It took me four hours to find my polling place. A couple online checking my registration status and checking mapquest, google and yahoo. A couple more driving around a neighborhood I do not know, looking for a nondescript building with no signage and no address.
So, a neighbor drove me over there this morning and he voted (cancelled me out, I’m certain). It took me another hour in line because my name was A-L with a line out the door and his was M-Z, two people.
This was in the middle of Section 8 housing, or what we would call “the projects.” I was gratified and surprised to see the number of local residents on line. There were three other white people there, one an energy engineer that was my “line buddy,” and two neighbors. Most people voted early.
I walked home, no problems. Now this evening it appears that President-elect Obama and VP-elect Biden will be gaining their own public housing as of January 20, 2009. A different class of housing but public nonetheless.
There will be much Monday morning quarterbacking on this election. One might say right now that Bush’s extreme unpopularity as a result of the economy’s taking a dive and the war in Iraq turned the tables.
As someone who ran phone banks and lit drops for a month or so every couple of years, plus GOTV (get out the vote) efforts on election day, I believe that it was a good day for the USA. Inspiring citizens to vote is a plus for our country, no matter whom they choose to elect.
It certainly was an historic day. Earlier today I sent a note to the Obama campaign expressing sadness at his grandmother’s death yesterday. I assured him that having just lost my mother, I’m sure she and many others held out their hands to welcome her to a good and safe place, and that there’s no doubt she is proud of him and his efforts.
It is my hope that peace and prosperity are the cornerstones of this new administration, and that Americans can move forward to make this a reality. Respectfully, Dee
Cooking with Dee 