November 07, 2006

Despite attempts at disenfranchisement...

...by God, who is at this very moment dumping gallons of rain across the area, after I dropped the kids at school I bravely stood up to The Almighty and went and voted. As did a whole bunch of other folks. And for some reason, all of them were L thru S. ::shakes fist:: All the other little old people at the other tables didn't have much to do, at least when I first got there. It picked up again before I got my ballot though, and there were few empty spots at the voting booths.

Despite the temptation, I didn't mark in the straight party oval, because there were a couple of stinkers in the Republican ranks I couldn't bring myself to vote for--couldn't in good conscience vote for their challenger, either. For governor, I marked what I always do, a write-in for Shorty Price.

I fed my ballot into one of the optical scanners--voter #81, and this was at 7:15 a.m. That's some heavy early voting, at least in my little precinct.

Now then, for the commentary part--whatever happens, whoever wins, I am still an American. I still love this country more than any other on Earth. Even if Democrats won every single open seat, I'm not going to threaten to run to Canada, I'm not going to have to seek counseling, I'm not going to engage in dark conspiracies about how the Democrats gamed the voting machines (especially since everyone already knows everyone in the graveyard votes Democrat, there's no reason for them to have to learn anything about electronics), and I'm not going to change my feelings on what needs to be done for this country to continue to be great.

SO, all of you go vote, because if you don't, you don't have a right to complain when things don't go your way.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2006 08:37 AM
Comments

Since the races for congress, state senate, house of delegates and register of wills were uncontested (by Republicans), I wrote in myself for congress, my son Jonathan for register of wills, and various neighbors who are Republicans for state senate and house of delagates. One of said neighbors is actually on the ballot, running for a judgeship.

I didn't want to provide an excuse for invalidating my ballot by writing in Bozo the Clown and Mickey Mouse, but I did want to make a bit of a protest vote.

Posted by: steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at November 7, 2006 09:20 AM

I never have understood that "move to Canada" thing. Do the people who say they are moving there have any idea how cold it is up there?

Now me, I would move to Tahiti or some other nice warm spot.

Posted by: Larry Anderson at November 7, 2006 09:20 AM

Well, Larry--we've already established that anyone who feels as though they have to keep telling everyone how brilliant they are really can't be all that bright, so you know, Canada probably seems like a good deal to them. Anyway, once we get global warming kicked in good and strong, Canada will probably be less uncomfortable than it is now.

Steevil, be careful--everyone else might be writing you in, too, and you'll have to learn to be venal and corrupt.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2006 09:26 AM

Larry
It’s only cold if you don’t dress in natural fibers and do a lot of group hugs.
Ever notice conservatives and libertarians never threaten to move?

Posted by: jim at November 7, 2006 09:33 AM

Jim,

I think I just threatened to move but it more or less to get warm. Of course it is an empty threat since my wife says she is not moving again and she has the checkbook.

Posted by: Larry Anderson at November 7, 2006 09:42 AM

You can’t move –who would take care of the car?

Posted by: jim at November 7, 2006 09:44 AM

Mr. Anderson makes a good point.

I've heard Costa Rica is charming.

In addition to Canada being cold, one of the posters at Bill Quick's the other day said housing pirces in Vancouver were through the roof. I'd bet it's the same in Toronto and Montreal.

These threateners are not likely talking about moving to Calgary.

Posted by: Janis Gore at November 7, 2006 10:19 AM

Ms. Gore,

Isn't Calgary in Alberta which sort of a cold Texas?

Posted by: Larry Anderson at November 7, 2006 10:26 AM

I believe so, Mr. Anderson.

And that's a field I won't test.

You ever been to Lubbock in winter?

Posted by: Janis Gore at November 7, 2006 10:30 AM

This sounds like a punchline waiting for a joke...

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2006 11:40 AM

For some reason, I forgot to go vote in the last several weeks when we had the early voting polls open. So I went out this morning and the place was packed and people were parked a long way from the building. So I thought I'd come back later. I went at 10:30 and it was even more packed. It is never that busy. Hmph. So I guess I'll have to suck it up and face the crowds in a little while. Lucky for me though a friend just took the two older ones with her to the science museum so I don't have to deal with having my horde in tow when I make it out.

Posted by: Jordana at November 7, 2006 12:12 PM

Is it raining up that way, too? You know, if the political folks were smart, they'd have someone out there handing out umbrellas.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2006 12:15 PM

Some co-workers brought up a horrible scenario. Suppose Elijah Cummings (D-MD7) gets disqualified somehow and they have to look at who else got votes?!

Posted by: steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at November 7, 2006 02:50 PM

Oh, I'm sure it would turn out just fine. Nothing better than having putting someone in charge who doesn't actually WANT the job!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2006 03:03 PM