I've already voted by absentee ballot for this coming Tuesday's election and even though I don't have to worry about forgetting to vote and I can safely put it out of my mind, you can be sure that I'll be obsessing over it.
Just so you know, I didn't vote a straight Democratic ticket -- I voted against Cruz Bustamante (who's beginning to look like an aspiring lifelong politician) and didn't vote for Angelides for Governor and I even voted for someone from the Peace and Freedom Party (founded in 1966... I think it's time they get a new, less "dawning of the age of Aquarius" name.)
I like absentee voting. I like how the ballot shows up in the mail and I don't have to go somewhere unfamiliar on Super Tuesday and wait in line and possibly become agitated at someone wearing a Bush '08 pin. I can take my time and drink a cup of coffee while filling in the little circles. Mainly though, I never have to use one of those electronic voting machines (that supposedly conspiratorially change votes for Dems to votes for Reps).
So here, to keep it somewhat fun for you players at home, is a brief little list of national races to watch on election day.
The Democrats need to gain 15 seats to win control of the House (which is expected) and six seats to win control of the Senate in order to shut Bush and his bad policies down for the next two years. The tightest Senate races are Pennsylvania, Virginia, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Missouri, and New Jersey (which Dems need to retain).
Bad People who need to go away now (in bold)
Bob Casey-D vs. Rick Santorum-R for Senator, Pennsylvania. In 2003 Rick Santorum told a reporter that he hoped the United States Supreme Court would uphold anti-gay sodomy laws and compared consensual gay sex to incest, bigamy, adultery, and "man-on-dog" sex. For this reason the word Santorum has become known as... well... something else, thanks to the efforts of Dan Savage. Just google "santorum" and see what pops up first. Anyway... the guy's a first rate bigot (and if he isn't personally, well, his policies sure are.) Get the fucker out. Go Bob Casey!
George Allen-R vs. Jim Webb-D for Senator, Virginia. George Allen is a (purported) longtime racist and even though you can't say George Allen and not think "macaca", this is a close race. Webb was a lifelong Republican who stumped for George W. in 2000 and then changed party affiliation because of the Iraq debacle. I like a guy who can admit to his own mistakes.
Maria Cantwell-D vs. Mike McGavick-R for Senator, Washington. This guy has a stink all over him, but the capper for me is that in an August interview, McGavick said he feels Intelligent Design should be taught in public schools and that it is appropriate to be taught in science class.
Ned Lamont-D vs. Joe Lieberman-I for Senator, Connecticut. Lieberman, painted as being too cozy to George Bush during the Iraq occupation, already lost to Lamont a few months back (in the Democratic Primary) and decided to run in the election as an independent. Just plain lame.
Katherine Harris-R vs. Bill Nelson-D for Senator, Florida. This batshit-crazy lady, who described the separation of church and state as a "lie we have been told" to keep religious people out of politics, and stated that "God is the one who chooses our rulers", is directly responsible for giving Florida (and therefore the presidency) to George W. Bush in the 2000 election. She should not only be defeated, she should be tried for treason.
Ken Blackwell-R vs. Ted Strickland-D for Governor, Ohio. Remember the long lines at polls in Ohio in the 2004 presidential election? Remember the voting irregularities, the charges of voter fraud and disenfranchisement? Blackwell's decisions and policies as Secretary of State were the cause. He is directly responsible for giving Ohio (and therefore the presidency) to George W. Bush in the 2004 election. He should be forced to live out his days in a 5x5x5 cell with Katherine Harris.
Brad Miller-D vs. Vernon Robinson-R for Congress, North Carolina. Vernon Robinson is just plain sleazy. Robinson's campaign has done nothing but pander to the religious right's homophobia and xenophobia. One of his radio ads featured mariachi music and states "If Miller had his way, America would be nothing but one big fiesta for illegal aliens and homosexuals." Robinson also alleged that Congressman Miller was a homosexual because he married somewhat late in life and has no children. (Miller then explained that his wife was unable to conceive due to a hysterectomy she had to undergo prior to their marriage.) Here are a couple of Robinson's t.v. ads, full of misleading distortions and fear mongering. (They'd be hilarious if they weren't so shockingly sad.) Robinson is Exhibit A in what's wrong with slimy American political campaigns and cross your fingers he's not rewarded for his bad behavior.
ISSUES
Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Arizona, and South Dakota all have gay-marriage bans on the ballot. C'mon folks.... EVERYONE deserves to marry the person they want to marry. Gay or straight. It's about basic human dignity and nothing else.
South Dakotans also get to vote to overturn the ridiculous all-out abortion ban.
oregon, or at least multnomah county, is ALL absentee ballots. you have to have your ballot AT the voting place by the seventh, or dropped off at a library. you also have to pay for the stamp, which surprised me.
Posted by: chris | November 03, 2006 at 06:24 PM