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Early Voting opened in Maryland yesterday and in many other state it has already been open for a while. I encourage to you vote as soon as you can.
Getting your vote in makes sure that it is accounted for. There is a Hurricane hitting the East Coast later today, you don't know what may happen on November 6th; get your voting done early and you won't have to worry about it.
If you can take a family member, a friend, a neighbor with you, make sure you do; the more people who vote early the less people clogging to polls on the 6th.
AND REMEMBER: The rules and requirements for voting have changed in some states! Know Before You Go!
http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx has an overview of the requirements. Please go to your State Election Board Website and get the full details. Voter Suppression and Voter Intimidation are ILLEGAL!(But that doesn't mean that some people won't try) Know your rights before you go; don't let someone rob you of your vote.
GET OUT THE VOTE!
I've had a nice, good old-fashion rant boiling up in my for the last couple of days. It kind of started with Richard Mourdock, Indiana's Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate, and what he said during his debate on Tuesday. If you missed it:
"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyg7gdTFsoA (video of the entire direct quotation)
The Fuck!
I mean the ways that personally offends me are kind of staggering. Never mind that Paul Ryan (the REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE) holds the same view "I'm very proud of my pro-life record, and I've always adopted the idea that, the position and the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life." (August 22, 2012) or the other mind numbingly stupid thing Todd Akin, Republican U.S. Senate Candidate from Missouri a couple of days before that to gain National Notice "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." (August 19, 2012)...
You know what, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/26/1150578/-The-GOP-Rape-Advisory-Chart-Volume-III is a pretty solid collection of all the things GOP candidates have been saying recently in regard to Rape. It's disgusting, really.
But I'm getting sidetracked. The original post that was eating my brain was about the GOP's blatant disregard for Women and their issues. It's really not just about rape, it's about how the GOP is opposed to Sex Education, Women's Health Funding and Family Planning, and Contraception among other things. Really? It seems to me that if you were really about Pro-Life and stopping abortions the best way to go about that would be to REDUCE UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES. Like I don't know, maybe if you were truthful to teens (boys and girls) about how you get pregnant in the first place that might prevent so many accidents. How making contraception either free or easily accessible reduces unplanned pregnancies and improves Women's healthcare options, which ultimately reduced Health care cost. Look I really do get that for a lot of people this is a Religious issue, to which I would point out purposeful separation of Church and State. It's against some peoples religion to eat Pork, does that mean pork should be illegal? It's against some people religion to Drink alcohol, does that mean alcohol should be illegal?
The original post would have segued to how Women's issues are Family issues, are Economic issues, but I think I'm going to pass on that (I might come back.)
This new post however was about the importance of Voting/Voting Early if you can.
I was noticing a lot of the National polls have the Presidential Race tied, this news is initially discouraging to me (because I really think President Obama should be blowing out Mitt Romney right now) Mind you, this is not discouraging me from voting, it's discouraging simply to my optimism. But Consider:
When you look at these National Polls you should consider the source. Some of these pollsters admittedly skew Republican (look at you Rasmussen) so of course they show a republican bias. Also, another thing to consider, How did they poll? There's an interesting metric to look at, it LV vs. RV. This being Likely Voters vs. Registered Voters. Likely Voters are people who are statistically more likely to go vote (they ask if you will be likely to vote this election cycle) vs. people who are registered to vote. Typically, voter turnout in America hovers around 50% give or take (higher during presidential elections, lower in off years) The Numbers are different when you are comparing Registered Voters who vote as opposed to percentage of the voting age population who vote, they differ a lot. Quite frankly the number of the voting age population who don't vote (are able to but are not even registered) is dismal for an industrialized country, but that's another post (one for before the voter registration has ended for the current election cycle ^_^;;)
Point being, most of these polls are asking likely voters (because that's what going to give you a more accurate estimate of results on election night.) But, you know who are typically not considered Likely to vote? The Young, The Poor, Minorities. Do you know who the young, the poor and minorities overwhelmingly support? Democrats.
Also, take into account how they ask these polling questions? Traditionally polls are taken by Telephone (Landlines) do you know who increasingly are getting rid of landlines? The Young, The Poor, and Minorities. And who do the young, the poor and minorities overwhelmingly support? Democrats.
This is
OH! I stopped to go Vote Early myself. It took FIVE HOURS. Also, early voting is closed tomorrow due to Hurricane Sandy, Bummer.
This is the point I am trying to make: If the election is sooo close (which it really shouldn't be and probably actually isn't) the way to make the difference is voter turnout. GOTV. Get Out The Vote.
Here is another thing. There are Republican stronghold that are not very strong. For instance, I recall after the 2008 election the Republicans won Arizona... just barely. Keep in mind that Arizona was John McCain's home state and it almost flipped Democrat. Now it's not like Mitt Romney is EVER going to win Massachusetts and it seems like the odds on bet that RomneyRyan ticket is gonna lost Wisconsin too. The above mentioned Candidate U.S. Senators (Mourdock and Akin, the Dumbasses) are probably gonna lose their previously certain victories. Thanks for that by the way. What I'm saying is, so what if your not in one of those all so important swing states. What about your Senate seat? What about your Congressional District? You know how congress has this stupid gridlock problem... you know what fixes that? Single Party Control.
Stop.
I do very much approve of the dual party system it keeps the country from sliding too conservative or too liberal which means it stays moderate, where most of the country actually is. However, a dual party system kinda falls on it's face when one of the parties is run by insane people. Ignoring their political leanings, how about their Minority Leader in the Senate outright stated that the parties number one goal would be to make the President a one term President. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-A09a_gHJc I am NOT KIDDING. The leader of the Republican Party in the Senate was to say that not jobs, not the economy, not the debt, not the environment, wars, education or healthcare was their top priority, but to make the president FAIL. The President... the leader of the country... if you want the president to fail you want the COUNTRY TO FAIL. Personally I don't know how you say something like, say your number one priority is to NOT DO YOUR JOB, and keep your job; but there you have it.
And so the Republicans became the party of NO. Which they have been doing so effectively they haven't done ANYTHING. Or rather they spent the last two years blocking every piece of Legislation that they could. So they stopped all progress in Congress (funny) But then they blamed President for the sub par recovery.
Post is too long. Maybe I'll get around to debunking the Republican Myths (read as: Lies) later.
Getting your vote in makes sure that it is accounted for. There is a Hurricane hitting the East Coast later today, you don't know what may happen on November 6th; get your voting done early and you won't have to worry about it.
If you can take a family member, a friend, a neighbor with you, make sure you do; the more people who vote early the less people clogging to polls on the 6th.
AND REMEMBER: The rules and requirements for voting have changed in some states! Know Before You Go!
http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx has an overview of the requirements. Please go to your State Election Board Website and get the full details. Voter Suppression and Voter Intimidation are ILLEGAL!(But that doesn't mean that some people won't try) Know your rights before you go; don't let someone rob you of your vote.
GET OUT THE VOTE!
I've had a nice, good old-fashion rant boiling up in my for the last couple of days. It kind of started with Richard Mourdock, Indiana's Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate, and what he said during his debate on Tuesday. If you missed it:
"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyg7gdTFsoA (video of the entire direct quotation)
The Fuck!
I mean the ways that personally offends me are kind of staggering. Never mind that Paul Ryan (the REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE) holds the same view "I'm very proud of my pro-life record, and I've always adopted the idea that, the position and the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life." (August 22, 2012) or the other mind numbingly stupid thing Todd Akin, Republican U.S. Senate Candidate from Missouri a couple of days before that to gain National Notice "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." (August 19, 2012)...
You know what, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/26/1150578/-The-GOP-Rape-Advisory-Chart-Volume-III is a pretty solid collection of all the things GOP candidates have been saying recently in regard to Rape. It's disgusting, really.
But I'm getting sidetracked. The original post that was eating my brain was about the GOP's blatant disregard for Women and their issues. It's really not just about rape, it's about how the GOP is opposed to Sex Education, Women's Health Funding and Family Planning, and Contraception among other things. Really? It seems to me that if you were really about Pro-Life and stopping abortions the best way to go about that would be to REDUCE UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES. Like I don't know, maybe if you were truthful to teens (boys and girls) about how you get pregnant in the first place that might prevent so many accidents. How making contraception either free or easily accessible reduces unplanned pregnancies and improves Women's healthcare options, which ultimately reduced Health care cost. Look I really do get that for a lot of people this is a Religious issue, to which I would point out purposeful separation of Church and State. It's against some peoples religion to eat Pork, does that mean pork should be illegal? It's against some people religion to Drink alcohol, does that mean alcohol should be illegal?
The original post would have segued to how Women's issues are Family issues, are Economic issues, but I think I'm going to pass on that (I might come back.)
This new post however was about the importance of Voting/Voting Early if you can.
I was noticing a lot of the National polls have the Presidential Race tied, this news is initially discouraging to me (because I really think President Obama should be blowing out Mitt Romney right now) Mind you, this is not discouraging me from voting, it's discouraging simply to my optimism. But Consider:
When you look at these National Polls you should consider the source. Some of these pollsters admittedly skew Republican (look at you Rasmussen) so of course they show a republican bias. Also, another thing to consider, How did they poll? There's an interesting metric to look at, it LV vs. RV. This being Likely Voters vs. Registered Voters. Likely Voters are people who are statistically more likely to go vote (they ask if you will be likely to vote this election cycle) vs. people who are registered to vote. Typically, voter turnout in America hovers around 50% give or take (higher during presidential elections, lower in off years) The Numbers are different when you are comparing Registered Voters who vote as opposed to percentage of the voting age population who vote, they differ a lot. Quite frankly the number of the voting age population who don't vote (are able to but are not even registered) is dismal for an industrialized country, but that's another post (one for before the voter registration has ended for the current election cycle ^_^;;)
Point being, most of these polls are asking likely voters (because that's what going to give you a more accurate estimate of results on election night.) But, you know who are typically not considered Likely to vote? The Young, The Poor, Minorities. Do you know who the young, the poor and minorities overwhelmingly support? Democrats.
Also, take into account how they ask these polling questions? Traditionally polls are taken by Telephone (Landlines) do you know who increasingly are getting rid of landlines? The Young, The Poor, and Minorities. And who do the young, the poor and minorities overwhelmingly support? Democrats.
This is
OH! I stopped to go Vote Early myself. It took FIVE HOURS. Also, early voting is closed tomorrow due to Hurricane Sandy, Bummer.
This is the point I am trying to make: If the election is sooo close (which it really shouldn't be and probably actually isn't) the way to make the difference is voter turnout. GOTV. Get Out The Vote.
Here is another thing. There are Republican stronghold that are not very strong. For instance, I recall after the 2008 election the Republicans won Arizona... just barely. Keep in mind that Arizona was John McCain's home state and it almost flipped Democrat. Now it's not like Mitt Romney is EVER going to win Massachusetts and it seems like the odds on bet that RomneyRyan ticket is gonna lost Wisconsin too. The above mentioned Candidate U.S. Senators (Mourdock and Akin, the Dumbasses) are probably gonna lose their previously certain victories. Thanks for that by the way. What I'm saying is, so what if your not in one of those all so important swing states. What about your Senate seat? What about your Congressional District? You know how congress has this stupid gridlock problem... you know what fixes that? Single Party Control.
Stop.
I do very much approve of the dual party system it keeps the country from sliding too conservative or too liberal which means it stays moderate, where most of the country actually is. However, a dual party system kinda falls on it's face when one of the parties is run by insane people. Ignoring their political leanings, how about their Minority Leader in the Senate outright stated that the parties number one goal would be to make the President a one term President. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-A09a_gHJc I am NOT KIDDING. The leader of the Republican Party in the Senate was to say that not jobs, not the economy, not the debt, not the environment, wars, education or healthcare was their top priority, but to make the president FAIL. The President... the leader of the country... if you want the president to fail you want the COUNTRY TO FAIL. Personally I don't know how you say something like, say your number one priority is to NOT DO YOUR JOB, and keep your job; but there you have it.
And so the Republicans became the party of NO. Which they have been doing so effectively they haven't done ANYTHING. Or rather they spent the last two years blocking every piece of Legislation that they could. So they stopped all progress in Congress (funny) But then they blamed President for the sub par recovery.
Post is too long. Maybe I'll get around to debunking the Republican Myths (read as: Lies) later.
