Voting, politics, and me

I told all y'all just a few days ago that I would be voting this year.

My reasons for doing so will be stated here, in rather an oblique way, via links to other posts and articles, with perhaps a comment or two here or there (you know me).

If you have questions and/or comments, I invite you (as always) to share them.



First, however, I'd like to ask each of you if you watched the debate last night? I did. What was your reaction?

Initially, prior to watching, my emotions were quite mixed. Would there be terrible faux pas committed? Would there be a 'free for all'?

I watched and listened closely, and began the hour and a half by taking extensive notes. About halfway through, I stopped taking notes and began simply enjoying the event. (Don't you think that's weird? I think that's weird!)


I have never been a good debater. (Not really good on the telephone, either!) I am much better writing. I have a chance to think about what I'd like to say, write it down, then go back and rewrite, etc. Doesn't make for a good debater.


I thoroughly enjoyed last night's debate. I thought the questions posed were excellent. I thought Joe Biden's answers were authoritative and informative. I thought Sarah Palin's responses were skillfully 'off the question' at times to illustrate a point she specifically wanted to get across. I thought there was a great deal of cordiality and respect. I very much enjoyed watching it!

In particular, I enjoyed flipping from channel to channel afterwards (five in all here in Houston) to get various commentors' non-plussed looks and (almost) stuttered responses to questions about how they thought the debate went.

And that's all I'm going to say about it.



All right. Let's move on to my oblique references for reasons to vote this year.


The first link I'd like to cite is Steven's, posted just a few days ago, wherein he copies -- almost verbatim -- an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada. If you go to the link and read Steven's opening and closing remarks, in addition to those comments of each of ours following that post, I think that you will understand why I did it this way.


Secondly, I'd like you to know about this site. It appears ultra-conservative to me, and I have no intention of recommending it one way or another. I just wanted you to know about it because there are a whole lot of sites out there that are on the extreme other end of the pendulum. Fair is fair, I do believe.


The last site, which was first referred to me in an e-mail recently, is this one.

The e-mail was titled "Why women should vote" and speaks about the original suffragettes with passion. Phrases such as "innocent and defenseless", "guards wielding clubs", "beat and chained her hands to the cell bars and left her hanging for the night", "smashed her head against an iron bed", "only water came from an open pail", and "food infested with worms" can be found in this e-mail, which was only recently written to try and describe events in and surrounding the 'Night of Terror' on November 15, 1917.

It is not well-written (the e-mail), but is filled with great feeling. If you would like me to copy it to you as it was written, please let me know and I will do so.


Our (women's) right to vote was won at great cost. Please do not allow yourselves, at least those of you who are of the female persuasion, to be disenfranchised of that hard-won right!

Perhaps, when you get into the voting booth, you find that you can only bring yourself to vote for one or two (or whatever) candidates or propositions on the ballot. Whatever! (And I dislike that word as much as the next person.)


Vote ... please ... VOTE!