The power of the Internet, the power of blogging, the power of Daily Kos is that it puts politics back in the hands of the people... where we all know it rightfully belongs. Forget the red, white and blue campaign websites with their consultant-sanitized messages and carefully constructed doublespeak.
You don’t have to participate in CSI: Election to try and uncover the meaning behind the sound bites. You don’t have to squint at the campaign logo, deciding whether you see the vase or the two faces. You don’t have to do it because you, gentle reader, have the Blog Workers Industrial Union and Benevolent Society—and the BWIUBS has your back.
Here at BWIUBS, we’re asking the hard questions. Cartoon characters. Mascots. The walls of the candidates’ high school bedrooms. We asked every Democratic candidate for Governor, Senate and the House of Representatives to answer twenty questions for your edification. The questions are still being sent to candidates, and answers will be posted in the order they are received. Candidates are notified in advance of the posting of their answers so that they can join us if they desire, and we will post a diary Monday through Friday between 10 and 10:30 AM EST for your reading and commenting pleasure. Join us for some fun and camaraderie as we get to know the people who want to represent our interests across the country.
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In the hot seat today is Drew Pritt. Now Drew is running for Lt. Governor of Arkansas and Lt. Governor's were not on our initial target list, but Drew took the time to answer our questions, so we will share his answers with you today.
On with the show:
BWIUBS: Looking at your district/state on a map...what does the outline of your district resemble?
Drew: Western Arkansas borders Oklahoma and Texas and is marked by the Ouachita Mountains, which bleed into the Ozarks across the Northern border, which is choked with traffic either in Arkansas Razorback season headed to a Hogs game in Fayetteville or many headed to across the border to Branson, Missouri. You glide down into the flat plains of Northeast Arkansasa which glides into the Delta of eastern Arkansas. This area is the Deep South of another era, with plantational farms, but unfortunately a lack of economic opportunity. This molds into the Southern Arkansas region which is a combination of a very Southern, almost Louisiana like communities with vibrant farms and oil wells and timber industry that bleeds into a very Western-like communities in Southwest Arkansas.
BWIUBS: What is your favorite crayon color?
Drew: Midnight Blue
BWIUBS: What is your favorite thing about being a candidate?
Drew: The ability to travel the state, listen to the people I meet along the way, and the hope that if and when I am elected that I can use my office to alieviate their suffering, their concerns, and help them achieve their hopes.
BWIUBS: What is your least favorite thing about being a candidate?
Drew: The criticism of people, especially online, who do not know you but comment on who you are, what you believe, and the points in your life where you made decisions that weren't for the best.
BWIUBS: When you were growing up, what did you want to be and why?
Drew: A third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. The chance to follow in the footsteps of Cal Ripken, Jr. and the fact that I love baseball and played 3rd base.
BWIUBS: IF you were on death row, what would you want your last supper to be and who would you want to cook it?
Drew: Roasted Turkey, Macaroni & Cheese, Greens, Field Peas, Cornbread, and Hot Tea cooked by Paula Deen.
BWIUBS: If you could run for office in any other district/state...where would you do so and why?
Drew: Governor of West Virginia, to follow in the footsteps of my cousin, former State Senator Charlotte Pritt, and finish what she began in 1996.
BWIUBS: Favorite sport and team in that sport?
Drew: Baseball, Baltimore Orioles.
BWIUBS: Most recent book you read?
Drew: HAVE A LITTLE FAITH by Mitch Albom
BWIUBS: What kind of car do you drive?
Drew: Silver Chevrolet Malibu
BWIUBS: Favorite character in the movie "The Breakfast Club"?
Drew: Andrew Clark
BWIUBS: Where are you when answering these questions?
Drew: Living room of my condo.
BWIUBS: Best meal you've had at a banquet since becoming a candidate?
Drew: 2006....in my first bid for Lt. Governor, the pre-Coon Supper meal at Congressman Marion Berry's farm.
BWIUBS: If you could be any cartoon character...which one would you be?
Drew: Stewie Griffen
BWIUBS: The day after the election, win or lose...which amusement park would you prefer to visit and why?
Drew: Las Vegas....enough said.
BWIUBS: If you could come up with a new animal as the mascot for the Democratic Party which animal would you pick and why?
Drew: The Lion....it's Majestic, the King of the Forest, ferocious at times, but a beautiful site to behold.
BWIUBS: What is your favorite board game and why?
Drew: RISK....its timeless, it's fun, my family played it often growing up, and it teaches a lot of life lessons.
BWIUBS: What was the last movie you saw in a movie theater?
Drew: Angel's & Demons
BWIUBS: As teenagers, many of us had posters of our favorite movie stars, musicians etc on the walls....what was on the walls of you room as a teenager?
Drew: Autographed pictures of politicians. My prized collection included such luminaries as Nelson Mandela, John B. Connally, Walter Cronkite, Shirley Chisholm, and Harriet Woods.
BWIUBS: Last but not least....say one nice thing about your Republican opponent?
Drew: Mark Darr owns a good pizza restaurant.
And there you have it folks...feel free to ask Drew more questions in the comments and if he doesn't make it in to answer them himself, I'll forward the questions to him and we'll post his answers in a Saturday wrap up diary if necessary!