I want my country back, and I want the despicable campaign of hate, fear, lies, and division run by John McCain and personified by Sarah Palin to be repudiated by a massive Obama win. We can make this happen. The polls all say we’re going to make this happen . . . but I remember 2000 and I remember 2004, and even though the polls say that we vastly outnumber the people who tragically support John McCain, we’ve got to get to the polls and make sure our votes count.
So.
Make sure you get out and vote tomorrow, especially you younger people. You guys are overwhelmingly Democratic (yay!) but you’re also notoriously unreliable (boo!) so if you think you’re going to be in line for a long time and you’re going to get bored, bring a book, bring a DS, bring a PSP, bring a deck of cards, bring your cellphone and liveblog or Twitter the whole thing . . . just don’t get out of line and don’t leave without voting!
Everyone else, if you think it’s not worth waiting a few hours (or several hours) to cast an important vote in a close state, I have two words and one initial for you: George W. Bush.
Also, voter suppression is a terrible fact of life all over our country, and the ACLU has prepared a great resource for all 50 states, with printable sheets you can take with you to know your voting rights wherever you are.
The Voting Rights Project of the ACLU is dedicated to providing citizens with information and assistance in exercising their right to vote! We are urging citizens to ACT this election year. For more information or to voice a voting rights complaint, call 1-877-523-2792 […]
I seriously hope that Obama gets to 270 before the polls close on the West coast, but even if he does, it’s still important to get out and vote in California. We must defeat Proposition 8, and we can’t take anything for granted.
I am a young people, twenty years of age, and I am overwhelmingly Democratic, registered and all, and I plan on voting tomorrow so hard!! I worked the polls when I was a junior in high school, and again last year so at the very least, there will be one young folk with one vote, bringing Obama one step closer to being President Awesome.
One thing in your post needs to be re-iterated.
VOTE NO ON PROP. 8
Hey wil,
You’ll appreciate this, from Joe Gordon-Levitt.
http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticsIsBULLSH1T
I love how passionate people are about this election and I really hope it shows in the polls tomorrow.
Everyone, please vote tomorrow, in here in Cali, No on Prop 8!
The only good thing about the prevalence of mail-in voting in my county is that the polling place will likely be as empty when i go this time as it has the last half dozen elections I’ve voted in here.
OK, maybe *slightly* less empty, but I don’t expect any sort of line.
Go ahead, though, surprise me, KC.
Hey wil,
You’ll appreciate this, from Joe Gordon-Levitt.
youtube.com/user/PoliticsIsBULLSH1T
Whoops, I’m an idiot and double posted. Sorry.
Stupid fingers.
Boo Prop 8! Prop 8 must die!!
-= MrPerson
North Hollywood, representin’!
Just to support what’s already been said:
Here’s something to keep in mind for all of those people who may be thinking “What does one vote really mean?” John Kerry lost Ohio by a one-vote-per-precinct margin in 2004. One vote per precinct. One vote.
So if you haven’t voted early (and if you did, hurrah for you!), get out there and vote tomorrow. Better yet, take a bunch of friends (or, hell, strangers!) with you.
And don’t forget that if you’re /already/ in line when the polls are supposed to close–DO NOT GET OUT OF LINE! Most states allow you to vote if you are in line prior to the polls closing.
And you people out west, do NOT look at exit polls from places closing early back east (especially Virginia, Indiana, etc) and decide that it’s already sewn up in the bag for Obama and you don’t need to bother.
You have got to go vote. Every single one of us counts this time.
I went ahead and voted early and for Obama.
Not because you, Wil, said to.
But because I did the research myself, and listened to what they were saying.
And I went against my home state’s support of “Our Gal Friday”, because unlike the people who want to cash in on next-door-neighbor-celebrity-cachet, I would really like the better person for the job.
I hope everybody does their homework. And remember to get out and VOTE!
I will not be going to the polls tomorrow, despite everyone trying to get me to go.
If I tried to vote again tomorrow after already sending in my absentee ballot, that’d be voter fraud. And voter fraud is bad.
We should set up Twitter lifelines for all those who will wait on line tomorrow. We can keep them from getting bored and leaving by sending them LOLcats and Rickrolls while they wait.
“Make sure you get out and vote tomorrow, especially you younger people. ”
I’m 31, and I will be out voting tomorrow, for John McCain. America has seen recently 6 years of one-party rule… can we risk any more one-party rule? I encourage others NOT to drink the Obama Cool-Aid, and do what’s best for this country.
I’m voting tomorrow. The lines for early voting have been insane here. But I live in Ohio so I *have* to vote. I’m going to bring one of my scary medieval theology books & read in line for a few hours tomorrow…& text/bitch on twitter to amuse myself.
You must get different ads out West than we get here in the midwest.. The ads here have been overwhelming attacks on the conservatives at all levels.. More vicious than I have seen in the last 20 years..
No matter who you vote for, vote..
Already voted (vote by mail is fantastic). I have one simple rule in my my house; you can bitch and moan all you want as long as you get out there and participate by exercising your right to vote. If you don’t vote, you really don’t have any say in the matter.
I am with you Wil, Californians have to get out and be patient if there is a line.
I will be in my line in Valley Village (N. Hollywood) with my iPod and probably make new friends in line too.
At my little polling place over the last 15 years I have never had to wait in a line, just in and out really quickly, but tomorrow I am anticipating a nice long long. Very cool.
Excellent poster, Wil.
Hubby and I already voted this past Thursday. I live in a small, rural, poor county of NC and we had to wait 10 mins in line as it was. Very small office, only 5 in front of us, but 15 behind us.
Like I said on Twitter earlier, I feel like a kid on Christmas eve – butterflies in tummy et al. Thankfully I have loads of websites to build this week for clients – can be watching the stats as they come in on TV and the internet. Just hate that the internet may slow way down cause of all the traffic!
Each “one vote” adds up to millions in no time!
Sadly, I miss 18 by a week and a half after polls out here close…however, I have been reading some stuff on Slate and spreading it around a little…Hitchens is basicly a better writer version of me 🙂 Goddamn, I’ve never been this worked up about an election before…well…considering I’ve been through like 3…..and, if worse comes to worse, I can always go back east to my Rez. and die quietly and slowly with the rest of the Indun race…
If you feel impatient or bored waiting to vote, please take a look at this photo from South Africa in 1994. It was only fourteen years ago that apartheid gave way and people of all colors could participate in their democracy: http://intheshadowofapartheid.com/ElectionVotingLine.jpg
wil:
I’m 49.5 years old, and I remember watching RFK energize the country, only to be cut down, and the entire country feeling cheated. Obama not only will win, but MUST win.
I live in Kentucky, so I can’t vote on Proposition 8, but I think all Californians should vote for it!
I am very shocked that you are supporting a candidate who is in favor of the death penalty. I remember in 2000 that was one of the reasons you couldn’t vote for Gore.
Lets go Nader!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.pafundi.com
Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4796
Having to vote out of state has been a pain. I think it’s mainly because it’s my first time. I turned 18 this year so I’ve never voted before, and I didn’t exactly know how it worked, especially mail in voting. I hope my ballot makes it tomorrow (It’s on it’s way now!). I want to be able to say I voted in this election.
Please use the democratic privilege that people have died to ensure you have and vote!
I read some survey results not long after the last election that stated only something like 48% of registered voters actually voted. Those of us in the rest of the world who can only watch as you elect a leader who has a great amount of power an influence outside of your borders, we have a great interest in what happens there so please be responsible.
There are some issues that I disagree with Obama on, like telecom immunity, but I also realize that I agree with him on far more than I disagree. So rather than vote for a third party candidate that I may have more in common with, I cast my vote for Obama last Friday in early voting here in Wisconsin.
I’d rather make a difference than make a statement.
I still can’t fathom how so many people have and are being duped into following Barack Obama.
Along with Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank, Barack Obama and the Democratic majority has perpetuated the lowest-rated and least-effective congress in history. And Barack Obama is no agent of change, as he voted along the Democratic Party lines more than 97% of the time.
Barack Obama is going to work hard to push through ENDA, so that schools can have cross-dressers teaching kindergarten in alternating dress, while the school board is helpless because expressing their gender confusion is protected by federal law.
Barack wants to end anonymous voting for Unions so that every business-owner knows who voted pro-union.
Barack Obama supports H.R. 1964 which will end parental notification for minors seeking an abortion and Senator Obama knows that in many cases, the abortion request often comes at the demand of the Statutory Rapist.
I’m not saying McCain is your man, but how an educated and INFORMED person could conclude that Obama is, is beyond me.
I tried to refrain from directly addressing any commenters here, but constitutional.liberty, do you actually listen to yourself when you talk, or do you just regurgitate garbage? Every single one of your points is at best disingenuous, and at worst an outright lie.
No thank you, I will stay away from the Kool-aid.
Voting Yes on Prop. 8!
Voting for McCain
America & families first!
1) George W. Bush is the most brilliant president we’ve ever had. Seriously, take a look: http://ipushbuttons.blogspot.com/2008/10/way-to-go-george.html
2) If you think Obama winning office will get you your country back, you are delusional. There’s still the matter of the 500+ morons fucking us over from the Capitol building. That’s not going to change anytime soon. George W. Bush didn’t destroy this country by himself.
3) Points one and two only conflict if you don’t read the link.
Hate, fear, lies, and division certainly apply to Obama and Biden. If Obama gets elected, his deer-in-the-headlights-without-a-teleprompter approach and his woeful lack of experience could easily make him the worst president. Ever. I have two brothers-in-law who are small business owners, and I’m a freelance writer on the side. I shudder to think of how my brothers-in-law and many of my clients would be considered “rich” under Obama.
Wow. Eight years and many still don’t understand the Islamic threat we face. They don’t just want a portion of Jerusalem or even all of Israel or even all of Pakistan. They want the entire world. We either fight them now while they’re containable or we wait until most of the world is under Islam. Take your pick.
I think it’s important for people to know that if they don’t want to vote for either McCain or Obama they can still vote for someone! I know quite a few people who say they aren’t voting because they don’t agree with either candidate. I think that’s just silly to give up your basic right as an American. Don’t like them? Then vote for someone you DO like.
I think most people believe that the voting ballot will have only two names on it: McCain and Obama. But there are other parties out there. And, best of all, there’s a place for you to WRITE IN YOUR VOTE.
I, myself, wrote in my candidate of choice. Does it mean that he’s going to win? No way. But I at least voted for someone I agree with and for someone who I would seriously want as president. Now I have the right to bitch and complain over the next four years if the US goes to shit.
Please also urge people in California to vote No on Prop. 4! It is dangerous and deceptive.
I’m sure it’s going to get crazy up in here, but I just wanted to say: I’m with you, Wil.
One thing I’ll say about Wil’s blog: he allows everyone to speak their mind, whether he agrees with them or not.
At the end of the day, vote. Don’t sit home on the couch and complain, get off the couch and have your say.
No vote, no right to complain in my book. If you vote, and your candidate loses, then c’est la vie. If you don’t vote, and your lot in life is changed by others, that’s on you.
As for me: my polling station is 2 blocks from my house….I’ll check outside the front door and see how the cars go before I go.
interesting how many of the frothing at the mouth posters have no TypePad profiles. I wonder how many of them were just created tonight?
FWIW, Islam is not the enemy. Fundamentalist Islam maybe, but Fundamentalist Islam is to Islam as the KKK is to Christianity; a bastardization of the core tenets that bears no real resemblance to the original ideals.
If only Obama weren’t such a damn liar.
Ooh, Wil, just found this video. I think you’re gonna liiike it!!
Yes We Can!
Sorry. I couldn’t help it.
If you’re in Texas, and some other states I’m sure, do not bring your cell phone and twitter or liveblog or what have you. They’ll ask you to either turn it off or leave.
Chris the Tiki Guy just got me to finally do something with my TypeKey profile, after a couple years of ignoring it, for fear of being seen as a troll-come-lately.
I’ve been involved in every presidential election since I could vote, but this is honestly the first one that has me excited. I’m thrilled to be able to take my daughter to the polls with me tomorrow, even if we have to wait in line. (Hell, I’m thrilled that people in this country are voting at a level that causes lines!) I’ll make it up to her with free Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Ben & Jerry’s afterwards, thanks to my “I Voted” sticker.
As for the ranters, if anyone reading Wil’s blog doesn’t know he’s liberal by now, they really have not been paying attention.
Thought it might be an appropriate time for this video, courtesy of my own geeky wife. Appropriate in several ways, in fact!
I’ve already voted via absentee, but I’m thinking of making some sandwiches and cookies and maybe take some water bottles to the local polling place around 6 pm to see if any people waiting in long lines need anything…
Don’t waste your vote on Nader or any other third party.
If McCain had Lieberman as his VP I would have vote Republican in a hearbeat. Now, not so much. I’ll have to make up for it by voting Republican for the other offices since I don’t want a one party rule for the next couple of years.
Since we are talking about voting…Fellow Californian’s please vote no on all propositions except 11. Vote yes on 11 and no on everything else.
Damn skippy. I have voted in *every* election since I became of voting age ‘way too many years ago. Even the times it was hard to do so – like being stationed overseas.
Tomorrow I’m going down to the county campaign office to spend some time on the phones. Not pushing people to vote for any speicific candidate, but to make sure they *have* the information they need to vote: polling places, times, etc.
Saw two things on my state’s Sec of State’s web page this am.:
* Washington breaks voter registration record *
* Secretary Reed predicts 83 percent voter turnout *
I just hope those numbers are actually true when the polls close tomorrow night.
I’m 26….does that still count as ‘young people’? 🙂 Either way, I voted two weeks ago and would vote against Prop 8 if I were a CA resident….
Hey, Wil,
This video tells you what to do if you’re contested at the polls. Actually, Tony Stark, Wonder Woman, and Luke Skywalker (among others) tell you what to do if you’re blocked at the polls:
Seemed like your kind of humor. And the info in it is SUPER important!
I would recommend this site to anyone with an interest in the US Presidential election:
http://randomactsofshark.blogspot.com/2008/01/barack-obama-vs-pirates-of-wichita.html
I apologize that this has nothing to do with the election (I am Canadian and rooting for Obama), but you just got a shout out on How I Met Your Mother! By Barney even! Yay! Now if only there was a way you could get on the show…
Senator Obama will not be receiving my vote tomorrow, but he does receive my prayers tonight for comfort at the passing of his grandmother.