VOTING
We mailed in our absentee ballots yesterday. The process to get them wasn’t difficult. When we were in Louisville in May, we went to the voter registration office and notified them of the fact that we would be in Italy during November. We gave them our address in Italy, and in August we received a letter from them. I guess this was just to verify that we were here. Anyway, we had been wondering when the ballots would arrive, and on Thursday we found them in our mailbox.
We voted for Kerry, of course. I truly believe that Bush is not capable of getting us out of this mess. I don’t understand those who argue that we should retain the same leadership. When it was that leadership who said that war would only be a “last resort”, yet rushed in without a plan? Without waiting for the inspections to be completed? When that leadership failed to listen to the military and political advisors who warned of all the dangers and problems we are now facing?
By invading Iraq, Bush has given Osama Bin Laden exactly what he wanted. He has given every Muslim in the world an even more compelling reason to hate us. This in addition to the fact that we have lost the support and sympathy of the world. After 9/11, we did have the support and sympathy of the entire world….we were united in our war against terrorism, yet somehow Bush has managed to alienate our allies.
In my opinion, not only was Bush wrong to invade Iraq, but now he is too stupid/stubborn/egotistical to admit it. Isn’t that what being an effective leader is? Being able to recognize changes, recognize what needs to be done and just DO it? Why is Bush unable to recognize that this war is going very, very badly, and that changes need to be made?
To me, this is the reason that Kerry voted against the money to support the war. Initially, Kerry believed his president, supported his president. When it later became clear that Bush had misled not only Congress but the entire nation, that’s when Kerry said “no more.” I don’t see this as a flip flop. I see this as an individual who assesses each situation on its own merits…who has the intelligence and flexibility to change as the world changes. This is what we need in a president, not someone who blindly leads us to a war that can never be won.
So we voted for Kerry. We didn’t get to see the debate, but we have seen a lot of commentary about it, and bits and pieces. I think that Kerry came off much stronger and more decisive than he has in the past. Personally I think his campaign has been WAY too laid back all along, and I just hope he hasn’t waited too late to kick it into high gear.
posted by Barbara @
10/02/2004 09:05:00 AM
Spina Bifida
16 Comments:
What does this have to do with living in Italy.
Well, I live in Italy, so anything concerning us IS about living it Italy. It's also meant to encourage people to vote for Kerry.
If you really care, you can make more of a difference regarding the future of our country back home in person, rather than absentee via blog.
Chances are your absentee ballots will get lost in the mail.
How insulting! As formrer Postal Employees that remark is very insulting and a real stretch.
How could we make any more of a difference if we lived in America? America,especially the Republican Party, has been taken over by the neo consevatives. If you critizise this president you are treated like a traitor on all the hate radio programs.
The economic policies of this administration affect us very much because of their advocacy of a weak dollar(and we still have record trade deficits ).
This is also the most secretive administration in our nations history. 60 Minutes recently diclosed that Haliburton is doing business with Lybia and Syria. Paul Wolfowitz said a year ago that it was nonsense that it would cost billons of dollars in Iraq and result in thousands of American lives being lost. Has Bush fired anyone? This a terrible presidency and it is time to change!!! Clinton lied about having sex and it seemed like it every Republican was proud how much they hated him. I don't hate George Bush....he's just a terrible President.
After 9/11 weh had the entire world behind us. Now every Arab in the world either hates or dosen't trust us. Living in Europe gives us a different perspective...we see how much the United States is disliked throughout Europe. How far down we have gone under bush?
Art
Well, that previous comment was from Art...he's much more level-headed than I am, as you will see.
First of all, I don't understand your dismissive attitude...how could we do more good living in the states? We can vote, as we just did, and by posting our opinions on the blog, we have the ability to reach many more people than if we lived in the states (where we would never have started a blog).
As for your "lost in the mail" comment, well, obviously that's just stupid...no response necessary.
Finally, I would like to suggest 2 things: #1 if this blog bothers/offends/upsets you, then just don't fucking read it!!!
Or, #2, start your own fucking blog...which I promise never to read.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
What is so insulting and a stretch about saying the absentee ballots would be more than likely to get lost in the mail? You mean the USPS doesn't loose mail, especially political mail? I've seen it happen many, many, many times in my life working at the PO.
THIS WAS POSTED TWICE, AND IN TRYING TO DELETE ONE, I DELETED BOTH! SORRY ALICE! HERE'S HER POST:
Barb and Art are entitled to their own ideans and opinions, and they are entitled to post them in their own little area of the web, which is this blog. Internet is a place of open discussion and, although I don't agree with them on voting for Kerry (mainly because he's not leftist enough: therefore I would certainly not vote for bush either ^___^) I respect their ideas and the calm, informed, and intelligent way they have expressed it. Barb and Art lived most of their life in the United states. They paid taxes and led a useful life there, they did their duties. now they decided to move abroad for a time, maybe for a long time, maybe not. Heading out of your own country and living for a decent strets of time in another gives us all a much braoder perspective on the whole world and on out fellow humans. I do not know if they will stay here until they die or decide to move back to the United states in a few years, but I am sure that if all the citizens of all advanced and rich countries (like you Americans and us Italians) had a way to experiment life abroad, out countries would be a much better place to live (the citizens of the poor countries would be happy enough if they had enough to live, for now 8-/). Barb and Art are servicing their own country and the whole world much more efficiently by spending a part of their life abroad than you, dear anonymous, by berating them for this. I just hope that one day you will acquire the boradness of mind that Barb and Art have already and will enhance through this experience.
Alice Twain / http://www.xarface.com/frengo/3
wait wait not That Anonymous!
Just a too lazy anonymous to register...
Anyway I would, no, I want thank both of you, Art&Barb, for showing and remember us the America we love; and that not thru your declaration about the next coming poll, but by living openly, with such an enthusiasm your adventure abroad.
And Anonymous, you are really doing a bad service to your President: I'm quite sure that somewhere there are kind people, sharing your political opinion that do know how express their thoughts like they were opinions...
..Still looking for though...
Thegooodanonymous
Please don't be so defensive! Nothing was said against the USPS, an institution that has provided good service to me over the years. OTOH, I wouldn't trust anything my life depends on (including the potential of 4 more years of you know who) to overseas mail in the course of 4 weeks. And sadly, misplaced and uncounted absentee ballots was an issue in the last presidential election.
About not being able to make a difference except through a lighthearted blog about Italy (where you are probably preaching to the choir anyway), I disagree. People as passionate as you seem to be are needed to knock on doors, sit at tables in shopping malls and get people to register to vote, give people rides to the polls, etc. We take voting for granted, but there are many who would likely not register or go to the polls unless we help them.
Let me begin by saying that I am not THAT Anonymous. I had to post this way because I don't have an id. As someone who has had a life-long fascination with Italy (although I've never been fortunate enough to visit), I have read Barb and Art's blog and the story of their move to Italy.
I totally agree with Barb regarding Bush. I'm so afraid he is going to get elected and I cannot understand how he can have the support he does. Barb, you and Art are so lucky to live in Italy. If I could get there, I'd join you. Unfortunately, I cannot yet retire (age 54) and my chances of getting a work visa are nil.
While mailing our ballots may be a bit scary, so was mailing my passport to have it renewed, and having to send in my original documents (birth certificate, marriage license) to get my initial passport, but so far, so good. One of the reasons we mailed our ballots as soon as we could was to give them ample time to get to Kentucky.
As for being in the states, I have to admit that if we were there we woulnd't be volunteering, so at this point we're really doing all we would have been doing there. Maybe I am "preaching to the choir" on this blog, but at least I'm getting intelligent and factual information out there to be shared with others...at this point, that's all I can do. I'd like to think that the average American is of at least average intellignece, but judging by who's in office, I guess not. An intellignet argument probably won't sway someone who has already made up their mind ...as Art says, "you can't confuse them with the facts". but we all do the best we can. Let's hope Kerry can pull this off.
Hello Barb and Art! My husband recently said, half-jokingly, "If Bush wins this election, we're moving out of the country." So indulging my fantasy of living abroad, particularly in Italy, I did a Google search this morning on "living in Italy" and discovered your postings on buying a house in Italy. How exciting! After clicking around a bit I saw your political postings and knew I had found kindred spirits in you! We'll see what happens in November, but I certainly look forward to checking back on your site. Cheers to you!
Ah the sound of free speech, pretty sweet isn't it? Go Barb go! -- your friend, at the Post Office in Louisville
Having just returned from Italy ( yesterday ),after our 4th visit in 5 years ,just wanted to applaud your decision to move there and thank you for your blog. And add a opinion about the negative comments you received recently. One of the regrettable things about the internet is the ability of people to type a comment without engaging their brain . If people thought about the process of relocating and it's ability to allow a look at life from a different perspective they wouldn't be so quick to focus on the negative .
I did find a comment from an Italian we met in Brindisi interesting though. When I asked him if he wanted to visit the United States someday, he said " Sure , but not right now ". When I asked him why he said," America seems to be a very strange place right now, with Iraq and Mr. Bush's world view, and the election coming up ".
When I asked him to explain, he said, " maybe America should realize you don't have all the answers ". I think it's a point more of us should think about.
Anyway, thanks again, enjoy Italy, and remember if San Venzano gets overrun by expatriates, you started it.
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