politics .....sigh

jenn52

. I absolutely hate this election, esp with our California propositions this year.

Isn't that the truth?  I think prop 8  has caused more strife than the presidential election.  In Sacramento yesterday the police had to be called because people on both sides of the issue got into it big time on a downtown street corner.

Joyce

I did get a call from one party (I will remain neutral) asking me if I was going to support their candidate.  I said, no.  They proceeded to tell me that they were going to be elected anyway and they are noting who is not voting for them and once they are in office I could expect to be "investigated" and possibly audited by the IRS....

I calmly said that I would be reporting them to the BBB and they could now count on being investigated themselves.  I know it was just a zealous pollster/support, but man...talk about intimidation!

mrstjohnson

They proceeded to tell me that they were going to be elected anyway and they are noting who is not voting for them and once they are in office I could expect to be "investigated" and possibly audited by the IRS....

That is horrific.  

Benedict

mrstjohnson

They proceeded to tell me that they were going to be elected anyway and they are noting who is not voting for them and once they are in office I could expect to be "investigated" and possibly audited by the IRS....

 

That is horrific.  

Yeah - I just blew it off.  Knowing that they can't/wouldn't do anything.  I think they were just trying to get me to say that I would vote for their candidate.  All voting here is supposed to be anonimous (and I think it truly is but maybe I am naive) - so there is no way once it gets out of the little slip thingy they can tell who voted for whom - just if you voted or not.  You could clearly tell it was a kid on the phone, just being an idiot.

Holy cow, that's ridiculous, you should definitely report them!

Day One of the Iraq war I lost a friend of 7 years.  For months and months after Sept. 11th I struggled to bite my tongue, tell her that we needed to agree to disagree, and leave politics out of our friendship.  But when the bombs started falling, she called me deliriously happy and celebrating.  I went off and we never spoke again.  What was sad was that she'd spent months saying her peace, pummeling my teen son with her views, etc etc etc and I'd held my tongue for the sake of the friendship.  One five minute speech in opposition to her views and she shut down the friendship forever.  Her loss but sad what people will do over politics.

luvmyswissy

My DH is not voting this year for the first time in his life.  No matter what I say, he say's - nope not this year!  Hates both choices sincerely and can't even bring himself to find one better than the other.

He does know that he could vote for a 3rd party candidate right? Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nadar...

Rather then waste his vote by not voting, he should vote for the candidate he believes in mostly. We know Mccain or Obama will win, but the more votes a third party gets, the more funding they get, and the better chance they will of having a chance at actually winning in future elections. Or at the very least the two "main" parties will start wondering where all their votes are going and what they should change to get them. So at least your vote can count for something, rather then wasting your chance at having a voice.

PiedPiper522

He does know that he could vote for a 3rd party candidate right? Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nadar...

Or just not vote for anyone.  There are plently of local elections and proposals to vote for and leave the presidential area blank.  You should always go and vote even if you don't pick someone.  For one, it is a right that should never be taken advantage of and for two, if you don't vote then you don't get to complain for the next four years and what fun is that!

ETA:  Didn't mean to imply that the expected winner will give us anything to complain about, but in politics there is ALWAYS something to complain about no matter who wins

I get upset when people get so ugly about politics.  My husband and I rarely agree on a candidate and yet we manage to live together in mostly harmony.  What is it with some people?

Joyce, if we have dinner and I can't decide what to order, just order for me, OK. LOL

PiedPiper522

He does know that he could vote for a 3rd party candidate right? Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nadar...

Do what I do. Write in a candidate. Frank Zappa (from the Mothers of Invention.) A troubled man for troubled times. The fact that Mr. Zappa has passed on shouldn't matter much.

wow I surely did not think this would merit a reply let alone two pages of civil views ...yeeehaw things can be pleasant when we all give them a chance can't they??

On my recent road trip I was listening to XM radio, and on one of the comedy channels a fellow was espousing his views about legalizing pot... yes I know another topic we can shelve for the time being...the funniest thing he said , something that so stuck in my mind was when he proudly boasted of being 37 years old and having never voted for a president....but he admited he had voted 48 times for the last American Idol.

Speaks volumes huh??

I loved Boston Legal tonight.  ( I always do I admit cheerfully) But tonight the banter was not simply funny it was intelligent and exciting and still patriotic.  I will mourn that show ending at the end of this season. I coaxed the hubs into recording the SNL Political Special , yet again it is my favorite way to view politics with a rueful smile on my face as skilled pundits find the funny button that each of us harbors. And Tina Fey..amazing I watched a Letterman interview with her and it was as good as her impersonations.

It is comforting knowing, as strongly as each of us feels about our candidates that out passion comes form a love of and for our country. It is also encouraging to note when the OP was read everyone was able to follow the chain of thought and share without belittling, berating or pounding the keys hoping to push a vote for anyone on all of us. That is what makes our country great in so many ways.

Thanks folks and what ever you do go vote tomorrow, don't throw it away just vote your heart this is a day that our kids and grand kids will one day discuss in school. It is a day to be a part of history  in the making.

Bonita of Bwana

 Funny I ignore the political threads - didn't on this one because of the "sigh" in it!  I'm tired of politics in general.  I work in an office in which I have vastly different political views than 99.99% of the others.  This wouldn't be bad if the others didn't bash everyone with different opinions than themselves.

Bonita of Bwana

I loved Boston Legal tonight.  ( I always do I admit cheerfully) But tonight the banter was not simply funny it was intelligent and exciting and still patriotic.  I will mourn that show ending at the end of this season.

Ditto!  That episode was one of the best ones ever.  It won't be easy for ABC to come up with something to fill that time slot.

Joyce

Well I just got back from voting...I was undecided up until the very minute I went into the booth. I stood there looking at the screen for a long time before picking the person I had been slightly leaning toward. Now I already wish I could change my vote. The sad thing is, I am never undecided on anything, I have very strong views on most political issues, I enjoy politics and even majored in Political Science in college...but this year, ugh, I was just completely uninspired.

I just came back from voting too.  Decided last night who I would vote for...   I decided to vote with my party and cross my fingers that who ever gets elected does a good job!  We need a leader we can count on.

I get off work at 3:30. And a delivery truck had arrived. He only had one pallet so I took it and still got going by 3:30. Got to my polling place by 4:00. No more than 10 minute wait in line (I had already checked last week to make sure we were registered.) They used touchscreen computers this time. I was used to the old punch cards. You know how hard it is to write Frank Zappa on a computer type of thing with no option of writing in?