Monday, November 03, 2008

The End is Near

*This image is from Ve's blog and used with his permission. The rest I can't remember where they came from.

The circus will be pulling out of town soon. I can't wait. This campaign has gone on far too long. I think the first candidates declared themselves late in the Mesozoic Era.



I irked one friend who was jumping for joy the day Obama declared himself. I refused to even consider any candidate before the calendar year in which the election would take place actually rolled around. I regularly infuriated Hillary's supporters. I left another friend stunned speechless when he was nearly orgasmic over Palin being named McCain's running partner. I ticked off a long list of her inadequacies as a running mate and said it was the most blatantly calculating and crass political maneuver I'd seen in at least a month. The entire campaign from start to finish has disgusted me completely.




I am deeply cynical about the whole process.

That said, I also feel it's a duty to cast my vote. I believe failing to vote dishonors the aspiration of immigrants who came here, who still arrive looking for freedom from tyranny and opportunities for improvement, and who contributed to the betterment of this country. I believe it dishonors the struggle of women and minorities who were denied the vote for long time after the founding of our nation. Ladies, we have not yet celebrated a century of gaining the vote. I believe it dishonors the men and women who have lived and died in harm's way to secure and maintain our freedom.


I have done what I can to be informed about the issues and I will be voting my conscience by write-in. I won't be voting for McCain or Obama.

This is a tempting write-in ticket but I'll actually take it more seriously than that.


As you know, I live in Pennsylvania which carries a lot of electoral weight. In my particular corner of the state I see ads targeting New York, Philadelphia, and rural Pennsylvania. The difference in the strategies depending upon which audience is being targeted is staggering. Quite honestly the manner in which they are addressing rural PA is insulting in the extreme. It infuriates me that both the Republicans and the Democrats seem to think the entire population here barely shares enough brain cells to form a synapse. The condescension is appalling. I've been plagued by pollsters and campaign calls for both sides. I've told the live human beings who call I don't want candidates' positions "fine-tuned" for whatever they perceive as my demographic tendencies. I want the candidates to have some actual conviction and tell me where they stand, then I'll tell them where I stand when I go into the voting booth. They don't seem to grasp those concepts. So now that this whole sordid mess is drawing to a close I'll use small words and simple concepts to get my point across to the pollsters and candidates who think polysyllabic words and big ideas are too tough for me to handle.



26 comments:

Bijoux said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I too am cynical and disgusted with the process. One billion dollars WASTED on these campaigns??

And I'm also sick of the media treating the "middle" of the US like we are morons.

g-man said...

Just Vote...

barman said...

I am still lost with the presidential election. I can not see voting for Obama or McCain.

How interesting, I knew they targeted states but to be in a position like you are to see the actual differences between states, incredible. It strikes me that the best way to get the people to vote against you is to treat them like they are stupid. They sure missed the boat this cycle.

I would love to see us do what Canada does (I believe) which is a 6 week campaign leading up to the election and for heaven sakes put a cap on spending. What Obama has spent is obscene. Heck I think what McCain has been way to much. It is almost like the election is being bought.

I can not wait to cast my ballot and be done with it. Hello 7:00 am tomorrow.

Desmond Jones said...

To make the whole 'election' thing just one notch more annoying - a few years back, Molly signed on for working elections. I could tell you stories about the inner workings of at least one precinct in OurTown that would just leave you shaking your head. . .

But, around the same time, my company started giving us Election Day as a paid holiday. Woohoo, right? A whole day off, and nothing to do except vote, and lots of time for some sweet lovin' with my beloved life-mate. . . Except that she leaves the house at 5:30AM, and doesn't return home until after 10PM. And I'm left playing Mr. Mom all day (which, let it be said, I don't object to per se, it's just a notch or two less of a 'holiday', knowwhatImean?)

Anonymous said...

Oh dear.I wish I could say it all doesn't matter to me, but that isn't so; what happens oer there, always, but always comes over here[McDonalds,Starbucks, GIs,Credit Crunch]
I agree, that like Christmas, Campaigning seems to go on and on and that there are obscene amounts of money spent.
Over here elections are short and sweet/or sour, if the wrong guy gets in and there is a strict limit to how much each party can spend, although they seem to be shouting the odds all the time.
It is not my place to comment on the two candidates, but if it were I would go for Obama. The sooner the barrier is down the sooner you can all stop worrying about race. You have black Mayors and black Senators and Congressmen-so go for it. Or maybe, when the old man pops his clogs, you will have a creationalist president and we don't want that over here.

Mona said...

Lime?

How do they spell potatao...pattato ..totatoE...

:( I am so bad at polysyllabic words....

WH said...

This has been two years in the making. I guess the next electoral cycle starts in 2010, if not before. The process has changed a lot since I was a kid, not for the better. Sound bytes bite. This is the era of the low info voter, ripe for all the slick packaging. One of my favorite films is THE CANDIDATE, with Redford. That says it all.

S said...

But you have to vote.
To write in something is just....not....you know...what good....?

The thing is, the govt treats the entire country like we are all morons. They scare us with inflated gas prices, then lower em back down, then mess with our economy...then scare us into thinking we're all going down fast without em...
but still....
The lesser of two evils at least, Lime? If you see it that way, I mean.

I'm not gonna say who i'm voting for, but let me just say this. I do a really good whiny ass Mcpain impersonation!

"I've served in that war, and I know what it's like, and I know Kissinger, he's my pal, and wow, lookit my wife, didn't her plastic surgery come out nicely? Of course, since I'm 5'5", I need to have two sexy milfs hanging around me to elevate my penis...erm, I mean my ego....."

All said in litle whiny my tighty whities are squeezing my balls voice.

PLEASE VOTE

Elle Dubya said...

i hate when i feel i have to choose the lesser of two evils.

(and i *must*have* that donuts and bacon shirt!)

Pam said...

well, your voting posting totally whooped my voting post's ass! LOL

why do i suddenly want bacon?

anyways, my thing is, to anyone out there really, vote for who you honestly feel will do a good job.

Anonymous said...

I actually had bacon for breakfast this morning... that counts for something, doesn't it? LOL!

Yes, by all means DO vote! BTW... a few of my friends wrote me in in 2004. Oy Vey!

Ed & Jeanne said...

Wow, thanks for the credit on that cartoon. You do realize I didn't paint that though... ;)

Breazy said...

I am in complete agreement with you! and to in the words of Forrest Gump "That is all I have to say about that".

Have a good day! :)

Kat said...

Those who are actually smart enough and qualified enough to be president are also smart enough not to want the job. That is just my opinion.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT IS OVER!!!!!!

BTExpress said...

I'm not as cynical as you, but I'll be damned if I can figure out why all that either party came up with was these four to vote for. Surely there are were much better choices.

No, I don't mean Hillary either.

Unknown said...

Re your first question, I have two words for you, GORDON BROWN !
...and you think you've got it bad?

ps How the heck are you Miss Lime? Long time no see (mea culpa) but I'm back. I hope I find you and yours in the best of health, wealth and happiness, politics notwithstanding!

Anonymous said...

But a write-in vote is the same as not voting, isn't it?

misticblu said...

Scream is appropriate because that is what i want to do!!

You said it all sister!

misticblu said...

Scream is appropriate because that is what i want to do!!

You said it all sister!

misticblu said...

not sure why ^that^ happened...

Polt said...

I can't say I agree with you, as I'm incredibly enthustiastic and optimistic about this election. Haven't been this excited since 1992.

I did LOVE the t-shirt though. :)

And at least you're going to vote, that's what's most important.

HUGS...

~Tim said...

In Florida we have 13 choices for President/VP on the ballot plus a space for a write-in. Sadly, NoneOfTheAbove is still not listed as a choice....

Cheesy said...

Good luck with the lines for all of you folks that have to do that.... We vote by mail... the whole state... It is such a joy.

I will not miss the hate,... I've been surrounded by it from all sides with this campaign. Today was the last day I have to look at the crappo mailings.... LET'S DANCE!!!

KFarmer said...

OMG! LMAO over the last one! Perrrrfect~

I was called the other night seeking a donation. I nicely told them of the charities I give to and that not one thin dime would to go to anything political...

I'll be so glad when all this is over~ if it ever is.

Cliff said...

All I have to do now is wait in line to vote. Then tomorrow the sun will come up. The one I'm trusting for real change is the Lord.

Unknown said...

At least you have been courted for you vote. Here is Texas, no one has bothered, with the possible exception of yesterday when a lot of us got Spanish language robo calls on our cell phones. Texas always goes red with Travis county where I live being the only blue island. If you don't vote with the majority, it is easy to feel that your vote didn't really count.