Election Day 2006 -- Your Vote Counts!!!!

[smartestnumber5]

Two years ago the state of Michigan passed a ballot proposal (Proposal 2) amending the Michigan constitution to ban the union of people of the same sex for marriage or any other purpose--because of those last three words I believe there is currently still a lawsuit over domestic partnership benefits.

This year Proposal 2 on the ballot would amend the constitution to ban affirmative action on the basis of race, sex, and ethnicity for education and jobs. There was a lot of controvery surrounding this proposal even getting on the ballot--accusations that those collecting in signatures in favor of it misled voters (mostly African Americans in Detroit) about what the proposal actually said.

The commercials I've been seeing against the proposal have largely focused on how the passage of the proposal would be damaging to white girls and white women--they show a bunch of little white girls in class and explain that the proposal would ban any kind of enrichment programs which encourage girls to enter math and science fields, etc. Then they show about 15 white girls and women in a picture and say "vote no on proposal 2 for Michigan's women." Umm, what about black and Latina women?! And men for that matter?! The commercial ticks me off everytime I see it. I understand why if there's going to be any chance of beating the proposal they have to advertise this way, so I'm not angry at the groups putting the commercials on. Obviously the polls show that the majority of voters are much more likely to be disturbed by the idea of their white daughters losing educational ground than black and Latina/o girls/boys losing educational ground. It just burns me up that this is the case and shows that there's no real principles at work in a lot of voters support for this ballot. They're for it when they think it's only going to affect black and Latino/a kids, but when suddenly it might be their kid who loses a program they think twice. If they really believed in a strict color and sex-blindness principle it wouldn't matter if they're kid might be affected or not!

Anyway, this is the election issue in my state that concerns me most. Sorry for venting!

 

[OrlandoMike]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 3) - The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.

What else do you need? VOTE!

 

[Viki]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 3) - The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.

What else do you need? VOTE!

Yes, it was Ted Haggard (the accused). Unbelievable - he's a big fish in the evangelical pond.

I mean, of course, that it is believable that he's gay - that's totally believable - what's unbelievable is that being gay (if he is) he could be so militantly anti-gay. It's the second thing that makes Jesus mad, not the first!

 

[OrlandoMike]

On a side note, you think these guys would be a little better on their timing.

W is on TV telling us how Republicans are going to keep our taxes down.

I live in Florida, where our govenor is the brother of W.

Got our tax bill for the house yesterday.....OUCH!

Timing is everything!

 

[piratepresleyrocks]

Did anyone else catch that "Hacking Democracy" documentary on HBO last night? That was the scariest thing I've seen in a long time For those who missed out, it was about a few people who came together after the last presidential election and started asking the tough questions about what went wrong with the voting machines. What they found in terms of the potential of hacking into the system was astonishing. It's like now the election is already flawed and its too late to do anything this time around. I'm really scared for what will happen next week. Voting is a must for everyone especially after seeing this, but I can't say in my heart that it will be a fair election still. What is happening to our country? Everyone's so divided and betrayal of the people seems to be running rampant from both parties. Its gone way past the point of just hoping that the democrats can take the House and Senate. If they don't, and this "dictatorship" continues, I fear that there will be an uproar of the american people. We are nothing when divided the way we are right now. If we are to the point that we can no longer even hold a fair vote...I'm scared to see what comes next

 

[dkostel]

A group called black box voting (add dot org for their site) showed how a chimp could alter results on a Diebold voting machine after the 2004 elections. If you're voting electronically on a machine that doesn't give a receipt, bring your camera or a camera phone & take a picture.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Good Luck everybody in your individual
states and to all of us as a nation.

 

[Viki]

I have to say, I usually split my vote, based on all sorts of factors. Truthfully, I tend to be a real maverick; I'm not comfortable with any party line. During the last presidential election I literally had friends from all over the country calling me, worried about which way I might lean

But after talking with my DP - we hate to cancel out each other's votes - I'm pulling a "straight" ticket this time around.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

A little heads-up for "future reference" (think 2008) John McCain is on Arizona TV right now talking up his plan to vote for Prop 107 and "support marriage". VERY DISAPPOINTING.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

I don't know about anybody else's experience but the polling location I went to this morning was extremely uncrowded. Since we had so many initiatives, the TV news has been telling us for days that we oughta make up a cheat sheet before going because the polls would be so crowded. I did -- so I was totally prepared and sailed right through -- but honestly I coulda taken all the time in the world and I don't think it would have made any difference.
Now we wait...

 

[Viki]

I don't know about anybody else's experience but the polling location I went to this morning was extremely uncrowded. Since we had so many initiatives, the TV news has been telling us for days that we oughta make up a cheat sheet before going because the polls would be so crowded. I did -- so I was totally prepared and sailed right through -- but honestly I coulda taken all the time in the world and I don't think it would have made any difference.
Now we wait...

Yes, DP and I voted much earlier than we usually do - we're caring for a sick dog following surgery - and the lines were light. But, still, I'm hearing that nationally the turnout looks above average.

Now I'm just flipping between stations and blogs, while reading between the lines. It sure sounds like the Dems did well.

 

[Saxton]

Yes, DP and I voted much earlier than we usually do - we're caring for a sick dog following surgery - and the lines were light. But, still, I'm hearing that nationally the turnout looks above average.

I always get up early and vote before I go to work and I was only number 29 this morning. I just heard on the news that American turnout for elections is usually around 40%, it's amazing that so many people are so apathetic. It's also scarey how uninformed people are about the candidates and issues. Most Americans pride themselves on living in a free democracy but they don't want to take the time to be informed and involved.

 

[dkostel]

Most people believe in what they hear and read from the corporate owned media outlets. It's no wonder they are misinformed. And if you watch some of the campaign ads, *** I'm VERY glad for my TIVO to speed me by those hate spewing ads.
Its a pretty sad commentary that the most truely informative news can be found on a comedy cable station!

 

[Viki]

CNN is projecting that the VA "protecting marriage" amendment will pass.

Lovely.

 

[mickeysaver]

Gabby and I voted this evening. We almost didn't make it. We both went to the doctor today, but who knew that it could take about 2 hours have a urine sample dipped and a blood pressure check?!?! Maggie

 

[rcostello1]

CNN is projecting that the VA "protecting marriage" amendment will pass.

So not a surprise, but at least a few people at work (and neighbors) said "we voted No on 1"...we knew it would pass, now we just have to see what it really means (not the marriage part, the other part).

 

[vascubaguy]

So not a surprise, but at least a few people at work (and neighbors) said "we voted No on 1"...we knew it would pass, now we just have to see what it really means (not the marriage part, the other part).

I talked to quite a few people about the amendment and most of them had no idea about the "other" part. They only saw the one man, one woman part. When I explained that if they read further where it stated ANY unmarried persons could not have rights/protections of marriage, they would say, "that's stupid!" Alas, I don't think most people read that far.

Although the amendment passed, I was pleased to see it was still somewhat close.

Of course VA stayed Republican in the House, but I'm glad those other 28 seats came thru. Now I'm just hoping that Allen LOST!!! I imagine recounts will be going on for weeks before we hear anything official. I hate to admit it, but I was actually an Allen supporter back when he was Governor of VA. Now he's just "another Bush".

Anyway, I haven't checked all the results yet (working on a big research paper due tomorrow). I hope things went better in other states with marriage amendments on the ballot.

BTW, I'm wondering if Virginians will be able to challenge the new amendment at the Supreme Court level... perhaps a violation of parts of the constitution (Freedom of Association, etc...).

 

[Rence]

I talked to quite a few people about the amendment and most of them had no idea about the "other" part. They only saw the one man, one woman part. When I explained that if they read further where it stated ANY unmarried persons could not have rights/protections of marriage, they would say, "that's stupid!" Alas, I don't think most people read that far.

Wisconsin had a similar amendment pass. I figured it would, there was some hope, but all the polls showed it narrowly passing. But in most states that polls have consistently understated the yes vote. To me, this indicates that people who vote yes are unwilling to tell pollsters that they will be voting yes, hence undercounting potential yes voters. This would seem to me that they are ashamed of their vote, as well they should be.

We also had the second sentence. I'm convinced that they would have passed as amendment that read.

"Marriage shall be between one man and one woman. All kittens and puppies will be killed. Taxes will be increased to 99.9% of income. The consumption of chocolate shall be illegal."

The would have read the first sentence and not looked at anything else.

 

[RENThead09]

AZ had some good news come out of last night as prop 107 was defeated. It seemed that they got the info out that this was not only about "gay marriage" but could effect anyone who was living together and not married. Many people I talked to also saw it as the government going to far into peoples lives. Again!

I personally thank Britney Spears for standing up and being the spokesperson for the sanctity of Marriage and all that it stands for in our country!

Kinda interesting that we voted down the ammendment that proposed a $1,000,000 prize be given out every election to one lucky voter, using the unclaimed lottery money.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

AZ had some good news come out of last night as prop 107 was defeated. It seemed that they got the info out that this was not only about "gay marriage" but could effect anyone who was living together and not married. Many people I talked to also saw it as the government going to far into peoples lives. Again!

Boy! I sure hope you're right -- this am, the TV was saying 50% opposed / 48.5 in favor with a whole bunch of mail-in votes still to be counted. I am cautiously optimistic though.