Posted on 11/06/2004 12:08:22 AM PST by MSU49240
So I'm driving down I-94 to go to the People's Republic of Ann Arbor......
We were told by the MI GOP to bring treats for the staff to get off on the right foot. I find a Busch's grocery store near where I have to go. I consider that a good omen. I pick up some cookies and cinnanom rolls to go with a gallon of orange juice. I remember to get some plastic cups. I pick up a package of blue cups, then realize that I can buy red cups. I decide some subliminal cup coloring may tilt Michigan for Bush, so I replace the package of blue cups for red cups.
After a couple of wrong turns, I finally find the elementary school where I was to go. Dicken Elementary. The school serves two precincts. Ward 5 Precinct 7 on the left side of the gym and Ward 4 Precinct 7 on the right of the gym.
As I park the car, I pass by many yard signs. There is a tent across from the door of the school. There is a regulation about campaigning 100 feet from the polling place. But does that mean 100 feet from the door of the building or 100 feet from the door to the gym? I wander over there as they have a Kerry yard sign and some signs supporting local Dem candidates. I have a smile on my face and a manner that would have made Dale Carnegie proud.
I ask the people manning the tent how it is going. In breaking the ice, I find out that they are there to help people find the right polling place. Of course, there was no literature and signs for non-Dem candidates. But since they are more than 33 strides from the door to the school, I leave them alone.
I report for duty and introduce myself to the election inspector and staff. These people did a great job all day. Helpful, courteous and fair. I seek out the Republican poll challenger I am releiveing. He tells me what the events of the day are. Heavy turnout. Moveon.org people were patrolling the halls outside the gym. He told me that they were asked to leave as they were "electioneering" to voters in the hall way. There was some resistence but they did leave for awhile.
I seek out the Dem poll challengers and decide to break the ice and introduce myself. The girl (a 2nd year law student at UM) responds, but looks at me like I'm from Mars.
I was given a list of names of voters who were to be challenged. The reason being that they registered after the 10/4 deadline. I have my list and discuss it with the election inspector. A check of the poll book shows that none of them have voted yet. The Dem poll challenger is at my side and listening. I had no problem with that and held my papers in plain sight.
After a while, I talk to my Republican partner in the next precinct. Then I strike up more conversation with the two Dem poll challengers. I ask them where they live, what do they do, etc. We start talking and it seemed to go a long way to establishing a good rapport. They told me that they are not there as challengers, but just to make sure that the Repubs do not do any voter intimidation. She seems genuinely surprised when I do not take a black voter and beat him down to supress his vote. She warms up to us.
Some MoveOn.Org people come back into the gym. They talk to the election official and tell them they wish to come into the building. They are told that they (as well as any other interested parties may watch, but they cannnot interfere with voters). They stick around.
MoveOn.Org people are all wearing red hats. (Red Wing hats, red winter hats, etc) They sent a notice out to members that they want to make sure their supporters get to the polls, and after a member votes, to seek out a red hat wearing member to give your name so they can check it off their list. Then, they can call other members later in the day to encourage them to get to the polls.
I ask a red hat wearing memeber if they should not be wearing blue hats instead since Red states are for Bush? The member does not seem amused.
But they did mind their business for as long as I was there. I only saw one voter go up to them and give their name. This is for two precincts in about a 7 hour time span. One Repub poll challenger who is in his 60s actually talks to the moveon member who is in his 50s. They chat for about two hours. It looks like the moveon voter rally turns out to be a flop. If they can't get their members juiced up in a place like Ann Arbor, how much success will they have nationally? I think to myself that Bush has the election in the bag. Then again, it occurs to me that these morons hate Bush so much, they probably lined up to vote early. I'd bet they waited in line to vote Bush out longer than the Star Wars geeks waited in line to get tickets to The Phantom Menace.
By now, the Dem poll challengers and the Repub poll challengers are joking with each other. Voting went smoothly. One voter from my list did show up. I did not have to do anything as the election official said she had registered too late to vote in Ann Arbor. She was still registered in Jackson, and could drive there to vote. She looks bummed out, but did not argue. Throughout the day, about 5 others came into the gym, but were actually registered to vote in Ypisilanti precicnts. They are all turned away and no violence or loud words are uttered.
By this time, there is free exchanges between the Repubs and the Dems, we talk about 2008, law school, etc. The dems are surprised that we repubs do not have horns on our head and forked tails. On Dem asks me why Republican like Bush. I give my two cents.
All in all, it was very uneventful. I thought the local officials did a fantastic job. In my precinct, the final vote tally was 645 Kerry, 145 Bush and 8 for Nader. (60% turnout.- the other precicnt was over 80% but I did not get final vote totals). I was very surprised to see Proposal 2 (marriage amendment) go down in flames in this precinct, and knew two things.... 1.) That Proposal 2 would pass by a wider margin than I thought, and 2.) That it would not be enough to give Bush Michigan if Ann Arbor was voting against it. If the pre-election polling was closer on #2, then it would have given Bush a better chance.
After the ballots are accounted for and sealed up, we say good-by to each other. I tell my Dem couterpart that I'll see her in 4 years.
Driving home, I decide not to turn on the radio news. I knew it would not be settled at this point, and just caught the end of Detroit-Houston basketball on WTKA.
Then stayed up to watch the election returns until 5 AM, finishing up The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum.
Now that Bush has won, I will celebrate by reading Henry Kissinger's memoirs. All 3 volumes and 4000 pages.
bttt
Thanks for the report. Always interesting to hear 1st hand accounts. FReegards.
4 years? Shouldn't that be 2?
Oh and thanks for your support. I saw a thread from a NY Republican lawyer who went to Florida for this kind of thing the other day.
Hey MSU49240! Thanks alot for your support and for volunteering your time on election day!
Interesting Michigan poll watcher first hand account Ping.
Nice report..Thank you for helping!
So did Kissenger get Barbara Walters in the sack?
Great job, and an interesting story!
Thanks!
I also was a Republican poll watcher in a district in central (conservative) Pennsylvania.
The guy who was the "impartial" judge of voters in this district was a 60's-ish (age and looks) guy who has been a Dem party hack forever.
Let me tell you about this guy. The guy had two ears, but most of the flesh of both ears has been punctured by old earring holes-- from the top down to the lobes. They were large holes, reminding me of the African tribes who put saucersin their earlobes... he kept a few earrings in his upper holes on both sides. He has long hair back in a ponytail but it was difficult to discern when (or if) he washed or combed it in the last 2-3 weeks.
At one point something spilled and he had to clean it up.... I happened to be near him and then I was exposed to the stench of his body odor... I am convinced he neither showered nor used deoderant in a week... (my guess is he never uses the latter)....
The consolation was that the poll worker for our side was a conservative Jew who was a Republican!!!!!!! This man, it was obvious, does shave, wash his hair, and prevent body odor.
In our district I noticed that the new voters were all registered DIMS.... somehing for the Pubs to think about for next election.... we need to register new voters in the same areas the Dems are-- inner cities, among hispanics... why can't we beat them at their own game? Isn't it WORTH it?
Anyway I just wanted to confirm the Savage "Red Diaper Doper Baby" and the Rush Limbaugh "Long Haired, Maggot-Infested, Dope-Smoking FM Types" are indeed alive and well in the Republican party. And are grandparents now.
BIG OOPS.
I mean "DEMOCRATIC PARTY."
(Hey, it's 5:30 AM here....)
When he was getting ready to leave, his replacement, a skimpily dressed 20 yr old, asked him how much they were getting paid. He said they were getting paid nothing and he left.
It started to rain and she packed up and left. So anyone who wanted a voter guide after that was getting MY voter guide.
A couple of minutes later they staggered out and asked me (honest to God) "So if I voted last week (we have early voting here) I can't vote here...Is this the same voting thingey."
I couldn't help but cracking up.
The other guy elbows his friend and says, "Dude, she's laughing at you man." Then they staggered away.
The whole thing just screamed "ROCK THE VOTE" to me.
I will be living part time in Central PA by Christmas. I would love to help register voters in that area, if you can ping me, if there is a central PA ping list, for then.
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