Thoughts/feelings about the election? (10/26/08)

I have decided to keep my feelings about the election and politics as of late to myself.

I really don't need to poke the stick of frustration at myself.

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Honestly, I don't think of this as a blog and I don't really want to discuss politics here.
I like everybody too much.

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You're damned if you do and damned if you don't!

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Inspiring vs. Whiny & Bitter
21st Century Leader vs. Cold War Warrior
Brilliance vs Average
Choice vs Anti-Choice
Steady vs Erratic

How can anyone be undecided?

I voted early and have volunteered at the local Obama office. I've given financial donations. I wear my allegiance on my bumper and my chest (Vote Barack Nov 4 t-shirt). I was one of the first 100,000 donors to Obama...back when he was still exploring a run because he moves me, inspires me, gives me a reason to believe we have the stones to make the hard changes and sacrifices necessary to right this ship called America.

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I'm SO very tired of all the bashing. I'll be glad when its OVER.
I'll be happier if Obama-Biden win!
A woman voting for Palin is like a chicken voting for Col Sanders.

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1. the possibility of an african-american president (and an african-american first lady!) moves me deeply and gives me tremendous hope.

2. that the civil rights of gay people are once again up for a popular vote in Calif (and Fla and Ariz) enrages me.

3. the hope I feel about Obama helps temper the disgust I feel about the tyranny of the majority on gay rights.

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I'm nervous about Prop 8...I just got married last month to my partner of five years and I hope I'll still be married after November 4th.

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It can be summed up by their initials

MP vs OB


and O will win. He has $150 million to spend still. McCain has $35 Million. Game over.

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Constantly. Worry, joy over and over.

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I hold both the Democrats and the Republican Congress responsible for the
catastrophy of the financial markets. All of Congress was complicit in the debacle on Wall St. Its time we jettison the Democratic and Repub. parties in favor of Green/ Libertarian/ Indy Parties.

Our two party system does not work any longer. I say Let the whole thing crumble so a new paradigm of leadership and government may rise from the ashes.

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Last time I tried you wouldn't put it in the email! [This was an oversight which sometimes happens; answers occasionally get lost. I have a strict no-edit policy. I've since apologized to this participant.] I guess its safe now......
Definitly the most important of my time. I'm tired of those "on the fence". As David Sedaris explained its like being offered a chicken dinner or shit with broken glass in it, the people on the fence stop to ask how the chicken is cooked. It usually comes down to covert racism, I just wish we can at least be honest about it and move on as a country.
I've already wriiten letters to local newspapers on my feelings about Palin. I won't even go there, but I can just say that McCain's slogan of "COuntry First" needs serious reconsideration. It was an obvious attempt to get Hillary's voters. Which made me realize how stupid he must think women are.
Oddly enough I think I had much more respect for McCain before the election, although I didn't agree with him. Now I'd be hard put to conjure up basic respect. Its kinda sad to see what this election has done to him. Definitly branded the maverick.
This election has given me hope though. Obama's campaign has definitly energized citizens and for the first time, in my life at least, I felt motivated to be a part of the process. Its kind of like we're being handed a chance to get out country back. We ARE the change we've been waiting for. So god help us if there's another"problem" with the polls on election day because I think this America ain't gonna stand for that! So at least Americans are more INVOLVED, so as far as I'm concerned Obama has already won. His campaign has truly motivated and inspired many Americans.

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When Obama wins, the economy will improve overnight. Remember when Bill Clinton won the first time? His “It’s the Economy, Stupid” focus got him elected, and once in the White House, our “bad economy” seemed to just go away, mainly because we all could just exhale, believing that a smart man was finally at the helm.

Obama shines far brighter than Clinton, as his ego seems to be fully in check. I can only imagine what effect his new presidency will have on our economy. That’s my prediction, anyway.

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scared that Mc Cain/Palin will win. hoping that racisim doesn't keep Obama from getting elected. Worried about Prop 8, worried that it will pass. Hopeful that maybe things could change with this election, but gun shy from the past 2 elections. I will be at the polls voting for Obama, and No on Prop 8 and hope for the best.

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Oh please oh please oh please let Obama win.

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it's a turning point. a big one. but regardless of who wins the biggest test will be how people respond.

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Obama please!

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This should have been asked months earlier to save some people grief.

I am a political junkie, and I have been since 1974. Things are a little bit different now. Elections can be watched a minute at a time now because of the intensely increased rate of communication. Since this one is arguably the most important in decade, a lot of people have fallen in the trap of watching it minute-by-minute, and through this trap has fallen many people who were politically apathetic in the past. Someone was explaining how the Phillies winning the World Series had hurt McCain's chances to me today. (Yikes: eyeballs peeled a quarter of an inch away; what does the forest look like when you eyeball leaves?) I made a decision months ago to back off. I still read my daily paper (The New York Times) and other less frequently published periodicals, but I only took in-depth looks at the election every two weeks, starting in July. For the past three weeks, it has been one week at a time.

I have been able to breathe. I have been able to use my thirty plus years of junkiedom to see past things people have been tearing their hair out about. The only real moments of worry I have had have been caused since July by Bill and Hillary Clinton. I knew exactly who Sarah Palin was and the moment I saw her face as McCain's Vice-Presidential nominee, I told everyone the election was over (although I really think Obama won it with his speech in the Spring about his pastor). And (drumroll) Obama is going to get at least 330 electoral votes (maybe up to 50 more) and win handily. If he wins in Maryland, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and also the other states he is expected to win, even if he loses Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, he will eke by. It will be a planetary shock if he loses, because he will win a bunch of those states. The Republican Party can cheat their asses off everywhere, but this will not replay 2000.

Let's hope that Sarah Palin really does become the Republican choice in 2012. Far freaking out. That will replay 1964.

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i love how it shows people's true colors. i hate that i've lost a few friends to the dark side.

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given that in 2000 bush co. proved the election process useless, why are we getting geared up for it. if obama isn't elected a silent revolution begins. the only useful use of that office is obama. but as you invest, invest in this:
America has no answer to the 'dream'. Obama does.
it will require America to be black period.
if you want to stay white, vote mcain on back to washington.
if you want to heal the world, write in 'no biden 'cuz ain't no hidin'
and expect that obama show you a whole new way of life.
if you don't expect that, don't vote. he's not here to less than slam.

one week later:

what happened to san francisco?
obama!

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more shall be revealed!

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I feel like a second class citizen I'm not thought of in the candidates - obama might have some compassion for gay people?

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I hate that when I get home from work every day I have between 3 and 8 pre-recorded voice mail messages from various campaigns, urging me to vote this way or that. I delete them without listening to them.

I hate that in my mailbox every day I have ten or more pieces of direct mail with a glamour shot of someone running for School Board or featuring ridiculous scare tactics. "What if you dialed 911 and no one answered? WELL THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU VOTE NO ON PROP. 8!!!" (It's almost that bad.) I recycle them without reading them.

I take my voting responsibility seriously. When I want to gather information to help me make up my mind, the last place I want that information to come from is from someone that has such a vested interest in the outcome that they pour money into trying to influence my vote.

Complete waste of money, technology, paper, and my time.

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At first, I thought both candidates suck, and now I think one really sucks more than the other. I hope Obama takes the victory. Then I hope we really change a lot of things in this country, I am surprised how much greed and corruption exists in the government and among the rich. As a middle class homeowner in SF, I feel grateful for what I have, but there are so many things to improve, we can no longer afford to ignore them. I don't think it should fall on one man's shoulder's either. Obama may make some change, but the rest of us have to do our part. It starts in our communities.

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I haven't watched any of the debates b/c they make me too angry. I feel very cynical about politics in this country, i really want Obama to win but it seems like once people become politicians, their morality goes out the window. I don't think that either candidate will bring about they radical change that I think needs to occur for our country to survive, let alone prosper. I just have a sad feeling that America has been ruined and I don't know if we can turn it around. Or if we can if politicians are the ones to do it. Also the amount of money these guys have spent to get elected sickens me.

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There was once an expression floating around saying "If voting changed anything it would be illegal!" I hate falling into that cynicism but I have a strong twinge of it. I'll vote for Obama -- McCain would be an improvement over what is there (though I think the demonization of Bush is misinformed and misled; he's just a schmoe) -- but my hopes for Obama are not high. I hope he surprises me but I need something to go with the fresh face and YesWeCan.

Frankly, I'm afraid we get the representation we deserve. When peoples hearts change then the system will not matter.

See you at the polls!

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And mine...

I've got three political signs up in my house right now. In the windows; Cindy Sheehan for congress and No on 8 (the so-called marriage protection amendment to CA's constitution). And on the wall behind me right now is a beautiful poster of Obama with the simple caption "Hope". I dreamed that Obama got elected and I cried I was so happy.