I Voted - Did you?
I voted today, not for the first time (ever), but probably the most interesting election I have ever participated in. I feel like this is the first one that really matters (way to get voters psyched up, John Kerry). I don’t know if it is a byproduct of being more mature, older, or educated, but I feel like I am a part of this election - like someone is interested in what I want or have to say.
Some reading on the election and my thoughts:
Austin Chronicle’s coverage of Bill Clinton’s speech at UT:
It was really nice when Clinton undermined the Obama camp and their precious change mantra by saying that to affect actual change in our country, someone with, oh, say 35 years of experience actually working for change within the political system might be handy. Kinda made sense the first hundred times I heard it.
I thought that the Daily Texan’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton was snippy and self-centered:
…during Thursday’s debate, Obama made a major gaffe in incorrectly stating that he had received endorsements from every major newspaper in Texas. We may not be considered a “major” paper to many, but we represent a crucial constituency of close to 50,000 young and enthusiastic voters
Thom Singer had a very good post that sums up why I voted the way I did:
McCain vs. Hillary would be more of the same bitter and divisive partisan politics that we have experienced for the last few decades. It would continue the “us vs. them”, “Red State / Blue State” mentality that divides America. I have fatigue with the Bush / Clinton / Bush years and I want a fresh start. I do not want an “heir apparent” focused race trying to go backwards. I want two candidates who lead us toward the future.
I think we would be “okay” if Hillary won the Democratic nomination and eventually the Presidency, but come on, let’s try something that is fundamentally different from the status quo.
See you at the caucus on March 4th (who knew Texas had caucuses?)
P.S. I don’t care who you vote for, just remember, “Vote early, vote often”.
Photo courtesy of LexMonkey
February 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I hope we have record numbers vote in this election…and that the discussions are about policy and ideology and who can serve the nation as the leader…..and no more of the hate, name calling, intollerance (oh yes, both the republicans and the democrats suffer from the same disease of discrediting the “good” that the other has in their outlook and making the other side “evil”), and division that we have seen for the past 16 years.
I think that Newt Gingrich threw the first punch in the ultra nasty tone that heated up in 1994….but the other side has been just as nasty….so no more finger pointing makes sense. The time has come to be American’s first and Democrats and Republicans second.