Eve of the USA Election

[Wes]

Well this is it. I don't usually talk politics on this site & have in the past criticised those who do but this is too important.
To all American Rudies please get it right this time.

Thankyou. The whole world is waiting.


Wes

[Mimi]

Germany is waiting as well. At least 75% over here would vote for Obama - if we could! I've been talking about the elections with my students today and they're all keeping their fingers crossed for Obama. And so do I!

GOOD LUCK, Barack!

Mimi

[Anna from Dublin]

Amen Wes! I do wish I had a vote!

[Mimi]

Shouldn't the whole world be allowed to vote - as the whole world will once more be affected by the outcome of this elections?

I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed and a song by Steve Earle, performed by Joan Baez, came into my mind again. Here it is:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=POaCesa4odA&feature=related

Mimi

[aabram]

Mimi, oh I do so agree with you. But we can cheer them on, can't we?

Obama - ra-ra-ra, Obama - ra-ra-ra, Obama - ra-ra-ra, Obama - ra-ra-ra, Obama - ra-ra-ra, Obama - ra-ra-ra.............

[DaveM]

We're just waiting for the campaign ads to disappear....it's difficult to muster up much enthusiasm after 18 months (or more) of dealing with some well-funded monster telling you you're wrong no matter who your preference is.

I have suggested that the candidates simply fight for it, or flip a coin, or that we skip the entire convention process and just put everyone who wants to run on a "reality show" which will decide the results in a single TV season. Best of all, when you've had enough, you'd be able to switch it off.

If only Washington came with a Mute button.

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

If Obama doesn't win, Canada here I come! Like I've said before, keep an eye on the state of Ohio. No one has ever won the election without carrying that state.

[hoops]

i think the campaign and election process needs stricter rules.
1) the campaign time is 6 months
2) you get ONE fundraiser, use it wisely
3) you are not allowed to say ANYTHING about your opponents, if caught making any remarks, you will be disqualified from the election
4) after the election you have one week to remove all banners, flags, signs, stickers having to do with the campaign and election. after that you will be fine $500.00 for any remaining.
5) all monies collected from this will go directly to the red cross to heelp feed the poor in our nation.

think of some other good rules, we may just have a better election process next time.
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

I like that. Would also extend the fine to people who don't take their garage sale signs down and leave some of us driving all over the countryside in search of a bargain that was gone over a month ago.

Politicians must not be allowed to kiss babies. They might catch something--the babies, I mean.

Campaigning politicians who put on work jackets and brand new flannel shirts when they visit "blue collar" areas look stupid. Really. Stick to the grey suits.

Any "independent" organization running campaign ads must include its masthead and sources of funding with all of its ads. Most people probably realize that attack ads from "The Coalition For Better Hair In Washington" etc. are produced and paid for under the table and that the "Coalition" is a couple of people with a P.O. Box. However, they should be required to be honest about it.

Or we could just avoid all sorts of unnecessary expense and forgo the campaign entirely. Hold a coin toss. Or better yet, a pay-per-view cage match on Election Day. The proceeds could go toward debt reduction. The Palin-Biden fight should bring in an especially large audience.

The winner of any national election should be able to avail him/herself of any and all libel and slander laws in the nation. With the losing candidate paying the bills--not "the campaign", the candidate.

Harold Stassen deserves the Presidency due to sheer persistence. At the very least, he should be granted an honorary Presidency. As should Wendell Willkie, Gus Hall, Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and a number of others. No, not Lyndon LaRouche.

No more Vice-Presidential candidates. The leading vote-getter becomes President, second place becomes Vice-President. That ought to make things more interesting.

[Dee]

The way I see it, come Wednesday morning Barack Obama is a going to be the next President of our closest neighbours, the United States of America. The only way Grandpa McCain could possibly get in now is by complete corruption and vote tampering and if that should come to pass we are going to see an uprising like the world has never seen before.

My two nickels.

[Amy in Vermont]

While we're at it, lets BAN the electoral college!

Let each vote count as 1 vote, and let the popular vote rule!

[hoops]

amy, i like that one too!
peace
hoops

[Mary6906]

http://www.rubberchickencards.com/content.php/action/play_card/id/332

So VOTE... or suffer the consequences :eek:!!

[hoops]

Mary, you look scared tee hee
peace
hoops
for those from other parts of the world. i know this election is a big thing for all of us and you too, because whoever wins will be all up in your business too, because americans have a god complex. so i pray for all of us that the best choice for the world is made

[lucille]

Well this is it. I don't usually talk politics on this site & have in the past criticised those who do but this is too important.
To all American Rudies please get it right this time.

Thankyou. The whole world is waiting.


Wes

Why? Perhaps politics should be in the zoo, but I don't understand why it is a taboo subject for you.

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

...Or if Bush buys the election for him, Dee.

[Wes]

I do discuss politics & everything else but feel this site should mainly be about Janis & music related items. Controversial subjects where people hold strong opposing views should be avoided;Politics & religion spring to mind. We have all witnessed unpleasant exchanges on this site which have escalated into abuse.

regards Wes

[David from London]

I hope Obama wins, but he won't be able to do all he'd like to.

McCain doesn't worry me, but Palin does. And McCain's wife is a bit spooky.

[Dee]

for those from other parts of the world. i know this election is a big thing for all of us and you too, because whoever wins will be all up in your business too, because americans have a god complex. so i pray for all of us that the best choice for the world is made

Being your closest neighbour and trading partner Hoops, what goes on in US politics is of great interest to Canada. In fact, some of you are us and some of us are you so it’s only natural.

I'm actually impressed at the level of civility being shown here around this topic, Wes. I used to avoid discussing politics too but no one has lost an arm over it all. Maybe because civility it is expected in "The Janis Ian Forum" as opposed to "The Zoo" or maybe not but for that reason I'm glad this thread wasn't posted there.

[Judy]

Was just reading a political blog where various folks were giving their outcome predictions, which were all favoring Obama. Was touched by this response I read:

From New Zealand: the majority of people in this small country sure hope you are right. The world is waiting for the real America to stand up again.

[David from London]

One of the difficulties is that, assuming Obama wins, the Republicans are likely to move further to the right. People like Palin will be in the ascendant. Mind you, that could mean that the Republicans will splinter...

[AceOn6]

One of the difficulties is that, assuming Obama wins, the Republicans are likely to move further to the right. People like Palin will be in the ascendant. Mind you, that could mean that the Republicans will splinter...

There's a special place in US politics for Palin and her ilk. Anyone remember Newt Gingrich?

I do think you're right on a splintering for the GOP. Those who want to participate in the next administration will realize they need to move back to the center. The others? Well... there's a special place...

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Betty and I just voted... There was a good line when we got there and took about 45 minutes... when we left the line was probably twice as long....

Best to all

R. & B.

[aabram]

I don't care about anything except Obama winning. The other fella looked just as grey and stupid as John Major did! :p

[Eva]

i think the campaign and election process needs stricter rules.
1) the campaign time is 6 months
2) you get ONE fundraiser, use it wisely
3) you are not allowed to say ANYTHING about your opponents, if caught making any remarks, you will be disqualified from the election
4) after the election you have one week to remove all banners, flags, signs, stickers having to do with the campaign and election. after that you will be fine $500.00 for any remaining.
5) all monies collected from this will go directly to the red cross to heelp feed the poor in our nation.
I like that Hoops. To be honest, these rules (especially the 'don't talk about your opponent' rule) would make USA elections much more interesting to me. Now I feel it is mostly about trying to show the world the opponent sucks. What kind of a reaon is that to vote for anyone; that the opponent is assumed to be worse??? I like to vote for more positive reasons. That who I vote for can make the country more into what I would like it to be. And in the end, I bet other people prefer to vote like that to.

Happy stemming USA'ers! :cool: Oh, and be kind to people who stem something different than you. Because they have a different worldview, that doesn't mean they are not good people. Another thing... I don't think the rest of the world should be allowed to vote in any other country. That is something for it's own citizens. I'll get off my soapbox now.

Eva

[david uk]

I don't usually follow US elections, but have done this time. I do hope Obama wins, for the sake of the US and the World, but have a few reservations:

1 My main one is that I fear people's expectations of an Obama administration maybe way too high. There seems to be some kind of mass hysteria suggesting the whole world will change the moment Obama takes office. It will not. A few months down the line or even a year down the line I think life will go back to normal and things won't be that different from now.

I do thinik Obama is a skillful politician and a charismatic fellow, but he is just that- a politician, with only so much power.

I remember 1997 when Topny Blair took power amid a frenzy of hope after 21 years of Conservative rule. There was talk of change, hope, an ethical forign policy and social justice. It was great for a while, but the reality of everyday political daily life soon crept in and things weren't quite as some people had hoped- far from it.

I'm not saying I don't hope for the best and an Obama win, but there is too much euphoria and some people (not on this site) need to get their feet back on the ground. An Obama victory may not bring all the change some people hope for.

2. Although an Obama victory seems likely, it is still statistically possible for McCain to win. If he does and it is legal and fair, I hope everyone will accept it. The talk of civil unrest worries me, and I wonder where it is coming from (??).

Again, I am very pro Obama, but am alarmed at some of the premature euphoria I have seen in the UK, France and elsewhere.

[hoops]

David, i hear you loud and clear. change takes time and no one is miracle man
peace
hoops

[Eva]

Yes, I agree with the puppy.

Eva

[Wes]

Thank God or whoever. Jim if Mcain had won I would have been looking to go 'off planet' not just emigrate & I don't like long haul flights! Ok subject closed. Back to Janis & music:)



Wes

[Dee]

The way I see it, come Wednesday morning Barack Obama is a going to be the next President of our closest neighbours, the United States of America.

Did I tell you? LOL CONGRATULATIONS to our US friends and neighbours. I couldn’t be prouder of you or happier for you!

[AceOn6]

As for the GOP having to re-group, their national chairman was on ABC last night saying that they needed a "Dr. Phil intervention" because they've lost so many of their more moderate members. Should be an interesting 2 years while we watch them gear up for the '10 races.