elections

[Ohio Buckeye]

Be so glad when election day is over as I am so weary
of hearing these politicians.  Instead of telling what is good
about themselves and why you should vote for them, they spend
all the ads telling what is so bad about their opponent(s).
At least that's the way it is here in Ohio and it gets old fast.
It is getting worse and worse as election day approaches.
I'm voting absentee ballot this year.

[vandie]

I've voted by mail for several years.  It's so convenient.  I also hate the mud slinging, but I guess it wouldn't be politics without it.

[Rerun]

In California I think Schwarzenegger will win the Govenator again.  I will vote for him since I don't like the other guy.

[kitkatz]

I California I think Schwarzenegger will win the Govenator again.  I will vote for him since I don't like the other guy.

Isn't it sad when you have no choice at all?  California's governor race is no choice at all.   A liberal, or a conservative liberal.  Schwarznegger, I do not like you, but will vote for you out of having little choice.

[Sluff]

Mudslinging is so juvenile it's pathetic. Anyway it's sad when you have to pick from the lesser of two evils.

[jbeany]

I have three messages on my machine today - all from different politicos, whining about something their opponent did or didn't do.  (thank heavens for caller id!) Isn't it over yet, pleeeeease?  There's no one I actually want to vote for - both governor candidates are idiots, from my POV. 

[kitkatz]

If one more damned recorded telephone message telling me how to vote wakes me up from a nap I am going to SNAP!

[jdat]

I've voted by mail for several years.  It's so convenient.  I also hate the mud slinging, but I guess it wouldn't be politics without it.

Mudslinging is a relatively new political tactic which is only bound to grow over the years unless there are some legalities that come into play to put an end to it.

You have nothing but to thank the ease of spread of information thanks to new technologies in the media, internet, blogs etc.
Something bad is said by one opponent and the other side gives a reply the day after!
I remember during the 2004 presidential elections hearing a piece on NPR explaining that each politician has a team which analyzes everything said by the opponents; then the statements are given a hierarchy of importance and according to the level at which they are at the politician will reply to that statement.

Here in France the presidential elections are going to take place in may 2007 and all the potential candidates are already doing some form of campaigning ... it's sickening! I'll be happy when that is all over.

[kitkatz]

IMHO- If you do not vote, you cannot complain!

Your vote counts and with as few people that are voting nowadays it only takes a few to make a difference.  That should scare us, but we just blindly accept whatever is voted in.

Get out there and vote people!

[jbeany]

Mudslinging is a relatively new political tactic which is only bound to grow over the years unless there are some legalities that come into play to put an end to it.

.

Sorry, jdat, I don't buy that one.
Ever hear of the campaign where the mudslinging included accusations of murder, gambling, and treason, as well as bigamy and prostitution against the challenger?  Those accusations were countered by the opponents with accusations against the incumbent of more gambling, ripping off the public money by padding expense accounts and pimping for visiting dignitaries.  Wanna guess which two candidates?

Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams.  The year was 1828.

The only presidential candidate who hasn't indulged in the tiniest bit of mudslinging was George Washington - he ran unopposed.

[Zach]

Right on, jbeany!!
 

[Ohio Buckeye]

tired of the trash in my mail every day too.
If I don't recognize the number on my phone id I don't even
pick it up.  I do not want to be bothered by them.

[Sara]

It's the same way here too.  From what I've read (not much) I'm leaning toward one of the independent guys but I know he'll never win so I feel like I have to vote for the lesser of 2 evils, like someone else said.   

[Ohio Buckeye]

Around here at the end of an political ad, they say, I approve this message.
Yesterday, one said, I'm ............'s neighbor and I approve this message.
as if one cares who that is what the neighbor thinks.
Then this morning, after weather report on radio, someone piped up and said "I approve this forecast".
a bit of humor. 

[Ohio Buckeye]

I called about 3 wks ago to ask for absentee ballot because of broken hand.
Hadn't got anything and called today to see if it was in mail.  She said
they didn't show a request for me.  Said she could put an application in
the mail tomorrow.  Application! If I got it Fri., filled it out and sent it Sat.
I wouldn't have the ballot to get back in by Tues at 7:30.  She said oh, you
can come here and fill out application and get ballot.  Well, my hand is broken. that's why
I asked for one.  If I HAVE to get somewhere it would be easier to get to my
local voting station then downtown.  duh.  So told her to forget
it, will find a way to get to my poll .   grrrrrrrrrr, grrrrrrrrrrr. grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
ps - grrrrrrrrrrrrr

[okarol]

deja vu

[xtrememoosetrax]

I got to vote in the New Mexico Democratic caucus yesterday. Although it was called a caucus, it behaved just like a regular primary election, in that all registered Democrats were eligible to vote.  There was a much higher turnout than expected, so I was lucky that I got in and out fast, without having to wait an hour or more in line.  My stepdaughter went to vote after work and had to stand in line for 3 (yes,THREE) hours!! I went to rescue the grandchildren from waiting in line with her, and when I went into the polling place, it was unbelievable; it was 6:30 p.m., half an hour before the polls were supposed to close, and there were literally thousands of people standing in line.  Fortunately, all were allowed to vote; apparently the last vote was cast a little after 9 p.m.

Although it was upsetting that it was so DIFFICULT for many to cast a vote (I'm sure that many left in frustration, and who could blame them?), I also found the whole thing oddly inspiring at the same time.  Do you ever get the feeling that you're the only one left of whatever political party you're in, because it seems like EVERYBODY is conservative, liberal or whatever is different from you?  Well, I do, as I think most people do at one time or another, regardless of political persuasion.  Therefore, it was very heartening to me to see so many Democrats in one place!  (I know, this would be scary to some ).  Another cool thing was to observe the diversity of the people waiting in line -- young, old, black, white, Hispanic, etc. -- and at the same time the fact that most all of them looked like just regular folks (not weirdo hippies like me, j/k ).  I was/am very proud of my stepdauther for sticking it out for 3 hours (in high heels, I might add) because she felt it was so important that she vote.  Obviously, a lot of other people felt the same way, and I really find that quite inspriing. 

As far as the results are concerned, as of this morning, the race between Obama and Clinton was too close to call; according to the news, only 100 (yes, that's one hundred) votes separated the two!  Wow, that really makes you feel like your vote counted!

So, as cynical and jaded as I sometimes feel about our political process, it really felt good to vote yesterday. 

[BigSky]

IMHO- If you do not vote, you cannot complain!

I disagree and agree  to a point on that.

If one is too lazy to vote then they cannot complain.  However if one does not like any of the people running then they can refuse to vote for either person and still complain.  One shouldnt have to compromise their position to vote for the lesser of two evils IMO.


As to mudslinging.  If its truly about how the person votes on the issue or their stances, then it is something I want to hear about.  Far too often these people will say one thing while they actually vote another on various issues.  It are those things we need to know about IMO.

[Joe Paul]

I second what BigSky says. I for one, DISLIKE ALL POLITICIANS, and this being America have  the right to complain all I want. I say GIVE THE USA BACK TO THE CITIZEN.

[KT0930]

We ran into the same problems in Georgia with the long lines as they did in New Mexico. We held primaries for both parties, and there were HUGE numbers of people waiting. Part of the problem was they were using computers to check people in for the first time, and none of the polling places had enough stations. My husband said that when he went, the workers fully expected the line to take until close to midnight to empty completely, and the polls closed at 7:00. It was good to know that so many people turned out for the primaries, because that means that even more should turn out for the general election in November. I think the 2000 election really opened a lot of eyes that it really does matter if you get out there.

[Ang]

i  suppose  elections  have  there  good  and  bad  points  here  in  australia  we  put  up  with  political  drivel  for  about  6  weeks  before  hand  ,  but  are  required  by  law  to  vote.
which  sucks  big time  cause  in  melbourne  the  same  mob  have  been  in  power  for  nearly  12  years  as  the  alternative  is  just  not  there.