I printed up my polling place location. And just like last time, I have a backpack with snacks and drinks. I have my camera ready in case the baggers go nuts. I also have coloring books and word puzzles for the little people who will be with me, standing in line.
Last time we sat in the car for a very long time, waiting just to find a space to park. Then we stood in line [the three of us], and that line wound around the building, and when we went inside, it was very loud and crowded.
My kids were smaller, and I hung on to them for dear life, afraid they might get lost in the crowd.
No one challenged me about my right to vote. Hopefully no one will. Oh I have proper ID, but being challenged by some two bit bagger who has convinced themselves they have the right or the authority to "Check My Papers" like it's WWII, just tends to put a twist in my shorts.
How about you?
I am not sure what I would say to a person if they did today. It probably wouldn't be polite or pretty. I have to say I got sick of this "real 'merican" bullshit when it first dribbled out of the palindrone's mandibles--and now that it has morphed into this latest incarnation of blatant, voter suppression, my attitude towards this activity has become more negative. The UN is going to monitor our elections. And they should given the antics of the GOP, that have transpired over the past 12 years.
I am voting a straight Democratic Ticket.
I will not cast a single vote for a member of a party that would do the following:
End Social Security and Medicare.
Take away the rights of women while returning us to the days of Anthony Comstock.
Redefine Rape by 1970's Fratboy Standards and make it a legal definition.
Tax the crap out of blue collar families so that the very wealthy can get gold plated toilets in their second or third home in Martha's Vinyard.
Ignore the Science of climate change while our coastal communities are inundated with rising sea levels and pummeled by Oklahoma-like severe weather.
Gutting our Public Schools
Union Busting
Dragging us into another war that will most likely be nuclear.
A party that practices blatant, voter suppression.
Give corporations the rights of citizens while taking citizen's rights away.
I was just discussing with my spouse, the lines we waited in, in 2008 and he said it would likely be longer lines this year. Since there were a tremendous number of Democrats polling in my area, I welcome that. Even though I know it's unnecessary and that the lines could be shortened by adding polling stations, I will stand in line like I am going to a blow-out concert, and camp out to watch this district or dare I say it, this state turn blue.
I am bringing extra snacks and such in case I encounter other parents or grandparents in the line with hungry and bored kids.
I will let you all know how it goes.
6:45 AM PT: Getting the kids up and while I was at this: here are links to pages to print up voter information for state ballot initiatives and judicial retentions:
Here is the link for State Oklahoma Information
http://www.866ourvote.org/...
The Voter Checklist is the shortest document [1 page].
Just click on Election Protection Materials at the bottom of that page, and it will pull down several topics.
Here is the League of Women Voters of Norman
http://norman.ok.lwvnet.org/
Go to this League of Women Voters page to see State Question clarifications, and Judicial retention information
http://norman.ok.lwvnet.org/...
FYI the Chamber of commerce tried to make a voter guide for judges based on the most economic good they have allegedly done for the state.
Additional information and commentary on the judicial retention issues here:
http://oudaily.com/...
http://www.okobserver.net/...
2:11 PM PT: Well the voting lines were sort of long, but only about a 20 minute wait if that. The polling people were professional and cordial and very helpful--as they have been in the past.
I guess reading about all these unfortunate polling incidents just gets me so worked up and pissed off. I am happy to say, at least in my case, I saw absolutely none of that.
I would also add that over this last 60 days, I have seen Obama-Biden signs all over the place, OKC, Stillwater, Hinton, and stickers on cars all over the place. There are a lot more Democrats in Oklahoma, than I think some give us credit.