i voted (for obama, naturally), because after 8 years i’m ready to take that pin off of my purse that says “he ain’t my president”.

This is the 10th presidential election I have voted in, and the first time I have voted for someone I am totally committed to and whom I actually think will win! I have never felt so full of joy when voting!!!

I feel more hope and confidence in this election than any other. Bringing camera, flag and Lily to the polls today!! can’t wait!!

So I voted a while ago, but got up at 5:30 this morning to hang VOTE OBAMA flyers on peoples’ doors, just in case they couldn’t remember that today was–finally–Election Day.

So I’m doing my thing, trotting along and I come to a chain-linked fence with a nice dog napping on the porch. I whip out a hanger and as I approach the fence, Dog gets up and sniffs me. He doesn’t bark or anything.

Until I touch his gate. At which point he loses his canine shit. And I very nearly pee my pants, jumping backward in serious alarm. Luckily it’s still dark out and I’m pretty sure no one saw me.

Except for that stupid dog. Go vote, folks.

Check out what happened to us on our way back from voting: http://chiotsrun.com/2008/11/04/taking-advantage/

Not a funny story, but I thought I’d share.

I just hope we can come back together again after this murderous campaign. I wish there was a law that campaigns could only say positive things. It would make more people willing to get invovled I think. I don’t hate voting, I just hate that it makes people so condescending of others who don’t believe like they do.

I am Canadian, but I am going to leave a comment anyways (I will be dreaming and hoping for apricot butter!– YUM).

Our Canadian Federal election was held 3 weeks ago today. While there are many differences in the Canadian and American electoral processes (the least of which being I had to line-up for less than a full minute to vote..vs the 10 hour horror stories I have heard on the news!), I can fully appreciate susan o’s comment on feeling so very full of joy after I voted!

I felt a complete appreciation and thankfulness to live in a country where I have the ability to elect the individuals that govern my country (even if the candidate I voted for didn’t win! 🙂 ).

Also – have a read about the ‘North American Competitiveness Council’ and the ‘Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America’. I’ll let you read up on it yourselves and try not to influence your opinion… interesting stuff.

We are certainly in a time of change!

Looking forward to reading the other voting stories/comments. 🙂

In “the D” (aka Denver), we are able to have a mail in ballot for every election. I love it; I know I can research all the amendments and such if I don’t have the ballot in the comfort of my house, but I just do it ‘more better’ if it is on my couch. We spent some time on youtube listening to the pro/cons of each one. So today, I walked to our local middle school and dropped off Will’s and my ballots. easy-peasy.

Last night I attended the “Rock the Vote” concert with Tenacious D and the Beastie Boys. The B Boys dedicated their last song to George W…a raging version of “Sabotage”. Fun night.

I’m not only, but planning an election party with an American flag cake, fresh ground venison SW Arizona nachos and three deep dish Chicago pizzas. The kids will play pin the tail on the donkey and pin the trunk on the elephant, and color in an electoral US map as states are called. Maybe from this young age, Betty and Lucy will remember that Democracy is cool and fun.

6:30 – woke up
6:40 – made bed/got ready
7:00 – made lunches
7:30 – woke up somer
7:35 – threw wet sheets into washer
7:40 – scrubbed mattress
8:00 – dropped kids off at school
8:20 – VOTED FOR OBAMA
9:00 – canvased the streets of east lansing…sat in students apartments, reminding them where to vote, asking if they needed a ride.
12:00 – turned in my clipboard, grabbed lots of obama stickers for my girls
12:30 – reheated burger on stove
1:00 – heading to work.

I am every woman.

love the amy butler fabric, by the way.

I mailed in our absentee ballots yesterday on my way to work (we don’t have the choice to vote in person). I very happily chose Obama and really hope he wins…I want this country to FEEL some of the hope he shines out during his speeches!

On another note, I’m working from home (our small farm) today because our heifer is _possibly_ in labor with her first calf (our first, too!)…we hope for a girl as they sell for more, but if we get a little bull calf, how cool would it be to name him Mr. President?! 🙂

Well, I cast my vote for our man on October 16th, but a distant memory at this time. For the first time in my life, I have been calling complete strangers and chatting them up about voting – first in an effort to get them to support Obama, then in an effort to get them to early vote, and today in an effort to get them to the polls if they haven’t made it already. I am not chatty by nature, so folks: this ain’t my bag. But my hubby and I have donated as much as we could and I was getting stinking sick of the data entry stuff.

So, my funniest phone call yet, to a rural NC voter, male, age 55. Me: “Hi, this Heather, I’m a volunteer with Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change and I’m calling to see if you’ve decided who you’ll be voting for!” Yeah, I am so chipper!

Dude: “No way in hell I’m voting for him!!” Doh.

Me: I just start giggling. And giggling. I am supposed to thank him for his time and hang up, but I CANNOT stop giggling.

Eventually, he starts laughing too. So here we are, two people clearly on different ends of some crazy political spectrum, giggling away to each other on the phone.

Finally I get my act together and I say something like “Ok then, have a wonderful day.”

And he very gruffly replies, “Well, just so you know, I ain’t voting for that other guy either so y’all don’t have to worry about that.”

It’s wild out there on the telephone lines kids!

It was with a holiday-like excitement that I and the spousal unit loaded up the boy and headed to the polls. Amazing how a few dark scribbles can have such an impact on our lives. We as a country are so hungry for the sweet taste of change that has been too-long coming. Now more than ever, I want to see a positive, thoughtful and compassionate administration in our nation’s capitol. I expect no less from our leadership than I do from my young son, whom I must help become a responsible adult. Because of that, I voted for Barack Obama.

All I know is that I don’t want to send out sympathy cards tomorrow. I’ve sent them out the past 2 elections… what a bummer man! But, tomorrow it will be congrats!!!!

GO OBAMA GO! I am on pins and needles just dying to see and hear how it all shakes down… I agree, this is a huge election, it will not only determine the next 4 or 8 years, but perhaps whether our children will have the same opportunities to enjoy the world like we do… I really believe this. If some major changes don’t occur soon to help mitigate global warming, reinvigorate our desparate forest service and other conservation programs, much will be lost.

Someone recently tried to freak me out about how, allegedly, there was some sort of absentee voter scandal going on where my vote may or MAY NOT be received and counted.

So I went on to our county’s registrar of voters site to make sure my absentee ballot had been received.

Funny thing was this, it said:

Ballot Mailing Date : 10/06/2008
Ballot Returned Date : 10/08/2008

Geez. Get excited to vote? Nah, not me.

Gobama. Also, NO ON PROP 8 and YES ON PROP 2.

i have been teaching my girls obama mama for quite a number of days (or is it weeks??) now.

i was incredibly proud when stella walked cora past a pamphlet and said…”can you say barack obama?” and she did. (ba-a o-ba-ma)

i have a lot of hope. but it’s good. i feel like i really made a firm and appropriate decision today. i’m not sure i’ve ever felt that way in a vote. it felt good…and i felt proud.

I voted this afternoon. While waiting in line to hand in my (paper) ballot, there was a man who was directed to the District Warden as he wasn’t registered. She was busy with another student at the time, and he stood there for no longer than two minutes before saying, “This isn’t THAT important” and walking out.

The woman ahead of me turned around has he left, and we looked each other in the eye. She said, “Um, of all days, it IS important!”

I voted. I had six little ones in tow, but I voted. And, I had no line! Sweet.

See my blog! I felt so proud taking Theo with me, as his Mama, to vote today. Having him reminds me even more how important it is to do the right thing. Here’s to hoping for the change this country needs tonight….!

I vote permanent absentee after the 2000 debacle just to make sure my ballot is in my hot little hands prior to the election. I sent in my ballot a couple weeks ago. I am very hopeful for tonight…

Of all the times for my internet to crash….yesterday! I write on your Dad’s laptop, thank God for his wireless card.

ANYWAY,I was at the polls at 7:15 yesterday and was the 80th person o vote in my poll. EIGHT has always been my lucky number…and once again it is! I am so emotional today, the world, me, my family and friends me and for Margot.

xoxo, Mom

I voted!!!! Why…because this is by far the most important election of my lifetime thus far. Also because I have two boys who I want to blossom and grow in a world without only negative changes!!!

GO OBAMA!

I voted in Red Lodge, Montana in the civic center. I sat in the chair with my ballot and as I blackened the Obama circle on my ballot I actually got goose bumps and almost yeehawed outloud. If any of you have ever been in the civic center in Red Lodge you know that ears would still be ringing. Happy days are ahead.

Well here comes your winner.
This is the first time that I have posted to a blog. Yesterday happened to be the first time that I have ever VOTED. I hadn’t regiestered to vote since I turned 18. I found myself with voter/regiester #314 right about the time I heard a sweet old lady over a loud speaker call for voter number 132.
WTF…do I really want to do this?? My choice was already made.

I decide to be part of a team to bring a little baby into this world. My job is to help make it be the best for her. Two and a half hours past #300, it was getting close. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would still be employeed when I returned to the office. I had said that I would be back in about 15 minutes.

With the motivation that my daughter has created for me I waited excitedly. There it was an angle asked for #314. I cast my vote shed a tear and waited.

THe results are in and FINALLY one of my people will lead this country. November 4th 2008 was one of my most favorite days and much of it was spent sitting on a floor waiting to mark one little box. I hope that you all voted.

JC

I voted because every decision I make from now on will affect my baby daughter’s future, and I want her to know I cared enough to make a difference. I want her to know that HOPE can do big things.

I got up at 5:15 on election day to open a polling place with the help of 23 dedicated and hard working election judges. I had poll watchers from the Obama camp who brought brownies and bought us pizza. I brought cookies for the voters and it made them happy. I worked a 16 hour day and I would do it again tomorrow.

I have never been more proud to work an election and help voters, regardless of their party affiliation, cast their ballots.

I got teary when I took the oath to uphold the constitution of the United States and the State of Montana. I got teary again when I thanked the people at the courthouse today who worked a longer day than I did.

My heart swells when I think of the tens of thousands of people who worked the polls yesterday across the country. I’ve never been more proud to work in local government.

gotta love a giveaway. i’ve been dreamin’ of your peach butter since the pic you posted of your big pregnant belly last year sidled up against the peach pot. yes, i voted…and i may be the only one in 27 comments that didn’t vote for obama for various political reasons, but i too want change and stand behind him today and pray the hope he so beautifully speaks of truly comes to fruition. i believe. xoxo your bug’s delicious. even more than peach butter.

I recently moved this month from Missoula, MT to northern New Jersey which is around 5 minutes from New York City. I was in Times Square on election night and CNN had a huge screen up as the results were pouring in. Everyone was stopped, huddled, silent and hopeful. Once Obama was annouced as the projected president cheers swept through the streets of NY. Nearly ten blocks I had to walk to a bus terminal to get home and all the while I heard random strangers, held together by one common goal chanting “YES WE DID!”. Here is a cell phone pic I took that night while in the crowd: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/Sedminik/1104082202a-1.jpg

Like some you who have commented already, I participated in a political campaign for the first time this year. I have always voted, but it was so much more meaningful to actively participate in the process. I canvassed, phone banked, and hung door signs for Obama in Ravalli County. I encourage everyone to get involved the next time you find a candidate that you can get behind. It’s an experience you will always cherish.

Can we turn this country around? Yes We Can!

I voted for the first time, because I finally felt that it was my time. My time to stand up and make my own choices. My county voted roughly 70% Obama, 30% McCain and this election was the first one where I’ve ever felt that EVERY single vote makes a difference. No matter which state you live in.
I disagree with some of Obama’s ideas but I believe that they are simply a reflection of his personal experiences, not something someone told him to believe. I hope that when Obama addresses areas in which I happen to disagree with him, that he will once again be the cool one who thinks, reflects, and welcomes input before crafting his response.

I voted for Obama because he gave me goosebumps when I heard his speeches. I voted for Obama because he stands up for his wife and not only his own children, but those of his opponents as well. I voted for Obama because I want someone whose education surpasses my own. I voted for Obama because he has admitted that he is human too.

At a time when I’m still learning where I fall on the political spectrum I’ve had the chance to vote for a man who is so unique, parties are almost irrelevant. Everyone has a loved one whose passing will be devastating, but will they publically express their despair? Every child needs to know that they are loved AND respected. The world will be scrutinizing whatever pet the Obamas bring to the White House, and the children are actively participating in the selection of that animal.
It’s my hope that the ushering in of the new First family into the White House will bring a time of diplomacy, family dinners, modest living, and renewed faith in ourselves as Americans. This country needs to reassess what it really values and requires to stay true to its ideals. I hope that Barack Obama’s presidency will reveal who we really are and what we can become.

Hello, just wanted to tell you, I liked this blog post. It was practical. Keep on posting!