Ping this
I wonder how high this number rises once we can vote online.
In the presidential election of 2008, approximately 39.7 million or 30% of all votes were cast prior to Election Day, November 4, 2008. This is a significant increase from 20% in 2004 and part of the upward trend experienced since 1992, when 7% of all votes were cast early. These numbers are likely to increase in subsequent presidential elections as more states adopt early voting and more voters become comfortable with the practice. A summary of these early voting laws can be found at Paul Gronke’s excellent Early Voting Center. I discuss the bright future of early voting – among other trends – in this article available at the on-line political science journal, The Forum.
via C&L
Popularity: 15% [?]
Ping this
I was on the NTV7 Breakfast Show yesterday. Being on live TV with no sleep is interesting! I couldn’t sleep the night before the election and then again the night after Obama’s amazing win I was still buzzing. I was asked to come on after speaking to a reporter during the election watch party hosted by the US Embassy in KL.
It was an honor to talk about President Obama (sounds nice) on TV. Nice meeting Han and Naz and Dr. Azmi – cool guys. Also thanks to KevinC, Jessica and Sariah for having me on. I managed to get in a quick plug for Democrats Abroad Malaysia and votefromabroad.org.
Slept well last night =)
Part one above. I come on around 7 minutes into the segment.
Part two
Popularity: 7% [?]
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I’m being kind giving McCain Arizona. It’s now looking like he might lose his home state.
Popularity: 5% [?]
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This is NOT photoshopped. The man actually made this zombie face in the final moments of the most important televised appearance of his political life. He is a Maverick! What if he’d performed the thriller routine? John McCain, you won’t get my vote but you’re invited to any future BBQ I have. Just leave Keating at home, he’s creepy. And tell Sarah, no moose. It’s hell to clean up the grill afterwards.
US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reacts to almost heading the wrong way off the stage after shaking hands with Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the conclusion of the final presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, October 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)
Popularity: 22% [?]
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A billboard in West Plains, Missouri suggests that Obama is a Muslim out to tax abortions for same sex married gun owners..
I’d probably knock it down if I drove by, but it’s (still) a free country. Say what you like. I’m free to blog about what an idiot you are though.
via CurrentTV
Popularity: 24% [?]
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Eating McCain for breakfast. Om Nom Nom Nom…
Popularity: 35% [?]
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Americans in Malaysia, Americans Abroad. Please vote. Please print and post this flyer.
Get your request for absentee ballots mailed in by September 15th if you are in Southeast Asia.
The wizard at votefromabroad.org should only take 5 minutes of your time. Here is a postage paid envelope template to send your forms in.
Great post over at DailyKos with a ton of information for Democrats Abroad and Americans Abroad for Obama.
Obama/Biden ‘08 !
Popularity: 97% [?]
Ping this
Back in November 2003 I was pulling for and blogging about Howard Dean. As an American living overseas, I found it exhilarating that I could participate in the US political process from my computer sitting in Malaysia. I had the idea for the Dean blimp while reading about how an HMO used a blimp for advertising at college football games. I posted on the Dean blog forums and a few people agreed it was a cool idea. An hour later I’d photoshopped a Dean blimp from the Blockbuster blimp and then put up a crude page to give the idea a home. I contacted a blimp company, got quotes and put the pricing info out there for Dean folks to respond. A few weeks later an email arrived from Dean supporter, Ken Leach.
I was with Howard Dean last Tuesday in Houston. He had no idea there is an idea about a DEAN BLIMP and recoiled at the mention of 2.5 million. I told him it would be the best 2.5 million he could spend and it would pay out more attention for the campaign than any other money he could spend. As he was leaving, I said, “Think about it – A Dean Blimp!” He smiled and gave me the thumbs up. The seed has been planted.
Alas, Dean never went for the blimp idea. Still though, how cool is it that a supporter all the way in Malaysia can have an idea, post it on the web and a few weeks later it is pitched to the man himself ?
Although I’m for Obama – I really admire Ron Paul and the guts he has. When he stood there at one of the early GOP primary debates talking about “blowback” to a crowd filled with Rudy Giuliani suck ups – that took hutzpah and Paul didn’t even flinch. He’s kooky, but I’ll take kooky over Evil any day. I admire people that tell you what you need to hear even if it’s not going to be popular.
The Ron Paul movement reminded me allot of the Dean movement. Paul’s campaign was also bringing new people into the fold of politics and they were using the internet to organize. Much of what was happening was not being directed by the Paul campaign, it was just happening organically. Millions of dollars were getting raised daily and most of it was being raised and organized off site and by volunteers. I had almost forgotten about the Dean blimp and then one day to my surprise, Paul folks launched a Blimp. Still halfway around the World, I smiled.
The Dean blimp never flew and the Paul blimp did not get him the nomination. Some mock the idea of course, but what did happen is a powerful demonstration of internet enabled democracy in modern political campaigns. The power of communication and internet publishing can make your ideas literally take flight.
Howard Dean said, “You have the power!” And we did, and still do have the power. As head of the DNC and architect of the 50 State Strategy – Dean wields a bit of power himself these days.
Obama blimp in 2012?
Popularity: 57% [?]
