Here Comes the Election!

Aaron Shurtleff | November 5, 2012
Everyone, go vote. I don't care who you vote for or why you vote for them. Just do it.

Also, a question for those you are smarter than me about these things (everyone). I've seen a lot of Vote Early-type advertisements, and they are all seemingly attached to Obama. Is there some advantage here that I am not seeing? Do the majority of Democrats not like to go to the polls? Does Romey only want people who vote on Tuesday? Someone explain this to me, please? Maybe other parts of the country get Romney Vote Early ads? I just don't know why they are so one-sided...

Erik Bates | November 5, 2012
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Scott Hardie | November 5, 2012
Voter turnout isn't much of an issue for Republicans (though this year may be different, as Mitt Romney doesn't seem to inspire much passion), but it is a more significant problem for Democrats. I presume that the preponderance of "vote early" Obama ads, which I've also seen, is meant to address this issue.

I'm dumb. I should have signed up to vote by mail back in October when I had the chance. Now I have to take a long lunch break tomorrow to go vote in person... Hmm, maybe I'm not so dumb after all.

Anybody want to make any predictions? I give Obama the win with 290 electoral votes.

Steve West | November 6, 2012
Obama 281. Romney takes Virginia, Colorado and probably North Carolina. Obama takes all othe battleground states (Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and dagger! Ohio).

Aaron Shurtleff | November 6, 2012
I will go out on a limb and simply say this: We, as a country, gave W. 8 years. I can't see how Obama won't get the same benefit fo the doubt. :D

However, I bow down to the wisdom of the Washington Redskins losing their last home game before the election, which tells us, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Romney is in. I hope the Redskins are proud of themselves... ;)

Scott Hardie | November 8, 2012
Not to quibble deliberately with Aaron's original point, but it reminds me of a conversation that I had on election day, with someone who was fearful of admitting their preference not to vote, because everybody everywhere (judging from Facebook) was very aggressively pro-voting, regardless of party. Freedom not to vote is still an essential freedom in this country, and it should be respected, right? I saw a comment online from an Australian about her country's compulsory voting laws, how the $50 fine for not voting eliminates the traditional Election-Day push to "get out there and vote, people." There are worthwhile arguments in favor of mandatory voting, but it still feels oppressive to me. If the government said you can believe in any religion you want, but we're going to fine you $50 for not choosing one, would anyone stand for that?

Steve West | November 8, 2012
The right to vote is an extension of the right to free speech. I've said this to a few annoying co-workers on more than one occasion, 'Freedom of speech is a right, not an obligation. So shaddup.'

Tony Peters | November 8, 2012
I think Mandatory Voting would go a long way towards eliminating the 2 party system....the fact that Thomas Paine wanted it over 200 years ago leads me to believe that it would be a good idea

Samir Mehta | November 8, 2012
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Tony Peters | November 8, 2012
when you only have two choices saying nothing is a statement... when you have more choices?

Aaron Shurtleff | November 8, 2012
Also, I just wanted to point out that the NFL has confirmed that in the Washington - Carolina game, one of Carolina's touchdowns should have been called back. Had that happened, obviously, we would have had the proper Redskins victory, and so the myth is confirmed. lol

I have not actually heard someone make this claim, but I have no reason to believe someone isn't thinking it. I hope someone is. :)

And I am not making that up, by the way. The refs screwed up.

Scott Hardie | November 10, 2012
It's not crazy, Samir. I wasn't much in favor of compulsory voting until I read that Wikipedia article that I linked above, which makes a number of good cases for it, including that anyone who wishes to opt out could submit a blank ballot. It's a tempting thought.

Tony Peters | November 10, 2012
As for the results.......though I think Bill ORielly is an ass I agree with part of his assessment that white people are no longer the majority, the electorate has changed and the GOP is no longer the Big Tent. They have increasingly worked to reduce the width/breadth of their tent while the Democrats have opened up their tent to everyone. Much of the people who are presently identified as Independent are folks who have been driven out of the the GOP by the intolerance not to mention embrace of stupidity. there is no real reason given the current economy and performance of the democrats that the GOP shouldn't have taken over the Senate and beaten Obama except that their message is increasingly irrelevant to the electorate. If the GOP thinks this is merely a personality thing then they can kiss the presidency goodbye again.