My voting experience.

:shakehead: I wanted to post something that I saw that occurred today while voting that I wanted to comment on.
We've had a problem in the past few years with getting people to staff all the polling places in our county. The hours are roughly 5:30 am to 10:30 pm and I guess you have to stay the whole time, and the pay isn't that great ,( @ $150-$200/day). Mostly elderly people have done the job. Since the Board of Elections has had trouble finding new people to take over the ones who can no longer do the job, they decided to consolidate some of the voting districts to one main place,(usually a church or school.)
Well the district where I vote was kept and a nearby district was consolidated to vote at our polling place. I was in the line waiting to vote when this elderly couple came in to vote. The guy was visibly upset and started to become quite vocal towards the poll workers. He started saying how he had to drive 4 miles in order to vote. Granted we are in a rural area, but c'mon 4 miles isn't very far. I felt like replying back to him that he should consider himself lucky that he can vote. There are many people living in other countries that aren't allowed or don't have the right to vote. Many others have to walk a long distance, ( certainly longer than 4 miles) to go to cast their vote in their country, sometimes under the threat of gunfire, or the risk of being injured or killed. I guess some people don't realize all they have and take for granted.

You ought to have told him if it was such a hassle he should have requested a mail in ballot, and he'd have not had to travel any farther than his mailbox.

I'm sad Florida fucked up the absentee ballots. I don't get to vote...

I'm sad Florida fucked up the absentee ballots. I don't get to vote...
Boy, Florida just can't get it right, can they?? :lol:

I also had some interesting voting day experiences.

On 2 separate occasions, I heard someone say something to this effect:
(once in regards to nominating and once in regards to electing a black man)
"For the first time in my life I'm proud of my country."
Wow. So until now, you've loathed your country and been embarrassed to be an American? This attitude gets so far under my skin I can't even describe it. I guess the reason this bothers me so much, is that I feel it's a cop-out. It's like saying "yeah the USA has done some stupid things, but don't blame me I'm ashamed."

I've been proud to be an American for as long as I can remember. I've disagreed, I've been disappointed, I've been outraged. But I've never been ashamed to tell someone where I was born. I get the feeling sometimes that pride in yourself, your country and your ancestry is something our culture is beginning to frown upon.

I'm ranting now...better wrap it up!

I live in a rural community and I waited about 30 minutes in line. The whole time everyone was discussing who they were voting for and why. Then thier were several comments that I cant even mention here about Obama. :disappoin

I find it funny for the last 6 months the media has done nothing but talk about Obama. He has only been a senator for 3 years. :shakehead

Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 4, 2005

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

It's because he was such a rapid riser, an up and coming threat that scared the shit out of the republicans.

I find it funny for the last 6 months the media has done nothing but talk about Obama. He has only been a senator for 3 years. :shakehead

So? That can be a good thing as well. When a politician is in office too long then they can become ineffective and corrupt. There have been movements in many areas of the country, (mine included) to start enacting term limits to have a change in who holds office. It is very hard for new individuals with new, fresh ideas to seek public office when they are up against someone who has been in office for a long time. It can be discouraging and we all lose out on the opportunity that someone may come along with some great ideas or plans .We keep voting in these incumbents with the "same old, same old" ideas and no wonder nothing gets done . Half the time these politicians are working towards their re-election and raising funds and making new friends rather than doing the job they were elected to do.
On the note of "inexperience, McCain's running mate Palin's political career is somewhat similar. Two years as governor,mayor previous to that and two terms on the Wasila city council in the 1990s (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/sarah_palins_experience_checkm.html). Same thing could be said about her. I think it's time we change things up a bit and make it possible for more individuals to be able to enter the political ring and run for office without being outspent by long term incumbents who are more interested in their needs than those of their constituents.

I think it's time we change things up a bit and make it possible for more individuals to be able to enter the political ring and run for office without being outspent by long term incumbents who are more interested in their needs than those of their constituents. I agree, wouldn’t it be nice to have a candidate to vote for that has an average family income; or even less. While campaigning, all politicians claim to support the “middle working class,” without any idea of what is like to be in that catagory, especially the ‘working’ part of the equation. This election was a good example of that; one candidate who could not remember how many houses he had and the other candidate who owns a million dollar home (on a senators salary) and just paid 650 million to buy the white house! One of them even said; “I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody”! I think it will be a cold day in hell before any of this so called “wealth” filters down to the working class. I assume they think we are all idiots working at Wally World and will be happy with a small token tax stimulus every few years! Give us a break from the insanity of the political norm; elect “Samuel J. Wurzelbacher” (Joe the Plumber) in 2012!

The following is a statement read by President-elect Barack Obama before his first press conference since Election Day.

First, we need a rescue plan for the middle class that invests in immediate efforts to create jobs and provides relief to families that are watching their paychecks shrink and their life savings disappear.
No shit Sherlock, where is that "rescue plan"? This certainly sounds like the words of a silver tongue devil to me, no plan nor substance! Notice again the term “middle class,” as so often used to describe the working class tax burdened majority! :screwy:

The following is a statement read by President-elect Barack Obama before his first press conference since Election Day.


No shit Sherlock, where is that "rescue plan"? This certainly sounds like the words of a silver tongue devil to me, no plan nor substance! Notice again the term “middle class,” as so often used to describe the working class tax burdened majority! :screwy:

What do you mean "silver tongue devil"?

sil·ver-tongued (slvr-tngd)
adj.
Having or exhibiting the power of fluent and persuasive speech; eloquent.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj. 1. silver-tongued - expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively; "able to dazzle with his facile tongue"; "silver speech"
eloquent, smooth-spoken, fluent, facile, silver

articulate - expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language; "articulate speech"; "an articulate orator"; "articulate beings"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Only time will tell if he is truly what he appears to be. The history books await his performance.

What do you mean "silver tongue devil"?

Thank you 03cavPA, for so eloquently describing the widely used American slang; “silver tongue devil,” no further explanation necessary, or warranted.:headshake

Only time will tell if he is truly what he appears to be. The history books await his performance.


Cheers, wasn't sure what it meant, and yeah, I hope he really does pan out to be what he appears, hopes high!

I agree, wouldn’t it be nice to have a candidate to vote for that has an average family income; or even less. While campaigning, all politicians claim to support the “middle working class,” without any idea of what is like to be in that catagory, especially the ‘working’ part of the equation. This election was a good example of that; one candidate who could not remember how many houses he had and the other candidate who owns a million dollar home (on a senators salary) and just paid 650 million to buy the white house! One of them even said; “I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody”! I think it will be a cold day in hell before any of this so called “wealth” filters down to the working class. I assume they think we are all idiots working at Wally World and will be happy with a small token tax stimulus every few years! Give us a break from the insanity of the political norm; elect “Samuel J. Wurzelbacher” (Joe the Plumber) in 2012!

Good luck with that, I don't see how the "average" American could ever have a hope to win the presidency...

Thank you 03cavPA, for so eloquently describing the widely used American slang; “silver tongue devil,” no further explanation necessary, or warranted.:headshake


I am trying hard to hack your crap, but you don't need to spit the dummy, seppo.

I am trying hard to hack your crap, but you don't need to spit the dummy, seppo.:confused: :angryfire
Urban Dictionary:
Seppo: Slang for Americans - as septic tank rhymes with yank, but Americans are also full of shit like septic tanks.:cya:

I wouldn't sweat it much. Davo already admitted in another thread how much it sucks living upside down. :redface: :biggrin:

And yeah, living up side down sucks :lol2:

Peace

It all makes a lot more sense now. :lol:

No shit Sherlock, where is that "rescue plan"? This certainly sounds like the words of a silver tongue devil to me, no plan nor substance! Notice again the term “middle class,” as so often used to describe the working class tax burdened majority! :screwy:

Thats what I've been trying to say for the last 6 months!
The guy did make promiss's that are going to be hard to live up too, and I'm waiting by my mail box. :grinno:

:lol:

C'mon. I don't think anybody with half a brain thought he'd be able to keep those promises. Give it time. He'll show for what he is; just another politician saying anything and everything to win the seat.

Wait til the whackos in his own party hold him to some of the things he promised. It will be a good show, but we'll all suffer for it. :1zhelp:

Way to go Michael, I couldn't have said it better myself! :shakehead

Why McCain Lost

Thursday, November 6, 2008 4:50 PM

By: Michael Reagan

Barack Obama is president-elect of the United States because the Republican Party and John McCain handed him the presidential election on a silver platter.

The Republican Party and the Bush White House walked away from Republican ideals, and they walked away from Republican values.

George Bush allowed the Republican Congress to overspend in the first six years of his administration without once using the veto pen; he blindsided the conservative Republican members of Congress on many occasions, and walked away from the base of his party on immigration reform and other issues such as Medicare and No Child Left Behind.

He refused to sit down and break bread with the conservative members of his own party on Capitol Hill, yet believed that he could break bread with the liberal Democrats in Washington the way he did with the Democrats in Austin, Texas. And when he discovered it didn't work in Washington, it failed to stop him from trying and trying and trying over again what was obviously impossible.

Finally, the coup de grace was Dick Cheney's endorsement of John McCain in the waning days of the campaign, which gave Barack Obama the final nail to put in the coffin of McCain's campaign, which was striving mightily to distance him from the Bush administration.

Then there was McCain's campaign itself. It was the worst campaign since Bob Dole's on the Republican side, and the best campaign since Ronald Reagan’s on the Democrat side.

The McCain campaign was a campaign out of the 20th century, while the Democrats were running a campaign in the 21st century.
We need to understand that this was not a referendum on Reaganomics and Ronald Reagan. This was a referendum on George Bush, and Bush-ism, and Bush’s lack of leadership.

John McCain wouldn't stand up against the Democrats in Washington D.C. on the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac scandals, against expanding government, and against a $700 billion bailout, He did not support traditional values of conservative Republicans.

The economic collapse was the Democrats’ fault. Yet John McCain never bothered going after them on that. He let the burglars walk away with the loot because those were his friends, and, with George Bush, failed to point the finger of blame at the people who caused the financial collapse that has plunged the nation into a certain recession.

Bush had the bully pulpit but failed to use it, and the Democrats walked away.

Shockingly, John McCain failed to use the most potent weapon in his arsenal — the culpability of Barack Obama and his friends in the wholesale looting of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that led to the current debacle. McCain had the goods, but wouldn't exploit them.

The McCain campaign made inadequate use of Gov. Sarah Palin, who had enormous crowd appeal. A lot of people voted for John McCain because of Sarah Palin.

There were bigger a crowds because of Sarah Palin. Yet some of the functionaries in the McCain campaign are trying to point the finger at her for McCain's defeat.

John McCain lost because of his lack of a clear message. He needed more than the fact that he is a maverick. His answer to the economic crisis was a $300 billion bailout for delinquent mortgagees. He was offering welfarism, while Barack Obama was offering socialism.

People laugh at me when I tell them the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans take a week longer to embrace communism.
This was not a referendum on Ronald Reagan. As a matter of fact, my dad might well have voted for Barack Obama just based on what he saw his party doing.

Finally, I hope that when Barack Obama was making elaborate and extravagant promises about what he was going to do, he was flat-out lying.

I hope Barack Obama will not be what he has promised to be. I hope he doesn't have a civilian security force. I hope he doesn't raise my taxes. I hope he doesn't spread the wealth. I hope he doesn't raise taxes on corporate America. I hope he looks at nuclear power. I hope he allows us to drill. I hope that there will be no revival of the fairness doctrine.

My voting experience was very uneventful. I noticed all the Demos in line were punching "Straight Democratic Ticket" # 6 and were out of there in like a minute so I said what the hell. For the first time ever in my life I punched "Straight Republican Ticket" #5. One lady was turned away from the polling place because she recently moved in from out of state and failed to register to vote. :rolleyes:


On the septic tank issue I was wondering where all our crap wound up and now I know. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

When you flush a toilet "down under" doesn't the water swirl clockwise? :screwy:

I hope Barack Obama will not be what he has promised to be. I hope he doesn't have a civilian security force. I hope he doesn't raise my taxes. I hope he doesn't spread the wealth. I hope he doesn't raise taxes on corporate America. I hope he looks at nuclear power. I hope he allows us to drill. I hope that there will be no revival of the fairness doctrine.

Out of all the things he wants to do, the "civilian security force" would probably be the easiest one to do and the one that might have the biggest potential to impact all of us if given too large a scope of power. I don't see it as a good thing, by any means.

I think we'll see the fairness doctrine go full bore and the social issues will come to the fore. I also see the feds dictating more to the states on issues like Prop 8 and overturning some of those referenda in the name of civil rights.

Of interest regarding Prop 8; reports say minorities supported Prop 8 and that's how it passed. Obama may have won the presidency, but he might not have overwhelming support for some of those issues.