and endorsed public service.

But I've done shit in the past that will easily catch up with me if I ran. Therefore, I can't run.

not-ashamed-of-my-past-so-I-won't-lie-to-you candidate..

but that's as far as I've gotten.

can't-find-any-other-job-that-I'm-qualified-for candidate.

There will be no politicians in our family ~ ever.

In all seriousness I will probably never do it myself for many reasons but agree that's where and how it starts.

I'd love to see it happen with young people organizing from the ground up, and steering politics into a new land.

Comedy material for late night shows (and Tina Feye of course).

I will never run for office. It is a thankless job, there is so much stress involved, and it is very expensive to run in the first place and pay for ads.

If I did, it would have to be local. And cheap. lol I would have to go door to door I suppose.

It requires a personality-type that I just don't have. You have to be a narcissist on one hand, and let criticism, even hate, roll off your back. You have to glad-handle odious people, ask them for money on a daily basis, and be dirty when necessary.

I admire those who can do it, but I'm not one of them. It's also why I'm not in sales.

Nothing personal, but this is the mindset that gets us the type of pols we have.

The low expectations.

I know more really great, honest, decent, intelligent people than I can count.

It isn't asking too much to have honest, decent, intelligent people in government. But, collectively, we tend to vote for the types you just cast.

those are the people with the drive to run and the personality to win.

It's not for everyone.

of really good, decent, capable people who have that drive, but consistently get passed over because people collectively are more comfortable with the superficial traits in candidates that they say they despise in elected officials, while being uncomfortable with the traits they say they want in elected officials in candidates.

Most times the superficial, glad handing empty suit will win an election because people think that person likes them or some other tangential reason, while people are not as comfortable with the honest and direct person (even if not negative) cause he or she is not just telling them what they want to hear.

The problem is not the candidates, it is the voters.

You elect people who say or do anything to get elected, you are going to get ... elected officials who will say or do anything to keep their jobs.

It's also why I'm not in sales.

Seriously, though, your points are all well taken. A thick skin is key, and there's an advantage to being, for instance, extroverted, though I think there are successful politicians who are also introverts.

Going further here, it makes me tremendously sad that so many well-qualified potential candidates will never even consider running, either because they don't consider what they could bring to the county/state/country, or they don't want to put their families through it, or both.

Surveys suggest that men are more likely to consider a run, which means they end up making up a disproportionate share of candidates.

And as for the candidates who do decide to go for it, well, that roster at times veers into political horror movie casting. Joe Walsh, anybody? Sarah Palin? Urgh.

So in short, I believe there are DUers who would be a good fit for local/state/national office and I hope they will consider it, especially if they have the energy and the heart for it. I'm an introvert, but the older I get -- and yes, I do encourage candidates of all ages. Bernie Sanders, anybody? -- the less I care what people think of me, and my chutzpah quotient might rise enough to consider the whole effort.

Currently serve as an elected official at the local level.

Have run for the next level, and hope to do so again.

We tend to consistently make bad decisions collectively because we are attracted, during campaigns, by the same kind of superficial traits that we bemoan in our elected officials, while being uncomfortable with those traits in candidates that we say we want in our elected officials.

As an acknowledged atheist, my chances are limited, even in NYC.

for a city council seat in small town. Given the candidate had no name recognition she got about 1,000 votes, not near enough to win though.

I've thought about it, but I won't do it until there's some serious campaign finance reform. Too much money in politics, I don't have it - and I'm not interested in selling my soul for it.

Though I have some issues that I have to deal with. Some are more complicated to deal with than others.

The first is financing, I'm already saving towards advertising in my campaign, and by advertising, I mean many, many, long trips to Kinko's. This is probably the most difficult since I'm not financially well-off.

Next is, where will I be in 2016? I'm only 18, yeah, and I have to transfer somewhere for my four-year college. I was tempted to stay down here in Orange County, and possibly go to UC Irvine, but over the past few months I've grown really sick of these suburbs, and want a change of pace, mixed with a wanting to go home to the Bay Area. So now I've made UC Berkeley my goal.

If I were to run there, I'd have a very good chance and good ability to mobilize the youth vote towards my direction. Being in a college town, a liberal one at that, I have an excellent chance of being elected.

If I actually campaign, though.

I sometimes say that running for City Councilman is more difficult than running for President. In some ways, it is, i.e. No name recognition, no constant funding, etc...

Most people just vote for the person with the word incumbent next to their name in these types of elections. Many think they don't even matter, which is sad.

Sounds kinda crazy, someone so young already planning to run for office, especially with so much time until election day, but politics is in my blood. My family includes two United States Senators, a Secretary of State, an Ambassador, and a Governor. They all served in the 1800s. My grandfather worked in the State Department. I found most of this out after I took an interest in politics, so this was pretty cool to learn.

Plus, from what I've seen, my generation NEEDS to get into government. We are much cooler-headed compared to the current elected officials. We'd take an active part in stopping climate change, and get other budgetary concerns done in a better way that protects Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security. (As you can imagine, we want those things, too. I know I do.) Even the most conservative and religious people I went to High School with here in Orange County had gay friends. There's hope in the brighter portion of my generation.

Wall of text, many stories, sorry about that. But in short, I have every intention to run, and if I lose? It will make a great term paper.

I also kinda like that bloodline you have, that had to be so cool to learn!

Good luck to you in your future service and with your education.

I was kinda worried that I would sound like a crazy person with my essay of a reply.

But I've taken a look at all of this, and it just seems to fit, it's my interest, major, and family. Plus I've got a relatively good head on my shoulders, so I think I should give it a shot.

Thanks for your kindness, support, and warm wishes!

Even if you are in a red area. Especially there. I have run for office (with the blessing of the local Democratic party two times in red areas). I knew I would lose so I didn't have to raise any money but I was able to get my viewpoint out in newspapers and one tv debate. That is free media. Of course with social media it is pretty much all free. It is very discouraging for party members to see an office unopposed. Someone should always be on the ballot to give voters a choice. The third time I ran I had moved and I won. But the two earlier races had given me experience so I knew what to do. I am running again in 2014 in a different area and the numbers are against me but I look forward to it.

My only chance would be to move to a northern or mid western state.

And my career takes up too much time. But I admire those who have the guts and the stamina to do it, and if I support their stands, I send checks their way.

I'd never make it in politics because my feelings are easily hurt and I tend to say what I'm thinking. Also, I can't think of anything less fun than campaigning. More power to those who can do politics - I am definitely not one of them.

but the thought of raising money, kissing all sorts of big-wigs' asses whom I don't like, the constant digging for dirt in the past and mud-slinging - blech. That right there turns me off.

I am an agnostic, and here in this red state, that makes one pretty much unelectable.

Of course, I live in northern California, where that probably wouldn't be a drawback, but still. I have no desire to air my laundry publicly. And I'm an outspoken atheist.

but I just don't know, mostly for logistical reasons (time, money, valuing my privacy and not really wanting to be in the limelight). I love politics like most people love to watch sports and I like to write about politics and debate and stuff but I'm not sure that I'd actually like being on the inside. I want to get involved more- beyond just voting- but mostly have no real time or energy to do it right now with a full-time job, three kids, a wife, and a house to keep up with, debt, etc.

and am too old to get any, but I am co-chair of Alaska State district 19 Democrats and will be a poll watcher in tomorrow's municipal election. I do what I can.

I wrote a LTE complaining about the current sherriff's intention not to enforce the new gun legislation enacted by the State legislature here in Colorado. I got a response which suggested if I didn't like it, I should run myself. I briefly considered shaving my head so I could follow Hunter S. Thompson's lead, and refer to the incumbent as "my long haired opponent", but upon further reflection it would probably be an unwise career move. I think I'll just stick to exercising my free speech rights.