Exchanges: October 24 - October 31

Funny!!! Ms. Palin sure is a piece of work - I REMEMBER! I bet you haven't seen this movie, but maybe our fictitious readership have heard of it -

Being There, 1979, starring Peter Sellers as Chance the Gardener. It is a total foreshadowing of Joe the Plumber! Chance has learned everything from watching TV and when his employer dies, he just trys to keep on gardening and saying things like, There will be growth in the spring. And everyone - Washington higher-ups, etc., treat him like he is a font of wisdom, going to him for advice. Satire in 1979 - reality in 2008!

- - Ing, October 31, 2008


I'll be posting exchanges by this afternoon sometime. There was something else - some fallacy about something - I wanted to post about, but - :( senior moment, I can't remember. I'm doing other tasks, trying to let it percolate up - that often works for me.

- - Ing, October 31, 2008


The good news is that you will get to see some of the 'pro-American' portions of Michigan as opposed to the anti-American Lansing area cesspool. Be sure to enjoy that pro-American fresh air - especially the pro-American smell near Midland. That smell is not Dow Chemical; rather it is God letting you know you are in pro-America territory.

- - Fair, October 31, 2008


Don't mind - yes on all the proposals that we had. The judicial selections are always hardest for me to figure out - I did some online research and printed out the sample ballot we can get from the SOS site, and brought that in with me. Did I mention that our township clerk didn't have regular hours that worked for us, but we came to the Township Hall by appointment after my work hours? That made us feel special :)

- - Ing, October 31, 2008


I'm assuming you voted for the two statewide ballot proposals as well... I provided a "YES" vote on both medical and stem. You don't have to indicate to me how you voted. I also supported Diane Hathaway for Sup. Ct. (and had my family to the same - they don't know anyone from the other in the judicial races for the most part).

- - Fair, October 31, 2008

Subject: We voted!
Straight Democratic ticket, the two of us. But I would have liked to be in line on Election Day. In a township with about 3,000 residents total, no way could the line have been super long. I would have liked to have been a part of the event!

Most likely on that Tuesday, we'll begin in Escanaba and drive back to Onondaga that day - about 400 miles, give or take. Once we get to the Mackinac Bridge, it will be I-75 and US-127, freeway nearly all the way. But for the U.P. part of our drive, we'll drive through some small towns here and there - I fantasize about seeing people lined up to vote all over the place. But then, it is the U.P. - I suppose if everyone turned out at once in some of these polling places, the line wouldn't be too visible.

On the TV hooked to headphones (i.e., no sound while I'll running around in the morning) I think I saw the anti-Barack ad you heard about. The graphics used the colors, fonts and style of an official Obama ad, with a twist on every slogan - beginning with "Hate we can believe in," then a picture of Reverend Wright, and in that same font, "God Damn America" - and so on in that vein. I was too far away to see the sponsor, but I think it was an independent group, not McCain or the RNC.

Lot of good it's going to do whomever, in Michigan. I am guardedly optimistic, and glad that for much of Monday, we'll be disconnected from the mainstream media. If I start to worry, I just tell myself, can't do anything about it now - what will be will be. . .

- - Ing, October 31, 2008


I talked T. into going with me up north for the funeral . . . in Wakefield. . . I guess it will be good for me to get away from my obsessive/excessive interest in the election, both on TV and the internets (Jon and Steve have been really good lately). Both Terry and I will be voting absentee ballot - I didn't realize till now how late a person could do that.

- - Ing, October 30, 2008


"Polls tightening" - scares me. Plus - a personal problem has arisen.

- - Ing, October 30, 2008


Well - quite a mouthful. There are lots of problems with the Big Three right now, but I think high among them is the cost for current and retired employees to have pensions and health benefits. Once Obama is elected, affordable health care for all will be a priority - and hopefully will address the disparity in costs that accrue to employers who still offer insurance as a fringe. As for pensions, I don't know. There have been numerous articles about how the switch to 401k plans has failed as a pension replacement and people with pensions should consider themselves lucky. But I'm not seeing much offered in the way of a solution from anyone.

If GM goes bankrupt - heaven forbid - among all the macro disastrous effects will be the mini-micro impact on my mom - losing my dad's GM pension. I hope it doesn't come to that.

- - Ing, October 29, 2008


http://www.autoextremist.com

After the smoke clears, it's time for America, Inc.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Submitted by Fair, October 29, 2008


It's not like I won't be able to comment at all - I need to take breaks from "intense" work - I can't work solid for hours on something. Guess what - if he doesn't renege, T. said he would come with me canvassing on Saturday, to help me carry things, drive and such. He says it will be my birthday present.

- - Ing, October 29, 2008


I think you will do well as part of this team. Luckily the election is TUESDAY! How nice that management knows you can handle this task.

- - Fair, October 29, 2008


Hi - I got your other message, but I haven't time to get into it right now.

"Careful what you wish for" - how many times have you heard me say I don't have enough to do . . .Well, now management has asked me to work on blah blah blah. We need to be ready . . .

So - my comments on the election and so on may be more scarce :(

- - Ing, October 29, 2008


After I e-mailed you, I got a call from M., the coordinator, and asked her how canvassing would work, explaining I had some limitations on how much I could carry or how long I could walk. She said it would be fine, just try it out, and if in difficulty, I could phone bank. But she indicated they really needed the help canvassing. I'm not exactly sure why it is considered so much more important than phone banking - except - most people don't answer their phones any more. One thing she explained: this was all about GOTV of known supporters - no more persuasion of undecideds, etc.

The nice thing about my back trouble is that it is very settled - that is, how to treat any problem. I can sacrifice a little if it helps the cause, even a tiny bit!

Great about the proposals - that is how we are voting also. It's the non-partisan judicial part of the ballot I always know the least about. But I've been researching online.

- - Ing, October 28, 2008


Don't press your back too much. We both don't need to end up with an injury when we can do other work - such as phone calls or manning the staging sites for the GOTV efforts. Just because we're not walking around doesn't mean we're not helping. I like their idea of providing food and conversation to those stuck in long lines. Never thought of that activity.

This is not the time for split ticket voting. We need change and the ability to make change happen.

By the way, not sure if I mentioned this of if you're even interested, but I supported both of the statewide ballot questions (medical and stem).

- - Fair, October 28, 2008


Read your post (very thoughtful and well formatted) and posted my own, about the fallacy of voting for or against split government. Sorry your canvassing experience wasn't so wonderful and especially about your ankle. Hope the pain or discomfort goes away permanently soon.

I'm canvassing this Saturday and canvassing or something or other Election Day. Here's our calendar, in case it's interesting:

Wednesday: Final Team Meeting to finalize plans, call those last few volunteers, and make the large posters and signs we need for the Staging Location. I'm making pasta and red sauce with a vegetarian and meat-lover option, as well as salad. BYO Beverage. 6:00pm at Mason Look for the Obama pumpkins on the porch...

Thursday: Last phone bank. If we need more volunteer calls, I'll have that happening. Meet at 6:30pm

Friday: Halloween! Enjoy the day and get ready for GOTV!

Saturday: GOTV canvass to remind our supporters to vote. Shifts at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm.

Sunday: GOTV canvass to remind our supporters to vote. Shifts at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm.

Monday: GOTV door hanger literature drops, very little direct voter contact. Shifts starting promptly at 9am, 12pm, and 4pm.

Tuesday: GOTV Election Day. Reminding our supporters to get to the polls, helping them arrange rides to the polls, and at the end of the day helping people stuck in line at 8pm by bringing them food and conversation and making sure they don't leave or get locked out of the polling place. Critical that you are on time or arrange alternate times with me personally.

Shifts starting promptly at 9am, 12pm, and 4pm.

We've been keeping up with TiVo shows like Jon and Steve by running our soaps and funnies during the evening news - this is our two TVs side by side arrangement - on the set hooked to headphones, we have close captioning. So I can listen/watch one thing and shift to reading captions - you probably heard about the study - multi-tasking is somewhat of a myth. For two tasks like this that involve the same verbal processing, the brain is really switching back and forth - not doing both at the same time.

Yes, I've seen an ad or two like you describe. I think their punch line against Obama is "We can do better." I'm not too worried about that kind of stuff any more - it's worry about GOTV time!

- - Ing, October 28, 2008


Thankfully I'm not sick - busy this week. The canvassing was not as productive as I thought. Lots of folks either were not home, didn't answer their doors, or (and this is good!) were planning to support Obama-Biden before I showed up. Probably too much walking... all these fancy McMansions with ornate front walkways and porches... my ankle was killing me Sunday morning (only lasted a half day). Maybe I should just stick with another donation.

I was worried how things would turn without a 2008 version of Larry Craig, Mark Foley, that U.S. Rep from Florida that blamed lesbians for him not being able to find a woman (it was on the Daily Show - a piece w/ Samantha Bee)... this is more than good enough and didn't involve other people.

I hear that an "outside organization" is running Rev. Wright anti-Obama ads and their are other ads trying to tie Obama to former Mayor Kilpatrick. Have you seen these? Can't check YouTube here at work.

I posted content to Faxham re: the Detroit News' endorsement of McSame. I'm not quite sure how they consider it an endorsement given some of their statements. Not sure if you've been to the Blog.

How was your wknd? Did you catch up on your shows?

- - Fair, October 28, 2008


Every day that goes by without a true "October Surprise" is a good day for our team. And Senator Ted Stevens (AK) being found guilty on all seven felony counts - priceless!

Perhaps you were out of work yesterday due to illness? Not that you have to reply to my messages every day, but you're generally nice enough to do so, if you have time. So I'm assuming you were either sick or very very busy. If the former, hope you're feeling better today :)

- - Ing, October 28, 2008


I wonder if there is any possibility we'll be exchanging thoughts on a Bush-Gore 2000 type debacle on Wednesday, Nov. 5. I hope we are just congratulating each other on supporting the best candidate for this country at this time!

- - Ing, October 27, 2008

I wonder if there is any possibility we'll be exchanging thoughts on a Bush-Gore 2000 type debacle on Wednesday, Nov. 5. I hope we are just congratulating each other on supporting the best candidate for this country at this time!

- - Ing, October 24, 2008