Baracked! - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**MeTurk** · 11-05-2008, 09:29 AM

what was the final turnout? I heard numbers of 60%! If true that's an unreal turnout I think we where somewhere around 40% or less in our last election and we got an inept government. Poor turnout has been a huge problem in Europe lately. Just goes to show what can happen if people actually vote.

**voyd** · 11-05-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

dont count your chickens before they hatch Jake....you may have switched presidents but you still have no idea what's going to happen within his 4 years of office...

(although I'm still happy to see him win)

I agree.

Only way I'd feel confident of true positive change is if Ron Paul had been elected. That would have been REAL progressive change.

But oh well, I'm assuming no one can humanly be worse than 8 years of Dubya...so this HAS to be an improvement, regardless... :D

**maracle** · 11-05-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyd

I'm assuming no one can humanly be worse than 8 years of Dubya

I'm going to come right back atcha with Sarah Palin. You betcha!

**pinknic38** · 11-05-2008, 10:13 AM

I've heard numbers around that also, though I am not sure the final count. Our state had a 70% turnout.

Not to be a pessimist, I know this kind of turnout has not happened in America in over a century, but I bet it will take another economic-political-international that some other goon we elect into office years down the road creates. I understand the "if it's ain't broke don't fix it" but you gotta get out and vote, I don't care if your candidate is up in the polls 98% to 2%. Politics are a volatile thing and you never know what will go down.

But maybe I am wrong and America saw the silver lining in the very large cloud that came from 8 years of the Bush administration, and everyone will now be passionate about things that affect them day to day and be involved and have that same spirit every election.

Unrelatedly, today is another day, the day after, and we get to hear everyone else's reaction to this. As I am in PT this morning with my colleagues, I was discussing with a black guy in my squad how last night was such a monumental event (this is an A & B conversation, mind you) and about 4 people butted in about "He will never do anything once he gets in office!" or "How can you serve in the military and vote for him?" and all sorts of other hateful and ignorant things that I was hoping not to hear, but it was inevitable.

It's a difficult position, all the time, not only am I a woman in the military, but I am a very liberal woman in the military. This is an "old boys club" profession and one that is typically very conservative and very passionate about the things they believe. But that's okay, because so am I. Even though I am viewed as some sort of unppreciative social deviant among my own peer group when the majority of the people in my peer group do not educate themselves on the issues enough to even understand.

My ballot was a lot of D's, a lot of R's and a lot of I's... I am not a straight ticket voter, because I believe that's ignorant. No party will offer you a perfect candidate, no party will offer you candidates and you like every one of them. I like to educate myself on the issues, on the candidates, and I did that a LOT this past year.

I grew up in a very conservative home, and a home that was also very racist and close-minded. Not to say one goes with the other, but in my home, that's how it was. So I graduated high school and went to college and was a registered Republican in 2004 for the election between Bush and Kerry. It wasn't until I was deployed and was on my own and had time where I seriously went through all the issues all the candidates from both parties were squabbling about and I researched the ones I wasn't sure on. I googled all sorts of free trade and health care and taxes. I looked at it from both sides and picked what I felt was right and worked for me.

That's how it's supposed to be.

Okay end rant. But I am very upset about Prop 8 in California... as Perez said today, EQUALITY IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILIDGE!

edited to say: I am going to go into withdrawal without Sarah Palin jokes....

**micdans** · 11-05-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offhegoes03

On the other hand, Obama supporters cheered when Obama mentioned McCain in his speech. I wonder if that would have been the case had McCain won...

I was actually at Obama's Chicago rally, and that's not true. There was much booing.

It was crazy down there, people were so excited.

A question I have is, what do you Tpunks think the change is that we will see?

**pinknic38** · 11-05-2008, 11:16 AM

for those interested in the CA prop 8 thing, while they have "called it", I just got this message on facebook:

Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10 million votes tallied.

Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted.

Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted as well as where they are from.

It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all evening and this morning.

As of this point, the election is too close to call.

Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we believe it is important to wait until we receive further information about the outcome.

**offhegoes03** · 11-05-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micdans

I was actually at Obama's Chicago rally, and that's not true. There was much booing.

It was crazy down there, people were so excited.

A question I have is, what do you Tpunks think the change is that we will see?

Interesting, when I was watching on CNN, it seemed like a majority were cheering so maybe they overshadowed the boos? You were there, so you'd know better than me.

Honestly, I think the war in Iraq has cost the US too much. In terms of money, lives lost, severed ties with allies, etc. In my opinion, we are spreading ourselves thin with the wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. The biggest change I want to see is the end of the war in Iraq. There's a lot more that has to be worked on though, but this was the most important issue for me. I also would like to (not sure if it will happen) trust the government again.

**ScarlotteDorian** · 11-05-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeTurk

what was the final turnout? I heard numbers of 60%! If true that's an unreal turnout I think we where somewhere around 40% or less in our last election and we got an inept government.

go to show you what can happen when enough people get pissed off with current political climates. i mean, we've had a pretty rough last 8 years. i actually feel hopeful about politics for the first time in my life.

**micdans** · 11-05-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offhegoes03

Honestly, I think the war in Iraq has cost the US too much. In terms of money, lives lost, severed ties with allies, etc.

Agreed

**kingcrazylegs** · 11-05-2008, 05:28 PM

It's an exciting time for the US for sure, hopefully we'll have some real follow through.

It was amazing being in downtown Seattle last night as everything came across the wire. Thousands of people took to the streets and walk up to Capital Hill and celebrated in the street - it was awesome being a part of that. Not something you see in the US very often.

**blinkchick2134** · 11-05-2008, 06:38 PM

Very exciting last night. I went down to the beach because I wasn't about to spend hours sitting in front of the tv. My roomie and me got back, grabbed a beer and sat down to all the major stations saying Obama won. It was surreal. I cried for like 20 minutes, sniffled through McCain and Obama's speeches, smoked a joint and passed out smiling.

I just can't believe it's not going to be Bush. It feels like that's all I've known! I was totally expecting to be disappointed like 2004 but no, turned on the tv and clear results.

Funny though that I really don't like Obama that much - yet I cried like a baby. I'd much rather have had Ron Paul or Kuccinich or McKinney (green party). But Obama is a huge step in the right direction. I'm so proud to be an American right now - for the past 8 years I've been searching for a way out...finally I feel like I could stay.

Rhine · 11-05-2008, 07:18 PM

Well I guess we will find out soon enough what kind of president he will be. Im not counting on nearly half the crap he said though.

**MeTurk** · 11-06-2008, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinknic38

edited to say: I am going to go into withdrawal without Sarah Palin jokes....
[/b]

Palin? What about George W. jokes? There's going to be a huge comedy vacuum in the political world after he's gone.

**mbo108** · 11-06-2008, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyd

Only way I'd feel confident of true positive change is if Ron Paul had been elected. That would have been REAL progressive change.

Well if Ron Paul and like-minded thinkers were elected to Congress...I dont think on his own he could push much through the House and/or Senate. But it would have signaled even more significant change was coming. I loved him in the Republican primaries.

**voyd** · 11-06-2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbo108

Well if Ron Paul and like-minded thinkers were elected to Congress...I dont think on his own he could push much through the House and/or Senate. But it would have signaled even more significant change was coming. I loved him in the Republican primaries.

Well, that's what saddens and frustrates me...

Our mass consciousness is just lagging too far behind to recognize and accept a true revolutionary. So, these guys get bypassed due to being too far ahead of their own time.

That said, Ron Paul HAS enjoyed IMMENSE, self-organized grass-roots support from a wide cross-section of true progressives in this country. Unprecedented for any candidate, really. He just lacked the corporate sponsorships & media support to give him more visibility and lamestream "credibility." In fact, he garnered fanatical support DESPITE all corporate & media attempts to shut him out.

So, his fervently loyal demographic does give me some hope for the future. Some people are slowly waking up and as this group continues to mature and gain steam...it will eventually reach a tipping point into the mainstream.

**MeTurk** · 11-06-2008, 10:01 AM

Ye should put a cap on politicians airtime.

**raoulduke** · 11-06-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeTurk

Palin? What about George W. jokes? There's going to be a huge comedy vacuum in the political world after he's gone.

...also the John McCain is old jokes.

This is truly a sad day for comedy. Now everyone is just going to go back to crap Amy Winehouse jokes,

**Sijuki** · 11-07-2008, 06:34 PM

Welcome to the nation of Socialism...

**juliagulia** · 11-07-2008, 07:05 PM

Ahem... um.... okay.

I don't remember if I replied to this but everyone here went crazy. I was in my friend's room with fifteen or so other people and we were counting down with CNN as the polls in the west closed and it went something along these lines:

"5... 4... 3... 2..."

BARACK OBAMA IS ELECTED PRESIDENT

*insert screaming, crying, hugging*

We ran out to the hallway, everyone was whooping. We went to the balcony, ceremoniously threw off a pumpkin and a piece of furniture and started singing and dancing the hora (spelling?!?).

It was insanity. Twenty or so people jumping on the balcony, pictures being taken everywhere, everyone calling everyone they knew. And then there were people outside streaking.

Yep, I love my college.

**mermaidnz** · 11-07-2008, 10:24 PM

lol Julia, think that sums up exactly how the world was feeling!! hahaha i love it!!