It's here, it's finally here! Election Day!

[Dagonet 7,246]

Galoo galay, oh frabjous day! The campaigns are finally over!

To all USAians who are yet to vote, go forth and do so!

To those who have already voted in the two month early voting: why are there always such long lines? When we here in The Netherlands vote, you're in and out in five minutes with polling stations all over the place. Granted, our ballots are slightly less complicated with just a scant 25 parties and their candidates but still...

[Dagonet 7,246]

I forgot to mention, your vote is your own, regardless whom you voted for. This was a rather volatile season and let's leave the passion on the table.

[mulletcheese 689]

Whoever wins, America loses.

After such a bitter and divisive campaign America's standing worldwide has dropped, with China saying the election is the best advert for why it shouldn't be a democracy and Iranian state television following the election to show how bad America is.

I hope whoever wins is up to the task.

So go out and vote, but remember that tomorrow is a time of healing and if you should lose then please try and move on.

[incinerator950 387]

It's so much of a joke, I can't blame our enemies and rivals for not taking us seriously.

[TasteTheRainbow 8,726]

False Equivalence is the crime of the year. This should be an easy vote for people who read and stuff.

[Hobojebus 11,341]

It's so much of a joke, I can't blame our enemies and rivals for not taking us seriously.

Or your friends were having a right laugh over here in the UK.

 

While we arm our nukes of course [add dramatic music here]

[TitaniumChopstick 701]

It's so much of a joke, I can't blame our enemies and rivals for not taking us seriously.

Or your friends were having a right laugh over here in the UK.

 

While we arm our nukes of course [add dramatic music here]

[insert joke about already being across the Canadian border]

[Timathius 2,152]

Galoo galay, oh frabjous day! The campaigns are finally over!

To all USAians who are yet to vote, go forth and do so!

To those who have already voted in the two month early voting: why are there always such long lines? When we here in The Netherlands vote, you're in and out in five minutes with polling stations all over the place. Granted, our ballots are slightly less complicated with just a scant 25 parties and their candidates but still...

As to the lines, because we don't get off work to go to polls so everyone goes in before work or after. Also, our early polling stations are very sparsely spaced.

 

Basically, we roll blanks at voting.  

[VanorDM 11,599]

Two interesting thoughts...

 

One I heard someone somewhere comment that Hillary had outspent Trump by a fairly large amount on TV ads, but all that money had very little impact on the polls... Which I hope is a trend that stays and we can stop spending billions every other year on TV ads....

 

I think that between Netflix and other streaming sites, and DVR's the amount of commercials the average person actually sees has dropped drastically but naturally the political elite is still about 10 years behind the times.

 

Speaking of which, I'm not sure if this year was actually worse than normal because between netflix and DVR I seldom see commercials... But I honestly don't remember seeing a more negative campaign season in my lifetime.  I can honestly say that I don't remember seeing a single ad that talked about the positive attributes of a candidate.  Maybe I just missed them, but if I had to sum up this campaign season it would be...

 

"The other guy sucks so vote for me!!!"

 

The other was an interesting article about how Trump and Sanders were the result of the american population being ready to overthrow the government as we know it.  It involved a study that polled people (Don't have a link sorry) and how between 7/10 and 8/10 people believed that politicians and like have no interest in actually doing what's best for the country...

 

But IMO the real problem is, that we've become so divided that when people speak poorly of politicians they really mean the other party, and think that their side is just fine.  So I think it may be less about 'throw all the bums out' and 'throw all of party X out'

Edited November 8, 2016 by VanorDM

[Budgernaut 6,255]

There's a minuscule chance, but I'm holding out faith that the movement in Utah can make an impact. It was demoralizing how I couldn't even vote my own party in good conscience this year.

[Vineheart01 6,403]

Its been lesser of two evils for several elections but this one is just abysmal.

 

Hillary is a painfully obvious two-faced liar and greedy as hell.

Trump is dense as hell and obnoxious. Course he also lies, but his lies arent so cut and dry obvious its sickening.

 

I'd rather trump win over hillary by a long shot, but i'd also not want trump anyway.

[Darth Meanie 15,565]

 

As to the lines, because we don't get off work to go to polls so everyone goes in before work or after.

 

I find it interesting that, given this is supposedly our most important right as "free" people, we do not get the day off to go and vote.  The cynic in me says that the make it hard because they don't want the poor and working class to have an impact.

 

Two interesting thoughts...

 

I think that between Netflix and other streaming sites, and DVR's the amount of commercials the average person actually sees has dropped drastically but naturally the political elite is still about 10 years behind the times.

 

I did find it interesting that Trump has been the first Presidential candidate to personally make use of social media all during the campaign.

 

Its been lesser of two evils for several elections but this one is just abysmal.

 

And that is the illusion.  There are four candidates on the ticket, but you are unwilling to believe that the other two are options.

Edited November 8, 2016 by Darth Meanie

[VanorDM 11,599]

Its been lesser of two evils for several elections but this one is just abysmal.

 

I think that to a point the lesser of two evils has been overdone...   Everyone since and including Regan, at least had something positive to say about themselves in their campaign.  I mean put policy aside they at least ran on more than the idea they should win because they're were better than the other guy.

 

This time, and not just the presidential race it's all about how the other guy sucks so you should vote for me.  

 

The cynic in me says that the make it hard because they don't want the poor and working class to have an impact.

That has a lot to do with old laws and a somewhat cynical view that people are afraid to change any sort of voting law because it may hurt their side.

The Tuesday thing comes from a time when farmers couldn't make it to the nearest town and back in a single day so they couldn't do it on Saturday, and people generally didn't travel on Sunday. Tuesday early Nov is normally past the harvest time so farmers could take off a few days.

But it's interesting to note that Trump is the only one that I know of to suggest that election day become a national holiday so people can vote more easily.

 

I did find it interesting that Trump has been the first Presidential candidate to personally make use of social media all during the campaign.

Obama make quite effective use of it in 2008/2012, but yeah Trump has been all over it.

 

There are four candidates on the ticket, but you are unwilling to believe that the other two are options.

It's not that they're not options, it's that they're literally wasted votes. A 3rd party candidate really does little more then syphon votes from the candidate that they're closest to in terms of left/right wing.  

 

I wish they were options, but no 3rd party has really stood a chance since Jesse Ventura won the MN Gov election.  If you look at both the 3rd party people neither one manages even 5% in the polls...  So unless you can show that the polls are somehow self fulfilling, then we have yet to see a 3rd party candidate that actually stands a chance.

 

As much as we all seem to want to get rid of the two party system it seems when it comes down to voting day we pick R or D anyway.  I mean if in this election the 3rd party people can't make a serious showing how bad does it need to get?

[heychadwick 11,357]

After today, we just have to deal with the week or two of lawsuits and other stuff that will contest the election!  

 

Fivethirtyeight.com has Clinton's chance of winning at 71.4% vs 28.6%

 

I got to use the BBC to review the 11 battleground states with my son and he picked who he thinks will win each state and we will get to see how it pans out.  

 

I did get to early vote and it only took me 40 minutes.   Bleh.  

[Timathius 2,152]

If noone votes for them they will never become fully sponsored political parties. But no one seems to want to risk losing their vote for the two main candidates to make that happen.Personally, I think that is exactly what the two parties and the media want happening. I vote third party on the hopes that enough people realize that they can and one of these parties actually gets the 5% to become a fully fledged party.

[heychadwick 11,357]

I have to admit that I like neither 3rd party that exists.  So, I get stuck voting for the lesser of two evils.

[Admiral Deathrain 5,232]

I remain astonished that the Democrats managed to nominate the only person in the entire country (hyperbole, I know) that can conceivable lose to Donald Trump. No as much of a doomsayer here, though. Either candidate won't bring the end of the world, I trust the other institutions to limit the damage they can do.

[VanorDM 11,599]

After today, we just have to deal with the week or two of lawsuits and other stuff that will contest the election!  

 

Unless there's a clear winner, and I doubt there will be... I think a week or two is being optimistic.  

 

But no one seems to want to risk losing their vote for the two main candidates to make that happen.

 

I'm sure that's it, it's a catch-22... People don't vote for the 3rd party because they know there's no chance of them winning, which in turn keeps the 3rd party option from being a real option.

 

But I have no idea what if anything can be done about it. It's not like you can force people to vote for a given candidate or stop someone from running, and with all the money they have the two parties can basically shout down just about anyone who tries to buck the system.

 

One thing to think about, would be to somehow remove all money from it... Of course that also means no media outlet would be allowed to say anything about the candidates either... No op-ed pieces, no news reports, no endorsements, nothing.  

 

Then each candidate would be given half a mill to spend to drive around the country and make their pitch...

 

Of course most of that is in direct violation of the US Constitution, but at this point I'm not sure anything less drastic than that can lead to a real change.

Edited November 8, 2016 by VanorDM

[fistfulofforce 394]

All is as the force wills it.

Edited November 8, 2016 by fistfulofforce

[VanorDM 11,599]

I remain astonished that the Democrats managed to nominate the only person in the entire country (hyperbole, I know) that can conceivable lose to Donald Trump. 

 

The same can be said of the Republicans... They managed to nominate someone who can't beat Clinton.

[JonB2 11]

Well, for a 3rd party it stands to gain millions in federal campaign funds for next election cycle if it reaches 5% of the vote as it gets status as a Major party.  In several states it also means they stay on the ballot for the next cycle instead of needing to spend the time and money just getting back on the ballot at all.  Essentially they need to get momentum building, and even if they don't win they can still be in a far better position next time if they get enough support this time.

 

And yeah... with some polls showing something like 3/4th of Americans being dissatisfied with both big party candidates I do kinda wonder at what point the country finally gets so fed up with the big two that they start kicking them to the curb.

 

Either way, there's a lot more on the ballots then the big televised Presidential shebang.  In my state, we're also voting on things like being allowed to sell wine & liquor in restaurants and grocery stores (which I think we might need after today, no matter how it goes   )

[Timathius 2,152]

Not to be super doom and gloom, but I could really see the country tearing itself apart if things keep going down this road. 

[Darth Meanie 15,565]

 

It's not that they're not options, it's that they're literally wasted votes. A 3rd party candidate really does little more then syphon votes from the candidate that they're closest to in terms of left/right wing.  

 

No! No!! No!!!

 

This is how the system self-perpetuates.  What if everyone actually voted 3rd party??  And even if a 3rd party candidate does not win this time, it is a message that the system is broken.  The spark of rebellion starts small!

 

No vote is wasted if it expresses your beliefs. . .and if you are not voting your beliefs, if you are not free to vote for someone who espouses your ideals (even if they lose), then the ability to vote is an empty promise and a wasted freedom.

[VanorDM 11,599]

Well, for a 3rd party it stands to gain millions in federal campaign funds for next election cycle if it reaches 5% of the vote as it gets status as a Major party.

True, I've heard that Gary Johnson has polled right around 5% in some places anyway. So perhaps he could do well enough to get the Libertarian party in a place they may actually stand a chance at some point.  

 

Either way, there's a lot more on the ballots then the big televised Presidential shebang.

True, and in a lot of ways the Presidential election is the least important one. Who wins in the Senate and Congress plus local elections matters a ton.

 

Not to be super doom and gloom, but I could really see the country tearing itself apart if things keep going down this road.

I think to a point we need to before we see any real change... As long as people are relatively well off, even if they're not as well off as they'd like or could be. Then it's unlikely to see them really doing anything different. That and with the Media doing everything it can to maintain the status quo... I honestly think it will take something drastic to see a real change made.

Which is interesting if you look at some of the new shows/movies. Blacklist is all about a group that wants to burn it down to start over again... But if you look at the things they target, you start to wonder if that's not the only option. Or Designated Survivor which if not for the massive loss of life, would IMO be not such a bad thing to have happen...

Edited November 8, 2016 by VanorDM

[Budgernaut 6,255]

 

 

It's not that they're not options, it's that they're literally wasted votes. A 3rd party candidate really does little more then syphon votes from the candidate that they're closest to in terms of left/right wing.  

 

No! No!! No!!!

 

This is how the system self-perpetuates.  What if everyone actually voted 3rd party??  And even if a 3rd party candidate does not win this time, it is a message that the system is broken.  The spark of rebellion starts small!

 

No vote is wasted if it expresses your beliefs. . .and if you are not voting your beliefs, if you are not free to vote for someone who espouses your ideals (even if they lose), then the ability to vote is an empty promise and a wasted freedom.

 

Absolutely! We've started gaming the system instead of playing the game. We now vote "hate votes" meant to take votes away from a given party rather than voting for who we really believe should be the president of the United States. We need to stand up and support those who really stand for PRINCIPLES of freedom and democracy rather than voting for those who are self-serving and whose only charitable acts are there to be PR moments.