Go Vote!

 

I'll be glued to coverage of the returns tonight,

Hoping that the country will impose some oversight

On a President who's been behaving like a troll.

This mid-term election is about our country's soul.

Here it is...  November 6th, and I've already voted.

Turnout was much higher than I've previously noted:

Younger voters who don't normally participate,

Brand new voters at the polls deciding their own fate.

It's unprecedented in a mid-term that we see

Hordes of people taking part in their democracy.

Pollsters are reluctant to predict the tighter races

Because lines are out the door at many polling places.

Hopefully this indicates a Democratic wave;

Citizens who feel this country's worth the fight to save

From the demagoguery we've been subjected to.

It's a referendum on what is and isn't true.

Thank God for DVRs

Midterms are 5 days away - 'though not too many care.

Hard to miss the fact they're coming; ads are everywhere.

T.V. spots and mailings, phone calls; my in-box is full.

There is not a soul who isn't sick of all this bull...

Thank God for our D.V.R. or else I'd be insane.

These commercials for the candidates are such a pain.

They've become a running joke as we go zipping by;

Coakley hates our children, Baker's not our kind of guy.

Scott Brown is a carpet-bagger, Jean Shaheen's a stooge...

And the campaigns' advertising bills have gotten huge.

Still, I'd bet they haven't reached as many as they'd planned;

Voters without D.V.R.s have switched to On Demand.

Hong Kong and China's National Day

China's grown impatient with the island of Hong Kong

Where police gassed demonstrators who'd done nothing wrong...

In the streets to protest an abridgment of their rights;

Unaware that Beijing pulls no punches when it fights.

Hong Kong doesn't like that China's limiting their choice

In the next election; leaving half without a voice.

Demonstrators, mainly students, peaceful and polite,

Tried to make it very clear that they don't want a fight.

They just want a vote with meaning; one that's not a sham.

Candidates who'll stand for them and will not try to cram

Mainland China's policies down Hong Kong voters' throats...

Beijing doesn't like when people start demanding votes.

China's being patient - so far - hoping this will pass.

Thinking that these demonstrations will run out of gas.

If they keep on growing though, as others join the ranks,

Let's all pray that China won't, again, resort to tanks.

The Scottish Independence Vote

(Photo/Courtesy of theguardian.com)

Doesn't matter if you took the high road or the low;

Scots, in a secession referendum, voted No.

Meaning that they chose to stick with England and with Wales

And the Northern Irish...  From the Highlands to the dales

85% of those who registered took part.

Independence voters wound up trailing from the start.

Polls showed things much tighter in the race, but I would guess

Scotsmen didn't advertise if they were voting Yes.

Either that or England's last ditch effort at the Scots

(Letting Edinburgh  be the one to call the shots

On some local issues) may have paid off dividends.

As for this American; I'm glad the two stayed friends.

Glad the kingdom's still united; that it didn't split.

World is busy fracturing and I've grown sick of it.

Scotland's voters proved beyond the shadow of a doubt

People of good will can find a way to work things out.

The Massachusetts' Primaries

Yesterday I went to vote; there wasn't any line.

Only 3 were casting votes while I was casting mine.

(Turnout for a primary election's never great

Even though it helps decide who's gonna run the state.)

To the shock of no-one, after all was said and done,

Most of the front-running candidates for office won.

There is one incumbent shocked; a Congressman who's out.

Relatives' shenanigans brought Tierney's fall about.

Candidates for Governor were narrowed down to 5;

'though it's only 2 campaigns with any chance to thrive. 

Democrats chose Martha Coakley while the GOP

Cast their votes for Charlie Baker overwhelmingly.

I'm a likely Coakley voter with an open mind.

Need to do more research and assess the facts I find,

Watch debates and listen to what candidates will say...

There is still a lot of time before election day.

Dr. Seussilitis Does The SCOTUS Blog - Affirmative Action Editon

The Supreme Court of the United States voted to uphold Michigan's ban on Affirmative Action. (Cartoon/Courtesy of instruction.blackhawk.edu)

SCOTUS ruled, at 6 to 2, that voters get to choose

If there's a protection that minorities should lose.

Michigan decided that Admissions at a school

Cannot factor race when they're selecting from their pool.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed;

Said the program's one that some minorities still need.

On this issue, I am still unsure how I should feel:

Knowing that the evidence for racism is real,

Wanting to be helpful (it's the Irish Catholic guilt)

Being proud of the protections that the 60s built.

Is that condescending to a person 'cause they're black;

Just assuming I've got some advantages they lack?

That's where I'm uncomfortable. I don't know which side's right,

And I'll never, really know the answer, 'cause I'm white.

All I know is most of color think the program works

And, in their experience, the voters can be jerks.

Aren't we all about protecting the minority?

Not as if they're asking for a lot, it seems to me...

Just consideration of a little more than grades

'til the scar our history has inflicted on them fades. 

Election Day

Don't make lame excuses. Go vote!

If you lack a physician's note,

Get up off your bum!

Not voting is dumb.

And, if your guy wins, please don't gloat.

Race for the White House - Please Vote

I just came from voting (and it didn't hurt a bit)

Where, if you are wondering, I didn't vote for Mitt.

Hope you'll vote Obama, too and keep him on the job.

Fill a little circle in and then your uncle's Bob.

Voters in New Jersey and New York have got it rough...

Right now they're more worried about where to live and stuff.

Polling places washed away in Sandy's aftermath.

Residents would rather find a place to get a bath.

Sometimes people wait to vote for hours in the sun;

Sons and daughters guarding freedoms their fore-fathers won.

It's a sacred obligation...  Please go out and vote.

And, if you're in Massachusetts, don't forget your coat.

Race for the White House - Election Eve

Cartoon credit/Chattanooga Times Free Press

Here it is - Election Eve. The race is nearly done.

Only thing that's left to do is vote, then see who won.

I support Obama.  If you've ever read my rhymes

You'll know I think Romney's changed his mind too many times.

I know he's a decent man, but I think Mitt is wrong.

Trust me...  I've been paying close attention all along.

Want to know the reason the economy's been slow?

It's because Republicans are always saying "No."

Industries will not invest if they cannot be sure

Government can compromise; not stay Tea Party pure.

(Simply look across the pond; austerity won't work.)

Bottom line; the problem? Mitch McConnell's been a jerk.

Hope that, if Obama wins, they'll take it as a sign -

With a looming fiscal cliff, some compromise is fine.

Time to see a course more middle-of-the-road gets steered.

Need to rein the right wing in...  They're getting kinda weird.