2009.11.03
Editorial: Make your voice heard in today's election
Go to the polls today
Virginia's registered voters have a lot at stake in today's elections.
Please remember to vote today. The polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Somewhere in that 13-hour span should be a few moments when, if you've registered, you can exercise your most basic democratic right. Virginians who do will know they've had their say in who should guide the commonwealth as it heads into even rougher economic seas: As a devastating two-year recession appears to be calming, the swell of the backwash still threatens to swamp core state services like education and public safety. The impact will be felt in every locality.
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I already voted. I think Virginians will be sending Washington a message today.
Comment by Bob H — November 3, 2009 @ 7:57 am
"As a devastating two-year recession appears to be calming"
This is pure 0bama Media spin. The recession is nowhere near calming. Show me the increased demand for goods and services. Show me that unemployment numbers aren't getting worse instead of stabilizing or getting better. I have no idea where you got the term "backwash", as if the coming bad times are are just residue . What you're calling backwash is the pain and suffering caused by 0bama's unprecedented spending and deficit increases.
Comment by Suzie — November 3, 2009 @ 8:31 am
@2 just more propaganda Suzie from a desperately failing admin
Comment by pammala — November 3, 2009 @ 8:43 am
We don't have a lot at stake. There's barely any difference between the candidates.
Comment by Henry — November 3, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Both Gov. candidates seem to know what states border their own, so how can we really go wrong here?
Comment by Marked Man (mark) — November 3, 2009 @ 9:04 am
Don't worry RT. VA will opt for "business as usual" rather that the false hope and spare change the Democrats would provide. Get your tissues ready, it's gonna be a smack down in Dem Town tonight.
Comment by Richard S. — November 3, 2009 @ 9:06 am
@Suzie # 2: This is pure 0bama Media spin. The recession is nowhere near calming.
@pammala #3: @2 just more propaganda Suzie from a desperately failing admin
Or not:
Manufacturers expanded in October at their fastest rate in more than three years, according to a survey of purchasing managers. The Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing activity rose to 55.7 from 52.6 in September. Numbers above 50 indicate that the sector is expanding, and the index has now been above that level for three straight months.
The nation's factories have been ramping up their assembly lines to keep up with demand after cutting production aggressively over the past year. They have received a boost from businesses moving to replenish inventories, a cycle that typically helps propel the economy out of recession, in addition to government policies such as "Cash for Clunkers" that have helped spur demand for their products.
Separately, the National Association of Realtors said that pending home sales rose 6.1 percent in September, following a 6.4 percent increase in August. That is the latest piece of evidence that home sales activity, while still far below its highs of earlier in the decade, is not merely leveling off but is rising at a steady clip. Construction spending, meanwhile, rose 0.8 percent in September, the Commerce Department said.
It's amazing to me that a recovery is evident, but some refuse to see it because some small measure of credit might go to President Obama.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — November 3, 2009 @ 9:26 am
#2 - Suzie, the newspaper bailouts are coming and the RT wants to be able to stand tall and say they did their part for Obama when the payoffs...I mean bailouts...begin.
Comment by Patrick — November 3, 2009 @ 9:28 am
#7 You make a very good point in that, those of the right and the far right and those who the Coast Guard cannot find will I don't think ever give the President any or no merit for the good things this man has done.
They are reading by their fixed network and hell or high water they will not see the light of day.
Comment by Bill Hudson — November 3, 2009 @ 10:23 am
BTW at 7AM in Blacksburg, there were more poll workers than voters. That's a light turnout.
Comment by Henry — November 3, 2009 @ 10:25 am
Let's just say this...IF the recession is currently letting up...IF it is, it is in SPITE of the STATIST running things, not BECAUSE of his policies.
Today WILL be a big message to D.C. Those blue dogs better pay attention, or they are next.
Comment by T Witten — November 3, 2009 @ 10:29 am
Seems as if Obama's Job Approval rating is going down in proportion with the stock market rising. Guess its time to beat that recession drum again soon...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html
Comment by Marked Man (mark) — November 3, 2009 @ 10:33 am
I was very surprised at how few votersthere were and that there was no lines. I had to wait 20 minutes last year.
I really don't understand it.
Comment by Bob H — November 3, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Its because there's no 'sympathy vote' being pushed down Virginians throat this year.
Either that or because the videos that went viral showing how hardly any Obama supporters could name 1 or 2 policies that he supported left such a deep scar that they are afraid to return??
Comment by Marked Man (mark) — November 3, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Also, there is no bigtime black candidate on the left. I bet the black turnout is a tenth of what it was last November. Granted, they are still only a minority of the population here in Roanoke.
I was number 98 to vote at 7:50 this norning.
Comment by T Witten — November 3, 2009 @ 11:28 am
I was #85 (in my section of the alphabet) at my poll at 0720.
Comment by Richard S. — November 3, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
#9 The "good things" this man has done? Double digit unemployment,record home foreclosures,record deficit,our brave troops dying everyday and your president dithers.I would like to know anything this president has done to better our country? And for the mind numb robots that voted for the most unqualified,inexperienced,president ever, how's that hope and change working for you?
Comment by Minority Man — November 3, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
#17 By the way it is not over, please keep in mind where the mess came from. The good news is we have 3 more years and maybe (if the far right takes over the GOP) have another 4 more years too to clean up the mess Bush and his bunch let us.
Comment by Bill Hudson — November 3, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Bill,
Outside of 0bama's immoral abortion positions and utter incompetence in addressing terrorist forces, I would welcome the economic expansion that would result from a conservative Congress not allowing 0bama to spend a dime
The fact is, though, 0bama is a lame duck even right now, particularly if his socialist healthcare bill goes down in flames.
Comment by Suzie — November 3, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
Bill #17.
I keep that in mind every day Bill. Every day that I see Barney Frank and the other Dems involved in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which participated the financial crisis. I'll also keep it in mind every day that GM and Chrylser are government and union owned. I'll keep it in mind every day out soldier, sailors, airmen and marines are left to hanging by a president who can't or won't step up to the plate and give them what they need.
We all know who "really" made this mess Bill and none of us intend forget it.
Comment by Richard S. — November 3, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
also keep in mind that seiu visited the white house so far this year 22 times.....per fox news, the ONLY station presenting the real story
barack hussein obama...mmm... mmm...mmm
Comment by pammala — November 3, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
#20 You I think are just forgetting the damage done by Bush and his bunch. It's all there for anyone that wants to read it. The President has been in office less then a year but somehow it and everything is his fault, ah ok I get it. But you are being blind as to HOW we got here.
Like lenders who peddled easy credit, consumers who took on mortgages they could not afford and Wall Street chieftains who loaded up on mortgage-backed securities without regard to the risk.
"So...if you really want to know,“faced with the prospect of a global meltdown” with roots in the housing sector he so ardently championed."-Bush- taking about Harry Paulson Jr.
Well you might of forgot this and a long line of the damage he did besides the mess in the middle East.
I hope karma works
Comment by Bill Hudson — November 3, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
#20 Speaking of the auto bailouts, did you see that Ford, who didn't accept 0bama's money, earned a billion dollars last quarter? The American people are voting with their dollars. They are saying "NO" to government-owned car companies, and for good reason. GM is on it's way to building the crap cars 0bama and his cronies mandate. My husband and I are longtime GM buyers, but we won't be going back. Lots of people apparently agree. GM made a deal with the devil; now they're hemorrhaging money.
Ford is being rewarded for hanging tough.
Comment by Suzie — November 3, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
@22 Like lenders who peddled easy credit, consumers who took on mortgages they could not afford
all began BEFORE bush
Comment by pammala — November 4, 2009 @ 6:47 am