Joe Frazier has passed away. If you’re a guy may age, you certainly can’t help but remember Smokin’ Joe and his heavyweight fights against, um, some guy whose name escapes me at the moment (I believe he used to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, though). Back in those days, if you wanted to watch the fight live, you had to go see it on “closed circuit” teevee. In fact – as I recall – you couldn’t even listen to the fight on the radio live. I seem to recall they’d read the summary of each round over the air after they got them “off the wire.” Ah, those were the days. Of course, a few weeks after the fight, you’d get to see a replay on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Ah, those were the days. So long, Joe.
So, it’s Election Day. The campaign signs are everywhere, and I’m sure the candidates’ well-intentioned supporters will be on every corner. This makes me wonder if anybody actually votes for somebody because of a sign. “Oooh. I’ll vote for Joe Smith, because he has the biggest, bestest sign.”
I know I don’t. I also don’t vote because of slogans, commercials, bumper stickers, or that goddamn waste of paper they send in the mail. Not even for schwag – and the schwag has gotten pretty crappy over the years.
All signs (so to speak) are pointing to my not voting for the first time in years. I just don’t feel like it, and this may set a trend. Somebody’s gonna have to give me a reason to vote for them from now on. No more nose-holding and then feeling resentment because the asshole I voted for turned out to be an even bigger disappointment than I thought they’d be.
I even feel stupid for voting for Governor Snotball. Maybe if Paladino had gotten in, he’d have been so goddamn loony the people would have rallied against him and we’d have gotten an actual Democrat for Guv next time around. Or not.
I sure don’t see myself voting for Obama next time around. Or Cain/Romney/Perry/Whatever. I think I’ll write in Gus Hall (so what if he’s dead?). Can you still write somebody in with the new voting machines?
Well yesterday was an interesting day around here. We got more rain in 12 hours than we normally do in all of November. Then there were some freaking big tornadoes touching down with multiple vortexes, big hail hit, lightening, thunder and then we topped off the day with another earthquake. î‹î‘ƒ
I think voting for judges is a huge deal. They can make or break an individual’s right to justice against the big guys. This is very true even in local elections. And that’s why I think voting for prezidunce is also critical- it’s all about the lifetime appointed federal judges. But that’s just me. Obama at least didn’t appoint more Scalias Thomases alitos and Robertses. :peace:
Hey! Those emos worked!! 
Well, they worked on my iPhone but not on my iMac. I just figured that no outside emos were allowed.
I always believed in that voting for judges and justices thing even if that is the only reason for casting a ballot. I still do but in these times when the disappointment, disillusionment, and cynicism on all sides just grows and grows often justifiably, it doesn’t seem to matter as much as an argument anymore. Well, that’s at least what the dark forces want us to believe or not even notice. Nevertheless, the Left is apoplectic about the Citizens United decision, perhaps the defining contemporary issue for many of them. I would say that was a court decision that may have turned out differently if a few more Progressive/Left voters had choked down some of their purity in 2000 and voted for Gore, flawed as he and his campaign were. We are one appointment away from a little better balance or an insurmountable disaster on the SCotUS. Four more years of O’Bama might at least stem some of the rollback to the 19th century these right wing freaks seem to be hellbent on seeing through. Otherwise there will be a multitude of judges and justices newly minted in bizarro-world law schools and young to last a long time that will really change this country forever when the ALEC written laws like Mississippi Personhood get passed through their rubber stamp benches.
I am always amazed as this internets thing catches on how I am just not as Progressive/Liberal/Left as I always fancied myself being. I am realizing more and more that I am just a wimpy pragmatic centrist by everyone else’s definition.
I dunno. Is it better to encourage Democrats to continue to run spineless right-leaning (oh, sorry, I meant “centrist”) candidates by voting for them because they “aren’t as bad” as the other crazy bastards? Or is it better to send them a message that they should start being Democrats again – even if it means things have to get sucky for a while, and we have to suffer with the Scalias now so that there can be the chance of future Ginsburgs or Marshalls?
In NY, I’m lucky because my vote for Prez is for the most part meaningless. Even the primaries are all but meaningless. If it was ever close, then I suppose the decision would be more difficult. Oh, I “make my vote count” by voting in the WFP line, of course. Which is kind of a joke.
I could vote for County Executive today. She’s running unopposed, of course. As are all the other “big” races. We have some State Supreme Court seats up for grabs. One of these “vote for four” things. That’s pretty much a done deal, too.
Never have figured out why the NYS Supreme Court isn’t the supreme Court. Here, the NYS Court of Appeals reigns supreme. All appointed, but at least not for life. “Only” for 14 years.
I could vote for Highway Superintendent. I think he’s running unopposed, too. I suppose he’s doing a good job. My road got plowed last year, and they painted new lines over the summer.
It’s been a very rare occasion since I first voted for McGovern that I have been able to vote for any candidate that I have been totally satisfied with, and yes, I have voted for DiFi every time her name has ever appeared before me on a ballot. I would probably do it anyway but there is always a name there across from hers that makes it a no-brainer.
I guess I’ve always thought that you have to look past some differences to choose what is most acceptable to you because there just won’t be any flawless candidates. If that means that you are unwilling to accept anything that you don’t agree with, so be it. Sit it out or cast a protest vote and be willing to accept what we get left with. I have certain issues that matter enough to me that I will let them tip my vote to a candidate. If there was only the courts matter to weigh, that would most likely be enough for me.
I’m not looking for “perfect” or “flawless” – or even somebody I agree with 100%. I think that’s a non sequitur.
By using ‘you’ I think it seemed that I was addressing you, pj, directly. I meant a more general common ‘you’. I repeat that I can understand anyone who can’t accept shortcomings in our candidates and ‘leaders’ and choose to sit it out. I’m just not wired that way. I’m not really ready to concede the nation to RomneyCorp even though he is so bereft of principles that he may actually do some correct things once he dupes his party folks into thinking that he’s their ‘guy’. My time on this planet is not going to be long enough to live to see the SCotUS returned to sanity if we get a repug PotUS next year. Chances are it will be ‘game over’ anyway if that happens.
I must say this, though. I am not as upset with O’Bama as a lot of people are. In spite of how many times his opponents will lie about it, he never had a working majority in both houses of Congress so what he could get done was severely limited, especially with the repug intransigence abetted by LIEberman and weaselly Blue Dog Dems.
I agree with you Vernon, half a loaf is better than starving and the people who really get hurt when some right winger gets elected are the people who can least afford it.
As a public
enemyschool teacher I have seen too many kids and families see too much hardship every time the greater of the 2 evils wins the election.Obama has done some good things that would never have gotten done if McCain and Palin were running the show and the direction of the court is certainly an important consideration.
speaking of politicians — we all gotta do THIS every opportunity that presents! :fist: Wisconsin!!!/
I didn’t vote either — not sure where the place we are supposed to vote at is here in the suburb of Pixley. ❓
Also didn’t look like there was anyone to vote for except who was already there, so what’s the point? It’s not democracy if there ain’t a choice. :smack:
It’s not democracy if there ain’t a choice.
Amen!
We don’t vote in Pixley. We vote in Hooterville.
Hooterville is a suburb of Pixley. I know we don’t vote in Pixley, silly!! :tongue:
Assuming he actually follows through on this, I will give President Half-A-Loaf credit on this issue.
I just assume that RG has ‘friends’ from other dimensions who might be voting in who knows how many junctions.
Wal-Mart Plans Ambitious Expansion Into Medical Care
That reminds me of the old joke about the guy who got a vasectomy at Sears and now every time he gets excited, his garage door opens.
Farewell to Sid Melton and Joe Frazier.
:slap: 🙁 :gate:
We just can’t get to be Third World USA fast enough. I think my menagerie gets better healthcare from the vet than we do from our HMO. Walmart will surely be cheaper but like their merchandise it will be pretty shoddy.
Well, half a loaf of health care is better than none.
Based on how the Walmart store clientele look, the waiting room at the Walmart Medical Clinic will need extra-wide seating. Wonder if they will get cheap doctors from China? 😮
In Lansing Michigan a state legislator, Paul Scott, was recalled. He had been a supporter of anti union legislation and was opposed by the Michigan Education Association (MEA).
So what was the Republican response?
Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) named state Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) to serve as the interim chair of the Education Committee. The Michigan Information and Research Service recently named McMillin as the lawmaker in the state with the most conservative voting record, and he’s long been opposed by the MEA because of his support for public school privatization.
It seems that Republicans think voters are naughty children who must be punished. I wonder if that’s a winning election strategy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/michigan-recall-paul-scott_n_1084815.html