Comments on: Election Day http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:54:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48849 Anonymous Tue, 02 Nov 2004 23:03:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48849 <i>[T]his is democracy, America’s great gift to the world</i> Latin America, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan humbly thank America for its most valuable gift of democracy. [T]his is democracy, America’s great gift to the world Latin America, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan humbly thank America for its most valuable gift of democracy.

]]> By: JPed http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48848 JPed Tue, 02 Nov 2004 20:28:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48848 How to tell you live in a swing state (Wisconsin, in my case): 1. While attending a Kerry rally on election day minus one, you look up into the rain and see Air Force One departing for the next swing state. 2. You have been unwilling to answer your home phone for a week. 3. The only way to avoid getting yet more fliers in your mailbox is to tape your "I Voted Today" sticker onto your front door. 4. You have received 6 automated phone calls urging you to vote, and the day is not half over yet. 5. Earnest-looking-but-slightly-lost people are wandering your neighborhood with fliers. Fortunately, they read your sticker and wrote "Thank You" on it. Here in far southeastern Wisconsin, it looks like turnout is high, which most observers think gives Kerry the edge. Hopefully so, but we won't know until the ... er ... I don't think any of the female Justices on the Supreme Court are fat, but maybe one of them sings a little... Mona, please, don't promise to switch to Mickey D's before watching SuperSize Me. On the other hand, perhaps you need a new car or nine, and I hear Ford has products available globally... How to tell you live in a swing state (Wisconsin, in my case): 1. While attending a Kerry rally on election day minus one, you look up into the rain and see Air Force One departing for the next swing state. 2. You have been unwilling to answer your home phone for a week. 3. The only way to avoid getting yet more fliers in your mailbox is to tape your “I Voted Today” sticker onto your front door. 4. You have received 6 automated phone calls urging you to vote, and the day is not half over yet. 5. Earnest-looking-but-slightly-lost people are wandering your neighborhood with fliers. Fortunately, they read your sticker and wrote “Thank You” on it. Here in far southeastern Wisconsin, it looks like turnout is high, which most observers think gives Kerry the edge. Hopefully so, but we won’t know until the … er … I don’t think any of the female Justices on the Supreme Court are fat, but maybe one of them sings a little… Mona, please, don’t promise to switch to Mickey D’s before watching SuperSize Me. On the other hand, perhaps you need a new car or nine, and I hear Ford has products available globally…

]]> By: Ian Montgomerie http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48847 Ian Montgomerie Tue, 02 Nov 2004 20:22:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48847 Democracy wasn't ANYBODY's "gift" to the world. Everywhere that got it tended to have a hard struggle for it. That was a spectacularly unfortunate choice of phrasing. Democracy wasn’t ANYBODY’s “gift” to the world. Everywhere that got it tended to have a hard struggle for it. That was a spectacularly unfortunate choice of phrasing.

]]> By: mona http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48846 mona Tue, 02 Nov 2004 20:02:06 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48846 Yes, Buck, I know, but _we_ care. I want Bush out so bad I'd be willing to concede the Americans are better at soccer than the Brasilians. (I'm not sure the Brasilians would, though). Or that American football is the best sport in the world. I'll even start eating at McDonald's. And buy loads of ketchup... Yes, Buck, I know, but we care. I want Bush out so bad I’d be willing to concede the Americans are better at soccer than the Brasilians. (I’m not sure the Brasilians would, though). Or that American football is the best sport in the world. I’ll even start eating at McDonald’s. And buy loads of ketchup…

]]> By: Buck http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48845 Buck Tue, 02 Nov 2004 19:39:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48845 Mona, Americans don't care for soccer despite the endless kids' leagues and soccer moms (now security moms, of course). All I ask is that other countries give Kerry a long honeymoon -- God knows the Republicans aren't going to. Mona, Americans don’t care for soccer despite the endless kids’ leagues and soccer moms (now security moms, of course). All I ask is that other countries give Kerry a long honeymoon—God knows the Republicans aren’t going to.

]]> By: JRoth http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48844 JRoth Tue, 02 Nov 2004 18:54:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48844 I was a bit surprised to see Krugman say that, as well, but I wonder, to all you who are SO offended, which nations you view as having had an equal or greater contribution to the widespread distribution of "Western Democracy?" I mean, I can think of a few examples - UK Parliament, ND States-General, Switzerland - that pointed in the direction, but they're all fairly undeveloped relative to what the US established in 1787. I mean, the Magna Carta was great and all, but it took about 650 years to actually lead to anything like democracy. AFAIK (and I was educated in the US, and thus blinkered), no one else at the time achieved anything comparable, much less anything as long-lived and broad-based. (If anyone mentions the catastrophically failed Revolution of 1789, I'll scream.) I was a bit surprised to see Krugman say that, as well, but I wonder, to all you who are SO offended, which nations you view as having had an equal or greater contribution to the widespread distribution of “Western Democracy?” I mean, I can think of a few examples – UK Parliament, ND States-General, Switzerland – that pointed in the direction, but they’re all fairly undeveloped relative to what the US established in 1787. I mean, the Magna Carta was great and all, but it took about 650 years to actually lead to anything like democracy. AFAIK (and I was educated in the US, and thus blinkered), no one else at the time achieved anything comparable, much less anything as long-lived and broad-based. (If anyone mentions the catastrophically failed Revolution of 1789, I’ll scream.)

]]> By: mona http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48843 mona Tue, 02 Nov 2004 17:39:29 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48843 Speaking of gifts to the world, I'm willing to take a bit of benevolent jingoism as long as you guys there vote Bush out. Please. If you do it, we'll even concede you invented soccer, not just democracy. Anything you like, you do it better, you're the best, it's all yours, we love you, Americans, more than ever. Just as long as we don't see Georgie boy on the news every day. Thank you :) Good luck! Speaking of gifts to the world, I’m willing to take a bit of benevolent jingoism as long as you guys there vote Bush out. Please. If you do it, we’ll even concede you invented soccer, not just democracy. Anything you like, you do it better, you’re the best, it’s all yours, we love you, Americans, more than ever. Just as long as we don’t see Georgie boy on the news every day. Thank you :) Good luck!

]]> By: Uncle Kvetch http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48842 Uncle Kvetch Tue, 02 Nov 2004 17:00:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48842 <i>America was and remains an important part of it.</i> Which is not at all the same as saying it's "America's gift to the world." I'm as big a fan of Krugman as anyone, but I'm disappointed by this. America was and remains an important part of it. Which is not at all the same as saying it’s “America’s gift to the world.” I’m as big a fan of Krugman as anyone, but I’m disappointed by this.

]]> By: Ken C. http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48841 Ken C. Tue, 02 Nov 2004 16:17:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48841 " [T]his is democracy, America’s great gift to the world, in action. On behalf of The World, I wish to say, “Huh?” " Look, not to deny the flaws of America's system (especially these days), and not to deny that what we've wanted for ourselves doesn't always match what we've imposed on others, and not to deny that it didn't arise in other places before. But: the rise of democracy, of a wider and wider range of people with a vote, of majority rule with protection of minority rights, of free speech and civil liberties, of a more open and tolerant society; this was a beautiful and profound change in human affairs, and America was and remains an important part of it. ” [T]his is democracy, America’s great gift to the world, in action. On behalf of The World, I wish to say, “Huh?” ” Look, not to deny the flaws of America’s system (especially these days), and not to deny that what we’ve wanted for ourselves doesn’t always match what we’ve imposed on others, and not to deny that it didn’t arise in other places before. But: the rise of democracy, of a wider and wider range of people with a vote, of majority rule with protection of minority rights, of free speech and civil liberties, of a more open and tolerant society; this was a beautiful and profound change in human affairs, and America was and remains an important part of it.

]]> By: Donald Johnson http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48840 Donald Johnson Tue, 02 Nov 2004 15:51:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48840 That Krugman line about democracy as "America's gift to the world" was a little jarring. Jingoism thrives on all parts of the American political spectrum. That Krugman line about democracy as “America’s gift to the world” was a little jarring. Jingoism thrives on all parts of the American political spectrum.

]]> By: teep http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48836 teep Tue, 02 Nov 2004 14:50:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48836 It'd be nice if my guy wins. I live in Pennsylvania, one of ye olde swing states, so you can bet your boots I'm voting. However, even if my guy doesn't win, I will still be reasonably happy as long as we have a smoothly-running, mostly-honest election. (Perfect honesty, I expect, is beyond our reach.) I don't want to see another mess like in Florida in 2000. I don't want endless dicking around while people fight over chads or poorly-designed ballots until every last citizen is damn tired of living in a democracy. I want to feel like the process works, like it's honest and fair, whether or not my guy wins. I want to believe. It’d be nice if my guy wins. I live in Pennsylvania, one of ye olde swing states, so you can bet your boots I’m voting. However, even if my guy doesn’t win, I will still be reasonably happy as long as we have a smoothly-running, mostly-honest election. (Perfect honesty, I expect, is beyond our reach.) I don’t want to see another mess like in Florida in 2000. I don’t want endless dicking around while people fight over chads or poorly-designed ballots until every last citizen is damn tired of living in a democracy. I want to feel like the process works, like it’s honest and fair, whether or not my guy wins. I want to believe.

]]> By: G. Svenson http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48835 G. Svenson Tue, 02 Nov 2004 14:27:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48835 Nader! Nader! Nader!!!! Nader! Nader! Nader!

]]> By: Michael Mouse http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48839 Michael Mouse Tue, 02 Nov 2004 12:18:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48839 Yes, voting is a special pleasure. I urge all eligible voters who read this to heed the wisdom of old saw: Vote early, and vote often. Yes, voting is a special pleasure. I urge all eligible voters who read this to heed the wisdom of old saw: Vote early, and vote often.

]]> By: des von bladet http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48838 des von bladet Tue, 02 Nov 2004 10:55:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48838 <blockquote> <i>[T]his is democracy, America's great gift to the world, in action.</i> </blockquote> On behalf of The World, I wish to say, "Huh?" My own <a href="http://piginawig.diaryland.com/040517.html#9">Will to Democracy</a> is strong, of course, although for some reason I have been excluded from exercising it in this choice of Leader of the Free World.
[T]his is democracy, America’s great gift to the world, in action.
On behalf of The World, I wish to say, “Huh?” My own Will to Democracy is strong, of course, although for some reason I have been excluded from exercising it in this choice of Leader of the Free World.

]]> By: Machiel http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/02/election-day/comment-page-1/#comment-48837 Machiel Tue, 02 Nov 2004 10:49:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2466#comment-48837 From the Netherlands (where we since this morning have other things on our mind than the US elections, see <a href="http://news.google.nl/?hl=en&ncl=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/apmovies_story.asp%3Fcategory%3D1402%26slug%3DNetherlands%2520Filmaker%2520Murdered">Google news</a>) : Good luck with your voting, and Go Kerry! ! From the Netherlands (where we since this morning have other things on our mind than the US elections, see Google news) : Good luck with your voting, and Go Kerry! !

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