Damn Right, I Voted!

ACU Frank

That's what I wanted my sticker to say.

In line 5 minutes before the polls opened, voted and out the door in less than 20 minutes.

joannie

Light turn out in your area, huh? The wait to vote at my precinct this morning was over 30 minutes. People were lined up out the door.

plynnl

In Washington you can vote by mail and it has to be postmarked by 8:00 p.m on the day of the election. Voted last week. I can't believe people are standing in line over 5 hours to vote. I am very glad people are that dedicated.

Paul in Cannon Beach

We vote by mail in Oregon. Its the only option. We also don't pump our own gas. And we blow up whales but that's another story.

I voted for McCain but I'll probably be rooting for Obama to win tonight. I know that sounds odd but I recognize that there is a great deal of desire for change in this country and I fear that people will feel very disaffected if Obama loses. So many of them have totally invested themselves into this campaign. After 8 years of Pres. Bush, its probably time for the other side to have a shot at leading the country.

marina

Damn right I voted: 2 weeks ago, stood in line 5 minutes!!
I voted for Obama and I am not going to root for McCain.
With all due respect Paul I truly do not understand your reasoning.
My 2 cents are here so let's hope for the best for all of us!!
Ciao

cnghr

I always vote by mail if I'm given the option, and I sent in my ballot last week. I took great pleasure in telling any live person that happened to call trying to get me to vote for their candidate "Sorry, I've already voted!"

sonny

A LIVE person calling. .WOW. . all I got were those damn annoying recordings. . I wonder if they really think they have any impact? I can't imagine they do.

Wildsporty

Those annoying calls have an impact alright...I vote for the other person.

Shirley

ACU Frank

Turnout is heavy, but we know how to run a polling place. Plenty of volunteers handing out ballots, plenty of pencils, and plenty of tables and chairs. The only real line was at the machine you feed your ballots into.

Paul in Cannon Beach

Marina,

I can't vote for Obama. I disagree with his record and statements on abortion and I dont believe that he is who people want him to be. I dont believe he has the experience or the record of accomplishment for this position.

HOWEVER, alot of people have had to go through 8 years of the Bush presidency and part of me is sympathetic to them. I think change can be healthy and I believe an Obama win will create a sense of optimism in this country. Whether its justified or not is up for debate.

A Mccain win (especially a close or disputed win) could be very problematic. That would be the worst case scenario.

SO I voted Mccain and will root for Obama to win. Clear?

plynnl

Paul's Oregon whale story is a classic and local television viewers have been subjected to that video over and over for the past 18+ years.

Go Obama!

marina

Sorry Paul but it isnot clear at all.
Your statement is one oxymoron after another.
You believe that McCain's presidency will be "problematic" but you vote for him anyway?
Uhm.....

sonny

I early voted also. . two weeks ago. Less than 5 minutes.
Might want to watch this thread. I heard a rumor censorship was alive and well here again. Things might start going POOF
At this point I am just glad it is almost over. .Regardless of the outcome, I fear a LONG 4 years.
Working for a municipality, we have a lot of interest in our local elections. Two new commissionors, one of whom might be a former, now retired employee and good friend. Little more exciting to me when it is close to home and you actually know the players.

Paul in Cannon Beach

You don't seem excited about either candidate, Sonny.

sonny

Good and accurate observation, Paul

ray a

Me too. I'm going to walk into the booth ( we have the old fashioned mechanical machines), close my eyes, and click whichever lever my hand falls on. Maybe it will be the Socialist candidate, or Ralph Nader. Maybe I'll write in Marina's name.

Paul in Cannon Beach

By the way, dont forget to get your free cup of coffee at Starbucks and free ice cream at Ben and Jerry's for voting.

ray a

I just realized, Marina can't be president. I found out she's an illegal alien. So, I'll have to write in Paul's name.

KSR6450

I tried to get Ray to let me start a write in with him as President; but he said he didn't have the time. x:-( His cabinet choices would have been great though!

I voted absentee in Florida so we will see what problems arise there. My vote got discarded in 2000. Doesn't leave you with a good feeling...

Anymore an election has become a choice between the 'lesser of two evils' rather than something to be excited about. It didn't seem to be that way when I was younger. Maybe I am becoming jaded?

sonny

Why did your vote get discarded?
I am worried about my mom. She is 90 and her penmenship has failed terribly. She voted by mail and I am afraid they might discard hers due to signatures not matching. They said there were 500 of those. It will break her heart. Hoping for the best.

KSR6450

Seminole County was contested by one party who had the absentee ballots discarded. I am now a Lake County resident, so hopefully that won't be an issue. The Florida ballot I voted did not have any places where you write in (except for Pres); There wasn't anywhere on my ballot that the signature had to match...I only had to sign it once (I hope!).

Hopefully hers will be fine x:D

Dutch2

This is the first opportuniyt for my 19 year old son to vote. As we were discussing the candidates and their platforms last night he commented that when this election first started there were some really good candidates that he could get behind and support. But now he also believes that it has come down to the lesser of the two evils to select.
Went by to vote early this morning and they were lined up outside the building. Will try again on the way home.
God bless America...

Paul in Cannon Beach

Thats not been what I've seen. I am not an Obama supporter as I've mentioned before but alot of my friends are very fervent and passionately supporting him. Many are volunteering with the campaign. Thats partly why I hope he wins. I worry for their emotional stability if Obama loses.

Wildsporty

I am with Sonny on the not excited about either one. I actually wrote in "None of the Above" on my ballot. couldn't in good conscious vote for either one. I do understand where you are coming from Paul.

Shirley

ray a

Marina called Paul an oxymoron. That takes guts. I nominate her for President of the Forum. She's perfect.

ACU Frank

Did she use oxy? I missed that part.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I second her nomination.

ACU Frank

I'll bet the people at Youtube are sorry to see the election coming to an end.

KSR6450

Are oxymorons allowed to second? Maybe that is what is wrong with this election!

ACU Frank

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 11-04-08 AT 04:03PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Apparently, Paul's attitude is not unique. I just heard almost identical words from one of our employees. This senior employee "can't" vote for a pro-choice candidate due to religious reasons. However, the follow-up comment (as best as I can remember, word for word) was: "I haven't seen people this excited about the future of our country since Kennedy, and I miss that feeling." It's weird.

NaeNae55

Obama does remind me a lot of Kennedy. I ended up voting republican, but I can't help wondering if I voted the right way. I like them both, which is weird. I think I could not get behind Obama because of the abortion issue, but my final selection was based on a number of issues. Either one will have a tough row to hoe.

If the republicans win and the economy doesn't turn around pronto, is it unlikely that they will hold a major office for years and years. If the democrats win and also run congress, we might all be in serious trouble. Historically speaking, whenever we have had one party so completely in power our country has ended up in deep Bandini. Either way there could be a bumpy road ahead. Nevertheless, it is good to see history being made. It gives one hope...even if it is hanging on by a thread.