Election 2006...BEFORE Election Day (novel idea, I know)
To understand how truly I am behind the 8-ball in posting this, you should know that I voted about a week and a half ago. That's right, absentee. Speaking of which, the whole process of getting an absentee ballot in small town (read:village) America is awesome. Interest groups send applications out every election cycle, so I filled one out. It was the one from the MEA, not from the Republicans. Not that I have anything against Republicans per se, but the pamphlet was screaming about how Michigan conservatives needed to stand up against the RADICAL LIBERALS who were trying to force us all into GAY MARRIAGES and make everyone undergo ABORTIONS as a qualification for CITIZENSHIP while offering AMNESTY to ILLEGALS.
Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that bad. But still, over the top. I promise. So I used the MEA one instead. Last time I used the Bush/Cheney one. I'm an independent. I can do whatever I want.
Right, getting the ballot. So I take this application into the township offices in Clarksville, which are only open part time, and even then not everyone is there. I was hoping I could get the address of the township clerk, who I know, but she wasn't listed in the phonebook. In Clarksville when you send something to the township clerk, you send it to her house. Anyway, I walk in and the township treasurer is the only one there and I tell him what I need. He's like, "Oh, you can just leave the application on her desk. She'll get it tomorrow. I was afraid you were here to pay your taxes." You see, it was about 4:30 in the afternoon and he had already finished up his paperwork for the day. :) I love Clarksville.
So who did I vote for? If I told the whole internet, that would kind of defeat the purpose of a secret ballot, silly. But I will say that, true to form, I ended up with a mixed ticket. Very mixed. I even voted for a Green Party candidate. Fun times. But since I want to post about more than how I got my absentee ballot, I'll offer a few general observations.
Proposals
Michigan has five proposals this go-round. One of them is--I kid you not--a proposal to allow the hunting of mourning doves. Wow. You cannot convince me that this is a good plan. Now, I'm pro-hunting as a general matter...for things like deer. But mourning doves?! C'mon! It'd be different if they were overpopulated, but they're not. Plus, the consumption of mourning dove is not a viable food option. I'd need at least ten of those things to make a decent meal. It makes me think of Sylvester's dreams of Tweety on a platter. Tiny. The funniest part was the Republican/hunter's pamphlet that got sent out supporting the proposal. It had a deer on it! Nice big 8-point buck. Protect your deer hunting rights by allowing people to practice on mourning doves! What?! Without revealing my own vote (ha!), I would discourage others from supporting this proposal.
Another proposal is about eliminating affirmative action in Michigan. But for me, this proposal is not about affirmative action. It's about good form. The only reason this is on the ballot is because scheming people got a bunch of (primarily poor black) people to sign a petition wherein the proposal was billed as a "civil rights proposal." Most people thought they were signing something that was supportive of affirmative action. There were protests about the deception, but they were unsuccessful and here it is on the ballot. Bad form.
Indiana Politics
My Man Mitch (more recently referred to by some as The Dictator) has two years left to redeem himself in the minds of Indiana voters. As far as I can tell, this man with the promising campaign slogan has been a bitter disappointment to many.
To the great citizens of Indiana: Daylight Savings Time is not that hard. You'll adjust. And honestly, didn't you enjoy that extra hour of sleep Saturday night? Also, I have enjoyed many a mocking laugh at the expense of the candidate from around South Bend running the radio commercial complaining bitterly about LOSING an hour of sleep in October...and about the unspeakable tragedy that some counties near Chicago might be on a different time from the rest of Indiana. (Someone should send him a copy of the memo explaining that it was like that before.)
National Politics
I care less about which party controls the House and Senate than I care about a serious fruitbasket turnover of the members. Although a Democratic House might prevent more scary things from happening to public education. Maybe.
Did you like the part where the huge new wall between the US and Mexico, costing billions of dollars, is unfunded by the bill authorizing its construction? Yeah, me too.
Michigan's Governor
One final world about the gubernatorial race in Michigan: without taking a definite positDON'T VOTE FOR DICK DEVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, sorry. My fingers slipped. What I meant was: look seriously at the issues and vote your conscience. And I will not try to sway you in any particular direction. Happy voting! :)
P.S. Michigan Republicans should try getting a gubernatorial candidate named something other than Dick. Just a thought.
Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that bad. But still, over the top. I promise. So I used the MEA one instead. Last time I used the Bush/Cheney one. I'm an independent. I can do whatever I want.
Right, getting the ballot. So I take this application into the township offices in Clarksville, which are only open part time, and even then not everyone is there. I was hoping I could get the address of the township clerk, who I know, but she wasn't listed in the phonebook. In Clarksville when you send something to the township clerk, you send it to her house. Anyway, I walk in and the township treasurer is the only one there and I tell him what I need. He's like, "Oh, you can just leave the application on her desk. She'll get it tomorrow. I was afraid you were here to pay your taxes." You see, it was about 4:30 in the afternoon and he had already finished up his paperwork for the day. :) I love Clarksville.
So who did I vote for? If I told the whole internet, that would kind of defeat the purpose of a secret ballot, silly. But I will say that, true to form, I ended up with a mixed ticket. Very mixed. I even voted for a Green Party candidate. Fun times. But since I want to post about more than how I got my absentee ballot, I'll offer a few general observations.
Proposals
Michigan has five proposals this go-round. One of them is--I kid you not--a proposal to allow the hunting of mourning doves. Wow. You cannot convince me that this is a good plan. Now, I'm pro-hunting as a general matter...for things like deer. But mourning doves?! C'mon! It'd be different if they were overpopulated, but they're not. Plus, the consumption of mourning dove is not a viable food option. I'd need at least ten of those things to make a decent meal. It makes me think of Sylvester's dreams of Tweety on a platter. Tiny. The funniest part was the Republican/hunter's pamphlet that got sent out supporting the proposal. It had a deer on it! Nice big 8-point buck. Protect your deer hunting rights by allowing people to practice on mourning doves! What?! Without revealing my own vote (ha!), I would discourage others from supporting this proposal.
Another proposal is about eliminating affirmative action in Michigan. But for me, this proposal is not about affirmative action. It's about good form. The only reason this is on the ballot is because scheming people got a bunch of (primarily poor black) people to sign a petition wherein the proposal was billed as a "civil rights proposal." Most people thought they were signing something that was supportive of affirmative action. There were protests about the deception, but they were unsuccessful and here it is on the ballot. Bad form.
Indiana Politics
My Man Mitch (more recently referred to by some as The Dictator) has two years left to redeem himself in the minds of Indiana voters. As far as I can tell, this man with the promising campaign slogan has been a bitter disappointment to many.
To the great citizens of Indiana: Daylight Savings Time is not that hard. You'll adjust. And honestly, didn't you enjoy that extra hour of sleep Saturday night? Also, I have enjoyed many a mocking laugh at the expense of the candidate from around South Bend running the radio commercial complaining bitterly about LOSING an hour of sleep in October...and about the unspeakable tragedy that some counties near Chicago might be on a different time from the rest of Indiana. (Someone should send him a copy of the memo explaining that it was like that before.)
National Politics
I care less about which party controls the House and Senate than I care about a serious fruitbasket turnover of the members. Although a Democratic House might prevent more scary things from happening to public education. Maybe.
Did you like the part where the huge new wall between the US and Mexico, costing billions of dollars, is unfunded by the bill authorizing its construction? Yeah, me too.
Michigan's Governor
One final world about the gubernatorial race in Michigan: without taking a definite positDON'T VOTE FOR DICK DEVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, sorry. My fingers slipped. What I meant was: look seriously at the issues and vote your conscience. And I will not try to sway you in any particular direction. Happy voting! :)
P.S. Michigan Republicans should try getting a gubernatorial candidate named something other than Dick. Just a thought.
posted by Joni at 9:32 PM
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