The shape of things to come? (RL, political)

[thistlechaser]

Less than 100 days until the election. My worry seems to be growing by the day. Early on, I tried not to worry, since I know the news media wants to blow things up so people feel more involved and thus watch the news more.

Now I'm thinking my worry is no longer unfounded. Now I'm really worried.

How about you?

[Poll #1858957]

[Poll #1858958]

[Poll #1858959]

[Poll #1858960]

Comments

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

Let this soothe your worries:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/154547/obama-big-likability-edge-romney.aspx

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I think that doesn't mean much. Last week a scary poll came out. 90% of the people who are voting Democrat are voting for Obama. 85% of the people voting Republican are voting against Obama (not for Romney). So it doesn't matter about any of Romney's traits or actions, he's not Obama, so he's getting their votes...

(I'm not positive I haven't reversed those numbers, but I think this way is right.)

[gmth.livejournal.com]

I am cautiously optimistic that Obama is going to win. All of the polls right now are pointing to what could be essentially a blowout in the electoral college, and the news seems to be getting better all the time.

But! I have grave concerns that the polls may not be entirely accurate because as far as I know they are not taking voter ID laws into account. For example, here in PA there has been a tremendous controversy going on because of our voter ID law, which at last estimate is supposed to disenfranchise more than 1 million voters, many of whom live in Philadelphia, where a lot of Democratic-leaning folks live. It will affect some GOP voters too, of course, but not nearly as many. This has real potential to throw things over to Romney, which the GOP leader in our state legislature actually admitted on film was the whole point of passing the law in the first place. The good news it it's already been challenged in court; the judge's ruling is supposed to come down in a week or so. If he overturns the law, it will go to our state Supreme Court, which has 7 justices, one of whom was recently suspended. That leaves the court with 3 liberal justices and 3 conservative judges; if their ruling is deadlocked, the lower court's ruling will stand.

So yeah, I'm not sure which way the wind is blowing these days.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I really hope you're right.

And arg! I'll be keeping an eye out for what happens in Philadelphia.

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

Your nation baffle me, especially when it comes to politics.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

You're not the only one. I boggle, I just totally boggle, at this being up in the air at all.

[bouteillebleu.livejournal.com]

I wish I could remember where "In America you have the Republicans, who are like the Tories, and the Democrats, who are like the Tories." came from...

(As unlikely as I ever thought saying something like this would be, comparing the current Republican party to the Tories is probably doing some of the Tories a great disservice.)

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

It seems these days that you have the Democrats, who are like the Tories, and then you have the Republicans who think the Tories are left-wing Socialist radicals.

Goodness knows what they'd do if they ever got confronted by real left-wing Socialist radicals...

[daltontrix.livejournal.com]

I answered the three polls that I could! There wasn't a 'neither' answer for the 'Who do you want to win' question. ;)

...yeah, I don't really LIKE either side this go around. Eh, not much can be done about that though.

[daltontrix.livejournal.com]

Also I'd really like to see an actual third party show up and be a proper contender one of these years. I'm kind of starting to feel like the 2 party system is becoming more detrimental than anything else.

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

3 parties ain't great. You just end up with the same problems expressed in different ways - there's still no-one you actually agree with completely, and you know that they'll all sling their promises out of the window the moment they get power anyway.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Back in the early American days, the person who lost the presidential election became the vice president. Oh what Drama that would cause! But still, I think the idea has merit. Parties would be forced to work together (or there would be murder in the White House, one of the two).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I left neither out on purpose, but I realized I should have added an 'I don't know'. Rookie mistake!

[kirbyk.livejournal.com]

Here's one data-driven electoral college tracker:

http://core.talkingpointsmemo.com/election/scoreboard

It's swung substantially more Obama over the last few weeks. Romney's got to make up serious ground in some specific states or he's in big trouble.

But it's only August, the big push is coming. Be glad you're not in a swing state like me, we've had non-stop political ads for months now.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks! I wish I was in a swing state, because then my vote would count. California goes blue, so what's one more vote from me? Though I am thankful that both parties generally don't waste their ad money here... (I've seen a grand total of one ad so far, and I watch a heck of a lot of TV.)

[bastets-place.livejournal.com]

My greatest faith is in inertia. I am sure that people will elect one guy or another - someone's going to be stuck with the job - but I also strongly suspect that when it comes right down to it, not a whole lot will be "DONE"; certainly not enough to make anyone on either side of the fence happy.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep, I think you're right about this, unfortunately.

[prettyredeyes.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping Romney keeps blowing holes in his own ship because I really do not want that man to be derping it up abroad making us look even more like idiots on the international scene and people start getting nervous about whether or not he's fit for the job. Secondly, I think he's completely out of touch. Scary out of touch. Not just with reality but with normal, sane people.

Also as both a woman and a minority I'm sitting here wondering if I'm going to have rights regarding my own body come November (my body and what side of the border the police think it belongs on).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I can't believe the trip Romney just wrapped up. How embarrassing that he represented us even in some small way!

And so agreed on the rights issue. It's scary, there's no other word for it.

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Argh, I don't like Obama, but I can't vote for Romney. Such choices. *head desk*

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I wish there were more options, for folks who don't like either of those two...