resurrectionsong

October 20, 2004

There Are No Bush Strongholds

You may think that your state will deliver up its electoral votes to Bush whether you show up or not--and you might be right. But winning the election this year isn't just about delivering the electoral votes. Winning this year means that we have to make enough of a statement that this kind of a tactic looks just as childish as it sounds:

Sen. John Kerry has a simple strategy if the presidential race is in doubt on Nov. 3, the day after the election: Do not repeat Al Gore's mistakes.

Unlike the former vice president, who lost a recount fight and the 2000 election, Kerry will be quick to declare victory on election night and begin defending it. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.

There is no doubt that this will be a close race, but every vote that can be delivered for the President--even in the supposed stronghold states--will be a vote that could help keep this election from becoming the legal battle that it's shaping up to be. A convincing victory wherein the clear majority of voters side with the President would make post-election posturing by the Kerry campaign almost impossible.

For Bush voters, remember put yourself in a different election mindset this year: there are no strongholds and your vote is going to carry more meaning than it normally would. Democrats are doing an excellent job of mobilizing their voters this year, and we need to respond with the same fervor.

Our elections shouldn't be handed over to courts and lawyers; what happened last year needs to remain an aberration.

Update: And, remember, if you Bush supporters don't vote, McGehee has some choice words for you.

Posted by zombyboy at October 20, 2004 09:46 AM

Comments

Thanks for the sober reminder zombyboy.

Posted by: Remy Logan at October 20, 2004 09:55 AM

I've submitted the same instructions to my local hometown paper -- in one of the reddest counties in one of the reddest states. I do have doubts that this election will be close, but ain't no way I'm going to take a chance on being wrong.

Posted by: McGehee at October 20, 2004 10:16 AM

I refuse to consider that it might be anything other than close. While I don't want to have a sense of desperation about it (I actually do believe that barring some big surprise, Bush is going to win), I do want to maintain a feeling of urgency. It is important and I'll treat it that way.

Posted by: zombyboy at October 20, 2004 10:30 AM

Excellent advice, and I'm telling my relatives in solid red states as well to go vote, pretend as if it is your vote that will decide this election

Posted by: Patty at October 20, 2004 10:35 AM

As you know, I live in a blue state. Well, the whole state is, but the city I live in is prolly more red than blue. Maybe. I think.

I never thought for one second that my vote wasn't important -- especially since I have a personal need to get rid of that ASSHAT Gary Locke.

Not to mention that I can just "hear" Kevin saying something like "You wouldn't LIKE me when I'm not happy."

Posted by: Margi at October 20, 2004 11:25 AM

Margi, Gary Locke is gone no matter what. ;)

Posted by: Jo at October 20, 2004 11:51 AM

More for margi:

Here is who you'll be voting against, more than likely (though I think she's pretty swell):

http://www.gregoire2004.com/

And here was Gary Locke's statement in 2003 that he wouldn't seek a third term:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/131850_locke22x.html

I guess you just have to ask yourself if you trust a guy named "Dino" to be your Governor. ;)

Posted by: Jo at October 20, 2004 11:59 AM

Ahem....I do think Utah to definitely be a Bush stronghold ;)

I do miss living in a state that will at least provide some anticipation on GE night....

Posted by: Rae at October 20, 2004 12:10 PM

Personally, all I really hope for is to get Patty Murray out of the Senate.

Posted by: Nathan at October 20, 2004 12:26 PM

A lot of folks love Patty Murray, including folks who weren't interested in politics until they heard about "the mom in tennis shoes". I would be literally stunned if Murray got voted out...because she's popular and George Nethercutt seems impersonal. But anything is possible!

Posted by: Jo at October 20, 2004 12:37 PM

good advice, but I don't share the certainty that it's going to be a close election. I'm likely wrong, but I don't see Kerry even coming close... that's not to say the Dems won't mae a show of it ans will give up the fight... I just don't see it as being very close.... That being said, it's extremely important to get out and vote, because, as we saw in 2000, simply winning the election is not enough for the Dems...

Posted by: oceanguy at October 20, 2004 12:40 PM

I think she's worth voting out of office for the "mom in tennis shoes" label alone.
And then there's her whole thing of saying we should be more like Osama bin Laden, building roads, schools, and daycares in third-world nations....about 4 months before she voted down an appropriations bill that would build roads, schools, and daycares in Iraq.

But should we return to Colorado Senate elections, hmm?

Posted by: Nathan at October 20, 2004 01:08 PM

I blame Margi! :) (just kidding)

Posted by: Jo at October 20, 2004 01:10 PM

Hey!!

And thanks, Jo. I really honestly didn't know Gary Locke said he wouldn't seek a second term. Ahh...I'll probably catch hell for this, but...

I never liked a certain Republican elected to office in Oklahoma because he ran on term limits and then stayed. And stayed. And stayed.

He's out of office but such a Republican Darling, I expect to never see him completely disappear from politics.

:: cough ::

Posted by: Margi at October 20, 2004 02:04 PM

Third. CRAP.

I'm never commenting again. Ya'll make me nervous.

Posted by: Margi at October 20, 2004 02:10 PM

Not to mention that I can just "hear" Kevin saying something like "You wouldn't LIKE me when I'm not happy."

Heh heh heh.

Posted by: McGehee at October 20, 2004 02:48 PM

Any Bush supporter should vote for Bush, even if he resides in the reddest or the bluest state in the union. Following the 2000 election, few things annoyed me more than listening to Algore drone on about how he "won the popular vote." The last thing I want is for Kerry to have that luxury now.

Posted by: Xrlq at October 20, 2004 03:08 PM