Comments on: Please vote!

By: Kelley

Kelley — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:12:14 +0000

Thank you all very much!

By: Phoenix

Phoenix — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:49:22 +0000

Some heated politicking here in WA, yeah? I so want to see that lying skeeze Reichert go down…

The toughest call, I thought, was the assisted suicide initiative. No good choice there.

By: Jennifer D

Jennifer D — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:56:39 +0000

The polls here open at 7, and I was in line. It rained last night and into the early am, so everything was still wet and glistening. The clouds were breaking up and the morning sun was golden – moving across the mountains behind us. There were some low clouds still hanging in the valleys, and there was a nip in the air. In short it was a beautiful morning. The kind of morning with hope and promise in the air.

And I voted for the first serious African American for presidential candidate. He’s not perfect, but he’s not horrible either. I believe that is a sign of progress for this country.

There were 15 or 16 ballot measures to vote on as well. Prop 8 has been widely publicized. I think it is going to be very close, but my feeling is that it will lose. I hope.

There was a lesser known prop about abortion as well. It has to do with minors and parental approval. I think it will be a bad thing for women’s rights if it passes, but it’s likely to pass I think.

The other stuff was mostly bond measures for one thing or another. A lot of them are very complicated, and purposely misleading. I voted no on most of them simply because CA has no money right now and can’t afford it. Some of them I wanted to vote yes on (environmental and traffic stuff), but I thought the solutions to real problems were not good solutions.

And one thing on ethical treatment of animals destined for food. Less time in cages, etc.

I can’t say that I thought there was much there that will change things for the better, but I felt good about it. It felt good to vote. Good to be there with other people who gave a damn. Who cared enough to get up a little earlier and go stand in line and do their small part.

Then I stopped by Starbucks for some tea. There was another huge line because Starbucks is giving away coffee today.

I felt a sense of comaraderie. Surprised me. For some reason the U2 song “Beautiful Day” kept going through my mind.

By: Rory

Rory — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:49:25 +0000

I voted this morning at 6:00 am, there were a number of people on line which was wonderful. I believe that this is an historic moment and I am elated to see people participating in their right to choose.

I feel optimistic and hopeful, I am glad the campaign rhetoric will finally cease. The process by which we elect a President is flawed but it is one we have to live. As far as I am concerned tomorrow is day one, I don’t take to heart to many things that are said during the campaign. I know that managing the media and controlling the message are all part and parcel to gaining higher office. I have no idea what kind of President Barack Obama will be. I do think he is smart and I am confident that he will surround himself with an intelligent and thoughtful administration. For the first time in a long time I feel positive about the future and about my country.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:34:12 +0000

I voted (wouldn’t miss it — I have always voted since I first became eligible in 1969), and I feel crummy. Why? Because I voted for a candidate who wants to continue the U.S. occupation of Iraq; wants to increase the size of the army; wants to escalate the conflict in Afghanistan; would like to attack Iran and Pakistan and who knows where else; promises to continue the embargo against Cuba and badmouths popular democratic movements elsewhere in Latin America; agrees that Social Security is in crisis and probably will try to privatize it if elected; has no solution to America’s healthcare problems except more corporate subsidies; talks about extending offshore drilling and nuclear power; voted for the renewal of the Patriot Act and of telecom immunity under FISA; voted for the Bush-Paulson giveaway, and still professes his faith in “free markets” and “free trade.”

I considered writing in Eugene Victor Debs, but chickened out. I’m more brainwashed than I like to admit.