The Next President?

[OperaTenor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keel

Knock yourself out but I think "keel" was just the foreign("terrorist") pronunciation of "kill".....

Got it in one. GCR, that's what Achmed the Dead Terrorist says repeatedly in the comedy routine. If you watch the linked video, it will makes sense.

[Haggis@wk]

Planning under way for Obama holiday.

"Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation's 44th president when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20."

I want to know what an “Obama cake” is.

This is starting to remind me of the Princess Di cult

[Shapley]

I want to know what an “Obama cake” is.

This is starting to remind me of the Princess Di cult

I couldn't get on the Courier-Journal site, but the only other place I could find that article was on the usual blogs-of-questionable-reliability. I'm going to chalk this up as unfounded rumour, at least for the time being.

He did, however, ask everyone to take Election Day off to vote for him, so there is some basis in fact for the rumour....

I tried baking a "McCain Cake" on Election Day, but it fell.....

[OperaTenor]

Don't you think election day should be a holiday?

I do. I believe every American should be afforded to exercise their one opportunity to participate in the process. If we can take the day off in commemoration of a union organizer, then we can take the day off to vote.

[Haggis@wk]

I want to know what an “Obama cake” is.

This is starting to remind me of the Princess Di cult

I couldn't get on the Courier-Journal site, but the only other place I could find that article was on the usual blogs-of-questionable-reliability. I'm going to chalk this up as unfounded rumour, at least for the time being.
(

It's there, it's been overwhelmed by page hits. I finally got through.

[Shapley]

The law requires employers to provide up to three hours off on Election Day to vote. Why would we need more time than that?

[Haggis@wk]

Don't you think election day should be a holiday?

I do. I believe every American should be afforded to exercise their one opportunity to participate in the process. If we can take the day off in commemoration of a union organizer, then we can take the day off to vote.

I've heard this kicked around as well as moving Election Day to the first Saturday in November. I'm ambivalent although I did vote early this year for the first time in decades because I thought I was going to be traveling on election day so maybe there is some value in evaluating some options.

[Shapley]

It's there, it's been overwhelmed by page hits. I finally got through.

I got through, as well. The comments are interesting. Sounds like the idea is not too popular with the readership...

[OperaTenor]

Shap,

Can you show me that law?

Even if that's the case, we heard of four and five-hour waits to vote in some states. Three hours doesn't do them much good, does it?

Again I ask, what is wrong with making it a holiday?

[Shapley]

Shap,
Can you show me that law?

Me error, it is only two hours in California and Illinois (where I vote). Missouri (where I work), allows three hours.

Here is a link to the laws in various States:

Findlaw.com: Voting Rights Laws

[OperaTenor]

One more time, what would be wrong with making it a holiday?

[Shapley]

One more time, what would be wrong with making it a holiday?

Why do we need another holiday. Work needs to be done. We have enough holidays, as it is. What holiday would you sacrifice in favour of Election Day?

[jamiebk]

I am not in favor of the holiday approach. We have plenty of days off. Companies are required to give time off for voting. Polls are open before and after work as it is. Most people can participate in early voting or absentee voting. A day off (I don't believe) will encourage any more voting. Next thing you know we'll be having inventory blowout sales for "Election Day Holiday Weekend"

[Shapley]

I am not in favor of the holiday approach. We have plenty of days off. Companies are required to give time off for voting. Polls are open before and after work as it is. Most people can participate in early voting or absentee voting. A day off (I don't believe) will encourage any more voting. Next thing you know we'll be having inventory blowout sales for "Election Day Holiday Weekend"

It could actually be counter-productive, as people would take advantage of the day off to travel, taking them away from the polling place. We have absentee voting. Many States have early voting. Some areas have extended polling times. There really is no excuse for not voting, and a day off won't change that.

[OperaTenor]

Shap, I can think of quite a few holidays that would take a distant back seat to election day.

Jamie, you've got to be kidding. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a working single mother with a high school education and try to say the same thing you just said.

This is our single most important civic duty as Americans, and it merits a full day to be exercised.

[OperaTenor]

Those accommodations are not universal state-to-state. The number of states with early voting or mail-in voting are still in the vast minority.

Arguing people will use an election day holiday as a means to travel and skip voting is just plain silly. For starters, where and how far can you go on a Tuesday?!

This is just arguing for its own sake, no logic involved whatsoever.

It's all yours, boys.

[jamiebk]

Shap, I can think of quite a few holidays that would take a distant back seat to election day.

Jamie, you've got to be kidding. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a working single mother with a high school education and try to say the same thing you just said.

This is our single most important civic duty as Americans, and it merits a full day to be exercised.

I can't think of any situation that is not covered by the exisiting voting procedures. Single working moms are presumably ...working, and are granted 2-3 hours "off" in order to vote. What difference does her education level make?...I presume she's smart enough to work and to vote. Everyone that I know of gets a sample ballot to study at least a month before the election. I am sure there are a few minutes in the day to select and study an issue. She can always vote "absentee" and fill in a few choices prior to the election and simply mail the ballot.

[OperaTenor]

Like I said, logic has been told to wait outside.

[Shapley]

Like I said, logic has been told to wait outside.

Absentee voting is available nationwide.

[barfle]

Since I knew I would be going on vacation during election week, I filed for an absentee ballot. Bar and I both filed, and our requests were in the same envelope. She got hers. I didn't get mine.

But it turns out that in Vahjinyah, you can go to a polling place to vote if you will be unable to vote on election day, and the polling place was about five miles from barflesylvania, so the night before we left on vacation, I drove up there. It was basically the police station, and the balloting was taking place in a community room.

Funny thing. There are laws in Vahjinyah regarding electioneering in the vicinity of the polling place, and there was the largest concentration of McPalin and OBiden signs in the grassy areas of the police station than I have seen anywhere else here. As I got in line, someone told me they had a Republican suggested ballot, and another someone had a Democrat suggested ballot. On the door of the station, there was a very large sign noting that attempting to influence a voter's selection was expressly prohibited. I guess if it's OK for the reds, it's OK for the blues. But what about us yellows? Not to mention the greens, in both regular and independent flavors on the ballot?

It turns out that since I had applied for an absentee ballot, I had to vote provisionally, which meant that my ballot could be challenged. Not that it would have made much difference. My candidates came in fourth, and the only ballot measure (a bond for parks fer cryinoutloud) passed by a 2:1 margin over my no vote.