View Full Version : SHUT UP AND VOTE - today is the day...
KB9YCO
11-02-2004, 02:34 PM
Today is the day, I hope everyone that has posted all these impassioned pleas and ideals will be out in full force voting, instead of complaining. Regardless of who you choose to agree with, believe, or have any measure of faith in, I hope everyone goes to the voting booth today to back up all the talk with an actual vote. This is our only true voice today, all the talk in the world will make no difference if we don't at least try to make it a reality.
I also hope that we accept and back whoever wins. That doesn't mean you can't question or disagree with them, but once they're in office, or remain in office, it is our country on the line and we had better start reaching for some sort of middle ground concensus in this country. All the polarization, hatred, and partisan rhetoric of this election year will do us no good after the fact. SHUT UP AND VOTE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
May the country, and all of us, be better for it.
ae2ny
11-02-2004, 02:38 PM
I hold a very firm belief and I'll tell you what that is...
I've spoken to several people in the past who are complaining about this and complaining about that in how the country is being run so forth and so on. Then I ask them...
"Well have you voted? Have you let your voice be heard?"
Invariably, the answer is "Why waste my time voting? It does no good anyway".
To wit I reply:
"If you didn't vote, then you have no right to bit*h about who or what goes on in office. Shut the hell up and vote next time, THEN you'll have a right to bit*h when things don't go your way"
Anthony - KI4VPR
W3MIV
11-02-2004, 02:42 PM
Rest assured, vote I will. But they have not yet made the man who can shut me up!
N0KLT
11-02-2004, 04:11 PM
Did my voting a couple of weeks ago or more. Love the relaxed requirements for getting an absentee ballot here. Esp looking at the weather here this morning.
Gary NØKLT
N0KLT
11-02-2004, 04:13 PM
Did my voting a couple of weeks ago or more. Love the relaxed requirements for getting an absentee ballot here. Esp looking at the weather here this morning.
Gary NØKLT
k9kxq
11-02-2004, 04:19 PM
I just returned from voting and it's a big turnout for voters here in my area, thank goodness that people are getting out to let their voice be heard.
kxq
All this talk about Maryland's electronic voting machines and how much of a mess it is going to be! It took me a total of 10 minutes from the time I drove into the parking lot to the time I drove back out to vote this morning! Things were moving along like clockwork, and the place was packed!
I can only hope that this is a good indication for the rest of the country! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
73, Jim
Just returned from voting. Its a shame, as I remember all the elections I have voted in, all the sudden there are lines a mile long, 30 minute waits..etc...in the past it was just walk in and vote(where were all the people then, thats the shame) maybe our country wouldn't be like it is now, if more folks had voted in the past. anyway, it was a 30 minute wait, organized, and as I walked out, I noticed the long long lines.....that is a good sign for us all
Jim, AG3Y said,
All this talk about Maryland's electronic voting machines and how much of a mess it is going to be! It took me a total of 10 minutes from the time I drove into the parking lot to the time I drove back out to vote this morning! Things were moving along like clockwork, and the place was packed!
I hope they were all there to vote out that little troll, Senator Barbra Mikulski.
Nah, dream on.
But I have a place for her in Kerry's "projected cabinet" if he wins. Stay tuned -- you DON'T want to miss THAT post... haw!
KB9YCO
11-02-2004, 05:02 PM
Well this is a good sign, at least people are voting in record numbers. It always annoys me when you get a small minority of people voting, so I'm glad that this election has at least made people realize the purpose of democracy, and the importance of voting instead of just complaining.
Voters flock to polls; record turnout seen (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041102/ap_on_el_pr/eln_election_rdp)
k5phw
11-02-2004, 05:35 PM
Done deal. There were about forty people ahead of me. I was there maybe fifteen minutes. More that I have ever seen there at one time.
ae4fa
11-02-2004, 05:47 PM
My wife was in line at 6:20am. #She voted at 7:20am - 20 minutes after our polling place opened. #I arrived at 10:15am - and voted at 11:30am.
I have NEVER seen that many folks voting at my polling place. #More than that, I have never seen the diversity - age, racial, gender, or other - than I saw today. #It is going to be very interesting.
Now a prediction. #Whichever side wins the presidency, it won't be as bad as the other folks think. #In situations like this, the winner invariably moves much toward the center - and away from the divisive campaign rhetoric.
2nd prediction: #Dems keep the Senate seat being vacated by Fritz Hollings here in SC. #Tenenbaum wins.
Was at the polling station a bit before 6AM. About 100 people waiting in the rain (in their cars) and a nice pile in when they opened the doors. Did my constitutional duty and received another I Voted sticker. Went for Bush and most of the very few other Republicans on the ballot and actually voted for 2 local democrats in the city council race.
73
George
K3UD
W5MEJ
11-02-2004, 06:04 PM
Quote[/b] (ae4fa @ Nov. 02 2004,10:47)]I have NEVER seen that many folks voting at my polling place. #More than that, I have never seen the diversity - age, racial, gender, or other - than I saw today. #It is going to be very interesting.
Now a prediction. #Whichever side wins the presidency, it won't be as bad as the other folks think. #In situations like this, the winner invariably moves much toward the center - and away from the divisive campaign rhetoric.
Yes, all indications are that we will have a record voter turnout this time around. #That's always good to see, and it will make things very interesting!
As for your prediction...I agree completely! #I know who i would prefer to have in the office, but this nation has made it through many good, not so good, and some fairly bad administrations. #As you mentioned, everyone should vote in those local elections. #That's where the real power is in this system of ours!
More than anything else, I just enjoy participating in and watching this uniquely American election process. #It ain't perfect, but it is without a doubt the best system in the world today!
73
Chuck
wb6bcn
11-02-2004, 06:20 PM
I was there before the poll opened. #There were about 30 people in line when it opened. #I can't remember that many people there when the poll opened.
Also for the first time there were two lines. #A-k and L-Z.
I have a feeling that those that wait too long will have a long wait.
Anyhow; #I can gripe if I don't like the way the government since I have voted every election since I was 21. #Seems 18 year olds werent allowed to vote when I joined the Army.
w3bny
11-02-2004, 06:24 PM
Been there, done that, got the sticker! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
p.s.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/stfu2.jpg
K7JBQ
11-02-2004, 06:30 PM
At my precinct in Orange County, CA, for the first time, they actually checked your driver's license. That's a good thing.
Alas, other people I work with reported business as usual, ie, no ID required.
Took a half hour this morning. Glad I didn't wait until after work.
73,
Bill
W4TEY
11-02-2004, 06:57 PM
Wow! I can't believe I actually made it 2 weeks without a political comment. Pats on the back please. I voted 10 days ago. Whoever wins will need the support of the country and probably a lot of guidance too. I hope Bush makes it back in to finish everything but if Kerry wins we don't need to become the "Kerry haters" crowd like the demos became the "Bush haters" crowd. As a people we need to hold the President accountable for the safety of the country and make it known to our legislators what we believe and feel. Politics as usual won't cut it during these times. Our whole way of life is at stake.
My wife's absentee ballot came in the mail yesterday...
I went to our precinct and voted then took the wifes ballot to her [ she is presently in the hospital for a long stay] and she voted and then I took her ballot to the Election Commissioners office...
All of this went very quickly and everything seemed to be well run...
I was impressed overall...
We now have gripin' rights for the next 4 years...
And I intend to exercize them liberally... no matter who wins!
ae4fa
11-02-2004, 08:53 PM
Quote[/b] ]We now have gripin' rights for the next 4 years...
And I intend to exercize them liberally... no matter who wins!
Yup. It's official now. Harry is back!
Sorry the XYL is having health problems, Harry. Damn, this ain't been y'all's year, has it?
And I agree with your comment an that of the original poster. I believe having voted gives one a license to bitch. AND, it should be exercised - - - but without the pissing and moaning, please.
W5MEJ
11-02-2004, 08:58 PM
Quote[/b] (N0PU @ Nov. 02 2004,13:18)]We now have gripin' rights for the next 4 years...
And I intend to exercize them liberally... no matter who wins!
I have no problem with that. #Isn't this a great country!
Chuck
Quote[/b] (ae4fa @ Nov. 02 2004,14:53)]Sorry the XYL is having health problems, Harry. Damn, this ain't been y'all's year, has it?
It's been a little rough around the edges...
Donna fell at school and BROKE her ankle... ordinarily that wouldn't be THAT big a deal...but when the doctors went in to put plates and screws in the ankle they discovered that the arsenic poisoning from 11 years ago destroyed her bone structure and she now has the bones of an 80 year old woman instead of those of a 52 year old...
It sucks...
She is leaving the hospital tomorrow and going into a nursing home... she can't come home because workmans comp refuses to build a ramp at the house for her wheelchair... we live in a house with a 36" rise and the ramp had to be 36 feet long.... and it's only 20 feet to the street so the ramp had to go along the front of the house and then back to the driveway... estimate was for $15,000 dollars... they choked on that one...
Its gonna be a toss up tho because of her neropathy [damaged nerves from the poisoning] she heals at about one half the speed of anyone else, so a 6 week healing is gonna take 6 months... So is the nursing home gonna be cheaper than the ramp? who knows...
It sucks...
For those of you who don't know Donna's story go here:
Donna's Story (http://donna.earth2.net)
ae4fa
11-02-2004, 11:00 PM
Quote[/b] ]So is the nursing home gonna be cheaper than the ramp? who knows
Anyone with half a brain - - - - which lets out virtually every insurance company. They still believe in spending a dollar to save a dime . . .
Very sorry to hear that, Harry. Definately on the prayer list.
k6pme
11-02-2004, 11:20 PM
Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Nov. 02 2004,09:20)]All this talk about Maryland's electronic voting machines .....
Funny you should mention that. When I voted this morning I had to fill in the little oval circles with an INK PEN!!!
YES folks, the old fashioned way. Gotta love the tried and true.
k6pme
11-02-2004, 11:36 PM
Wow, I just read "Donna's Story". I'm speechless. N0PU, give her my best and I hope she recoveres soon.
KB9YCO
11-02-2004, 11:46 PM
Hope things are getting better Harry, glad that everyone got to vote though. 73
Just a note to say our prayers are for you. May GOD bless you both. 73
Thank ya all for the comments...
Got her in the Nursing Home today and all is well...
Two of her past students work there...
NOBODY is gonna mess with Ms. Kholer... hehehehe
I'm sorry I hijacked this topic...
I was having a pity party last night...
I'll try not to do that again...
ae4fa
11-04-2004, 12:55 AM
Quote[/b] ]I was having a pity party last night...
I'll try not to do that again...
NP - you're entitled. So, give, how'd ya do with the poker last night?
KD7WHQ
11-04-2004, 04:04 AM
I agree, you're entitled. Pass my best to her.
And I hope the guy is taking the big sleep at this point..
Animals..
Quote[/b] (ae4fa @ Nov. 03 2004,18:55)]So, give, how'd ya do with the poker last night?
I was in two last night and took 11th and 15th out of 32..
Not a real good night...
tonight I took 3rd in the first one and busted out on the second...
I'm addicted to Texas Hold 'em tourneys... I play 3 to 4 nights a week...
I took 5th in overall points in October... out of 600 members...
KB9YCO
11-04-2004, 04:21 PM
So, the election is over and things are back to business as usual. (In some ways good, in some ways bad, which is the norm for Washington D.C.)
I was heartened to see that people came out in record numbers to vote and have the same hope for the future as any other American. A hope that our current administration will truly continue on a path of positive growth, international and domestic security, and an economy and society of laws good for all Americans regardless of religion or lack of, political or moral persuasion. I hope that our governing bodies celebrate the diversity of opinion and culture that this country is founded on and not continue to restrict the freedom of others based on one group's version of religious morals. (These are hopes, not necessarily realities; we have a long fight against terrorism, political polarization, cultural conflict, and declining economy ahead of us.)
But, all in all we must continue to try and work together for the betterment of our society as a whole.
Besides, if one group wins all the time, and makes a country of symbiotic happiness, I have a fear that nothing would get done, no real thinking would result from lack of conflict, there would be no backlash effect from one divergence too far in one direction. H.G. Wells, in the Time Machine said it best in his synopsis of what he saw happen to the future:
"It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony with its environment is a perfect mechanism. Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no change or need for change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have to meet a huge variety of needs and dangers."
Best of luck to us all, we are a great country of intellect and diversity of opinion, and hopefully this election has brought some valid points to the forefront for both parties and all sides of the many arguments of societal issues.