Wonder when the polls close and where to find official results for each state? Here you go. Join my obsession...it's fun.
All times are listed in Pacific Standard Time as I'm in California so everyone lives on my time zone here. * designates a state I'll be watching closely.
States with Polls that close at 3pm PST
* Indiana
Kentucky
States with Polls that close at 4pm PST
* Florida
* Georgia
Mississippi
South Carolina
Vermont
* Virginia
States with Polls that close at 4:30pm PST
* North Carolina
* Ohio
* West Virginia
States with Polls that close at 5pm PST
Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
* Missouri
* New Hampshire
New Jersey
* North Dakota
Oklahoma
* Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
States with Polls that close at 5:30pm PST
Arkansas
Illinois
States with Polls that close at 6pm PST
Arizona
* Colorado
Kansas
Louisiana
* Minnesota
Nebraska
* New Mexico
New York
Rhode Island
* Wisconsin
Wyoming
States with Polls that close at 7pm PST
Idaho
* Iowa
* Montana
* Nevada
Utah
States with Polls that close at 8pm PST
California
Hawaii
Oregon
* Washington
States with Polls that close at 9pm PST
Alaska
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Beware of the Robots, Part 1: How electronic voting systems work.
I am prepared to admit that this may be my tinfoil hat issue.
It is possible that I am overly paranoid about computerized voting systems. The thing is, I know technology too well. It is my job, my hobby and at times a bit of an obsession. I program, build and fix computerized systems all day long. In fact, my main role at work is designing and programming customized touchscreen control systems. If those words sound familiar that is because it's the same technology being used in electronic voting systems around the country. I have designed complex touchscreen voting systems for local city council chambers. To make a short story long...I am aware of the technology.
I have followed the issue of electronic voting very closely for some time now. As the election draws near, I am becoming more and more disturbed by the idea of how the electronic voting systems in use today may impact the presidential election. I have been known to say that computers should never be used for voting, but that is not entirely true. There are ways to develop and administer fair elections with computerized voting systems...the problem is that we are not using those solutions.
Nationwide, states and counties have been awarding voting system contracts to low bidders who are overly secretive at best and antagonistic at worst in regard to the accuracy of the systems. Security and technology experts are routinely excluded from the input and decision making process. I am concerned.
To understand the problem, first you have to understand the methods being used. Electronic voting systems fall into three main groups:
1. Paper based electronic voting systems.
Paper based systems require voters to mark a ballot in some physical way that will allow a device to later scan it and record the vote. You might punch a hole, mark it with a special pen or even use a touchscreen. The end result is the same, you will leave the voting booth with a ballot that physically reflects your vote. There is typically some way for you to look at the ballot and verify that your vote was marked as you intended.
When the polls close, the physical ballots are transported to locations where they can be scanned and counted by machine. When a stack of ballots is fed into the machine, they will either have their vote recorded, they will be flagged as having no marked vote (undervote) or they will be flagged as having more than one marked vote (overvote).
Paper based systems allow for a physical inspection of the ballots and a manual recount as there are actual physical ballots that can be read.
2. Direct Recording Electronic voting systems (DRE's)
DRE systems are stand-alone computers that provide an interface for a voter to cast a vote. Each DRE machine would be preloaded with the custom ballot software for the precinct. You might record your vote by pressing an actual button or using a touchscreen. Once you have cast your vote, it would be stored in the internal memory of the device (think hard drive) or on some sort of removable memory card (think the memory card in your camera). DRE systems may or may not provide you with a receipt indicating your vote.
When the polls close, each device will report the vote totals it has recorded in one of a few ways. It may print a receipt of the totals. It may transmit the totals over a network to a central location. It may require the device or the removable memory card be transported to a location where the results can be read by election officials.
As the votes are stored digitally, there is no ability to manually inspect votes.
3. Network DRE voting systems
Network DRE systems are very similar to standalone DRE's. They may look the same and to the voter they will work in the same way, however there are important differences. Unlike standalone systems, Network DRE's depend on an internet connection to function properly and to record a vote. The ballot information is not loaded onto each machine, but rather it is supplied over the network. Instead of storing results on the device, results are transmitted to the centralized location in batches throughout the day. There are even areas experimenting with allowing people to vote over the internet on their personal computers.
When the polls close, there is no need to deal with vote tabulation from individual machines as the results have been transmitted throughout the day.
As the votes are stored digitally, there is no ability to manually inspect votes.
Everyone remembers the 2000 presidential election so it is no shock that things can go wrong. What is shocking to me is that electronic vote counting problems seem to be worse now than they were in 2000.
Up Next... Part 2: How electronic voting systems fail (also known as: what the hell happened in Palm Beach County during the August 2008 Primary vote count)
It is possible that I am overly paranoid about computerized voting systems. The thing is, I know technology too well. It is my job, my hobby and at times a bit of an obsession. I program, build and fix computerized systems all day long. In fact, my main role at work is designing and programming customized touchscreen control systems. If those words sound familiar that is because it's the same technology being used in electronic voting systems around the country. I have designed complex touchscreen voting systems for local city council chambers. To make a short story long...I am aware of the technology.I have followed the issue of electronic voting very closely for some time now. As the election draws near, I am becoming more and more disturbed by the idea of how the electronic voting systems in use today may impact the presidential election. I have been known to say that computers should never be used for voting, but that is not entirely true. There are ways to develop and administer fair elections with computerized voting systems...the problem is that we are not using those solutions.
Nationwide, states and counties have been awarding voting system contracts to low bidders who are overly secretive at best and antagonistic at worst in regard to the accuracy of the systems. Security and technology experts are routinely excluded from the input and decision making process. I am concerned.
To understand the problem, first you have to understand the methods being used. Electronic voting systems fall into three main groups:
1. Paper based electronic voting systems.
Paper based systems require voters to mark a ballot in some physical way that will allow a device to later scan it and record the vote. You might punch a hole, mark it with a special pen or even use a touchscreen. The end result is the same, you will leave the voting booth with a ballot that physically reflects your vote. There is typically some way for you to look at the ballot and verify that your vote was marked as you intended.
When the polls close, the physical ballots are transported to locations where they can be scanned and counted by machine. When a stack of ballots is fed into the machine, they will either have their vote recorded, they will be flagged as having no marked vote (undervote) or they will be flagged as having more than one marked vote (overvote).
Paper based systems allow for a physical inspection of the ballots and a manual recount as there are actual physical ballots that can be read.
2. Direct Recording Electronic voting systems (DRE's)
DRE systems are stand-alone computers that provide an interface for a voter to cast a vote. Each DRE machine would be preloaded with the custom ballot software for the precinct. You might record your vote by pressing an actual button or using a touchscreen. Once you have cast your vote, it would be stored in the internal memory of the device (think hard drive) or on some sort of removable memory card (think the memory card in your camera). DRE systems may or may not provide you with a receipt indicating your vote.
When the polls close, each device will report the vote totals it has recorded in one of a few ways. It may print a receipt of the totals. It may transmit the totals over a network to a central location. It may require the device or the removable memory card be transported to a location where the results can be read by election officials.
As the votes are stored digitally, there is no ability to manually inspect votes.
3. Network DRE voting systems
Network DRE systems are very similar to standalone DRE's. They may look the same and to the voter they will work in the same way, however there are important differences. Unlike standalone systems, Network DRE's depend on an internet connection to function properly and to record a vote. The ballot information is not loaded onto each machine, but rather it is supplied over the network. Instead of storing results on the device, results are transmitted to the centralized location in batches throughout the day. There are even areas experimenting with allowing people to vote over the internet on their personal computers.
When the polls close, there is no need to deal with vote tabulation from individual machines as the results have been transmitted throughout the day.
As the votes are stored digitally, there is no ability to manually inspect votes.
Everyone remembers the 2000 presidential election so it is no shock that things can go wrong. What is shocking to me is that electronic vote counting problems seem to be worse now than they were in 2000.
Up Next... Part 2: How electronic voting systems fail (also known as: what the hell happened in Palm Beach County during the August 2008 Primary vote count)
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Are you laughing at me? Really???
Who's kidding who... I was obviously not predisposed to be inspired or excited by Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention last night. What I did not expect was to be so confused and insulted.
I have never really cared for cheap shots on the campaign trail. I can certainly understand the appeal of going for an easy laugh by making a joke about McCain not knowing how many houses he has, but I don't like seeing it done. There are so many important issues to discuss in this election, it just seems like a waste of time and a bit beneath what I expect from someone representing a presidential candidate. That being said, I'm not naive. I know that party conventions are more about show than substance these days so I expect folks on both sides to take their shots. What amazed me last night, however, was what the Republicans chose to use as their punch line. Community activism.
Guiliani started the mocking and Palin drove it home. It came across as condescending and vicious. When did working to organize and better your community become a laughable activity? It is challenging, important, effective and at times depressing work... it is definitely not something to be made fun of. Few people in this country do more than just complain about issues that trouble them. The individuals that actually take action by knocking on doors and mobilizing neighborhoods are to be commended.
I truly don't understand what the goal was in choosing community organizers as their target. How are the local organizers working for McCain swallowing the quotes that belittled their contributions to his campaign? Even national presidential campaigns are built on the backs of local community activists... and I suspect those activists would take issue with the notions that they bear no responsibilities and their work has little value.
I have made regular efforts throughout my life to commit time bettering my community and championing the causes I believe in. I am proud of all of that work and intend to continue doing it. It is often tedious but someone must be willing to do the jobs that aren't glamorous or instantly gratifying. Important goals are not accomplished by stepping onto a stage and stating why you wish them to be so. It takes hard work from many at the local level and I appreciate when an elected official understands the importance of inspiring and mobilizing the masses to effect change.
I can only assume that the party leaders who spoke last night found local organizing so laughable because they consider themselves above doing it.
And to think it is those same party leaders that have been painting Obama as an elitist. Pot, meet kettle.
P.S. Just for fun...
Friday, August 22, 2008
I don't want to jinx it but...
I hear that Obama has spent the day making phone calls to the folks that haven't been selected for Vice President.
All I'm saying is I haven't gotten any calls yet today...
All I'm saying is I haven't gotten any calls yet today...
Friday, August 08, 2008
To Olympic or not to Olympic?
I believe that I am a pretty good debater. Not because I am the smartest or the most well informed...but because I am pretty good at seeing both sides of an issue. I have always been a believer that the strongest way to argue your point is to
I love watching the Olympics. I am more of a Winter Olympics girl, but the Summer games usualy excite me as well. The spirit of it, the excitement as the unexpected stories unfold...all of it keeps me loading up my Tivo for a few weeks every two years. This year is different though. I am having a hard time buying into the Olympic spirit while China is hosting the games.
It feels wrong to jump in and commit to my Olympic obsession when they are in a country that treats its people so badly. I can't forget the censorship and opression that so many face. It doesn't help that China has very publicly decided to enforce that censorship on the foreign journalists and visitors attending the games. It just sort of rubs salt in the wound. The Olympics bring big cash to the host country and watching it feels like I'm contributing to their windfall.
As I decide whether or not to watch the replay of the opening ceremonies tonight, I already know that I will see little to no footage on the Tibet protesters that were arrested for being in the vicinity of the ceremony in posession of the wrong flag. NBC's feeds are all being passed through the government censors and they have been notified that they can expect their telephone and internet access to be monitored. Hardly an environment to get accurate coverage of the entire Olympic story.
On the other side, I can appreciate that the spotlight on China only raises awareness of it's shortcomings in the human rights department. I am aware that in this day and age there is no practical way for China to keep the damaging stories from getting out. There are too many tourists with cameras walking around to prevent amatuer reporting of the stories that the major networks may have trouble covering in real time. I am more than a little bit fascinated by that idea. I also really hate the idea of the athletes feeling less recognized and appreciated due to a location that they had no control over.
So what to do. I will probably allow myself to get sucked in as I always do, but it just won't feel as pure as it should. I am annoyed and sad that the International Olympic Committee chose China and put many in the position of feeling like watching a diving competition is somehow a moral decision.
- Understand the arguments against you
- Recognize and acknowledge their strengths
- Systematically tear those strengths to shreds by demonstrating how your strengths are ...well... stronger. (Clearly my well-spokenedness also contributes to me being the most awsomest debate-type-person ever!)
I love watching the Olympics. I am more of a Winter Olympics girl, but the Summer games usualy excite me as well. The spirit of it, the excitement as the unexpected stories unfold...all of it keeps me loading up my Tivo for a few weeks every two years. This year is different though. I am having a hard time buying into the Olympic spirit while China is hosting the games.
It feels wrong to jump in and commit to my Olympic obsession when they are in a country that treats its people so badly. I can't forget the censorship and opression that so many face. It doesn't help that China has very publicly decided to enforce that censorship on the foreign journalists and visitors attending the games. It just sort of rubs salt in the wound. The Olympics bring big cash to the host country and watching it feels like I'm contributing to their windfall.
As I decide whether or not to watch the replay of the opening ceremonies tonight, I already know that I will see little to no footage on the Tibet protesters that were arrested for being in the vicinity of the ceremony in posession of the wrong flag. NBC's feeds are all being passed through the government censors and they have been notified that they can expect their telephone and internet access to be monitored. Hardly an environment to get accurate coverage of the entire Olympic story.
On the other side, I can appreciate that the spotlight on China only raises awareness of it's shortcomings in the human rights department. I am aware that in this day and age there is no practical way for China to keep the damaging stories from getting out. There are too many tourists with cameras walking around to prevent amatuer reporting of the stories that the major networks may have trouble covering in real time. I am more than a little bit fascinated by that idea. I also really hate the idea of the athletes feeling less recognized and appreciated due to a location that they had no control over.
So what to do. I will probably allow myself to get sucked in as I always do, but it just won't feel as pure as it should. I am annoyed and sad that the International Olympic Committee chose China and put many in the position of feeling like watching a diving competition is somehow a moral decision.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Things I learned at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con
1. Running into Joss Whedon on the convention floor will reduce me to a stammering dork.
2. The cast and crew of Dr. Horrible are as much fun to watch in real life as they were in the show. I bet they would be a blast to go drinking with.
3. I feel sorry for Eric Estrada... but in a sadistic, mocking, entertaining way.
To be fair, there was a line of people waiting for him just outside of the frame. The image of Eric Estrada standing behind an autograph table in front of many empty rows makes me giggle, though...so there you go.
2. The cast and crew of Dr. Horrible are as much fun to watch in real life as they were in the show. I bet they would be a blast to go drinking with.
3. I feel sorry for Eric Estrada... but in a sadistic, mocking, entertaining way.
To be fair, there was a line of people waiting for him just outside of the frame. The image of Eric Estrada standing behind an autograph table in front of many empty rows makes me giggle, though...so there you go.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
But I want to know now!
Dear Democracy,
Thanks for making an appearance this year, it has been great to see you. It has really been a lovely primary season. It was very thoughtful of you to make me feel like my vote counts for something this time around.
The in-depth debate of the issues has been fun and I have appreciated getting to have a choice of candidates instead of just feeling stuck with one of them.
The thing is, I'm afraid you have started to overstay your welcome. I know I've always said I wanted my vote to count, but I didn't really expect it to be quite so messy. I heard someone talking about how you might stick around until the Democratic National Convention...in August! Sorry but that is just not going to work for me.
I know that we designed the system to work this way and all, but we really never believed you would last this long. Let just say that you do actually stay until August and we go into the Convention without a nominee. If you have the candidates up front giving serious issue speeches on the economy and war, when will we get to drop the balloons?
Please don't be offended, maybe we can work something out. I heard someone kicking a Super Delegate Primary idea around for June. Perhaps you could come back for a weekend visit then. Now granted, the idea seems a little odd since that is kind of what the Convention in August is for but while we may call it a convention, we really just go to party. We didn't plan to do any real work there.
Besides, if you stick around all Summer we won't have any room for a last minute media obsession about whether China should be hosting the Olympics. You wouldn't want to spoil our fun would you?
Thanks for understanding,
America
P.S. What's that? You really aren't leaving? Crap.
Who do you think you are demanding our attention for months on end? Britney Spears?!
Thanks for making an appearance this year, it has been great to see you. It has really been a lovely primary season. It was very thoughtful of you to make me feel like my vote counts for something this time around.
The in-depth debate of the issues has been fun and I have appreciated getting to have a choice of candidates instead of just feeling stuck with one of them.
The thing is, I'm afraid you have started to overstay your welcome. I know I've always said I wanted my vote to count, but I didn't really expect it to be quite so messy. I heard someone talking about how you might stick around until the Democratic National Convention...in August! Sorry but that is just not going to work for me.
I know that we designed the system to work this way and all, but we really never believed you would last this long. Let just say that you do actually stay until August and we go into the Convention without a nominee. If you have the candidates up front giving serious issue speeches on the economy and war, when will we get to drop the balloons?
Please don't be offended, maybe we can work something out. I heard someone kicking a Super Delegate Primary idea around for June. Perhaps you could come back for a weekend visit then. Now granted, the idea seems a little odd since that is kind of what the Convention in August is for but while we may call it a convention, we really just go to party. We didn't plan to do any real work there.
Besides, if you stick around all Summer we won't have any room for a last minute media obsession about whether China should be hosting the Olympics. You wouldn't want to spoil our fun would you?
Thanks for understanding,
America
P.S. What's that? You really aren't leaving? Crap.
Who do you think you are demanding our attention for months on end? Britney Spears?!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
What was that?
Seriously, did anyone just feel/hear that?
I'm at work in Burbank at the moment and there was just the loudest, strangest boom. Set off all the car alarms and had everyone heading outside to try to figure out what it was.
Anyone know? Sonic boom maybe?
I'm at work in Burbank at the moment and there was just the loudest, strangest boom. Set off all the car alarms and had everyone heading outside to try to figure out what it was.
Anyone know? Sonic boom maybe?
Friday, February 29, 2008
One In One Hundred
In this country we don't like to think about prisons. I mean REALLY think about prisons. We like to talk about things like being tough on crime, debts to society, laws named after legitimately wronged little girls and mandatory sentencing. We don't, however, like to talk about the reality of the people we have sitting in cells.
We dance around the subject. It doesn't come up in polite conversation. People can speak passionately about how the incarcerated should be treated harshly while never really attempting to identify with the realities of being incarcerated. Many seem to feel entitled to remain ignorant about the issues at hand because they have never really broken the law so it shouldn't have to affect them...but is that really true?
I challenge you to find someone who hasn't been peripherally exposed to someone who has been incarcerated. Given the results of The Pew Center study I linked to in the title, I suspect you would have a hard time finding anyone who isn't exposed to someone impacted by a friend or family member in a prison or jail right now. For every 100 people in this country, 1 of them is incarcerated at this very moment. If you really let that number sink in, the magnitude is staggering.
A few fun facts for you:
We dance around the subject. It doesn't come up in polite conversation. People can speak passionately about how the incarcerated should be treated harshly while never really attempting to identify with the realities of being incarcerated. Many seem to feel entitled to remain ignorant about the issues at hand because they have never really broken the law so it shouldn't have to affect them...but is that really true?
I challenge you to find someone who hasn't been peripherally exposed to someone who has been incarcerated. Given the results of The Pew Center study I linked to in the title, I suspect you would have a hard time finding anyone who isn't exposed to someone impacted by a friend or family member in a prison or jail right now. For every 100 people in this country, 1 of them is incarcerated at this very moment. If you really let that number sink in, the magnitude is staggering.
A few fun facts for you:
- Approximately 2.3 million individuals are currently incarcerated in the US. That is only slightly less than the entire population of the state of Nevada (2.5 million)
- The US incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. We also incarcerate a higher percentage of our population than any other nation in the world. Our inmate population is larger than the 26 largest European inmate populations...combined.
- There are currently 1 million more individuals incarcerated than actively serving in the US military.
- 1 in 9 black men between the ages of 18-34 is currently incarcerated.
- 1 out of every 8.3 California State Employees works for the Department of Corrections.
- For every $1.06 that the state of Oregon spends on corrections, $1.00 is spent on higher education.
- 9.3% of the general fund for the state of Florida was spent on corrections.
- 67% of former prisoners are rearrested within 3 years of their release. 52% are re-incarcerated.
- Of the 33 prisons in the state of California, all of them are exceeding 100% of their designed capacity. 16 have populations in excess of 200% of their designed capacity. Many have bunk beds in hallways, gyms, recreation rooms, office spaces and some have even place mattresses in prison chapels to accommodate the population.
Is it really possible to believe that we are not all affected by the prison system in this nation? We all pay for it. We know the friends and family members of those directly impacted by an incarcerated loved one. We live with the inhabitants when they are released. It is time to start addressing the issues associated with how we handle the people who violate our laws. We need to discuss and debate it. We need our politicians to be able to confront it realistically without the threat of being labeled soft on crime.
What is our main goal in incarcerating such a large percentage of our population?
If the goal is to protect society, I suggest that we are failing. A early look at the 2007 crime rates seem to indicate that states such as New York and California who have substantially reduced their prison populations in 2007, have experienced similar if not better reductions in crime rates than states such as Florida. Florida's prison population increased 5% in in 2007 due to lengthening of prison stays and a zero tolerance policy in regard to probation violations.
If our goal is to reform offenders, again I say we have failed with our current system. Recidivism rates over 50% show how sadly we are addressing the concept of reform. It is understandable, however. Given the current inmate population levels states are struggling to feed and house them, leaving little in the budget for programs that offer new opportunities for prisoners upon release.
If the goal is simply to punish, I am left with one question. How much are you willing to pay for the sense of satisfaction of incarcerating non-violent offenders? The vast majority of the incarcerated are serving time for non-violent offences, often drug offences. Is this really the best of use of state and federal resources...let alone of these people's lives?
We are failing and it is costing us dearly, both financially and socially. In a democracy, when we see weaknesses and failures in our system we have a responsibility to address them. We must learn about them and hold our elected officials responsible for failing to acknowledge them. By ignoring the flaws in our criminal justice system we risk personally falling victim to them.
Now I admit that I am over-simplifying a very complex problem. This is a real problem, however, and we are ignoring it. We can not afford to remain entitled to our ignorance.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Disappearing Moon
I camped out on Mulholland tonight to watch the eclipse. It was definitely a gamble as it had been cloudy and gray all day and it was supposed to rain for most of the rest of the week. We were, however, supposed to be given a reprieve in the form of a small window of partly cloudy skies tonight. In a stroke of luck, that window of time arrived right as the moon was rising and the clouds didn't start rolling back in until the eclipse started waning.
I found a great little spot off of Mulholland where I not only had a perfect view of the moon's path across the sky, but I also had an amazing view of downtown, the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign and a clear shot to the ocean while the light lasted. It doesn't get more LA great than that.
I've never seen an eclipse before...what a fun show. I do know that the moon is round, but I never knew it could look quite so orb shaped from earth. It was very cool. There was a nice little group of folks taking pictures. A good time was had by all, at least until security showed up to run us out. Turns out the park closed at 6, but just like the luck of the perfectly timed break in the weather he didn't show up until the eclipse was almost over and the clouds were just starting to roll back in.
You can check out all of my eclipse pictures here. (I really need a better lense)
Truthfully, the cold was worth braving just for the shots I got of downtown.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
It's Funny 'cause it's a Little True
Clever post by Sean Carmen of 23/6
Democratic Primaries Threatened by Outbreak of Democracy
Democratic party leaders voiced concern today about the Democratic primary process, which they said was "gravely threatened" by recent developments.
Speaking on background, party leaders said those developments included a close contest that might not be decided until the convention this summer and that, in the meantime, threatened to ignite vast public interest in the campaign, drive record numbers of voters to the polls, and produce the most inclusive Democratic primary contest in a generation.
"It's a complete disaster," one party insider said. "Absolutely the last thing we wanted."
Party leaders said they had hoped their nominee would be selected in the first few primaries, thereby making the primaries a carefully scripted marketing campaign leading up to a televised coronation of the nominee at the summer convention.
"We wanted Iowa and New Hampshire to decide this thing," one party operative said. "Maybe Michigan and Nevada, if it had to come to that.
"Yes, we scheduled primaries in every state," this source said, "but we didn't expect they would actually count for anything."
Even more worrisome, party insiders confided, is the prospect that the establishment candidate will not win the nomination, but will instead be defeated by a challenger on the basis of, of all things, the popular vote in the 50 states.
"We thought we had protections in place to prevent the Democratic candidate from being selected democratically," one party official said. "But it's all going terribly wrong."
...Read the rest
Democratic Primaries Threatened by Outbreak of Democracy
Democratic party leaders voiced concern today about the Democratic primary process, which they said was "gravely threatened" by recent developments.
Speaking on background, party leaders said those developments included a close contest that might not be decided until the convention this summer and that, in the meantime, threatened to ignite vast public interest in the campaign, drive record numbers of voters to the polls, and produce the most inclusive Democratic primary contest in a generation.
"It's a complete disaster," one party insider said. "Absolutely the last thing we wanted."
Party leaders said they had hoped their nominee would be selected in the first few primaries, thereby making the primaries a carefully scripted marketing campaign leading up to a televised coronation of the nominee at the summer convention.
"We wanted Iowa and New Hampshire to decide this thing," one party operative said. "Maybe Michigan and Nevada, if it had to come to that.
"Yes, we scheduled primaries in every state," this source said, "but we didn't expect they would actually count for anything."
Even more worrisome, party insiders confided, is the prospect that the establishment candidate will not win the nomination, but will instead be defeated by a challenger on the basis of, of all things, the popular vote in the 50 states.
"We thought we had protections in place to prevent the Democratic candidate from being selected democratically," one party official said. "But it's all going terribly wrong."
...Read the rest
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Longing for Inspiration
I have a secret to tell...I never quite know what to make of it when I hear people speak of John F. Kennedy. It is clear that people were inspired and driven by his passion and and eloquence, however, I have often chalked that up in my head as more a sign of the times than a sign of the man. As a life-long Democrat I always knew enough to never say it out loud, though...until today that is.
It was a different era. People trusted and believed in their political leaders more than they do today. It was a passionate time full of dramatic challenges on the civil rights front and miraculous achievements in the space race. It just seems like a time in history where people were looking to be inspired. I can see how it might have just been the right guy in the right place at the right time. I have always had a hard time imagining how a president or candidate can sincerely inspire a large portion of the United States...at least not in the world of today.
Now don't get me wrong, I know my history. I recognize the skills and the fortitude that Kennedy clearly possessed...I just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that he lucked into his gilded legacy. You must remember that I have never lived in a world where presidents don't disappoint.
I was born weeks before Nixon resigned. My first remembered president, Reagan, I recall as much for shredded documents as I do for tearing down walls. The first president I voted for, Clinton...well I don't really need to go any farther there do I? And finally G. W. Bush...the first president to make me feel truly hopeless and helpless about my ability to make the country a better place.
So where does that leave me today? That is the strange part of this story. A week ago I confidently settled on my pick for a candidate. Two days ago I cast a vote. On the evening of February 5 as I watched election returns and speeches on cable news. As I watched, I was inspired and it stunned me. I listened to a candidate speak and it gave me chills. I believed what I was being told, things could change, we really do have it in us.
I believe we are at a time in our history where we are capable of great change...Lord knows we have seen great challenge over the last 7 years. Perhaps it is possible for a nation to aspire to be more. Perhaps it is possible for a president to inspire...and maybe it doesn't matter if it has more to do with the individual or with the time in history. Maybe it really is all about us as a nation, not the candidate...and maybe that's how it should be. We should choose the right candidate to harness and guide our potential as it stands today.
I am cautiously inspired and I kind of like it.
It was a different era. People trusted and believed in their political leaders more than they do today. It was a passionate time full of dramatic challenges on the civil rights front and miraculous achievements in the space race. It just seems like a time in history where people were looking to be inspired. I can see how it might have just been the right guy in the right place at the right time. I have always had a hard time imagining how a president or candidate can sincerely inspire a large portion of the United States...at least not in the world of today.
Now don't get me wrong, I know my history. I recognize the skills and the fortitude that Kennedy clearly possessed...I just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that he lucked into his gilded legacy. You must remember that I have never lived in a world where presidents don't disappoint.
I was born weeks before Nixon resigned. My first remembered president, Reagan, I recall as much for shredded documents as I do for tearing down walls. The first president I voted for, Clinton...well I don't really need to go any farther there do I? And finally G. W. Bush...the first president to make me feel truly hopeless and helpless about my ability to make the country a better place.
So where does that leave me today? That is the strange part of this story. A week ago I confidently settled on my pick for a candidate. Two days ago I cast a vote. On the evening of February 5 as I watched election returns and speeches on cable news. As I watched, I was inspired and it stunned me. I listened to a candidate speak and it gave me chills. I believed what I was being told, things could change, we really do have it in us.
I believe we are at a time in our history where we are capable of great change...Lord knows we have seen great challenge over the last 7 years. Perhaps it is possible for a nation to aspire to be more. Perhaps it is possible for a president to inspire...and maybe it doesn't matter if it has more to do with the individual or with the time in history. Maybe it really is all about us as a nation, not the candidate...and maybe that's how it should be. We should choose the right candidate to harness and guide our potential as it stands today.
I am cautiously inspired and I kind of like it.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
I Voted
I tried to vote this morning but the line was too long and I had to leave and come back over lunch. I still had to wait in quite a line to check in and again for a Democrat booth to become available
What a great problem to have!
Monday, February 04, 2008
I don't know what to believe in anymore
I was cooking dinner the other night - rice with a honey vinager sauce, some steamed vegetables...a normal dinner around my house. As I was making the sauce I noticed a fly circling the kitchen and occasionaly making a dive for the vinegar. It struck me as strange given that there was honey out as well, but that fly just kept going for the vinegar.
I though for a moment and then did what anyone would have done in the situation. I put out one bowl of honey, another bowl of vinegar and left town for the weekend. What's that you say? You don't know anyone who would do that? Now you're just messing with my head.
So I returned home tonight and to my surprise I found three little flies floating atop of my bowl of balsamic vinigar and an untouched bowl of honey.
There you have it...You catch more flies with vinegar than you do with honey.
Now I suppose you are going to tell me that you don't know anyone who would have taken a picture and blogged about it either. Yeah right.
I though for a moment and then did what anyone would have done in the situation. I put out one bowl of honey, another bowl of vinegar and left town for the weekend. What's that you say? You don't know anyone who would do that? Now you're just messing with my head.
So I returned home tonight and to my surprise I found three little flies floating atop of my bowl of balsamic vinigar and an untouched bowl of honey.
There you have it...You catch more flies with vinegar than you do with honey.
Now I suppose you are going to tell me that you don't know anyone who would have taken a picture and blogged about it either. Yeah right.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I've never seen this in LA before
Friday, January 04, 2008
It's raining, It's pouring...
If a tree falls on a Prius but it's too windy to hear it...does it make a sound?
I'm in Sacramento at the moment as my Dad is in the hospital and boy do folks up here know how to have a rain storm. I'm impressed. There are trees down all over the place. You can check out the pictures from this morning here.
I'm in Sacramento at the moment as my Dad is in the hospital and boy do folks up here know how to have a rain storm. I'm impressed. There are trees down all over the place. You can check out the pictures from this morning here.
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