Voting 2004: This time it's personal

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

Put it this way: It followed Ted G. Jelen into his doctor's office in Nevada last week.







It went to work with Lisa Kellogg, a San Gabriel Valley preschool teacher who found herself arguing with a parent in the thick of morning drop-off.

It tracked Karen Dalrymple, a Michigan software developer, into the garage where the mechanic servicing her red Ford Focus should have kept his opinions to himself.

In the Del Webb retirement community of Lincoln, near Sacramento, it prompted a man to storm out of the billiards room this month and down a hall where the Democratic Club had spilled out of its meeting quarters. ("He was just waving his pool stick and shouting, 'I don't have to listen to this crap! Take it inside!' " said Nancy Krause, a 67-year-old retired administrative assistant who was there.)

At the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, it trailed 75 congregants into the Tuesday night Bible study. "One of the young ladies communicated she was a supporter of Bush, and people started, well, not to boo exactly but you could hear grumbling and rumbling," said Elder Ben Stephens, the church's college and young adult pastor. The mood was sufficiently ticklish that he ended the session with 2 Chronicles, 7:14:

<snip>

The spinning and selling, they say, the doublespeak and dissembling, have managed not just to sway and confuse as political operatives intended, but to set neighbor on neighbor. ("Red states, blue states — we're a nation of gang colors," one political scientist observed sadly last week.)

Anxiety, depression, anger — demoralizing feelings that modern Americans have rarely, if ever, associated with choosing a leader — have been reported even from friendly precincts, and yard-sign fights and bumper sticker defacements are just the beginning. Last week in Florida, a Democrat was arrested for allegedly attempting to drive his Cadillac into U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, the Republican in charge of the state's 2000 recount, and a Bush-backing Marine recruit was charged with trying to stab his girlfriend in the neck with a screwdriver after she threatened to leave him and vote for John Kerry.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-et-emotion1nov01,0,4737160.story?coll=la-home-politics

[Piperay]

1. DAMN straight

it's personal, it's personal with me and EVERY Kerry supporter that I know! :mad:

[AspenRose]

17. Sho' nuff got that right.

It's way personal with me.

[pacalo]

2. We owe it all to a stolen election & an inept, crooked opportunist.

[Technowitch]

3. Hell, overheard today as I stood in line at the bank--

"God, I hope Bush doesn't get re-elected."

"Yeah, I know, it'd be such a disaster. You vote?"

"No, will be tomorrow though. Straight Democratic ticket. You?"

"Already sent in my absentee ballot."

Mind you, these were two rather elderly folks, and very conservative-looking, if you know what I mean.

[yardwork]

4. And who do we have to thank for disseminating these lies?

The "news media," of course. Granted, the LA Times is one of the better examples of integrity in journalism. And I credit them for running this story.

[Almost_there]

5. Has anyone lurked in Freeperville to see what they are saying?

I'm more curious than anything to know what the wingnuts are saying. I'm sure they have all sorts of interesting stories about how so and so will write Bush's name in blood on the ballot, and how they and their neighbors are sacrificing goats to make sure Bush wins.. I may have to put on a pair of gloves, safety goggles and a mask and see what they are up to over there. Just curious after reading about so many people having friends who know what a disaster it will be if Bushy wins, what the hell must they be thinking with Bush against the ropes..

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. They're sacrificing their pet goats?

:evilgrin:

[lostnfound]

10. Heard yesterday: "The Amish are really coming out this time.."

I overheard that when I was in the office at my kid's preschool.

I love this school and I believe the owner has a very kind heart, but a total blind eye to the reality of this president's record..

As I walked in they were discussing the Amish but got a little quiet. Then one of the others answered, 'but aren't they all in Utah?'

'No, in Pennsylvania'.

It was a somber mood. I'll have to try to bake them some cookies tomorrow to cheer them up. In the shape of donkeys.

[JohnnyRingo]

7. I don't care that GW is a republican

I've seen what him and his friends can do in four short years.

With me, it's not just a vendetta....It's a sig line:

on edit
I forgot we don't have sig lines today:

"It's not partisan anymore...It's personal"

[Raster]

19. Right On, Brother!

[Chovexani]

8. Oh man

>Last week in Florida, a Democrat was arrested for allegedly attempting to drive his Cadillac into U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, the Republican in charge of the state's 2000 recount

I'm probably going to hell for this but I can't stop laughing at that. ROFL!

[Born Free]

9. democrats refuse to go quietly in the night

the right has always been this way and Democrats had always allowed them to dominate everything but it appears that democrats have finally decided it was time to stand up for America. Now all we need to do is get out there, vote and make damn sure the votes are counted this time.

[BiggJawn]

11. You ain't seen nuttin' yet...

If Bush gets re-appointed, I'm not gonna be grumbling under my breath whena a fat-assed ReTHUG cruises by in his 2 MPG penis augmenter....

[Mountainman]

12. Today is our chance to get even. If we all vote we will win.

It is a personal decision.

[DeadManInc]

13. Shrub

Can we have volunteers to help him get his shit out ot the white house.

[snooper2]

14. Hell Yeah!

eom

[shanti]

15. the chimp has poisoned the well

we MUST get rid of this toxic person and all with him! he is a cancer! :grr:

[TwentyFive]

16. I'm leaving to vote right now!

[shochet]

20. DUDE! Go Rock it! (eom)

[Raster]

18. Today is the beginning of the end of our four-year nightmare.

Stand back and let it happen! Record voter turnouts! Massive voter interest! And the best part: millions upon millions of voters who have never been part of the process will vote today for the first time.

Just on CBS morning show:

Poll of 18-29 year olds

Kerry: 66%
bush*: 33%
Nader: 1%
Undecided: 0% !!!!!! <--That's the amazing one! Zero Undecideds!

And yes, this time it is personal. I want my country back!