BS: Vote!!

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 02:07 PM

Interesting

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:43 PM

Interesting link...but I couldn't find any amplification or verification elsewhere.(Art Brooks)

Here's a link to a Washington Times story about those international observers, to go with the one from the Independent I linked to earlier.

If it's a hoax it's been well planted. If it's real, it seems to have been fairly well buried.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:30 PM

Well, Pied Piper, that's exactly why I don't vote any party line.

I vote for the indys no matter what. Green party if I can, but if not, whomever is the independent (I.E. Libertarian). And if there's none of them, I vote against the encumbent.

Last night was a pain in the ass. I felt ill to begin with, and had to dodge all the "here's the Dem/Rep ticket...vote what we tell you" people. It's hard to dodge when your speed is turtle slow.

All in all, I am glad I went, though. I do consider it a priviledge that I am allowed to do so, and that, in order to protect that priviledge, I have to exercise it.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Pied Piper
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 11:49 AM

I was given to understand that the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans was similar to the difference between syphilis and gonoria.
Whichever way you vote the Government gets in and perpetrates the US states foreign policy on the World.
PP

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:46 AM

Well, those who wanted to did, I guess.

The political landscape here in Maine has improved marginally. We retained our two Democratic US House seats and picked up a Democrat for Governor. Pity we did not kick out the incumbant Republican US Senator. The legislative Democratic majority in the legislative house and senate appears to be more narrow. We have our first Green Party legislator. The Green Party candidate for Governor received about 10% of the vote, with about $900,000 of public financing available to him.

We managed to survive the Republican onslaught here in Maine without appealing to voter misgivings about invasion from other states to our south, or from Iraq. What we should have done is proposed union with Nova Scotia, but I only say that because as a folksing tourist I find Nova Scotia such a great place to visit.

Sigh!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:21 PM

Interesting link...but I couldn't find any amplification or verification elsewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:18 PM

It's getting toward limbo time, that time when nobody really knows what the outcome of the various tight races will be. I'll be joining my wife for a dinner break before she has to go back to her job at the state capitol and delete all the losers from her legislative database. She'll probably be hard at work doing that way past midnight. I'll do some partying with my local legislative candidates who I really expect to win, and who are well worth supporting. Then I'll make an early run to pick up some of our better sign panels before someone else scarfed 'em up.

Here's an appropriate Si Kahn song while we're waiting (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 for chord placement):

TALKIN' POLITICIAN

(Words & Music by Si Kahn © 1974
As recorded by JuneAppal on New Wood
Key: C (G/5))

G------------F
Just as long as I can remember,
C--------------D7
Every four years about November,
G-----------------------F
Folks that wouldn't talk to me on the street,
---C----------------------D7
Are coming in my house and wiping their feet;
G--------------C
Kissing my wife, kissing my babies,
------D
Well, I guess they'd even kiss my old mule
--------------------G
If she hadn't voted for Roosevelt.


Now they shake my hand, they smile and say,
"I'd like your vote come election day;
Now you don't need to know where I stand,
Just vote for me as many times as you can;
That'll be ten dollars now and ten dollars more,
Every time that you vote."

"Now I promise you, if I'm elected,
I'll raise the dead, have 'em resurrected;
I'll pave your road, put a bridge on your creek,
I'll sweep out your cow barn twice a week;"
Now there just might be something to that
'Cause I ain't never seen anyone who could shovel that stuff
As fast as a politician.

The election's come and the road's still muddy,
You try to find your old good buddy;
He's up at the capitol grinding his axes,
Only thing won't get cut will be your taxes;
I've been sliced this way so many times before,
I'm starting to look like coleslaw.

That hand that shook yours behind the plow,
That hand is in your pocket now;
You look for your mule, find her missing,
Better start hunting that politician;
But there's one good thing, weren't for politicians,
The rest of us wouldn't have anything to laugh at,
'Cept for tourists.

Regardless,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:03 PM

EBarnacle, in Alaska- and I suspect in other states- when you register to vote, you swear/affirm that you will not vote in another state. I suggest that it's a matter of conscience...

I too voted early- locally, we put on a big push to get a record number of voters this election and one way to do that is to be visible in order to keep reminding people to GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:52 PM

I did the deed.........

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:39 PM

McGrath, thanks for posting that link. I love it!!! I just e-mailed the story to several friends!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: chip a
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:04 PM

Well, I just came from the polls. My mother (she's 90) and I pretty much cancelled each other out. My wife tipped it back where I wanted things to go though! Not really anywhere near where I want things to go but as close as I could get with the candidates we had to choose from. It was a real temptation to vote independent all the way. I'm not convinced that that would be throwing away my vote at all. Just not convinced either way yet! Anyway, be glad you voted if you did and if you didn't, get your sorry bones out and do it!
:-), Chip

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:52 PM

Yo, YOR. Sorry about that mess you all got up there in Maryland but I'll guarentee that neither Ehrlich or Townsend will have the courage to fix it. Ya' got two choices and neither are popular. Either cut spending, like Warner has done just below you and end up with less and less services *or* find revenues to maintain current services.

And this isn't just Maryland and Virginia. It's danged near every state in the union. There are going to be fewer and fewer dollars being returned from Washington for states to use for eductation, health, transporation, etc. and *all* the governors are gonna be mighty unpopular for a while but.... whaddaya goinna do?

Well, you could decriminalize *victimless crimes* but John Ashcroft won't let ya'. That alone would save the US billions and billions of dollars in morality and values enforcment, courts, lawyers and prisons. But that makes too much sense.

Well, speaking of morality, YOR, if Ehrlich wins you can bet he'll have slot machines in every corner bar, in the laundry-mats, in the grocery stores and in the basements of churches. Gambling does seem to be a popular revenue source for Repubs. I don't play 'em myself but we got 'em in Charlestown, WV accross the river from me and they are very efficient at extracting revenue from the working class, who sit there and drop their meager wages trying to hit the big one...

But as fir the gas tax, YOR, like I said, they're either gonna cut your serives or figure out a way to pay for them...

Man, I would *not* like to win that Governor's race.

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Genie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:25 PM

Art, I'm with you. I'd gladly vote Green or Natural Law or one of those other populist-liberal third parties if they'd run candidates for local and state offices. They have a chance of winning some of those races and thus building support for the third party. But the only third parties that have any candidates on my (Oregon) ballot this time are the reactionary" Constitution" party (mostly anti-abortion/anti-choice and anti-gay rights), the Libertarians (half of whose agenda I support), and the Socialists (ditto). Sad to say, but I agree with the Demopubs/Dummycrats' platform as much as I do with any of the third party challengers' on this ballot. Where are the Greens, anyway?

Well, we vote by mail, so I've gotta go drop of my ballot at the local library branch.

Y'all vote, now.

Genie

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:06 PM

I see there's an international delegation of electoral observers this time to keep on eye son what happens in Florida. Including Russians and Albanians.

That could make it a lot harder to Jeb Bush and Co to do things quite so blatantly, for example by stopping the count. (Though I gather there are still nearly 100,000 people who still haven't been put back on the electoral roll after being frauidulently removed in 2000...)

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:42 PM

We have a lot of holidays in the US, but Election Day isn't one of them. However, this is the single most important day of the year. Vote for whoever you choose to vote for, but remember that a failure to vote at all means that you forfeit your right to criticise ANY politician for the next two years.

Personally, I mostly voted Democrat. The difference between the two parties here (New Mexico) is not all that great...right/right vs. left/center/right...but it does exist. I'll consider voting for a third party candidate when they get involved in LOCAL elections (eg, County Commissioner or State Representative) rather than being so conceited that they think they can be elected in state-wide races without showing what they can accomplish locally-assuming that winning is actually their intention. Meanwhile, a vote for a Green or Libertarian governor or senate candidate is a vote cast to the winds, and the last time I did that, Ronald Regan was elected. Apologies to those who think that anything that destroys the two-party system is ok...but I choose to exercise my right to disagree with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: YOR
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:23 PM

But, but, Bobert, our Maryland Demo's are talking about raising the gas tax by 10 cents, that will make us the highest gas tax state in the country. MD is already one of the highest tax states in the country, seems like da world. Then there's the 1.7 Billion in red money, and the Justice Dept investigation. See where 40 years of Demo rule has got us. Ain't politics great.

Me, I'm a Libby! Roy

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:16 PM

I am "sick as a dog" sick right now...

But, as soon as the Man comes home, he will haul my hurtin' ass out to the polls, and I'll stand just long enough to flip the bird...I mean, the toggles...to cast my vote.

Might then have to puke all over an encumbant, if I can find one.

I hate life long politicians. Whatever happened to "Statesmen" anyway?

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:09 PM

I voted today, even though I am not as politically astute as I should be on some of the local candidates because we just moved into this area. Next time around, I'm going to change my name to "None Of The Above" and see if I can get enough signatures to get on the ballot. I don't always vote Republican or Democrat, though. I don't want to reward any incompetent incumbent, no matter what the party is..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:38 AM

Interesting thing on the ballot this time around. The Working Families Party actually put up a couple of candidates for Judge that were not on any other Party's line. Is it possible that they actually develop into a real party...with their own slate of candidates? At the same time, I am glad they did not take away from the 'major' candidates.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Tweed
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:27 PM

Well, whatever you do, just get out there and vote. All the races seem to be close ones and of course every vote counts...unless you live in Florida like I do and then you got a 50-50 ....no...35-65 chance of your vote counting. But I'm gonna go vote just the same.
My house is bi-partisan, she's registered Republiphant and I'm a Dummocrat and guess which one of us never got a sample ballot sent in the mail to 'em? That's right, they left out the pore dummocrat, but I ain't gonna be thwarted. I'll figger it out tomorrow if I can wade through the hired thugs they're trying to insert to hold up the lines checkin' our ID's and cards. Nasty stuff happening lately down here, time for a change. Go vote!

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:34 PM

Genie: I forgive you. Heck, at least you ain't votin' for one of Junior's "yes, boys"...

Bobert

p.s. I voted fir a Dem (absentee ballot) last week for the House of Reps. I wrote the Repub. ast month and tolf here that I would vote against her if she voted for Juior's War Resolution. She did and I did. There we're noone else running against her... ( Oh, the guilt...)

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Mudlark
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:28 PM

I voted, had to send my absentee ballot off as of 10/31 (too few folks out here in the boondocks for a polling place). So the endless political ads, the frantic last minute calls from Hilary Clinton, are wasted on me. I vote green, not the Green Party, but the candidate that seems the least desstructive of the planet. A sorry way to vote, really....wish I had something to vote for, instead of against.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 04:23 PM

We have early voting here - I voted a week ago. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:12 PM

My tongue is not too firmly in my cheek on this one. When I moved from New Jersey to New York, I registered to vote in NY. My parents still get sample ballots for me in New Jersey. In other words, I could vote twice if I chose. I just don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Just Amy
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:05 PM

I like my vote to mean more, so if'n all y'all would just not vote, I would 'ppreciate it.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Genie
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:49 PM

Bobert, Midchuck,
Sorry, guys, but in some of the races, I gotta vote for the Demopub (instead of the Repocrat), 'cause the race is too tight and there's too much at stake right now (such as our Urban Growth Boundary in the Portland Metro area of Oregon or saving what's left of our ancient forests or our salmon runs).

If the race in Oregon for US Senator were close, I'd say it's even more important to support the Demopub Bradbury over the Repocrat Smith, because I shudder to think what will happen to our Federal Courts if Dubya gets a Repocrat House and Senate! But Bradbury's gonna lose big time, so I may vote socialist or something in that race, just to let folks know that I'm dissatisfied with the two big parties domination.

Anyway, sometimes ya gotta deal with "the art of the possible." Other times you can be an idealist.

Anyway, do vote early and vote often.*

Genie

*At least vote often in the sense of voting in every election.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: chip a
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:29 PM

EBarnacle, I hope that your tounge was in your cheek when you suggested voting more than once!
Midchuck, I've been struggling with this election and haven't been happy with ANY of my choices. You might have just shown me a route to take!
:-), Chip

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:26 PM

Or a Redemocrapublicant either.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:15 PM

Ditto, Peter...

Abstain from votin' for Repubocrats. Vote for the referendums, Vote for Greens. Vote for Libertarians. Heck, write yourself in if ya' want, but don't vote for a Repubocrat.

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:12 PM

Already did. Absentee ballot. Dear, oh, dear! Naughty ole uppity me!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: Midchuck
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:39 PM

And vote for third-party or independant candidates! People will tell you you're wasting your vote. Kick them hard in the crotch. We may not elect any third-party candidates, but if we can wreck the two-party system, we may get our country back!

IMO

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Vote!!
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:22 PM

I've seen this posted on other sites. Its commonness does not stop it from being relevant.

In addition to voting, get your neighbors out, too. If you are registered in more than one place, vote early and often [and try not to get caught].

Subject: BS: Vote!!
From: Amos
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:12 AM

From: The Executive Committee Against Uppity Citizens
Sent: Monday November 03 7:37 AM
To: MoveOn.org
Subject: Please don't vote.

Dear friend,

On behalf of Shell, Mobil, and Exxon; Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and GE;
all the Enrons, Halliburtons, and Harkens; President Bush, Vice
President Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and the other CEOs of the Cabinet;
and thousands of us who are working for a better life for the wealthiest
Americans, we have one simple request: Could you please just stay home
tomorrow?

See, we have things to do. Nations to invade. Wetlands to destroy.
Oil to drill. Courts to pack. Corporate taxes to cut.

What's frustrating for us is that we're coming up against some pretty
stiff resistance. We've spent hundreds of millions of dollars to secure
the Senate, but it looks like we just may lose it. Heck, we may even
lose the House. We don't quite get what it is about our agenda that you
people don't like, but it's clear that this time, you may be upset
enough to actually do something about it.

That's why we're writing this message to you today. Please don't vote.
Ask your friends not to vote. What could the harm be in sitting this
round out? If you could just stay home on Election Day, we can get back
to the important business of running the nation for you, and we won't
have to bother you again.

Thank you,
The Executive Committee Against Uppity Citizens