From the Times...

[conuly]

When you step into the voting booth on Tuesday, you have a unique opportunity to personally help shape our national policy and the direction of this country. Please try to never make the mistake of voting a straight party ticket regardless of who is running under party banners.

The powers that be of both major parties are turning up the pressure for you not to think for yourself and blindly follow their urging and vote straight Democratic or Republican. Don't fall for it!

There are candidates of both parties who do not deserve to be elected. Know whom you vote for, regardless of which party they belong to.

The old adage "Bad leaders are elected by good people who don't vote" is timeless and holds true today.

*blinks*

Does anybody know anything about the non-Presidential candidates where they are? Is that presidential with a small p?

Comments

[spitefairy.livejournal.com]

I know about my local candidates, but they have really been ignored this season. Our senate race has had big publicity, but that's about it. It's a shame too because there are some extremely important things going on in local government these days.

[rachelkachel]

Some - mostly about the county mayor race, because of a huge scandal. The current mayor (a Republican) was doing something with county money, can't remember exactly what, and eventually had to withdraw from the race. One guy was already running as an independent, but not many people like him, so another guy started running as a write-in two weeks before the election. I think the court agreed to put him on the ballot, but Democrats are understandably not happy.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

I know enough to know that I don't like our Governor, but I do like our Mayor.

Even though I try to vote for who I like, and not staight Democratic, I still end up voting for mostly the Dems.

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

Our incumbent congressman Frank Wolf is notoriously anti-choice and anti-gay, and is part of a secret fundamentalist Christian group called the Fellowship (http://www.alternet.org/story/16167).

I'm not voting for him.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I already voted!
Yay!

I knew about my local candidates, but didn't know anything about the judges I had to vote for in the judicial retention portion of the ballot. I even tried to find info on them. :(

[strangelette.livejournal.com]

I'm actually just as concerned with local politics - that's why I went through all the trouble of getting absentee ballots rather than just voting here in AZ. This is the first time I got to vote for Feingold (w00t!) and I wanted to keep voting for Tammy Baldwin (openly gay congresswoman). I also like our local reps but it's Madison and they tend to run uncontested or against a Green candidate so there isn't too much worry. *shrugs* I guess it helps that my sister was very involved in local politics.

[spitefairy.livejournal.com]

Yay, another Madison person =)

[strangelette.livejournal.com]

Displaced but still politically loyal :)

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

I know some of my local candidates. I know that the teachers in my school district are pissed off at the incumbents, and their complaints are about issues that lower my property values.

I know the name of the guy who got us a dog park here. Unfortunately, he's the "all about skypark" candidate, so he pushes development next to one neighborhood (raising its property values), without developing anything else. Still, I voted for him, because I like the dog park and am loyal to someone who campaigned on that ONE issue and got it within 2 years.

I know more about the issues than I do about the local candidates. I know that, even though the dems want me to vote yes on a bond for children's hospitals, I voted no, because it didn't seem well thought-out, and was really kind of sucky in terms of raising my taxes. I know that I resent having to float a bond to pay for basic emergency services-- that's what I pay the rest of my taxes for. I vote mostly democratic, but I also vote against the dems when I can see a really glaring flaw in the proposed bill or amendment or candidate platform.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

I make it persoanlly very important to know all I can about my local elections. I do this because although the President and Congresspersons have a lot of say nationally, but the state reps and county and city positions are where the real issues that effect me and my family directly are. Example: the state superintendant of schools is on the ballot here in WA and I did a ton of research into both women because of how I feel about how the public school system is run now that my kids are in it. One of my biggest pet peeves around election time is that too many superior court judges run unopposed, and most people vote for them since they are the only ones for that slot, even though some are so crooked and horrible and every single time I just wish they'd get voted out with a no faith vote.

[feathered.livejournal.com]

I sort of know about the local candidates. Mostly because I desperately want to vote our senator out of office in favour of just about anyone else. And I want to make sure good people get onto the board of trustees at the college! So I am in the outer fringes of awareness. It really does make me quite proud of myself.

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

I vote straight party. I used to think that was lazy and naughty, but my college advisor pointed out to me that's what we have parties for. Yes, there will be the occasional candidate who is an asshole (or the ideal leader) regardless of party, but usually the candidate's party is a pretty good indication of their positions on things, if not of their leadership ability.

[georgiapeachy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm voting Democrat for water reclamtion commissioners, for many of the local officials that deal with the environment, senate(Obama) etc. and Republicans for congress. Probably I'll vote for a 3rd party presidential candidate since my state is going to Kerry no matter what and I want to express my dissatisfaction with both candidates.

[eofs.livejournal.com]

My parents theorise the voter turnout would be higher if you didn't have so many things to vote for on your ballots. It's so much easier in the UK - just a cross by who you want to represent your area. That's it. Easy as pie.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I will merely link you to a discussion between myself and another Washington resident about the local issues on the ballot:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/metaldave/328913.html?thread=733393#t733393

Other voters also discussed local candidates and local initiatives with him.

[robotliliput.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm well-versed on local politics, mostly thanks to my mother's club and watching local news... I understand I'm rather in the minority... but I think a lot of people at least care who their senator or governor is...

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

*edited and reposted for you because of an odd "used-to-seeing" typo and some other stuff*

Graham Leonard supports such organizations as the Sierra Club. That right there gets my attention. :-) He's also a Quaker, which is pretty close to my own "religion"...basically a nature-kid liberal Christian (to put it to someone who wants an outsider's oversimplified view of it).

He's a REALLY nice guy, intelligent, stands firm in his beliefs but is willing and ready to listen to others...yeah this is the kind of person I want in a government office. I would support him if he somehow manages to go further. I hope he wins in his race for Congress.

[spitefairy.livejournal.com]

I know about my local candidates, but they have really been ignored this season. Our senate race has had big publicity, but that's about it. It's a shame too because there are some extremely important things going on in local government these days.

[rachelkachel]

Some - mostly about the county mayor race, because of a huge scandal. The current mayor (a Republican) was doing something with county money, can't remember exactly what, and eventually had to withdraw from the race. One guy was already running as an independent, but not many people like him, so another guy started running as a write-in two weeks before the election. I think the court agreed to put him on the ballot, but Democrats are understandably not happy.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

I know enough to know that I don't like our Governor, but I do like our Mayor.

Even though I try to vote for who I like, and not staight Democratic, I still end up voting for mostly the Dems.

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

Our incumbent congressman Frank Wolf is notoriously anti-choice and anti-gay, and is part of a secret fundamentalist Christian group called the Fellowship (http://www.alternet.org/story/16167).

I'm not voting for him.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I already voted!
Yay!

I knew about my local candidates, but didn't know anything about the judges I had to vote for in the judicial retention portion of the ballot. I even tried to find info on them. :(

[strangelette.livejournal.com]

I'm actually just as concerned with local politics - that's why I went through all the trouble of getting absentee ballots rather than just voting here in AZ. This is the first time I got to vote for Feingold (w00t!) and I wanted to keep voting for Tammy Baldwin (openly gay congresswoman). I also like our local reps but it's Madison and they tend to run uncontested or against a Green candidate so there isn't too much worry. *shrugs* I guess it helps that my sister was very involved in local politics.

[spitefairy.livejournal.com]

Yay, another Madison person =)

[strangelette.livejournal.com]

Displaced but still politically loyal :)

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

I know some of my local candidates. I know that the teachers in my school district are pissed off at the incumbents, and their complaints are about issues that lower my property values.

I know the name of the guy who got us a dog park here. Unfortunately, he's the "all about skypark" candidate, so he pushes development next to one neighborhood (raising its property values), without developing anything else. Still, I voted for him, because I like the dog park and am loyal to someone who campaigned on that ONE issue and got it within 2 years.

I know more about the issues than I do about the local candidates. I know that, even though the dems want me to vote yes on a bond for children's hospitals, I voted no, because it didn't seem well thought-out, and was really kind of sucky in terms of raising my taxes. I know that I resent having to float a bond to pay for basic emergency services-- that's what I pay the rest of my taxes for. I vote mostly democratic, but I also vote against the dems when I can see a really glaring flaw in the proposed bill or amendment or candidate platform.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

I make it persoanlly very important to know all I can about my local elections. I do this because although the President and Congresspersons have a lot of say nationally, but the state reps and county and city positions are where the real issues that effect me and my family directly are. Example: the state superintendant of schools is on the ballot here in WA and I did a ton of research into both women because of how I feel about how the public school system is run now that my kids are in it. One of my biggest pet peeves around election time is that too many superior court judges run unopposed, and most people vote for them since they are the only ones for that slot, even though some are so crooked and horrible and every single time I just wish they'd get voted out with a no faith vote.

[feathered.livejournal.com]

I sort of know about the local candidates. Mostly because I desperately want to vote our senator out of office in favour of just about anyone else. And I want to make sure good people get onto the board of trustees at the college! So I am in the outer fringes of awareness. It really does make me quite proud of myself.

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

I vote straight party. I used to think that was lazy and naughty, but my college advisor pointed out to me that's what we have parties for. Yes, there will be the occasional candidate who is an asshole (or the ideal leader) regardless of party, but usually the candidate's party is a pretty good indication of their positions on things, if not of their leadership ability.

[georgiapeachy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm voting Democrat for water reclamtion commissioners, for many of the local officials that deal with the environment, senate(Obama) etc. and Republicans for congress. Probably I'll vote for a 3rd party presidential candidate since my state is going to Kerry no matter what and I want to express my dissatisfaction with both candidates.

[eofs.livejournal.com]

My parents theorise the voter turnout would be higher if you didn't have so many things to vote for on your ballots. It's so much easier in the UK - just a cross by who you want to represent your area. That's it. Easy as pie.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I will merely link you to a discussion between myself and another Washington resident about the local issues on the ballot:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/metaldave/328913.html?thread=733393#t733393

Other voters also discussed local candidates and local initiatives with him.

[robotliliput.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm well-versed on local politics, mostly thanks to my mother's club and watching local news... I understand I'm rather in the minority... but I think a lot of people at least care who their senator or governor is...

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

*edited and reposted for you because of an odd "used-to-seeing" typo and some other stuff*

Graham Leonard supports such organizations as the Sierra Club. That right there gets my attention. :-) He's also a Quaker, which is pretty close to my own "religion"...basically a nature-kid liberal Christian (to put it to someone who wants an outsider's oversimplified view of it).

He's a REALLY nice guy, intelligent, stands firm in his beliefs but is willing and ready to listen to others...yeah this is the kind of person I want in a government office. I would support him if he somehow manages to go further. I hope he wins in his race for Congress.