Sly Bald Guys Forum

Various Non-Bald Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: tomgallagher on November 06, 2012, 12:05:28 PM

Title: VOTE
Post by: tomgallagher on November 06, 2012, 12:05:28 PM
Get out there and vote people. Somebody took a bullet so you could have that privilege.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: mrzed on November 06, 2012, 01:11:47 PM
I voted absentee in person last Wednesday.

Daughter, out of state applied for absentee ballot. DIV OF ELECTIONS says they sent it Monday of  last week. Ballot never arrived. :(

So now she has to file a complaint in case someone stole her ballot and voted for her!

Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Sly Red on November 06, 2012, 01:55:47 PM
I voted early, just not often, as is the Chicago custom  :*))

I came from a family who believed voting was your civic duty.  I've never missed a major election in forty years.

Red
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mikekoz13 on November 06, 2012, 02:14:14 PM
My wife and I voted in our small town this afternoon. No lines when we went but they were packed early this AM and we just went by again and it was VERY busy.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on November 06, 2012, 02:17:38 PM
Vote.

If you're interested in reading how some Europeans view our process I recommend the following, you may not agree, but it certainly has a challenging point of view.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/spiegel-commentary-about-us-election-campaign-a-865431.html
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: -Doug- on November 06, 2012, 02:18:20 PM
I voted mid morning. No real line to speak of.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: warhawk on November 06, 2012, 02:24:45 PM
I voted this morning.  Nothing too busy but steady lines.

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: theman on November 06, 2012, 03:14:23 PM
Yes indeed Tom,  DId it early AM.. O0
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: TheSlyBear on November 06, 2012, 03:27:06 PM
Very heavy turnout here in Austin.

I tried to vote early before work, but the lines were already pretty long. So I went back at 2:30PM thinking that everyone would be at work. No such luck. An hours wait (mostly in the sun) before I could get to the booth.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: theman on November 06, 2012, 03:36:08 PM
Just Wonder if we are going to get results today ?  Or in a week ?
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Slynito on November 06, 2012, 05:27:48 PM
Voted absentee in mid October...no fuss, no rush and I could track my ballot at the web site.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: mrzed on November 07, 2012, 04:27:16 AM
Several passes at my local polling place and mm never saw a line yesterday.

I think it was the 18 days of early voting that kept the election day lines short this time.

Last week I had to wait 5 seconds in line to get on a machine.

Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: bennett11 on November 07, 2012, 05:06:13 AM
I  voted around 2 in the afternoon in Leander, just north of Austin.  There were six in line ahead of me.  Took seemingly long time to get my ballot - voting went quickly - had choice of paper ballot or electronic voting machine.  There were over 30 in line when I left.

bob
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: good to be bald on November 07, 2012, 07:20:19 AM
the wife and i took the kids to vote teach them young
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: nuts on November 07, 2012, 01:55:35 PM
Watched the TV coverage here in Australia which was very comprehensive.

In Australia voting in federal and state elections is compulsory if you are 18 and over.  We don't vote for positions like judges, sherriffs, dog catchers etc.

One thing that really surprises Australians is the archaic voting machines etc used in some parts of the US with the potential for things to go wrong and fraud. We had elections here in Canberra only last month and about 40% of voters cast their votes electronically (at booths set up for the purfpose) prior to election day so there were no long queues.  Handing out how to vote forms is also banned within 100 metres of voting places on polling day.

I won't offend anyone by commenting on the result as I am sure there are members of SBG from both sides of the electoral divide but a poll here showed Australians preferred Obama to Romney by about 3 to 1.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mikekoz13 on November 07, 2012, 03:49:28 PM
It always amazes me that people all over the world feel like they need to put their two cents in on who we Americans vote into office. I can assure you that NOBODY I know gives a damn who is voted into power in any other country. We are more concerned with our own political shenanigans.

This isn't aimed at anyone's comments so please don't think that it is.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: tomgallagher on November 07, 2012, 05:11:51 PM
I saw an interview on BBC from London today with Cameron Diaz and Colin Firth. She said she went to bed last night not knowing the results so when she got up she quick had to find out who won and lo and behold she was thrilled to see that democracy had worked and Obama had been re-elected. I guess if Governor Romney had been elected democracy would not have worked. Colin Firth looked at her like she was crazy. What a stick of wood.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: TheSlyBear on November 07, 2012, 05:30:20 PM
Democracy works when we exercise our right to vote, no matter who wins.

There are enough stupid comments going around in the aftermath of the election about democracy working, or not working, on both sides of the aisle to fill all the football stadiums in the country.

What's most important is that we all have the right to vote, and that we exercise that right. I don't care who anyone votes for (but myself), but apathy with regards to voting completely irritates me. I know too many people that didn't vote because "my vote doesn't count".

Makes me want to chew my arm off.
Title: Re: Re: VOTE
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on November 07, 2012, 05:41:28 PM
PLUS ONE
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: baldjoeg on November 07, 2012, 07:27:18 PM
I was head election judge at our precinct yesterday. Man - it was crazy! I have never seen an election like this. I have been a judge for over 12 years and this was my 3rd Presidential election. We were so busy the whole time from when the poles opened at 7:00 A.M. until about 7;45 P.M. The polls here closed at 8:00 P.M. We had an unbelievably high voter turn out which is good.

So glad that I only had to do this for 1 day. I am still tired today.

No time to shave the dome before I had to report in at 6:00 A.M. to set up. Decided to go see my favorite barber for a straight razor head shave on Friday morning. I fell a need to be pampered again. Will have to live with the stubble in the mean time.

Take care all my sly friends and thanks for getting out to vote.

 O0 O0 O0
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Beardman on November 10, 2012, 04:12:57 AM
It always amazes me that people all over the world feel like they need to put their two cents in on who we Americans vote into office. I can assure you that NOBODY I know gives a damn who is voted into power in any other country. We are more concerned with our own political shenanigans.

This isn't aimed at anyone's comments so please don't think that it is.

I know exactly what you mean... and I was amazed at the coverage over here in Australia over the whole thing... since when did Australia become a member of the US? Sure a little mention in the 6pm news (the major news time slot over here)... but I'm amazed they stopped short of showing the full vote count...

 

Handing out how to vote forms is also banned within 100 metres of voting places on polling day.

I won't offend anyone by commenting on the result as I am sure there are members of SBG from both sides of the electoral divide but a poll here showed Australians preferred Obama to Romney by about 3 to 1.


That is interesting... is that from the building, or from the actual polling booths because where I normally vote the people handing out propaganda are normally standing close to, or leaning up against the building waiting to for people to walk past on the way to vote, so that is certainly not within 100m of the building, and I think you'd be hard pressed to say they were 100m from the booths as well!

Also, I don't understand why people feel they can make a comment on that in Australia, unless you were referring to US citizens living over here, because if someone asked me I'd probably just send them on their ways...
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mr Jules on November 10, 2012, 05:54:16 AM
Vote.

If you're interested in reading how some Europeans view our process I recommend the following, you may not agree, but it certainly has a challenging point of view.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/spiegel-commentary-about-us-election-campaign-a-865431.html

Sainttc,

That's an interesting article. Here in the UK too, some political commentators were saying that neither presidential candidate were addressing some of the issues of poverty in the US. And that Americans generally remain more hopeful than Europeans.

Both the BBC and Channel 4 did take the same view on the Republican vote: there aren't enough angry white men voting for them any more.
http://static.happyplace.com/assets/images/2012/11/509bedacdc6e5.jpeg

Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Laser Man on November 10, 2012, 08:52:04 AM
Many on this thread are wondering why people in other countries pay so much attention to the U.S. elections and voice their opinions about our candidates.  There are a number of good reasons.  To name a few:

1) the U.S. is an important military ally of many countries (think NATO, Israel)
2) the U.S. is still the world's largest economy and a major market for many countries' exports
3) there are long cultural and historical ties with the U.S. because of immigration dating back to the Pilgrims (too many countries to name)

I lived in western Europe for five years and the daily news always included information about the U.S.  I personally don't think it would be a bad thing if the U.S. media provided more and better coverage of other countries.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mr Jules on November 10, 2012, 08:54:14 AM
I lived in western Europe for five years and the daily news always included information about the U.S.  I personally don't think it would be a bad thing if the U.S. media provided more and better coverage of other countries.

Agreed.

On my many visits to the US, I've been disappointed with the US media coverage of other countries.
Title: Re: Re: VOTE
Post by: mark on November 10, 2012, 08:59:22 AM
I agree. The us news is too busy covering celebrity bullshit.
Title: Re: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mr Jules on November 10, 2012, 09:15:57 AM
I agree. The us news is too busy covering celebrity bullsh*t.

The BBC (UK main broadcaster) did a good job of covering the US presidential election. Plenty of information and analysis. On this side of the Atlantic, we're all up to speed !
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on November 10, 2012, 09:56:28 AM
Interest and concern outside one's own self and sphere of immediate attention has been a subject of interest to many and is perhaps best and most succinctly expressed by John Donne, "No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
."  Although many may disagree I, personally, think it is of utmost importance to maintain broad interest in other places and cultures. 
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Slynito on November 10, 2012, 10:37:31 AM
...very true. I've found where ever I travel people know the news from the US...celebs, sports, politics, the things that make us proud and ashamed. I was living in the PRC on election day 2008 and even though the winner was apparent I wanted more information. I went on-line and the net was overloaded and unbearably slow. So I jogged down the street to an internet cafe where you'll find the fastest conduits to cyberspace. The place was packed, but after a short wait I was able to get a computer and read all of the US news papers. But it doesn't seem to work that way here...China, is presently choosing their leaders for the next ten years and it's hard to find much of anything about it in the US media. 
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: theman on November 10, 2012, 10:48:05 AM
A lady friend of mine which lives down in Az. told me that a friend of her's lives in South Africa and all of white folks are worried about living from day to day.  Alot of uprising.  US , hasn't heard anything about that .  We only hear what they want us to hear, and in there way !   ;)
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: Mr Jules on November 11, 2012, 08:10:12 AM
Looks like Florida has called for Obama.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20282797
Bring his total to 332 electoral college votes.
Title: Re: VOTE
Post by: theman on November 12, 2012, 09:37:45 AM
I am glad that it is all over with  ;D