|
 |
Welcome to Backyard Blog, our group online journal for this election season. We've asked a broad array of people with deep ties to the region to share their views on politics during the 2004 campaign.
Send your comments to bbcomments@seattletimes.com. |
November 02, 2004
| A nervous night draws to a close (?) |
| Posted by William Thomas Mari at 10:55 PM |
Ok…I’m calming down now, and not just about the national stuff.
Although Patty Murray, the self-described “former mom in tennis shoes” turned longstanding incumbent, has indeed bested grandfatherly George Nethercutt by 55% to 42% for Washington State’s senator spot , the amiable, white-haired Dave Reichert appears to be winning substantially against Dave Ross-the-radio-man. And Rob Mckenna has a 51% to 46% edge over Deborah Senn, so I’m encouraged.
At the same time, I’m still chewing my nails, figuratively, over the governor’s race. It’s really, really close (49% to 48%), and it may take the rest of the night and parts of tomorrow to figure out. Whew… *quivering conservative blogger sighs. Almost there!*
Respond
|
| Dem despair? |
| Posted by Sierra Michels-Slettvet at 09:41 PM |
I left work early today to canvas for MoveOn.org. Beautiful moment: we were visiting a boy at a house near mine who our records showed had not yet voted, knocked on his door, but got his roommates instead.
They let us in, down to his room, where we knocked again and prodded him to go vote, after a few minutes of discussion he grabbed his ballot out of the trashcan and walked down to the local precinct. Victory.
So I'm sitting in a friend's living room now, and Florida just got called for Bush and people are starting to panic, the sentiment seems to be to drink into oblivion if Bush wins.
Respond |
| Greetings from New Mexico |
| Posted by Ian Stewart at 07:30 PM |
It’s 6pm (Mountain Time) here in Farmington, New Mexico. I’ve spent the last five days (or six? My brain is barely working anymore) here in the Northwest corner of the state to help John Kerry win the Presidency hours from now. Farmington is kind of like Yakima. Lots of dust, trucks, and Conservative voters.
I’ve been close to campaigns before, but never anything like this. Two weeks ago, New Mexico was locked in as a swing state, and volunteers and paid staff flooded into this sleepy part of the Great Southwest. The office I’m now writing from has expanded from a few locals working hours a day to more than one hundred people all working to help win the state for Kerry.
In 2000, Gore was crushed in San Juan County (there aren’t any islands to visit here, though) by 24 percentage points. But as the voting here draws to a close exactly four years later, there’s something different going on in San Juan County.
In 2000, George Bush walked away with a net gain of nearly 10,000 votes from San Juan County. As I look up at our turnout tracking, there’s no way Bush will come away with that kind of gain this year. Because in addition to being conservative, San Juan County is also home to one of the oldest living cultures in the United States, the Navajo Sovereign Nation. And this year, our team has worked with Navajos to help raise turnout on the reservation to record levels.
The energy here is incredible. Each day flies by…in the first few days the pressure increased by the day. In the last forty eight hours, the pressure has doubled by the hour.
Now it’s 8pm Mountain time. The final returns for our county are coming in, and our targeted precincts have exceeded our expectations. Our confidence (and that of the 200 or so that have gathered to hopefully celebrate with us) is growing.
If the rumors I’ve heard are true (and I guess we’ll see soon), Kerry will carry New Mexico, and the Electoral College. My fingers are crossed. More to follow…if I don’t pass out from exhaustion.
Respond
|
| Reality check |
| Posted by Stephanie Sanguinet at 07:27 PM |
Why, if we know the outcome of the Presidential race more than likely won’t be announced until tomorrow morning, are we all on pins and needles tonight watching and reading about the latest voting updates?
Americans thrive off of adrenaline rushes and the fantastic battle. Democrats may be starting to panic seeing the president’s numbers climbing, but there’s still a long night ahead of us. So, if you’re feeling the effects of your day (like I am) grab a cup of coffee, a warm blanket, and settle in for the night…it’s going to be a long one.
Sitting at work today, a coworker of mine (DeAnna, here’s your plug) and I were discussing office politics during the election. This country was founded on the right to make our own decisions and choices, and amongst our choices is the choice to vote or not to vote.
Everyone was given equal right to this freedom and though it is a choice and a privilege, we should also allow those who choose not to vote to live without feeling like they are committing a cardinal sin and damned to hell. There are simply those who will choose not to go to the polls today and ignore all the ramblings of us bloggers. These people are exercising their rights as Americans and we should allow them to live in peace.
Why is it that once we have decided something is right or necessary, we try and force our beliefs on everyone else around us? Now if only P. Diddy would stop with the ”Vote or Die” campaign and return to the music.
Respond |
| A nervous night under way |
| Posted by William Thomas Mari at 07:04 PM |
Man o man, am I edgy! I’ve been watching the news off and on all afternoon and into the evening. Even though Mr. Bush is currently ahead with 171 electoral votes to Kerry’s 112 (as of 6:45 p.m pacific time) ), both Florida and Ohio are still up in the voting air, and that means about 250 votes are yet to be determined.
Plus, there are a bunch of potential twists and turns that could swing either man towards the much-coveted 270. Not to mention our state’s neck-and-neck governor’s race. This is nerve-racking! I’ll have to stay tuned!
|
| It all comes down to this |
| Posted by Matthew Ranger at 07:01 PM |
Today, as I finished filling out my absentee ballot, I was amazed by the excitement that I felt. The excitement I'd experienced didn't stem from voting for my presidential, senatorial or gubernatorial candidate of choice, but rather from the judges at the end of the ballot. I suppose this thrill stems from a few different factors, but primarily from the fact that a voter gets to do a good bit of deduction and extrapolation in that type of a race.
When you look at it, all a person has to go on is a few paragraphs. Sometimes they tell you a lot. Sometimes they tell you very little. When you see the words "won't legislate from the bench," your choice is easy. When the paragraph turns to more neutral terms like "compassion", "fairness", and "justice", the job gets a lot harder. This is where things get fun. You have to dig through the endorsements and think who their decisions could favor. You must look at what jobs they have held to see if they will be tough or wishy-washy. You examine their accomplishments and awards to see what kind of person they are, or at least portray themselves as.
When all is taken into account, you take your pen and fill in the circle. You do this knowing that you've had a larger than normal impact due to all those who choose to skip that part of the ballot. As you slip it into the envelope, you know that you've made a statement on what could very well be the most important branch of government.
This is America pure and simple. God bless her.
Respond |
| My first Election Day |
| Posted by William Thomas Mari at 01:29 PM |
I just got back from voting in Snoqualmie. Forgive me, but it was exciting!
Being my first election, and deciding presidential, gubernatorial, and state senator races made it particularly stirring. I voted at my local elementary school, and as of 10:20 a.m., nearly 240 people had already voted (the polls opened at 7 o’clock).
Charlotte, an elderly retiree volunteering as a poll worker, said that "...we've been very busy so far today..." and there was every indication that she was right. I waited for a good forty-five minutes in a line that was easily a hundred strong, and it seemed that for every person who finished and went on their way, another entered. This was during the supposed “lull time” too!
The school had a hushed, excited atmosphere, as average folks from all walks of life filtered in and out, many clutching voter's guides and actually studying them as they waited in line.
I saw no “problems” whatsoever, and any hiccups that did occur (a missing pen in a voting booth, misplaced addresses, etc.) were addressed quickly and quietly by the poll workers. "That was easy..." I heard an elderly gentleman say, and I agree, everything seemed to be going fine.
Ordinary citizens, many looking a bit tired and cold, leaned over rickety, plastic and-metal foldout voting booths, filling in little ovals. There were kindly retired folks, many wearing red-white-and-blue (or some combination thereof) sitting behind folding tables and chairs, helping people with signing in. It was quite a sight, democracy in action.
There wasn’t anything glamorous about it. In fact, the whole process appeared quite mundane, a humdrum civic affair that involved you, your pen, and a piece of paper. In the end, that’s how we govern ourselves. We won’t let some demented terrorist threaten us. We will vote our conscience, and that, as ordinary and average as it gets, is what makes our country such a great place to live.
Being part of this Backyard Blog project has been a distinct privilege, and I am very grateful for the experience. Like sports analysts prepping for the Super Bowl, we bloggers have been passionately debating, discussing, and sometimes
arguing as the election drew near. As it’s now arrived, and all electoral bets are off, it’ll be exciting to see how everything works out. Thank you all for reading
and responding. Here’s to a decisive and definite election.
Let’s go vote!
Respond
|
| Libby finally decides! But -- argh! |
| Posted by Libby Liming at 10:59 AM |
I’ve been volunteering for both the Bush and Kerry campaigns (not officially of course, but assisting friends and family in posting signs) and teaching my 5-year old how elections work and trying to explain how electoral votes are distributed. (He was actually able to tell ME how they worked…thanks SchoolHouse Rock! )
I have to join the masses and tell everyone (that has not already) to brave those lines, find that elusive parking spot and get thyself to their local voting booth today to, because it is super important to voice your opinion, whether or not this is “THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION YOU’VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIVES!!”
It is ALWAYS important to make sure that you take advantage of the privilege we have to vote and make sure that your voice is heard, whether or not you feel you’re making a difference. (Just look at the 2000 election…just a few votes and the country could have been completely different!)
All right, drumroll please…contrary to popular belief in my home, office and amongst my friends, I HAVE made a decision. It took me a lot of research and a ton of time, but I finally decided to vote. (And that’s all I’m going to share.)
I’m one of those weirdoes that believe that I should keep your vote to myself. It’s not horribly necessary for me to go preach to the masses who to vote for, unless I am the candidate. I like signs in public places (medians, corners, that sort of thing), but don’t think they’re a great thing in personal yards.
I understand campaigning and that sort of thing, but I would (PERSONALLY) never be able to cold-call someone on the telephone or email them or go to their home to tell them to vote for my candidate of choice, unless that particular candidate was my best friend (who should TOTALLY run for office) or my husband, or any member of my family.
But that’s just my honest opinion.
I have enjoyed the camaraderie displayed here on the blog during this election – it was very informative for me and a unique experience that I am grateful for. I look forward to tomorrow morning when the results are “announced”…maybe I should find a television somewhere tonight!
Respond
|
| Election day observations |
| Posted by Stephanie Sanguinet at 10:46 AM |
Monday nights during the past two months have been a refuge for me as my Young Life kids are a welcoming distraction from the election.
However, last night was anything but a distraction. A few of the high school students I know were quick to say that they would vote for Kerry if they were of age during this election, if only because he is pro-choice. In Walgreens, the man behind me in line was ranting about the latest Bin Laden tape and his newfound love of John Kerry. His political speech in the middle of a checkout line was anything but welcome. He bad mouthed our current president with such ease that it made me worry for any friends that this man might have.
Listening to this man on his anti-Bush tirade made me wonder: if we are so quick to hate and verbally strip politicians, whom we do not know personally,
what would some of us say of those people we DO know. Are we so terrified of the end result that the only comfort that we find is by bringing slander to others’
names?
This is one blogger who will be happy to see the end of this election, if anything to see the rage return back to the Seattle roads and out of store aisles.
Respond
|
| Wet the vote |
| Posted by Garrett Ryan Ferencz at 10:20 AM |
Rain, Rain, Go Away.
A blogger on the scene report! For days now we have all been hearing about endless lines at our polling places, rumors about the election machinery itself breaking down.
I just voted shortly past 7:00 a.m. this morning in Kirkland. The ballot was easy to figure out, and the whole affair took about 4 minutes. I wonder if the rain will impact the predicted 80 plus Washington turnout? My prediction is that it will (70 percent turn out).
Do any of my fellow bloggers have a prediction for the day? Popular vote? Electoral Vote?
My Prediction
Popular Vote: Bush 49 Kerry 47
Electoral College: Bush 293 Kerry 245
Respond. What's your prediction?
Surprise: Bush wins Hawaii
|
| Vote tomorrow! (Only you, Ian) |
| Posted by Garrett Ryan Ferencz at 07:47 AM |
Ian, my friend are you still trying to convince me of Kerry the War Hawk from Massachusetts—Defender of freedom, and all things good and fluffy. Oh well, remember to vote this Wednesday, and see you when you get back!
(note to all Republican readers, don’t tell Ian but y’all should vote today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 2005
|
|
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
| 9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
| 23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
| 30 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top