VOTE!!!
Even though my own personal politics are progressive Democrat, in the interest of fair & balanced media, & the weird intersection of speedskating & politics, I thought Matt Plummer’s short track t-shirt was quite funny.
I got into a heavy exchange of politics at the office a few hours ago. It was wonderful to exchange 100 gun broadsides with a smart Libertarian at point blank range.
My co-workers gathered around to watch as we maneuvered & the verbal artillery thundered. I feel like I did inflict a few de-masting shots, but probably so did he.
But the most important thing is that our vigorous exchange was good natured.
This is a country whose most essential value is “I don’t agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
Today is the day we get to speak, in the most powerful way. Go do it, no matter what side of the political spectrum you are on. And remember that after today is over, we are voting everyday with our wallets.
(I am desperately trying to stifle the impulse to write more political commentary right now, especially as this… is…. not… a…. political….. blog!!)
Filed under: from the coffee shop
It ain’t a baby blog either, but you’re not shy about putting that stuff on there.
I’m decided on my blog that at this point in American history, it’s too important. This election is too big a deal to take anything lying down.
Yeah, but the little sprout is going to have a huge impact on what I can or can’t do on the ice.
I skated last night, and felt terribly guilty the whole time, even though Jessica’s mom is in town, & they were even asleep when I was at the rink..
I still felt like a bad dad.
Also, our family reads this, as well as many of my lifelong friends, so this is the best place for pictures of RZ
All I can say is, “Gore was favored and Bush was elected.”
I voted early a few weeks ago for Cynthia McKinney, im probably her only vote in the country, haha! But its better than my brother who wanted to vote for Jimmy Buffett.
Well, can’t you do a “write-in” for Jimmy Buffett?
I often wonder what our founding fathers would think about our political problems. I think an easy way to solve some of our problems would be to declare open season on lobbyists of any kind with big money and greedy ideals.. Some where in America’s past we ran into this idea that the only way to do business is to be a worm ..
people who chase money make little sence to me how much is enough.. will they ever find enough to fill the void?
Yup thats what he did.
So glad to see that you blogged on this important event. I was hoping you would…when I typed in the URL I thought “Did he? or didn’t he?”
Although I am not a politcal person, I have never not voted. I don’t talk politics in the office. have never participated at a grass roots level-even. But I found myself in 2 interesting activities regarding THIS election.
1) I have nieces, nephews and a daughter who have graduated from college and are now starting their careers; I peppered them with emails about voting; each email would contain some tidbit I could provide….how the electoral college works; how each candidate stands on the issues, the impact of a president on the Supreme Court, etc. I’m sure they would groan when they saw another email from Aunt Linda.
I also met a 37-year old who had NEVER voted, and asked: ‘have we ever had a republican president? ‘ This is a college educated, professional woman. During one of the conventions she asked me what a convention was. After playing history teacher with her over the past few months, she watched the SNL President Bash on Monday night and was proud that she understood as much as the humor as she did. And yesterday she voted for the first time.
IAs it turned out I was my own personal Rock the Vote effort.
I still fear that tomorrow we will slip back into the all-too-familiar disappointment of ‘business as usual.
But for today, I’m hanging onto “Yes we Can.”
Congratulations on Obama. American foreign policy is so important for us over here that really we should be allowed to take part in your presidental election!
We hope to see a change in American policy in many fields: The UN, Palestine, Iraq, Afganistan, the rocket “shield”,reduction of CO2 emissions, just to mention a few.
Yes, you CAN!
Andrew — of all people, you may appreciate this the most. I’ve had Maya Angelou’s poem from the Clinton inauguration running through my mind all morning. Especially this last stanza:
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes, into
Your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.
http://poetry.eserver.org/angelou.html
We’ve had a few good presidents, a lot of mediocre ones, and some real sh*tweasels. The country has survived them all.
I don’t think, by his record, that Obama will be a really bad prez. I don’t agree with him on a lot of things - nothing new there.
I rejoice at his election, with no demand that he be one of the greatest.
Not long ago, in my lifetime, people DIED over the issue of whether African-Americans could vote, eat, go to school like everyone else. That evil isn’t entirely gone from the minds of some people in this country, but, that we, as a people, are finally mature enough to elect a black president is a joy., a relief, beyond my ability to express.
What blows my mind is that in the state of California Barack Obama won handily, yet a proposition banning gay marriage passed as well.
What comes as no surprise to me is that the Mormon church gave scads of money to the campaign for that proposition. Yay Utah. (I say yay Utah because separation of church and state here is a joke.)
As the owner of the shirt in that picture, it is wonderful to see how our country is founded on freedom.
We should feel blessed we live in a country where we can elect somebody that will change what the majority of Americans did not like the past 8 years. Many countries do not have the option of changing power. Not only do we have that ability, but the requirement by the Constitution. Our country and the Constitution make our government one of the most successful in history. The Constitution ensures the right of the people to live how they want to live and who to lead them.
Even in times of hardship (the economy and war) our country still comes together to make their choice of who they feel is best to lead.
Good for you Matt. It’s good that you understand the political process. It’s sad that we still have a flawed election process with the electoral college from back in the 13 state days. It would be nice if one vote equalled one vote. I would have liked to have seen them (pols) change this process but it’s not going to happen. So for now we have to rely on Ohio, Florida and PA to decide presidental elections. It was cool being in Cleveland at the AmCup and feeling like an election was happening. Lots of people were flying in on Friday to get the vote out for Obama and people were talking about the rally Sunday night with the BOSS. Wish I could have stayed.
Matt how was that Young Republican’s meeting yesterday? I gave Matt some good natured ribbing on the ice yesterday morning. I didn’t see that T shirt and it’s pretty funny. Yes we live in the greatest country with all the flaws. I don’t know how the founding fathers would feel about the last 8 years though?
Go Fast. Turn and vote left.
What’s funny is a bunch of guys in the office wanted to know why Obama hasn’t made any change? I told them he’s not officially president till January. Maybe Dubya will leave early? I try to balance things out here in Utah being a liberal from Massachusetts. Fat Boy (Uncle Ted Kennedy) spoke at my college graduation.
Also some guys here ato work joked that they had to work hard since all our paychecks are going to be pooled under Obama and everyone gets the same. Socialism I guess is better for the people than for large companies and banks.
Or they might not work after January and just sit home and collect checks?
I guess they heard all this on that fair and balanced “news” station. Oh yea some others said that Obama said that all African Americans will get checks? Tell me what century we are in that people would actually repeat that stuff? -boudie
How cool is it that RZ will never know the presidency to be a monochromatic office? Tuesday was a nation-changing moment and there are alot of expectations - probably more than are practical. Let’s hope for the best and see if some of the sharp partisanship that has developed can be softened - not that we all have to think the same, but perhaps work together a bit better. Who knows what can happen!
Just to share my election day experience… The early/absentee voting push was huge here in Milwaukee. As a city employee, I spent the past two weeks walking into the office past huge lines of people excited to vote. We had 75-80% turnout - just unheard of. I, too, voted early, as I spent 18 hours on Tuesday, and another 7 hours on Wednesday doing my part to help process the 45,000(!!!) early/absentee ballots. It was a ton of work, and I missed out on all the big TV hoopla on Tuesday, but I really feel like I was able to do my part for this historic experience.
Alice–three cheers for Milwaukee for passing the city-wide law that gives all workers at least five days paid sick days for themselves or to take care of sick family members. Folk in larger businesses get nine days. We still have a long way to go to catch up to almost all other countries.
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My new German husband woke me up Wednesday morning whispering, “You can go home again now…” which is even sweeter because he’s probably scared to death I might just say we should!
More baby stories and photos please…
Is anyone sleeping?