Parties' parties
- 6 Nov 06, 01:30 AM
D-Day is getting close and I can feel the ghosts of 2004 swirling around me.
On the night of those elections - 2 November 2004 - I was at headquarters. Some of my friends asked me how I decided which party's party to go to.
I told them it was a gut feeling, but I was lying. (Sorry!) After two years I can admit that I made the decision after attending the parties' conventions.
The electoral machinery of the Republicans impressed me. I conducted 60 hours of interviews at their convention, and when I reviewed my tape, I heard the same message from every interviewee.
It did not matter what position they held, nor did my questions matter. Like a tape recorder, they gave me the same answer over and over again.
The , on the other hand, were more willing to debate. Each one had their point of view and they were much more open to the press.
A silly example, but one which shows the difference: I was invited to go to any party at the Democratic convention, but with the Republicans I had problems getting access even to the 鈥淗ispanic party鈥 - the Republicans were apparently much more concerned about what might be said in unguarded conversations.
Comparing the way the two parties went about dealing with the press - getting out their message - I sensed Republican headquarters was going to be the place to be on election night.
(I am not trying to say what is good or what is bad, I am just pointing out a difference of tactics.)
That night (it was actually early morning) I ended up walking around the White House. I knew I was going to go back to London and was thinking of the new life ahead of me.
The police kept a very close eye on me, so I ended up sitting in just in front of the White House. Some guy came and sat next to me. After a while he said: 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry, not much will change鈥.
With this Election Day so close that鈥檚 exactly how I feel. Will there be a really big change if the Democrats win control of Congress?
This time I find myself wondering: 鈥淲hat's next?鈥 And I feel lucky that I don鈥檛 have to choose a 鈥減arty鈥 to go to.
Lourdes Heredia is Washington correspondent for the 主播大秀's Latin American service.
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This is the 主播大秀's US mid-term elections blog, with analysis and comment from all the 主播大秀 journalists covering the polls.
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颁辞尘尘别苍迟蝉听听Post your comment
The robots attack in the final stretch of the campaign:
Automated phone calls, or "robo calling" is being used by both parties to mislead the voters about the opponent.
In some races around the country, there's an inventive new trick the Republicans are using to try to frustrate potential voters into staying home.
A voter receives an automated call, sometimes as late as 2 a.m., which begins by implying that it's a message from the campaign of Democratic challenger Heath Shuler (North Carolina) or Tammy Duckworth (Illinois). The annoyed voter hangs up before they can hear much of the schpeel from the "Democratic" campaign, so that they don't hear the message at the end which reveals its true source, the Republican party. The fake "Democratic" message from the Republicans does nothing to endear the Democratic challenger to the voter.
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Not everyone feels the same. On 4-XI-2006, Vermont Commons held a symposium about secssion which dealt with How Vermont could become Independent and how to downsize the USA.
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and not much will change this time.
Nothing is going to change until the American people wake up and start putting some independants into power. Real people who are not owned by corporations or other interest groups.
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Not everything that is wrong can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.
TAKE ACTION. SPEAK OUT.
VOTE FOR CHANGE.
AND THEN - KEEP TAKING ACTION AND KEEP SPEAKING OUT.
"America the Beautiful" exists in the heart and conscience of every citizen - NOT in the gaudy public relations halls of corporate schilling politicians ANY either party.
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Galadriel
VOTE. ACT. SPEAK OUT.
"With liberty and justice for all..."
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I fear that there will not be enough change in our policies, but at least with democrats in control of the house and/or senate, there will be some debate instead of blind consensus with the current administration.
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American people has spoken very loud and clear in today's election. I am not surprised at all, this was supposed to be outcome. I hope President Bush got the message, what going around comes around.!!!!!
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