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.
If you would like to join the BWIUBS, you can join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter. You may also email us at bwiubs@gmail.com for information or to help with this diary series or other BWIUBS endeavors.
In the hot seat today is one Rebecca Schneider, candidate for Congress from Arizona's 6th congressional district.
On with the show:
BWIUBS: Looking at your district/state on a map...what does the outline of your district resemble?
Rebecca: An anvil or perhaps a squished, stylized 7. Either way, I think it will be lucky to have change forged in it to create a better district.
BWIUBS: What is your favorite crayon color?
Rebecca: Purple
BWIUBS: What is your favorite thing about being a candidate?
Rebecca: The amazing people I'm blessed to meet!
BWIUBS: What is your least favorite thing about being a candidate?
Rebecca: Fundraising
BWIUBS: When you were growing up, what did you want to be and why?
Rebecca: I love animals and wanted to be a veterinarian. Alas, I'm also quite allergic, so I had to give up that dream.
BWIUBS: IF you were on death row, what would you want your last supper to be and who would you want to cook it?
Rebecca: I would want it to be my gramma's barbeques and macaroni salad made by my Mom.
BWIUBS: If you could run for office in any other district/state...where would you do so and why?
Rebecca: I would run in the Pittsburgh area so that I could be near my family who all live there except my sister who lives in Germany.
BWIUBS: Favorite sport and team in that sport?
Rebecca: Absolutely STEELER football!!
BWIUBS: Most recent book you read?
Rebecca: I read many simultaneously, so here's the list: Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union by David Swanson; Jacked: How "Conservatives" are Picking Your Pocket (Whether You Voted for Them or Not) by Nomi Prins; Citizen Diplomacy by Stephen E Frantzich; and on the lighter side: Breathless by Dean Koontz; Lost Symbol by Dan Brown; and finally The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell
BWIUBS: What kind of car do you drive?
Rebecca: None at the moment, I ride my bicycle and take the light rail.
BWIUBS: Favorite character in the movie "The Breakfast Club"?
Rebecca: I actually can't say I have a favorite. I can relate to aspects of each of them and certainly see parts of them in the people I know.
BWIUBS: Where are you when answering these questions?
Rebecca: Sitting at my desk
BWIUBS: Best meal you've had at a banquet since becoming a candidate?
Rebecca: Had a delicious meal at the Broadway Palms
BWIUBS: If you could be any cartoon character...which one would you be?
Rebecca: Mighty Mouse - he's underestimated, but gets the job done!
BWIUBS: The day after the election, win or lose...which amusement park would you prefer to visit and why?
Rebecca: Kennywood Park in Pennsylvania because I could take my niece there and it would be great to see her laughing!
BWIUBS: If you could come up with a new animal as the mascot for the Democratic Party which animal would you pick and why?
Rebecca: I would switch it to the wild mustang because they are strong, hardy and amazingly resilient regardless of what is thrown at them. Besides, they are quintessentially American.
BWIUBS: What is your favorite board game and why?
Rebecca: Monopoly because of all the nights I spent playing against my sister when we were supposed to be sleeping.
BWIUBS: What was the last movie you saw in a movie theater?
Rebecca: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - loved it, too!
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?
Rebecca: I had a few pictures of animals, but nothing else.
BWIUBS: Last but not least....say one nice thing about your Republican opponent?
Rebecca: I believe he is an honest man.
And there you have it folks...feel free to ask Rebecca more questions in the comments and if she doesn't make it in to answer them herself, I'll forward the questions to her and we'll post her answers in a Saturday wrap up diary if necessary!