This just in from the political din
Where we ask critical questions
And the answers pour in.
A hundred calls an hour from our out-bound phone
to Philadelphia, Alaska, Santa Barbara and Home.
We're calling, we're weary, we've worked night and day,
Polling the voters to find which way they sway.
Unable to wait till election day vote,
We're determined to predict the outcome's tote.
Team A or team B, mam, we've just got to know!
Author notes
I've been grabbing some extra work down at the political polling center. Each caller makes over a hundred calls an hour -- all computerized. People are surprisingly friendly. "Honey I'm 102 years old, and I plan to vote!" And yes, we've even called Alaska, where Senator Ted Stevens has quite a few supporters!!
My eternal question -- why oh why do humans just HAVE to try to predict the future?
Comments
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Been here, well sort of...read this. But it was fun reading the conversation thread between you and M-C.
My answering machine shows three calls from Democratic folk wanting my vote...one from former Maine Senator George Mitchell, one from Bill Clinton and one from Obama himself. I feel so honored.
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Did you Dem calls have Dem party on caller ID---mine did?
But the other seven were "unknown." etc. About socialism,
baby killers, taxing small business, and the darling of the
natuional Repubs, the incoherent, inarticulate candidate
for House who is trying to get his seat back from my very
nice former allergist doc (watch Kagen vs. Gard).
And all the calls while I tried to get in four hours of daysleep! -
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Different #s show on the caller ID based on who is paying for the poll. (This is a local business, a call center.) Good luck to your allergist.
But now I can't help but say, when someone says they were sleeping, I can't help but wonder - then why don't you turn the %$#&&# phone off?? !! Then I apologize. -
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But then there is real life, PJ,
when the phone must be on
to get job and timing update
from friend who must inform
the chef upon the early
dinner time arrival. Turn off
seven phones?????? Not I.
So who won your A and B poll? -
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yes, i realize sometimes the phones must stay on. the rule is to go on shouting out our questions. (I couldn't do this beyond these few days.)
As for A or B, we are doing tons of polls. They change constantly. But, actually, people are surprisingly willing to answer.)
Hang in there, just one day to go. (Unless of course, a run-off race.) -
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I used to do this locally, calling from community voter lists,
for then I could identify myself and not get people mad at me.
But not any more! It's those nasty robo-calls that are irritating,
and the auto-dialing, no one there!
Kudos to you for doing your part in tallying the electorate! -
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yes, the old no-one's-there-but-talk-anyway-mark-undecided trick. i know it well~
(there's a reason polls are given a +/- leeway.)
as for my grand part in tallying the electorate -- it's just quick, easy money, I hate to admit~
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I got one from our local candidate for legislature. His name showed, the rest came up unknown. I even have a block for unknown callers and those devious devils (our own KPJD excepted) still found a way to get through. His recorded message was from his six year old son. I'm sure that worked quite well, especially with women voters. I couldn't help see it as a sort of child abuse however, lol. I mean, that kid isn't old enough to think for himself. If we can't smoke near kids should we pollute them with our poisoned thoughts?
I think all children should be raised on one big communal farm.
Yeah, that's 90 percent humor, but I think I'm 10 percent serious.
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Yes, keep the kids out of it.
(Hey, the communal farm idea isn't bad. I used to teach elementary school -- something sure needs to be done!) -
Even in the craziest ideas there is some kernel of astuteness.
The first words I heard from the radio as I struggled to get up mid-afternoon----"A Marxist, totalterian president could be elected......."
Referencing words by our children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Aaaaaagggghhhhhhhhh.
where did Mom go wrong? -
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Sorry for chuckling here but that is funny about your right sided son.
I suppose to be fair, if McCain were ahead we'd be hearing about his senility and a lot more about his Keating dealings and they'd try to paint him a Fascist or something.
I told you guys...we need farms!
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yeah - funny farms - hey, what if we could bait and trap them. leave a trail of dollars maybe, and catch all the politicians in a big box. i like the new tv commercials that have firefighters and rock star roadies running things.
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Could you be referencing home schooling,
for there are a lot of elephants being trained
on those farms!!! -
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Well these schools will teach only facts. Numbers and such. Let them figure out the subjective stuff when they turn 18.
No donkeys or elephants allowed. Just mathematicians and scientists....and maybe a clown or too to prepare them for what the real world will be like.
Sorry Kpjd, you can continue this random blabbing over to my page if you prefer.
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well i've known some folks who were home schooled. bright, confident, kind -- but sure as hell close-minded to any other philosophy other than their own.
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Ah, but there is an inherent flaw.--the scientists
not let in if the parents are elephants, none of
those scientific facts allowed in those tender brains,
and only one book guides the curruculum.
Yes, PJ, when you pop in, thank you for hosting the party!! -
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well -- ha, i didn't know i was hosting a party. i'll go pour some moxie and get some chips.
i knew a 20 something when I was in college, who used to argue with my 5 year old son about whether dinosaurs existed or not. he finally shouted in exasperation, well, they've found the bones!! (her father was a country preacher....) -
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Wise five-year-old! Great line!!!
But PJ, you are such a good host!!! -
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More Moxie, dear?
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One more thing---that first line is soooo good!
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Thanks. Yes, the din is fairly loud when 25 callers are all shouting, "Mam, your answers are confidential, are you voting for A or B????" And the din on the airwaves ... well, I can barely stand to turn on the TV. (And I'm a tv addict-)
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Hey, PJ! You've captured it!
"We're calling, we're weary, we've worked night and day,
Polling the voters to find which way they sway."
Of course, on the other end, the daysleeper awakened repeatedly with recorded gloom and doom messages from the elelphants for whom
I would never vote!!
Just hoping the donkey counters don't go backwards again this year as in the last two elections, manipulated by the elephants!
NIce to see new words on the page, PJ.
M-C
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Lets have our own predictions.
What will be the final tally?
I'm predicting 50 percent to 49 for a McCain win. I don't have a lot of faith in humanity.
To make things really interesting, the final electoral tally will be 269-269.
Your turn. -
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obama's got it locked! but i can't count past how many fingers and toes i have so i'll just leave it at a WIN.
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Oh, no, not speculation!
If not a landslide, or a decisive donkey win, then the answer is elephant dirty tricks.
Look at the long lines i n early voting---were the clerks all burying heads
in the sand that they could not be better prepared???
Even Crist extended the hours!
No numbers from me, only prayers!! My secret weapon in "heaven,"
by the name of Mary, wears blue!!
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A -- yes, a good point re the day sleepers. And those in the battleground states who are getting swamped. I usually get off script ( a no-no ---- oops too bad) and say "Oh I feel your pain. Just hang in there a little longer. After all, it's history!"
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A compassionate caller!!!! Good for you.
One of my buddies is a Nader guy, at Dem headquarters making calls
for US Senator, wearing a big Nader button.Nobody else sat at his table and he got lots of sideways glances. Yeah, I think he's crazy, too. But friendship is stronger than politics! -
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Yay, good for him not hiding his beliefs. And I so agree, "friendship is stronger than politics!" -- or it should be. Just look at Arnold and Marie.
(Yes I know its Maria, but just had to rhyme-------) -
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Good one!!!!!
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Oh, I see Camelia read my mind --
"Yay, good for him not hiding his beliefs. And I so agree, "friendship is stronger than politics!" -- or it should be. Just look at Arnold and Marie.
(Yes I know its Maria, but just had to rhyme-------)"
I add that I am generally perplexed by people who put politics, job, or any ideal above friendship. But that's the world we live in I suppose... -
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Shared mind doing well, your concept is beyond price,
for person to person, loyalty, that is prime!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
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Yes, but sometimes I think it is a warped way of thinking ---
Tough sh-t, I'm warped and proud of it!!! -
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Ah, but warped in a good way, the curve
aimed in a positive direction!!!
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