Politics

Politics

There are 1,056 posts filed in Politics (this is page 90 of 106).

One poll greeting done, one to go

I’m in the eye of the election storm right now. Just got back from the Apex polling place where I’ve been campaigning for Al Swanstrom since 6:30. Things went well except for the bone-chilling drizzle. I came prepared for that with a raincoat and an umbrella, though I didn’t use either of them. More of that in a minute.

The polling place was at the Fairview Rural Fire Department station on Ten-Ten Road. When I arrived at 6:30 there were cars lining both sides of the road. I parked about a quarter-mile away as that was the closest parking place. When I got there there were perhaps a hundred people already waiting inside.
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Crunch time

Vote!
I’ve taken tomorrow off to campaign for a few good candidates. I’ll be in Apex tomorrow working as a poll greeter for Al Swanstrom (NC House). Then in the afternoon I’ll be in Raleigh’s Five Points campaigning for Josh Stein (NC Senate) and Grier Martin (NC House). I hope to wrap up the day celebrating victory but I won’t know that until the evening.

Believe it or not, I’ll be so happy all this is over, even if its just a little while. Its high time to get on with other things!

Brainiac student supports McCain

The N&O talked to some campaign supporters for a story in Sunday’s paper. I found this one totally laughable:

[Christine DiPietro, the 21-year-old head of the N.C. State student group Students for McCain,] said that after sitting in class next to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, she considered which candidate would make the best commander in chief.

“I feel John McCain is the best man for that job,” she said.

Amazing. Sitting next to actual veterans has given DiPietro special insight into the mind of veterans. It must work like osmosis or something. Hey, I sat next to a brain surgeon on a plane once. Now I can perform brain surgery!

Maybe DiPietro should venture outside of class every once in a while. Then maybe she’d find out that our troops support Obama over McCain by a six-to-one margin in donations. And if that’s not enough insight into the military life for her, maybe DiPietro could take a four-year hiatus from class and sign up herself. No osmosis needed!

She can support McCain all she wants but she should find a reason other than that’s what she thinks veterans want.

Obama returning to Raleigh Wednesday

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama will make another appearance in Raleigh Wednesday morning.

Never in my time in North Carolina have I ever seen so much presidential campaigning here. Its truly amazing.

This Wednesday, October 29th, please join Barack Obama in Raleigh, where he will talk about his vision for creating the kind of change we need.

Early Vote for Change Rally with Barack Obama

Halifax Mall
Government Complex
300 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Wednesday, October 29th
Doors Open: 10:00 a.m.
Pre-program Begins: 11:15 a.m.

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

For security reasons, do not bring bags or umbrellas. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.

Commissioner Gordon orders Obama signal extinguished

I chuckled when I saw the Obama signal being shown on a downtown Raleigh office building. Unfortunately that building, One Exchange Plaza, is owned by the City of Raleigh, which probably does not appreciate political advertising being shown on its walls.

Just now a Raleigh police sergeant wandered into my $WORK offices to ask if we were responsible for the Obama signal. He wasn’t surprised when I told him no, and said “everybody’s been denying it.” I got the impression he was dutifully going through the motions but given the million other things RPD has to do it wasn’t exactly his highest priority.

Why the City would take a cop off his regular duties to chase down this whimsical prank is beyond me. It seems to me if the City really wanted to find out who was responsible it might be helpful if city employees didn’t clear out of their offices at 5PM or earlier each day. But I digress.

Also, what could the person responsible be charged with? Criminal mischief? Photon littering? How would one prove anything? Once Obama becomes President would this be legal? Isn’t there a presidential portrait hanging in all federal offices?

I personally think the Exchange Plaza building has a butt-ugly blank wall so anything that might spice it up is welcome in my book.

James Taylor plays Raleigh’s Moore Square

Its strange to see a music star the magnitude of James Taylor play a corner of Moore Square. On the other hand, the unassuming Taylor seemed at home there. The stars align like this maybe once in a million years, so I wasn’t about to let this chance pass me up. My officemate and I played a bit of hookey to see the show.

After catching up on work emails this morning, I took a stroll down to Moore Square a little after 10 to see what was happening. To my surprise, roadies were setting up a modest stage while maybe a dozen fans waited around in the warm morning sun. Then my officemate then called and needed to be let back into the office. Only when I got there did I find out I missed Taylor’s soundcheck by minutes.
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JT Tickets available

I walked out of the downtown Obama office just now with two tickets to the free James Taylor concert. Looks like the printer issues never got resolved as the tickets themselves are simply photocopies of an original.

Oh well. With all the stuff going on election-wise I suppose putting on a mini concert tour is a lot to ask.