What a mess on election day

[Craig Smith]

Just like to comment on the up and coming election day process that is so in question. First I here the Republicans claiming that they are needing 8000 Lawyers and Attorneys to watch over the election process at different polling places. I here the Democrats claiming they are going to be held back from voting, example: Blacks, hispanics etc. To clear this matter up seems to be eaier then each side is making out. The Republicans can have these Attorneys present to watch over the process as long as the Laws are not broken. Example: if the democrats are having there people in front of each Polling place handing out example ballots and saying when you vote you have to vote for this person on this side of the ballot, well thats breaking the law and should be prosecuted. If the democrats hand out the example ballots and say this is how you vote and on this side you have your democratic nominee and on this side you have your Republican nominee, thats different, in my eyes its OK. Both sides should be able to do what they want, democrats pulling out all the stops showing voters how to vote (How dumb are we) and the Republicans watching to make sure they are not doing anything illegal. As far as the being held back issue, I am confused, how do you hold someone back from voting, if you stand there with a baseball bat and say you are not coming in here. As many video cameras as we have today I would think that this would be an easy illegal act to prosecute. Once again how (Dumb are we) I am to think that there are people of color or not that are being held back, come on lets get past this race thing and elect a president.

[Randy Pogue]

That always confused me too, Craig. I'm guessing it's about location. I know in my area it seems there are voting places every 1/4 mile. Maybe in predominately black areas, the people have to take three buses and then find the right building. I imagine that in more densely populated areas, it might be easy to use the excuse that there aren't as many places to set up voting booths. Then you a have a large percent of a demographic needing to travel farther to vote than another.
If the black community is already disenfranchised to the point that they feel their vote doesn't count anyway, they will be less likely to make twice the effort that their white, suburban counterparts have to make.
Why are you always trying to keep a brotha down, Craig? Is this some white, Republican conspiracy that you are a part of? I don't see you helping nobody get to the polls. I bet if some skinny, white woman needed help getting to vote, you'd taxi her all over. Wouldn't ya, cracker? Well I, for one, am tired of being hassled by the man.
See you at the polls.

[Craig Smith]

I would be glad to help the brotha to the right polling place if he were a Republican. I guess I am holding a brotha back since there are none. As far as Puerto Ricans I am driving Nelson there myself.

[Jason (fight geek)]

Craig,
Good points. We have election officials from each party at the polling places. There have been some problems, because more democrats were Volunteering than Republicans to help out in some areas, so the Republicans filed a law suit. I actually am on the Republicans side on the suit. It should be equal at each polling place as far as officials from each party.
I am not sure how complicated it is in your area, but here in Minnesota it is pretty simple to actually vote. I say if you can't figure it out you shouldn't vote.
jason

[Craig Smith]

Jason, exactly how I feel. I have been voting for about 20 years or so, and have never heard of such things as hanging chads, elderly mistakes with vision, names being to close on the ballot so wrong nominee punched on card, I could go on and on. What a bunch of bull**** this has become. Next thing you know we will have to have the United Nations involved to have a vote. I am almost ashamed at how our Great Country has acted for this election much less the last. What has happened to all of us? Is it to late to turn things around? I wish there was a place on the ballot to vote them all out and put someone in there with some good old fashioned common Brains. Are you as upset as I am, I am seeing all this stuff on the news just popping up before the elections, now how dumb are Americans to not see its all political. I do not know how much more I can take of this before the election. I can say one thing, next election I am going to make a difference. Right after this election no matter who wins I will start asking friends and family to look to another party and if there is not one, than maybe start the buzz word. Usually when you start a rumor eventually it comes true. Hey there is a new party in town, the party for the people who are sick of all the lies and political bull****. Sorry if I am so to the point but I bet everyone else is starting to feel the same way as I am right about now.

[Jason (fight geek)]

Craig,
I agree 100%. I think you are to the point.
I guess the ads from both sides now work on people. I would love to have two candidates not have to rip on the other. Because you know whoever wins is getting a call of congrats from the other side. The country will be fine.
I would bet if there were a great candidate you and I would be both voting for him. And most of the country. I just don't see two great candidates.
I hope the next four years proves me wrong, whoever is elected.
Speaking of voting, all we have in Minnesota is basically where you connect the arrow to who want. It is so simple.
If I am not mistaken those people in DC, don't even get their votes counted in the electoral system. How messed up is that? I bet it was someone from PA who thought it up. (-:
I am on this Philly bashing streak so I encourage everyone to join in.
Jason

[DEAN LESSEI]

I agree fellas. I am sick of these guys all trying to get ahead by tearing the other guy down. To be honest we all need a candidate who really is for the people and listens to the common man. Why can't they run on their positives and not the other guys negatives? I think if this election ends up dragging out in the courts the American people will be turned off. If you lose, lose graciously and accept defeat. No matter who wins, let the voice of the people be heard and not the voice of the courts and sore losers. I do not want to see either side drag it out in the courts after Nov. 2nd. The American people deserve to know a winner when they wake up Wed. morning Nov. 3rd. Isn't this a great country we live in? Let's keep it that way.

[Tom Jensen]

Candidates run smear campaigns for the same reason that fighters talk trash & body builders get in front of one another during pose downs. They want to be the one who everyone pays attention to. Unfortuneately, there's no "Walk the Walk" in politics until you wins the "Talk the Talk" battle first. The problem is politicians can't keep our attention by saying, "I'm gonna do X, Y, & Z." I think we get bored with that too quickly. We wanna hear, "I'm gonna do X, Y, & Z & my opponent is an idiot." That gets our attention.

I love this country. And I hate to see the divide that this election has brought to it. It wasn't like this after Sept. 11, 2001.
I remember on Sept 10th, I was on a plane from Kansas City after NAC 2001. It was a great weekend of great fights & new friendships. Win or loose everyone appreciated their opponents. Like you all I woke up the next day & everything was different. A month later, I was on another plane to New York City as part of The Salvation Army's Grief Counseling team. I spent 9 days at Ground Zero. I remember the day that the war in Afganistan started. Even in the one place in the country that I figured people would welcome the war, noone even mentioned it. Everyone was concerned about finding any part of any missing people in the wreckage and taking care of each other.

I hope that, no matter who wins after this election, we can get back to caring about each other again.