This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "we shall overcome". Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.

And the best part is that my little girls are going to grow up in a United States that can elect the right man for the job.

All nervousness aside about the upcoming election (because my gut tells me there is going to be some shady stuff happening yet again with this one)... I have to say it's almost sad at this point hearing the old man grasping at any little thing to make himself look better. I just don't understand how either camp can stand for it anymore, it's like that bad elementary bully who finally get's put in his place and it turns into "Your Mom" jabs. "Oh he broke a promise when he said he would take public monies and he didn't", okay we get it, you are getting out spent, it's a little late in the game to pull that card and you blame the Demo's for spending people's hard earned money. There is something rather socialist about taking public money to run your bid for the Presidency.

So I know it's not "punk" or against the grain really, but I have always liked his music... and his TV show.... and his movie (which I own on DVD, bought the first day I found it).

So I'd like to say, Happy Birthday Al! Hope you have a great one!

Amazing how they can run on a platform pushing so called "family values" and yet here is the real speed bump in that.

"How has Palin brought up her own kids? Her eldest son is a high-school drop-out. Her eldest daughter has had, so far as one can tell from press reports, very uneven attendance in high school, and no plans for college. Her other daughters seem to spend a lot of time traveling the country with their mom at tax-payers' expense. I've seen them at several rallies with the Palins this fall. Are they not in school?

The least one can say is that none of her children seems to have been brought up thinking that college is something to aspire to. And her new son-in-law just dropped out of high school as well."

I think the right needs to find a new way to screw the population of the US.

"Three Putnam County voters say electronic voting machines changed their votes from Democrats to Republicans when they cast early ballots last week.

This is the second West Virginia county where voters have reported this problem. Last week, three voters in Jackson County told The Charleston Gazette their electronic vote for "Barack Obama" kept flipping to "John McCain."

In both counties, Republicans are responsible for overseeing elections. Both county clerks said the problem is isolated.

They also blamed voters for not being more careful."

and there is more... read it here : http://wvgazette.com/News/200810180380

Taken from the Chicago Tribune.

Political signs bring threats in Villa Park

Tribune staff report

October 17, 2008

Two supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama found handwritten death threats in their mailboxes Thursday and reported them to Villa Park police.

A 74-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man with Obama signs in their front yards near the 600 block of South Villa Avenue received similar letters that had a Villa Park Village Hall return address. "Get the Obama signs off your property—now," the letter reads. "Failure to obey this order will result in the immediate death of all family members." Both residents said they will not remove their signs, though the man, who had voted Republican for 25 years before switching parties this year, said his wife is worried about letting their 7-year-old son play alone outside.

Village President Joyce Stupegia said she has not heard about any other letters.

"I'm quite troubled," she said. "It's obviously a person who's a little nutsy getting carried away. But it's unacceptable."

Link to article.