Posted on 02/20/2008 6:37:29 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative
Cedric Willis is an independent voter craving change; Louis and Karen Becerra are Republicans demanding an equitable immigration policy; Michael Panesar is a Democrat looking for a president who would exhibit cultural sensitivity in the Middle East.
Although they expressed dramatically divergent views on national and world affairs, Willis, Panesar, the Becerras and others were in complete agreement on one point: 2008 is shaping up to be the most exciting political year in recent memory. The political enthusiasts were among the first to cast their ballots Tuesday as Harris County opened 35 polling spots for early primary voting.
By the end of the day, 9,233 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary; 2,914 in the Republican, said Harris County Clerk's spokesman Hector de Leon. First-day totals for early voting in the 2004 presidential primary totaled 849 in the Democratic contests and 678 in the Republican.
"I think a lot of people are watching the national primaries," de Leon said. "They recognize Texas has a role to play."
'A big concept'
Turnout was also brisk in the suburbs, including Fort Bend County, where 1,697 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and 944 in the Republican.
"We need a change in approach," said Willis, 33. "We need a new approach on education, a new approach on health care, a new approach on immigration. We need changes on everything. It's a big concept. It scares some people."
As with the others interviewed at Harris County's main polling spot in the downtown administration building, Panesar said the heat of the presidential primary drew him to vote early. This election, he said, offers "hope for this country and hope for the world."
"America needs a leader who has cultural sensitivity to the Middle East," Panesar said. "That's where our national policy seems to be headed. ... We've had enough with the saber rattling."
Differ on immigration
Paige Caddle, whose father served in the U.S. Marines, cast her ballot for John McCain in the Republican primary, saying she is opposed to a premature withdrawal from Iraq. "I came out this morning not so much for the candidates but more for a passion over the right to vote," she said. "There are troops dying for that right."
Caddle said she worries about the security of the nation's borders and favors giving local police the power to arrest illegal immigrants.
The Becerras, who described themselves as "Hispanic Republicans," also voted for McCain, but they could not have disagreed more with Caddle on the issue of immigration.
"There's too much emphasis on the security of the southern border," Louis Becerra said. "The southern people come over here to make a living for their families. The people with money who come to take over our businesses are coming through the northern border. A lot of terrorists come through that border, too."
Karen Becerra said she and her husband are committed Republicans who "want to see fiscal accountability. We want to help people help themselves."
If you’re white, you might want to be sure to 1) get your passports in line, 2) have a foriegn bank account ready for quick transfer of assets and 2) have a landing spot researched somewhere south of the border.
It certainly does seem that there are a lot more of 'em showing up this year - against not too very many on our side.
["early voting off to a blazing start (nearly 8 times as many as in 2004)".....??]
We need to grab the Mexican coasts: the East for the oil, archeological sites and beaches and West for the geography. climate and beaches. Let the drug dealers have the middle.
Beaches, Broads and Tequila. That’s my plan!
It may be too late for the republicans to beat the democrats by doing what their voters exect of them. If Obama manages to get elected it will be because the republican leaders didn't have anything or anyone to offer that attracted voters. If republicans want to act like democrats who needs them. Unfortunately we will probably lose some local offices and congressional seats because of the attitude of the state and national party officials.
County
|
Reg Voters | Party | # In Person On 2/19/2008 | Cumulative In-Person Voters | Cumulative % In-Person | Cumulative By Mail Voters | Cumulative In-Person And Mail Voters | Cumulative Percent Early Voting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harris
|
1,804,641 | Republican |
2,916
|
2,916
|
0.16%
|
1,214
|
4,130
|
0.23%
|
Dallas
|
1,114,002 | Republican |
2,416
|
2,416
|
0.22%
|
566
|
2,982
|
0.27%
|
Tarrant
|
890,412 | Republican |
2,605
|
2,605
|
0.29%
|
446
|
3,051
|
0.34%
|
Bexar
|
867,084 | Republican |
2,267
|
2,267
|
0.26%
|
482
|
2,749
|
0.32%
|
Travis
|
541,315 | Republican |
1,187
|
1,187
|
0.22%
|
202
|
1,389
|
0.26%
|
Collin
|
378,730 | Republican |
1,701
|
1,701
|
0.45%
|
204
|
1,905
|
0.50%
|
El Paso
|
368,579 | Republican |
893
|
893
|
0.24%
|
63
|
956
|
0.26%
|
Denton
|
329,099 | Republican |
1,012
|
1,012
|
0.31%
|
287
|
1,299
|
0.39%
|
Hidalgo
|
287,988 | Republican |
322
|
322
|
0.11%
|
30
|
352
|
0.12%
|
Fort Bend
|
267,583 | Republican |
944
|
944
|
0.35%
|
1,373
|
2,317
|
0.87%
|
Montgomery
|
224,321 | Republican |
1,223
|
1,223
|
0.55%
|
597
|
1,820
|
0.81%
|
Williamson
|
206,334 | Republican |
715
|
715
|
0.35%
|
21
|
736
|
0.36%
|
Nueces
|
189,534 | Republican |
423
|
423
|
0.22%
|
132
|
555
|
0.29%
|
Galveston
|
180,288 | Republican |
1,185
|
1,185
|
0.66%
|
3
|
1,188
|
0.66%
|
Cameron
|
165,996 | Republican |
239
|
239
|
0.14%
|
5
|
244
|
0.15%
|
Total
|
7,815,906 |
20,048
|
20,048
|
0.26%
|
5,625
|
25,673
|
0.33%
|
County
|
Reg Voters | Party | # In Person On 2/19/2008 | Cumulative In-Person Voters | Cumulative % In-Person | Cumulative By Mail Voters | Cumulative In-Person And Mail Voters | Cumulative Percent Early Voting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harris
|
1,804,641 | Democrat |
9,243
|
9,243
|
0.51%
|
806
|
10,049
|
0.56%
|
Dallas
|
1,114,002 | Democrat |
8,615
|
8,615
|
0.77%
|
1,219
|
9,834
|
0.88%
|
Tarrant
|
890,412 | Democrat |
5,733
|
5,733
|
0.64%
|
1,682
|
7,415
|
0.83%
|
Bexar
|
867,084 | Democrat |
6,827
|
6,827
|
0.79%
|
375
|
7,202
|
0.83%
|
Travis
|
541,315 | Democrat |
6,199
|
6,199
|
1.15%
|
469
|
6,668
|
1.23%
|
Collin
|
378,730 | Democrat |
2,358
|
2,358
|
0.62%
|
116
|
2,474
|
0.65%
|
El Paso
|
368,579 | Democrat |
4,603
|
4,603
|
1.25%
|
56
|
4,659
|
1.26%
|
Denton
|
329,099 | Democrat |
1,751
|
1,751
|
0.53%
|
81
|
1,832
|
0.56%
|
Hidalgo
|
287,988 | Democrat |
5,793
|
5,793
|
2.01%
|
390
|
6,183
|
2.15%
|
Fort Bend
|
267,583 | Democrat |
1,710
|
1,710
|
0.64%
|
162
|
1,872
|
0.70%
|
Montgomery
|
224,321 | Democrat |
856
|
856
|
0.38%
|
128
|
984
|
0.44%
|
Williamson
|
206,334 | Democrat |
1,082
|
1,082
|
0.52%
|
24
|
1,106
|
0.54%
|
Nueces
|
189,534 | Democrat |
1,832
|
1,832
|
0.97%
|
232
|
2,064
|
1.09%
|
Galveston
|
180,288 | Democrat |
400
|
400
|
0.22%
|
28
|
428
|
0.24%
|
Cameron
|
165,996 | Democrat |
2,482
|
2,482
|
1.50%
|
41
|
2,523
|
1.52%
|
Total
|
7,815,906 |
59,484
|
59,484
|
0.76%
|
5,809
|
65,293
|
0.84%
|
You are ignoring reality. Obama is kicking our butts, you dont have to be a DUer to realize that. This is what happens when the liberals get a candidate they can be excited about and the Republicans get one that we really don’t care for but will settle for as the lesser of two evils.
It’s gonna be a long 4 years folks, plan accordingly.
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