News highlights:
Wow. Lots 'o people in Chicago's Grant Park for Obama.
I love NBC's conversion of the 30 Rock ice rink into a hand-painted electoral map. (NHL, please take note.)
The head anchor of Fox's coverage looks like David Bowie. His eyebrows give him a look of surprise.
More to come.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Post #5 (written by Mrs. Nation)
Hello! I am Mrs. Nation. I was asked to write about my voting experiences today. I don't think they were especially unique, but maybe I can shed light on the increase in voter turnout.
About a month ago a nice young lady from the Democratic office stopped by to sign us up for absentee ballots. So we did. The ballots came, and they went into the pile of mail we will look at later, and that was that. But then two weeks ago, another person from the office stopped by and left a note on the door reminding us to fill those out. Dan was also reminded at church by someone who was volunteering to remind people. Dan filled his out. I wanted to push the buttons on the machine, so I did not.
On Saturday, someone stopped by to remind us again to fill those out and send them. Dan said he did and would remind me. On Monday, someone stopped by to remind to me to send in my ballot, and I said I was going to the polling place because I wanted to push the buttons and he didn't need to worry about me. This afternoon, seconds after I got home from work and was heating up lunch, someone stopped by, and I told them I was going to vote after my doctor appointment, and that I knew I had to take my absentee ballot with me and surrender it so I could vote.
So, that is was I did. I had to sign the ballot and write "Spoiled" on it. Then I filled out a form, and got ready to press the buttons, when I was told there were no buttons. There were only paper ballots, and I had to take my ballot to a station, use the felt tip marker, and fill in the dots. I was so disappointed. No buttons?!? So I filled in the dots with the marker, and took it to the scantron lady, who wouldn't even touch the ballot. She made me run it through the scantron.
Later this afternoon I was teaching a piano lesson when yet another person knocked on the door to remind me to vote. I told her I did an hour ago, and she was content with that and left.
I called my mom to tell her how disappointed I was about the scantron and she said the same thing happened to her, but she didn't get to scan her own, and was sad that she had to hand it to someone to scan for her. By the way, there were only about 10 people voting when I was there, and 3 in line, and my mom said at her polling station she was the only person.
At least I got to vote, right? Too bad they didn't have "I voted" stickers.
Election eve
The night before the election, Mrs. Nation and I decided to be good neighbors. We baked cookies and delivered them to the local Republican and Democratic headquarters. We packaged up two plates of cookies and walked downtown. We visited the Republicans first, about 9 p.m. In a lot illuminated only by the office lights, we saw three vehicles – two pickup trucks and a sedan. Inside, three campaign workers greeted us with a degree of surprise – and a cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan.
They seemed to be craving an audience and we spent the next thirty minutes politely listening and answering questions. Mrs. Nation fielded the always dangerous abortion question, while I addressed questions about immigration, taxes, and socialism. The tenor of our dialogue was America is Changing, and that is Bad. With the Fox News Channel playing in the background, we had become a sounding board for their frustrations about an impending electoral loss.
While we discussed Obama and Palin, McCain’s name never came up. One worker, adorned in a “Read my lips – elect Palin” t-shirt, asked what I thought about Palin. “She has charisma,” I answered. “She’s personality-plus.” The worker then read notes from a Subway napkin about Palin’s experience versus Obama’s. (Did you know that Sarah Palin has a higher security clearance than Barack Obama?) Palin was clearly the draw for these staffers: they had met Palin and had a sign she had autographed hanging in the middle of the back wall of the main room.
After taking a few pictures, we parted company with the Republicans and headed to the Democrats’ office. The room exuded a cool confidence: we found a relaxed, focused group of campaign workers (at least 10) and a table full of Obama materials. They greeted us with a little skepticism – after all, we had just come from the Republican office – but were excited about the cookies. Some campaign workers continued to work in back rooms, two workers stepped out for a smoke break and two others relaxed on a well-worn, dated sectional couch. Three different workers recognized us: one was a colleague from my office, another had met me at the district convention, and the third had just visited our house earlier in the day, reminding us to vote.
Conclusions? In this Jewel of the Prairie, in a little gem of a state (as Molly from Bittersweet likes to say), Obama can take a victory lap. Yes, he can. The local Republican campaign workers are rightly worried about Democratic control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. However, the Democrats would be foolish to interpret their victories as a mandate. The past two elections have served as de facto referenda of poor leadership in our federal government. Before those about to assume power begin to act on any perceived mandate, they must begin to restore the checks and balances that have made our government the envy of the world. Let us hope and pray that our leaders can institute solutions that will begin to heal our nation’s wounds.
I sent in my ballot Thursday. Some people have complained about the cost of elections and the amount of work it takes. To them, I say: it is the cost of freedom, the dues for democracy.
One final thought: I find it interesting that people - including me - have taken pictures of their ballots. Why is this? Perhaps we want to document our votes for posterity?
They seemed to be craving an audience and we spent the next thirty minutes politely listening and answering questions. Mrs. Nation fielded the always dangerous abortion question, while I addressed questions about immigration, taxes, and socialism. The tenor of our dialogue was America is Changing, and that is Bad. With the Fox News Channel playing in the background, we had become a sounding board for their frustrations about an impending electoral loss.
While we discussed Obama and Palin, McCain’s name never came up. One worker, adorned in a “Read my lips – elect Palin” t-shirt, asked what I thought about Palin. “She has charisma,” I answered. “She’s personality-plus.” The worker then read notes from a Subway napkin about Palin’s experience versus Obama’s. (Did you know that Sarah Palin has a higher security clearance than Barack Obama?) Palin was clearly the draw for these staffers: they had met Palin and had a sign she had autographed hanging in the middle of the back wall of the main room.
After taking a few pictures, we parted company with the Republicans and headed to the Democrats’ office. The room exuded a cool confidence: we found a relaxed, focused group of campaign workers (at least 10) and a table full of Obama materials. They greeted us with a little skepticism – after all, we had just come from the Republican office – but were excited about the cookies. Some campaign workers continued to work in back rooms, two workers stepped out for a smoke break and two others relaxed on a well-worn, dated sectional couch. Three different workers recognized us: one was a colleague from my office, another had met me at the district convention, and the third had just visited our house earlier in the day, reminding us to vote.
Conclusions? In this Jewel of the Prairie, in a little gem of a state (as Molly from Bittersweet likes to say), Obama can take a victory lap. Yes, he can. The local Republican campaign workers are rightly worried about Democratic control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. However, the Democrats would be foolish to interpret their victories as a mandate. The past two elections have served as de facto referenda of poor leadership in our federal government. Before those about to assume power begin to act on any perceived mandate, they must begin to restore the checks and balances that have made our government the envy of the world. Let us hope and pray that our leaders can institute solutions that will begin to heal our nation’s wounds.
I sent in my ballot Thursday. Some people have complained about the cost of elections and the amount of work it takes. To them, I say: it is the cost of freedom, the dues for democracy.
One final thought: I find it interesting that people - including me - have taken pictures of their ballots. Why is this? Perhaps we want to document our votes for posterity?
Monday, November 3, 2008
ANNOUNCEMENT: Election night live blog tomorrow!
Dannation will blog about the election tomorrow.
Here are some quick election observations and thoughts:
- While it's no surprise that Andrew Sullivan has endorsed Obama, he has eloquently interpreted the political situation that makes Obama better suited to be president. The next four years will likely be difficult for our nation - wars, foreign policy, restoring the Constitution at home, restoring our reputation abroad.
Part of the reason why Obama is better suited is expressed by hilzoy. Obama has demonstrated composure and restraint in comparison to McCain's reactionary moves. Our nation has been well-served by acting with the long-term in mind, and we need a leader who acts with our future in mind. As Sullivan states:
Informercial:
Palin rap:
- Sullivan's analysis of Obama from December 2007 is also worth reading.
- 538: Best. Election. Analysis. Someone buy those boys a round, please.
- Saying things with periods: Biggest. Cliche. Ever.
Here are some quick election observations and thoughts:
- While it's no surprise that Andrew Sullivan has endorsed Obama, he has eloquently interpreted the political situation that makes Obama better suited to be president. The next four years will likely be difficult for our nation - wars, foreign policy, restoring the Constitution at home, restoring our reputation abroad.
Part of the reason why Obama is better suited is expressed by hilzoy. Obama has demonstrated composure and restraint in comparison to McCain's reactionary moves. Our nation has been well-served by acting with the long-term in mind, and we need a leader who acts with our future in mind. As Sullivan states:
The truth is: we are in a war for the future of human civilization. We are fighting for a world in which destructive technology need not collide with fierce religious fundamentalism to annihilate us all; for a world in which dialogue across cultures and religions and regions (even within America) is essential if we are to survive. We need to win the argument in the developing world; we need to reach out and persuade the Muslim middle - especially the next generation in Iran and Iraq and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Turkey and Western Europe - about the virtues of democracy and constitutionalism. We cannot do that if we trash our own values ourselves. It is self-defeating. We cannot be a beacon to the world until we have reformed ourselves.- Self-effacing McCain is better than Attack McCain. On Saturday Night Live, His mock QVC informercial with Sarah Palin impersonator Tina Fey was even more hilarious than Amy Poehler's Palin rap. James Fallows interprets McCain's SNL appearance as a sign of McCain's electoral concession. Here are the clips:
Informercial:
Palin rap:
- Sullivan's analysis of Obama from December 2007 is also worth reading.
- 538: Best. Election. Analysis. Someone buy those boys a round, please.
- Saying things with periods: Biggest. Cliche. Ever.
Peanut Butter Cups
Friends of Dannation know our feelings about the marriage of chocolate and peanut butter. (Hint: Mmmm.) Naturally, for Hallowe'en I handed out Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - the regular-sized ones. I may have checked a few for quality assurance. Today, I realized the packaging changed. While the deliciousness remains in the familiar brown cup, the packaging has changed. Gone is the white cardboard square and the sealed wrapper, in favor of the tear-on-the-side plastic. (I had to eat several to notice the change.)It is a good change because there is less waste, but the experience of opening a Reese's has changed. Part of enjoying a Reese's was peeling the wrapper of the bottom, akin to opening a package. Oh, the anticipation. Imagine the experience of a Tootsie Roll with out untwisting the wrapper? Or a Dum-Dum lollipop without a stick?
I need something to comfort me as I recover from the shock. I think I'll have another Reese's.
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