postings about who’s awesome and who’s awful. Conventions go back to the time of our Founding Fathers and soon were conclaves for machine bosses and wealthy puppet masters to choose a presidential candidate and veep for the next four years. Presidential primaries grew in the first years of the 20th century, with Oregon being the first, in 1910, to bind convention delegates to the popular vote. The conventions this year plowed new ground, with Democrats nominating a woman, but amid cries of fraud from a socialist who pushed her leftward. The Republicans nominated a vociferous TV personality/real estate billionaire with no governmental experience, but who vanquished 16 rivals without seeming to break a sweat. We asked Ashlanders for their take-away from the two conventions: Linda Hawkes — I’m a Democrat. Our convention was much better than the Republican, by far, much more positive, certainly less terrifying, by far. Michelle Obama was great, so admirable. We have to keep going forward, with progress for everyone and the way to do that is with Hillary Clinton. I watched Trump’s acceptance speech. It was so completely disturbing, but I needed to hear it. It was reminiscent of fascism, with continual pointing out of people’s race and religion and who has to be removed from this country. This is not what we should be doing. I don’t know if anyone reads their history and they don’t seem to know civics, either. Nick Tenant — The Democrats are not nearly as progressive as I’d like to see. The are coming out of decades of being Republican-lite. Democrats have been so frightened about not appealing to conservatives that they’ve drifted to the right as far as the Republicans used to be. But the Republicans are off the cliff now. For those who read history, this is looking like the Weimar Republic of Germany in the 1930s. But you can’t use the word Nazi or people stop listening. Trump talks in sound bites but with no clear ideas about anything. He indulges in name-calling that a fifth-grade bully could outdo. Michelle Obama was simply elegant. The Republican convention was a huge pile of negativity. The Democrats had a very positive and hopeful event. Margie Mee — I thought there would be a big protest at the Democratic convention, but it didn’t happen. From Bill Clinton’s speech, we got a lot of good information about Hillary that we could never know. She doesn’t brag about herself. I’m not much for her because of the war issues, but I so want a woman to be president. I would never vote for Trump. I watched the whole thing, though it took a lot of drinking to do it. I wanted to know how dreadful it was. I couldn’t imagine anything that dreadful. The Democrats were all fantastic. I can only hope Trump doesn’t win. A lot of people do. I watched the Republican debates and could not believe it. They were such a collection of goofballs. John Anastasio – It’s what we expected. They are criminals, moderates who sabotaged the Bernie campaign, as they would anyone who threatened the elite. They cut out the next generation of people and killed their own party. I just registered in the Green Party. I don’t know if I’ll vote for Hillary. The Republicans, they’ve got nothing. Every plan they had, failed. Like guns make us safer and trickle-down economics and military buildup. David (declined to give last name) — Hillary is business as usual, favoring big business and the military. Trump reminds me of Mussolini from the old newsreels, sticking his jaw up. What we are seeing is the last gasp of the old white paradigm. John Swinnerton — I never thought I’d see the depths of depravity the Republicans have reached. I welcome evidence I’m wrong. The only solace I have is that Trump will be so voted out and America, like an alcoholic reaching bottom, will realign our priorities. I can’t stomach his megalomania. He brought out the personality disorders in the American psyche, people who can’t get past the Civil War or the Civil Rights gains. I’m glad to see the Democrats come together and work through their differences and step up to the plate with a political agenda. Hillary is basically a politician, with good and bad sides, who has probably done a lot of back room deals, but she won’t ruin the country, like Trump would. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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