I’m Glad I Voted Last Week
I’m Glad I Voted Last Week
It’s going to be a hectic week here at the Webster household.
Leslie brought Gavin here from Tacoma and I’m babysitting for the entire week. It’s amazing how hard it is to keep a 2 1/2 year old occupied. So far today we’ve played outside twice, played with Brio building blocks, stamped half the household with blue footballs and red megaphones, washed the same area twice, watched Monsters Inc, though grandpa napped a couple times in the middle, and fixed breakfast and lunch.
Our trip to the zoo was delayed because Gavin wasn’t interested at the moment. We’re taking him shopping with us tonight to ensure that we have some food in the house that he will be willing to eat.
I’ve already cast my ballot, so I don’t need anymore phone callls from the Sierra Club, the democratic party, or other candidates, thank you.
If you still aren’t convinced that you need to bother voting, here’s an article in the Sacramento Bee on the effect of political races on an upcoming wilderness bill and Raye has been doing a good job at By Sand and Sea the last few days of offering other reasons why it’s important to vote.
But, you’ve already voted too, haven’t you?
loren
Uh, no. I’ve done the absentee-ballot thing before, and found it enough of a pain that I prefer to haul my rear end to the polls.
Which I shall duly do tomorrow after work.
Dorothea Salo — 3:18 pm November 4, 2002
Well, I’ll admit that I miss the excitement of voting the real day, but I like the chance to do some research on line while I have my ballot in front of me.
Of course, if I were more organized I could do that before the real election, but for some reason I never did. There’s something about having the real ballot in front of you to provide motivation.
Loren — 4:44 pm November 4, 2002
Wouldn’t miss being at the polling place tomorrow with the Federal marshals and all of the other folks that are concerned that Missouri will have another voting disaster like the last one.
And almost every election is dead even so the heightened emotions should add to the thrill.
Miss all that? Nah.
BTW, saw the President’s car today. If only I had a great big “Defy King George! Vote Democrat!” sign with me.
Well, the sad thing is probably that the people I really would like to see vote wouldn’t be reading this web site.
I feel like I’m preaching to the choir, but if I could get even one person who wasn’t going to vote to reconsider it I guess I haven’t wasted my time.
Loren — 8:00 pm November 4, 2002
Loren, I can get you an account at the Weblog Action Center (at http://www.truthlaidbear.com/weblogaction/). There, you’ll be guaranteed to be surrounded by people who will not agree with you.
I just spent the last half hour browsing that page, Shelley.
You’ll have to let me consider how high my blood pressure might go if I got treated the way you did, “sweetums.”
I would, though, consider that as a possible way of dipping my toe into that political “quicksand” I’ve usually avoided in my life.
Loren — 10:43 pm November 4, 2002
I’m surprised that you guys vote on a weekday, when most people have to work. When do the polling booths close? In Australia, elections are always held on a Saturday.
Jonathon Delacour — 3:24 am November 5, 2002
Loren, unfortunately, by walking into so-called warblogger territory, I know I take this risk. It’s not unusual for a guy who disagrees with a woman to use some form of condescension to ‘put down’ the woman.
In some ways, I think this increases the imperative for me to communicate in these forums. They may not agree with me, but I hope over time that they’ll learn to respect women’s opinions as much as they seem to respect men’s. I would wish that women, other than the “blogbabes” would communicate in the forum.
As for yourself, it’s a way for your to express your views to an audience that made up of like minds. To engage in debate, though the debate can be acrimonious.
Sorry, “…to express your views _other_ than to an audience made up of like minds”.
Polls usually close 7 to 8 pm-ish, Jonathon. They open early also. It’s possible for just about everybody to find time to vote.
In Wisconsin, too, you don’t need much of an excuse for an absentee ballot; you just have to ask for one. It wasn’t like that in North Carolina, though (I had to prove, not just say, that I was going to college in Indiana!), so it does vary.
Dorothea Salo — 6:09 am November 5, 2002
To add to what Dorothea said, our regular national elections are held every two years, the first Tuesday of November. Normally an ‘off year’ election (ie one doesn’t include the Presidential election) has light turn out. I don’t think we’ll be light this year.
I hope.
Actually, for some reason I have absolutely never understood, it’s the first Tuesday *after the first Monday* in November.
Was there a problem with voting on All Saints’ Day or something?
Projected voter turnout in my area is around 50%. There’s been a truly nasty gubernatorial campaign, however, which may drive that number down.
Dorothea Salo — 3:17 pm November 5, 2002
It’s kind of sad, Dorothea, but I’ve heard that some candidates actually try to make campaigns negative knowing that many uncommitted voters are so turned off that they won’t vote.
Talk about playing into the hands of the politicians. No one is going to make me give up my right to say “not over my dead body.”
Loren — 8:38 pm November 5, 2002
That appears to have been the Republican strategy in this race, yes. It didn’t work, though it came closer than I liked.
Dorothea Salo — 7:12 am November 6, 2002