Last weekend, my Mom, Step-dad and I sat down with our ballets and filled them out. It was the second time that we've done them that way with mail-in ballets, and I have to say that I really have come to like voting in my own home with access to an internet connection for any of the races that I'm unsure of.
More below the fold:
As a victim of the recession, I swallowed my pride and moved back in with my aging parents several years ago. Although I worked as hard as I could for Obama in 2008 (working on GOTV just a few weeks after major surgery), I definitely am one of those voters who would have responded as "unenthusiastic" if polled. If I ever get a job again, I might be a bit more enthusiastic. So why did I vote?
Well, to some extent it was because of the GOP craziness. However, here in Nebraska, things are already conservative, whites are still a huge majority, and the recession hasn't hit here nearly as hard. Thus, people are not as desperate and afraid as some parts of the country. That means that the Republican candidates are very right wing, but not totally nuts.
It wasn't because of a Senatorial race, because there isn't one in Nebraska this year. And in 2012, I get to decide whether I can physically force myself to vote for Ben Nelson to keep crazy Dave Heineman out of the Senate. O.M.G. Just shoot me now, OK?
As far as the House goes, I voted for the current Dem nominee in the primary because she seemed like the least likely to become our own "Alvin Greene". That being said, after listening to her on NPR a few days ago, I have learned from her that - 1) the Dems need to just work harder with the Repubs because they are all wonderful people and can figure out how to get along, 2)she is very eager to go after earmarks, because it is all lies that earmarks represent a small fraction of the federal budget, and 3)she can't think of a single tax increase that she'd be willing to vote for (apparently not even the one for $250,000 and more). At least in Western Nebraska, they seem to have fielded a real Democrat. If she gets 35% of the vote, she'll be lucky, but at least with her I would have had a choice. NE-01 just couldn't catch a break this time.
Then there's the Gubernatorial race. The first Democratic nominee flamed out over a scandal, so they found a poor, sacrificial lamb who has about as much chance of winning as anyone of us have of seeing Sarah Palin come riding in on a dinosaur.
Yes, I voted for them, but that's not WHY I voted.
I think that it's imperative that every Democrat vote this year no matter how bad the choices, in order to keep the MSM from crowing about "depressed Democratic turnout". But even more, I voted because there are some local elections that are very, very important here.
My little corner of NE Lincoln has always been bright blue, and has been represented in the state Legislature by Democrats for as long as I can remember. But this cycle, because of mistakes of her own making, our state legislator is in trouble. I can't stand the thought of our district going to the Repubs in a redistricting year, so you bet I voted!
In addition, there was a very important bond issue to replace antiquated infrastructure that is falling apart, and several state constitutional amendments.
And last, but not least, I used a terrific web site:
Eye on the bench
which allowed me to discover that most of the judges seemed fine, but that there was one who had had the following "controversy"
In 2006, Judge Cheuvront made national news when he banned certain words from a sexual assault trial. The alleged victim of a sexual assault could not say the words: ‘rape’, ‘victim’, ‘assailant’, ‘sexual assault kit’ and ‘sexual assault nurse examiner’.”
My Mom and Step-dad didn't know anything about this guy before we started voting, but after I found that, there were 3 "no" votes for retention on him.
So all in all, I guess I'm saying 2 things:
- I think that the distinction between "enthusiastic" and "unenthusiastic" voters may not make as much difference as the MSM thinks it will. An unenthusiastic vote is still a vote.
- I urge everyone to vote whether you are happy or not. Even if all your national candidates suck eggs, there are still important local issues. Some you may not even know about until you sit down and do some research.
Thanks for reading this if you made it this far. Donate time or money if you have them, but most of all, make sure you VOTE!