Read here for some happy stuff

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I went to pick up my daughter from a little girl's house where she spent the night. I know the parents fairly well, but not their politics. As we were leaving, the mom said "Oh I'm so nervous about the election. If Kerry doesn't win, I don't know what we're going to do."

Well, watch out for Suddenly Happy Democrats with Freakishly Strong Arms. She is about 5'1" and probably weighs 100 pounds and I am 5'8" and don't weigh 100 pounds. I grabbed her and hugged her and nearly knocked the wind out of her.

When I let her go, she laughed and said "I knew you were for Kerry because of your stickers."

Then on the way home, we saw a truck parked in the driveway of a house one street over. There was a Kerry sticker on the bumper and someone had shoe polished all over the windows "I'M 18 TODAY!!!! I CAN VOTE!!!!!"

When I turned 18, I really wasn't THAT excited that I could vote. So that brought a smile to my face.

And now for my Voter Turnout Prediction: I'm going to get a bit crazy and say that I think 150 million Americans will vote in this election. What's yours? (I THINK 2000 was 105 million. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

[wryter2000]

1. How wonderful

Great for your friend. And that 18 yo kid...wow!

On edit: I heard Vilsak on Randi on Friday, and he said 95% of elligible voters in his state were registered and he expected 75% turnuot. How about that?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. What state is that?

Sorry not familiar with the name.

[Blue Gardener]

16. Vilsack is the Governor of Iowa

And a darn good one at that.

[Ilsa]

2. Cheered me up!

Great story. I think voting will be way up in most places. I'm not so sure about here in Texas, where it is predicted that Shrub could get as high as 60% (gasp). My dad is telling me that for the first time ever, he probably won't vote. He'd rather save his gas money.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. I dunno about that

the following counties in TX have broken all early voting turnout records:

Dallas County
Tarrant County (Ft. Worth)
Harris County (Houston)
Bexar County (San Antonio)
Travis County (Austin)

In Dallas County, for instance, there were 195,000 people who voted early in 2000. This year (early voting ended Friday evening) there were OVER 300,000. Math people: what percentage of increase is that?

Wow. Same thing in all those other counties. We are seeing much higher turnout in almost every single state, actually.

[Ilsa]

9. Well, that is good news! I'll let my dad know.

Maybe he'll change his mind and spring for trip to go vote.

[txindy]

12. I've been watching those numbers in those counties closely, too.

They're also among the most populous, too, so if Kerry can carry the majority there, it would go a long way towards neutralizing the votes from more rural counties. Plus, we've got El Paso and South Texas, too! :toast: If we can't edge into blue, I honestly believe Texas will be the palest pink possible. ;)

[onecent]

20. Could it be? Texans are ALSO sick of * and his failed

presidency???

[Straight Shooter]

5. Oh, dear, if he's not voting to save gas money

then he REALLY needs to vote. If * gets another 4 years, the gas he saves now won't mean diddly.

A vote for Kerry is a vote for fiscal responsibility :)

[Ilsa]

10. He just doesn't see much hope for here in Texas

that it will swing for Kerry. But I guess anything is possible.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. He still needs to get out and vote

and let go of the defeatist attitude that does us in.

Get him out there! Tell him you'll pay for the gas. My gosh, your polling place usually isn't that far away since it is in your precinct! How much gas could it possibly cost? A dollar?

[RevCheesehead]

13. Hey, Moonbeam - feeling better today?

;)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. Yeah

the Packers won! I've just avoided the neighbors who did that to my sign. Thanks for asking!

[Ilsa]

18. He lives alone and is over 120 miles from me,

otherwise I'd offer to take him, but I have to be here during the week. He was in a car wreck in July and has Parkinson's and is 78, but walks like he is in his 90's with that shuffling gait and some degree of pain from the wreck. I'm not going to hassle him if he doesn't want to leave the house. He'll probably go if someone else takes him and if he doesn't have to wait in any lines.

[Ripley]

6. I just got back from a drive through the south.

Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Kerry bumper stickers over Bubble Boy = 5 to 1.

I know it's anecdotal, but STILL. And I definitely saw 80/20% W stickers to Bush/Cheney. These people probably won't turn their states blue (except NC which I have a good feeling about)...but they clearly are not pumped up about their guy. I hope they all stay home.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Ok here are my predictions

55% popular (at least)
310 Electoral (at least)

This equals mandate

Senate in Democratic hands

House in democratic hands but with higher third party reps, the highest in a hundred years (Libertarian)

[KharmaTrain]

8. I'm Not Far Off Your Picks

There were 110 million votes cast in 2000...I predict 125 million this year...of which we'll find out 75% or more voted Democrat!!

I say a minimum 300 Electoral Votes (C'mon Virginee, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona & Nevada!)

Democrats take control of the Senate with 53 Seats

Repugnicans still hold the House (too many safe districts) but their slim majority is down to single digits with the moderates gaining a stronger voice...and will set their sights and knives on DeLay & Hastert!

[fidgeting wildly]

17. I agree.

There's all this talk about among pundits about Kerry winning the EV and Bush winning the PV, but I don't see that happening. I think a lot of traditionally deep-red states are going to be a VERY pale pink (including my own--TX), and in my mind, that spells popular landslide for Kerry. I just hope that Kerry's coattails are long enough to drag more D's into the Senate and House.

[flpoljunkie]

15. Your post made my heart sing! Thanks!

[meganmonkey]

19. Kick for the happy stuff!!!

I came on the board tonight thinking I would only read threads that looked happy, and this one even said it in the title!
Thanks for the good story - and I hope you are finding peace with your neighbor dilemma!
:)