Christine_Devine's Blog

It is election-eve!!! And I am SO excited. Like a kid at Christmas waiting for the gift of a new president.(no, that was not a Bush-bashing comment) Anyway, we have two good men wanting to run the most powerful nation on the planet. Two good men who want to serve our country. Two good men who want to serve YOU! Or perhaps, one is Scrooge depending on your views of their policies????

Christmas day, election-wise comes tomorrow. I'll wake up early, and a little groggy(as I do work 'till midnight). I'll lazily walk out to the kitchen, excited about opening gifts... er... voting. My eyes will open wide as I look at the beautiful tree... or in this case, the tree at MY polling place... which is the neighbor next door. Really. Next door. My fellow family members... voters... will pop in throughout the day. They'll share a laugh with relatives... election workers. Arrive in hand with a gift for the host... their voter information pamphlet to speed things along. It will be a large family dinner... voter turnout expected to be about 80 percent ! Will there be enough food??? - voting rights advocates Sunday demanded that the Los Angeles County Registrar print and rush enough ballots.

By 8pm, Christmas... I mean election day... will have come and gone. Some will be pleased with the present America receives. Some will want to return... although they'll have to wait four years for that. At this hour... I still must rush out and get a few more gifts.... or rather, decide how I'm going to vote on some of the props. Animal rights activists have asked for a yes vote on prop 2. However, I spent some time looking at the opinion pages of newspapers across the state, and several said vote no on this issue largely affecting the egg industry. FYI, driving through Manhattan Beach on Saturday I saw Prop 8 supporters out in full force pushing the passing of the marriage protection act. Will the bond measures pass in this tough economy? Are the alternative energy props good for California? Who doesn't want to fight crime, get drug addicts rehab, support victim's rights? But are they worth the costs?

Should Christmas... I mean elections... be this confusing? I have one very well educated friend who largely votes NO on every prop to send a message he thinks this system is absurd. Saturday night at dinner, I was thrilled to chat with a 25 year old waitress who was extremely well versed on the props... she admitted she was a political science major. A dear friend is voting for the first time and we've had a ball chatting elections... or rather... he's allowed me to practice for Fox 11's extensive coverage. We'll be live on the web from 5pm-10pm. Then of Fox 11 from 10 -12pm.

So... decision time is now. You must select that perfect present for mom or dad(which candidate has the best health care plan)... or for brother who might be military... or sister who's about to lose her home. Santa's comin' through the chimney soon. If ya want the perfect present on your wish list... ya better get out and vote!!!!!! What's on your voter wishlist?

As I listened to President Bush speak on Thursday I couldn't help but think of a friend of mine planning to head to Iraq in the coming months for his second tour of duty.

 The president announced a planned troop withdrawal.  20,000 by July.  IF things improve in Iraq.  IF.   President Bush accepted General Petraeus' recommendation to bring home 2200 Marines this month.  5700 troops out by Christmas.  With no replacements.  Might that mean my friend will not be going back to Iraq?   He is prepared and ready to serve once again.  

There is no doubt the Iraq war will spill over into the next administration.  Even democrats calling for a pull-out admit that it is a process that will take time.  And there are huge concerns about the Iraqi people who have supported Americans. 

 After hearing the President's speech are you convinced we will see troops returning by Christmas with no replacement?   We know the Iraqi government is not meeting its own benchmark.  And while we are seeing Sunni cooperation with a goal to oust Al Qaeda, we lost a Sunni leader this week who'd been cooperating with the American forces.  He was murdered.

With primaries moving up in the year will a troop reduction make a difference in the early voting?  Is a 2200 person reduction by Xmas enough to make a difference to voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and the many other states pushing up their primaries?  Democrats say no.  What will voters say?
 

A little something for everyone this weekend in California.  Celebrity-wise it is Oprah versus Arnold.

 Republicans meet in the Palm Springs area.
Democrats... at least the ones supporting Barack Obama.... meet at Oprah's.

In the Palm Springs area its the state GOP convention.  Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed his party tonight telling fellow republicans they must "move toward the center."   "We cannot become a narrow sectarian party in which all must swear allegiance to prescribed commandments," Schwarzenegger said in quoting Ronald Reagan.

 Agree?  Disagree?  Willing to change your candidate-of-choice if a more mainstream vote could assure a win?

Oprah's convention is Saturday night.  You're invited... if you have $2300.  (actually, the event is sold out.... and Hollywood is turning out in full force).   Candidates campaign every single day but this campaign stop will get an INCREDIBLE amount of national attention.  

 The Oprah event... how much of a difference do you think it will make in the Obama campaign?  WIll it make more people take notice... get more interested in the political race... want to learn more about Obama's political plan?????

With a passion for politics I would love to be at both events.   I have met Barack Obama and the Governor and can tell you that they are both extremely dynamic... more so than I imagined.    People at both parties are in for a memorable weekend.

CD


 

Big news...  in one week we'll have another presidential candidate.

Okay... okay... there's been speculation for months.   So really... this isn't big news after all.  In fact, its just official.   Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has been on the campaign trail all summer.

 I find it interesting that he will make the announcement on his website.  No news conference?   No questions from reporters?    There are two upcoming debates being hyped by the two national media outlets hosting them.  Perhaps Thompson's announcement will help draw more of an audience.    Planning to watch?

 Questions for our viewers.   Have you decided whom to vote for?   If yes, tell me why.   Tell me why I should vote for your favorite candidate.  I like something about each and every candidate.  I dislike something about each and every candidate.  But... we must vote.  For one.  So... whom to vote for?

 As a news person I get the opportunity to really study the candidates and watch the debates.  That's my job.  On a personal level, my dad was a voter registrar... so I was raised with an involvement in politics and the political process.  In the coming months lets talk about the candidates and the issues. 

Any Fred Thompson fans?  Any  "Law and Order" fans?  Are you for or against an actor being President of the United States?  Oh... disregard that question.  That was already debated during the Reagan years. 

This will be an exciting election season with so many primaries pushed up to January/February.   Let's talk politics.

 

CD