Carson Clothespin

Lessons of 112

Democrats need to define their positions based on clearly stated principles*, rather than a grab bag of issues. These principles should be defined in moral terms more than in logical terms. Everybody has principles they think are worth fighting and even dying for, and people want to know what ours are. Until we can explain them, they will never trust us. Until we can prove to them that they share those principles, they will not vote for us.

Early Returns

DailyKOS is listing the early returns, with cautionary notes not to get too excited.

Yeah, right!

Election Eve Count

11/1/04 22:00 Today: 19 Total Clothespins: 270 Total Weblog hits: 1402
Check in later for our final election day count. And vote for Kerry and Dodd!

Wireless Youth Cut the Cord for Kerry

Pollwatchers have been calculating a 3% undercount of support for Kerry based in part on the youthful voters who don't get called in the typical "Survey of Likely Voters" schema: They haven't voted before, and they don't have a phone with a cord on it. But Zogby did some heavy lifting, and got the numbers. The upshot? "Senator John Kerry [leads] President Bush 55% to 40% among 18-29 year-old likely voters...." Plus, they can use those phones to play games while they wait in line to vote!

How to Vote

Please plan to take some time and go to the polls early tomorrow. Reports from voters who went to the County Election Board on Friday say the turnout was high and the line was long. This is partly because the electorate is more energized than it has been in years -- but also because OK put so many questions on the ballot, each voter needs a lot more time to exercise their rights! In the end, the election may go to those who care the most -- those who take their vote (or victory) for granted may turn away and go home.

Some very detailed and timely voting information comes from Jeff Johnson of PFLAG. Read on for links and specific instructions about finding your polling place, and what to do if you feel you are being denied the right to vote.

Another OK Blogger Dons the Clothespin

David Rain already decided to hold his nose when he got our message. He tells the story on his Make me one with everything blog.

I called Brad Carson's campaign office a few weeks ago and told them I was going to hold my nose and vote for Mr. Carson for the U.S. Senate despite my strong disagreement with most of his policies and actions in Congress.

Yesterday I learned there's an actual campaign underway encouraging all of us progressive and liberal Oklahoma voters who believe in the principles espoused by the Democratic Party to let Mr. Carson know just that: that while we disagree with most of most of his votes and policies in the House of Representives, we want a Democrat from Oklahoma in the Senate and our "swing votes" can make the difference in whether he wins or loses the race.