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OK, one of my rants. We managed to break out some time to go to the annex during a slow time, and got 'er done.

<rant>
Worse than ever, all the way up the sidewalk through the parking lot (and DynaBlue on her crutches) we had to run the gamut of electioneers (including candidates and their wives) loudly saying "How are you? Vote for xxxxx!" As has become my habit on election day, I completely ignore them as I walk by, and it's interesting to hear their tone of voice when they realize I won't acknowledge their initial (and thoroughly insincere) question, indicating that they consider me rude.

I remember a time when you wouldn't even see a small sign within a half-mile of a polling place, because it was considered bad form (and illegal in at least some places). I consider it unbelievably rude, and, moreover, an insult to try to "persuade" me to vote for a specific candidate by simply shouting names at me -- or by pushing cheap signs in my face -- in a parking lot (or anywhere else, come to think of it). For me, it's simply too late for dialogue at that point.

I believe it speaks to the continued insincerity and lack of respect for the Citizen by candidates for public office, for them to believe that it is appropriate to act in such a rude, selfish, and obnoxious manner when that Citizen exercises their primary method of controlling and directing that same public office. "Enthusiasm" does not even begin to be an excuse for such lack of respect, when the effect of that "enthusiasm" is so badly misdirected.

To even think that such methods would cause me to vote on their behalf is ignorant at best, and destructive to their cause at worst. Indeed, I expect to have my final choices made by the time I have arrived at the polling place, but there are times when I am still on the fence regarding a choice or two. There have been times when I have changed my mind in such cases by the time of reaching the door -- and voted against a person whose workers left a bad taste in my mouth as I walked to the door; they simply gave me the extra evidence I needed to come to a final decision (while arguably not the best way to choose). So, you might be able to say that their electioneering actually did sway my vote....

I suppose that's why I rarely hear a candidate say what I want to hear them say: They're not talking to me. I guess I'm just the voter whom the candidates try to ignore: The one who will not vote for a specific candidate just because a PAC, Union, campaign worker or buddy says I should.

Just Old School, I guess....

</rant>

Ditto.

Just because we live in one of the more liberal counties in Texas, the liberal pollsters & racket... excuse me, electioneers, seem to think they have my vote by default.

I vote issues, not personalities or slogans. And if a candidate I'd previously voted for does something afterward that betrays my trust in him/her, I have no problems changing my vote in the next election.

I'm a conservative, pro-life Constitutionalist. I believe that the Constitution means exactly what it says in plain English, no translation or interpretation required. If that isn't the platform you're running on, I'm not interested.

Why not? Michelle Obama campaigns inside polling places!

Early voting without a need to show cause.

Best thing since sliced bread.
-- or at least since online banking.

I'll second the motion on early voting. But now there are so many people early voting, you need to wait till the second week or you still have a crowd. Haven't had to deal with the electioneers too much up here.

cowboymd wrote:I'll second the motion on early voting. But now there are so many people early voting, you need to wait till the second week or you still have a crowd. Haven't had to deal with the electioneers too much up here.

I'll 'third' the early voting. Went Tuesday afternoon about 1600 hrs in Carrollton (Library at Josey/Hebron).

I expected a crowd or some line, so near to the closing time (1700). But I found: No line, no racketeering, er, ah electioneering.....just went in and voted.

Took me and the missus about 10 minutes. That's the way to go.

Felt weird with no 1911 on me, but hey, I follow the rules (most of the time).

LabRat

All the parking spaces were taken up by the racketeers and the parking lot was blocked off with cones. Legitimate voters had to find somewhere else to park and walk back to the election site. That would be a good enough reason to vote against the candidates with rude supporters, except I was already voting against them, so it all worked out!

Amen to the OP's rant - and to the harrassing staffers taking up all the parking spaces! I don't sugarcoat my annoyance w. them when they stalk me in the parking lot.