I live in a peaceful state. This place is free of political ads and other signs of strife in this political season.
I have heard that some people live in what is called a battleground state. It doesn't sound like their lives are at peace these days. I have heard that many millions of dollars are being spent to buy ads to malign the character of the purchaser's opponent. I have heard that the politicians actually make personal appearances there. Those folks are actually forced to make a reasoned decision between 2 candidates who are working hard to differentiate themselves from the other. I have heard that some of these folks are painstakingly working through a process to make this decision.
In ways, the fact that my state is at peace, makes my vote kind of meaningless. In ways this allows me to be free to vote for any fringe candidate who tickles my fancy. I will vote for the fringe and feel good that I made a statement about the state of American politics today. I wonder how I would vote if the circus was actually operating in my state?
Violent crime went up 17% last year. Must be all those rich white dudes beating up their maids.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/17/victims-report-violent-crime/1638895/
You are an independent fool stormcloud - the "fundamental transformation of America" into a leftist utopia is on the line. Check your precious rugged individualism at the door and vote for Romney. If he fails, you can vote Ron Paul in 2016. But first, let's clean out the Marxist rat's nest @ 1600 Penn.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of myself as an open-minded and thoughtful person. It is difficult for me to call someone else a fool until I have heard and really considered their position on an issue they are discussing. I think this country is heading in one particular direction and neither of our current parties is going to change it. The fundamentals of government fiscal policy will stay fairly constant. The only thing that will really change is perceptions.
DeleteMaybe you didn't consider my argument. My state votes solidly for one party all the time. It wont matter who I vote for on the prez line; we already know who will win here. We know who our senators will be. I can nearly tell you who our reps will be - that actually depends on the districts they run in and not so much their party.
I live in Ohio and I can't wait until the election's over. It's like these guys are running for President of Ohio. Apparently, if you don't live in a "battleground" state, you don't matter. It's crazy.
ReplyDeleteEven worse, the target of all the ads and pandering are "Undecideds". Great. The next POTUS is gonna be determined by 10% of the voting pop in 8 states - and this 10% is comprised of Low Information Voters who couldn't be bothered to do a minimum amount of research on the candidates and form an opinion 3 weeks before the election. After all, the campaign has only been going on for 2 years now. Geez, I'd be surprised if these "LIVs" even know the candidates names ...
For the record Stormy, I too will be voting "None Of The Above".
Oh, and LS, great post. It was nearly on topic ...
"Oh, and LS, great post. It was nearly on topic ..."
DeleteLOL! Not a bullseye, but at least the upper corner of the target. Here's a little diddy to watch before going to vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLQJ4toj-JY
Ohio and Mitt.
DeleteMitt is wasting his time in Ohio. He will lose Ohio. But he has lots of other ways to win.
Ohio just has too many large cities full of die hard Dems.
I wish Mitt would spend more time in some of the other states.
I live in Florida and I get 4 to 5 robocalls every day from one side or the other telling me if I vote for their opponent the would will end. The possibility exists pfunky that the next President will be determined by the voters in West Palm Beach. Pretty scary huh?
ReplyDeleteSorry, that should be "world will end".
ReplyDeleteLol, yeah. A repeat of 2000? Only Pat Buchanan isn't on the ballot this go around ...
DeleteBut it's very possible if you think about it. 90% of the voters have already decided who they're gonna vote for - most, decided long ago. All the polls in every "battleground" state show the "Decideds" split about 50/50. There may be a point or three favoring one candidate, but it falls within the margin of error. Statistically, the polls show a dead heat.
So that leaves 10% - the precious and noble "Undecideds" to choose the next POTUS, maybe the least qualified group of people to do so. The "LIVs".
Great. The political fate of the U.S. for the next 4 years rests in the hands of Forrest Gump, or, as you suggested Doc, 92 year-old Great Aunt Edna who still refers to movies with sound as "talkies" and thinks she's pulling the lever for Eisenhower.
Lol. Not that it matters much ...
Being in a battle ground state with a huge number of imports from California it's truly a great day to be in Colorado. From the People Republic of Boulder where animals have more rights than people to the City and County of Denver where you can vote in Spanish if you want as the ballot is bilingual.
DeleteGuess it's a great day because I can speak English instead of Chinese as there is no Chinese ballot available. Regular programming on the local stations have been cancelled in lieu of political cartoons sorry infomercials. Fortunately they provide an off button.
Sorry none of your votes count just ours in the battleground.