2009.11.01
Sunday's column: Maybe you can be the next governor
It's possible, though difficult, to cast a write-in ballot on these voting machines, similar to the ones Roanoke uses. / Wikimedia Commons
This was going to be a serious discourse about democracy and the importance of voting, and all that civics-lesson stuff.
But you hear that high-minded slop before every election, don’t you?
So instead, we’ll recount the experience of A.S. Cooper, who found himself in a polling booth a couple of years back during a local election.
We shall consider this Roanoke native the Everyman disenchanted-voter.
Cooper is 55, lives in Southeast Roanoke, and remodels homes for a living. Most of those are over in the Raleigh Court area.
He drives a minivan, has a golden retriever named Mack and a mutt named Skeeter. His girlfriend is an office worker and his regular brew is Old Milwaukee. More often than not he votes for Democrats.
This is the same A.S. Cooper, by the way, who complained about denominational prayers before Roanoke City Council last year. City Council stopped those, and Cooper was reviled in our letters to the editor.
You could say he’s a regular-Joe guy who stirs the pot a little and who likes a good laugh now and then, too.
But that Election Day, standing before the flimsy electronic gizmo that now passes for a voting booth, Cooper was not laughing.
Truth was, he had a hard time finding a candidate on the ballot worth voting for.
Read the rest of the column here.
A.S. Cooper = Alice Cooper?
Problem is, I don't think the people making the decisions in either party really care who you write in, as long as they win. And no matter the margin, or the fact that M. Mouse or B. Simpson got a good chunk of the votes, they'll pick the same crappy leaders for next go-round. We'll continue to be bombarded with advertising that does nothing to further your *knowledge* of the candidate, but is only empty name dropping to make sure you have that name in your head come Tuesday.
It will be interesting to see the turnout since it is not a significant federal election. That will separate those who care more about what's going on from those who just want to elect a President.
It won't change until people realize that in order to make change, they're going to have to put a little effort into it. Put feet to the fire, get involved at a *much* lower level (primaries, local races...where do you think many of these people get a start?).
Happy voting!
Comment by Ed S. — November 1, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Mr. Casey,
You essentially whine that the candidates aren't worthy to vote for. Moreover, you provide no recommendations on whom to vote for, even the "lesser of two evils". It's clear you're disinfranchised from our state politics, you're liberal, and enjoy bashing Christians. Your slop is why I'll terminate my subscription to the Roanoke Times for a more serious newspaper.
Jack Hooten
Roanoke, VA
Comment by Jack Hooten — November 2, 2009 @ 2:23 am
Mr. Hooten
Hey now, christian bashing is my job and I do not believe Dan has ever stepped into my territory, especially because he is one.
If his article had given a recommendation on which of the two to vote for would your threat have included that detail instead?
How much more serious can a guy be than to apparently tell you about how disenfranchised he is? That is pretty serious stuff.
This reply diverges from the typical sort of reply from a christian right jerk. You said "It's clear you're disinfranchised from our state politics, you're liberal," you were good right up to there, but you will probably be punished for not following the script by adding a 'So leave.'
Probably SarahPac will come out against you for not toeing the line. Newt will then be nice to you since Sarah wasn't. Then Huckabee will soft sell his support and everyone will hassle him for it, or at least those who see him as competition for higher office.
Comment by VVarlock — November 2, 2009 @ 7:17 am
Wow Dan, you people ARE on the short bus to hell.
Comment by Kristen — November 2, 2009 @ 8:22 am
Good luck with that Mr. Hooten. A newspaper you totally agree with will surely never let you down. Did you ever stop to think that you might be the one slinging slop? No, of course not, only others do that, how silly of me.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 2, 2009 @ 9:18 am
I can't wait to see the Republican sweep on Tuesday, a true referendum on Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. TRT endorsements are a good guide to follow; just vote for the opposite of their endorsements. Dan, I can feel your pain, it must be a tough time to be a commie in Virginia. LOL, it is fun to watch the leftist squirm.
Comment by Can't wait until Tuesday — November 2, 2009 @ 9:58 am
I don't know about the "commies" or the "leftists" but it is a tough time to be an American or a Virginian in Virginia these days. This divisive, win at any cost, Conservatives can rule the world cat and mouse game with Virginia as the toy to be battered is no fun to watch or live through. Thankfully individual states can overcome themselves on occasion. We were never more than lip service to a "blue state" anyway. NoVa can only save us some of the time. Your joy will be short-lived.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 2, 2009 @ 10:56 am
I guess when the Republicans have a double digit lead, you might feel like there is nobody to vote for. But I would bet if the lead was the other way around, one candidate would be just great. Typical...lol
Comment by Lisa in Hollins — November 2, 2009 @ 11:14 am
Sandi (re: #7 "NoVA can only save us some of the time.")
Be careful who your "friends" are.
I have heard several NoVA pols complain about tax money going south. Of course, it's not as amusing as the ones that joke about seceding from the rest of VA.
NoVA doesn't care about the joblessness or pregnancy rate in SWVA. NoVA wants more, more, more money for roads so they can blow right on by.
Comment by Ed S. — November 2, 2009 @ 9:32 pm