Voting Downtown

One thing that I was told by a friend who is a poll-worker is that I would need two pieces of ID showing my address. It turned out that I needed to show no ID. There was a place to write my Ohio drivers license number, but I did not want to have that out in public. Instead there was a place for the last four digits of your Social Security Account Number which I used.

I never had to show ID either. There was a poll observer watching when we voted. Guy in an expensive business suit, white shirt, french cuffs with cuff links, shiny shoes, looking over the tops of his spectacles and a clipboard in his lap. For some unkonwn reason he looked very, very pissed/unhappy. Struck me as odd.

Same here.

ie. SUPER easy and quick

Regarding the demographics of the voters...if it makes you feel any better, there seems to have a fairly even split between the races in my observsation.

(I work near where the early voting takes place and pass there 3x a day on the weekdays. Coming and going from work, then while taking my lunch time walk.)

Since I think we are heading into tough economic times I voted for the candidate (and party) that I wanted to take the blame for this in the next election.

I am very confused by this, could you explain exactly what you mean?

I understood what he was saying there perfectly. What's to be confused about? In two years, the majority party (probably dems) will feel the heat. Their turn. And people just keep going back and forth between the 2 parties, instead of going for independent or third-party candidates.

"I would say 80-90% of the people voting at that time were black. This probably reflects the concern that the Republicans are going to challenge every vote at the polling places on Election Day (unless the voter is white and very well dressed)".

You just committed "Racial Profiling". But since you're not a Republican, all is forgiven or overlooked by the other hypocrites I'm sure.

Links below are to articles about Prominent "black" African-American Leaders supporting McCain. It took about 3 seconds using Yahoo! search engine.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20081019083329zzzz.nb/topstory.html

http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=20172908&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/blackculture/entries/2008/09/23/are_blacks_for_mccain_not_blac.html

Ryan, I will clarify. I voted for McCain. Not because I dislike the man but in 2-3 years when we hit bottom I want him (and his party) to be out front. I think then we will look on the Democratic Party as the saviors they can be. But either party will have to realize that the retired are useless. Paying money into Medicare to keep the old alive is uneconomical. We might have been able to have a "social safety net" but that is no longer possible with an national debt or $14+ billion dollars.

So if you're over 60 make sure your will is in order, and hopefully some will go to your family rather than to pay off the national debt.

You know, SillyWabbit, when I read "radical position on aborion" my hackles raised. I have never understood why a piece of tissue that probably has no emotion or feelings is valued more than the meanest human being who has lived long enough to value his or her life. If I were a man on death row who might deservedly be looking toward death I would still value my life. I do not remember anything from before birth, or much until maybe my second year of life. Fearing death, and loving life came later.

So while these conservstive black leaders fill a need their beliefs do not influence my outlook one whit.

"Euthanasia-because it's time." Hmmm...Good democratic slogan.

Euthanasia assumes action. What I propose is cutting the budget for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and let the charitable wealthy take care of the rest. Let's see what kind of hypocrites they really are.

Olds, so you voted for McCain - and the reason was to hold their feet to the fire in 3 years? I still don't see that as valid, sorry.

Precisely why I feel there must be some kind of IQ test to be allowed to vote.

oldsendbrdy - you just described the "Shock Doctrin" perfectly. Republicans deliberately manipulate the economy and amass huge national debt to force the end of government social programs - especially social security which they loath.

http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine

Well, Holland, I think they have succeeded this time. While we have not had to pay the taxes to support a huge national debt accumulated during the last eight yards, now I think the chickens will come home to roost. Check out the recent episodes of "On Point" with Tom Ashford. Especially, the episode concerning the tax programs of both parties. The woman put it quite succinctly. We have to both cut programs and raise taxes just to eliminate the next deficit that we are able after this coming economic disaster. And that does not even address the national debt we have accumulated.

You still do not make sense, do you realize that?

Holland, I can't understand this: if the Republicans want to end social programs why do they make such a big deal about "right to life". Is it just to bring life into this world so that it may suffer? My brother's son has a friend who is suffering from leukemia. His father lost his job at the auto plant in Michigan, but he has not sought another job because he is still eligible for the health insurance that would go away if he got other employment (because he is considered on layoff). If he were just to let his son die he could go on, find other employment, and get on with his life. It sounds terrible, but it has a certain logic.

My sister-in-law related to me that one of the customers she knew from her bank several years ago was told how much his cancer treatments would cost. He did the calculations, and decided against it. He did not want to bankrupt his family. Such calculus is part of the fabric of our lives now.

Ryan, if you say I do not make sense to you I will accept that. Perhaps I will make some sense in three or four years. If Obama wins and cannot do anything about this economy then who will be held accountable? The party in power is always the one that is left holding the bag. If you think he will come into power and magically change things I will be happy. I guess I am just pessimistic about the near term future (the next three or four years).

Sounds like you are looking for a reason not to vote Dem this year. Be a man and say it.

Your "reasoning" is whack to say the least.

And EVERYBODY knows that there is not much that can be done the next 4 years. Only control - not much else.

Already voted. I am not voting Democratic. I hope the Republicans really screw it up.

Hmmm, possible profile. LOL!