Every Vote Counts

As kids growing up in elementary school, teachers are say that every vote counts in our American democracy. Then, when we get older, we learn that maybe every vote counts but some, such as those cast in the swing states, count more than others. Now, it seems, some votes count even more.

In today's Los Angeles Times, Chris Kraul writes about efforts by both parties to register expatriate Americans. In the article (mini-registration required), Kraul writes about how the Democrats have sent Diana Kerry, John's sister, out to expatriate hotbeds to register them to vote. Here's some of what Kraul had to say:

When John F. Kerry's sister, Diana, passed through Mexico City this week, she came not to visit the pyramids at Teotihuacán or the Frida Kahlo House, but to help register expatriate voters, a key and perhaps decisive source of electoral strength in this year's presidential election.

Motivated in part by Republican claims that ballots from abroad tipped the scales in Florida for George W. Bush in 2000, the Democrats are making a stronger push to register voters in foreign countries this year.

I find this to be really interesting. According to the story, there are as many as 7 million Americans living abroad. If the same 51.3 percent who vote in American send in absentee ballots, this country will be receiving over 3.5 million votes after Election Day. We could just end up with another situation like 2000 where we don't know who the president is until well after Election Day.

On a related note, Kraul writes in the article that the Republicans have sent Dan Quayle out to support their cause and register potential expatriate voters. If I were abroad, I would be much more impressed with a candidate's sister than with a former Vice President who turned into a national joke.

Politics on the Internet

So for a long time, I tried to stay out of this. There are so many political blogs that I didn't think another one would add to the debate. But then, I realized that blogging isn't really about making a contribution. To me, it's an exercise in writing and sifting through the tons of information we receive a day. That's what this blog is going to be about.

I already have one blog about baseball. You can find it here: Talking Baseball. I've had a lot of fun doing that blog, honing my writing about baseball while expanding my already vast knowledge about the sport. Now, it's time to do that in the political arena.

I'm a life-long Democrat, if that's possible at 21 years of age. I absolutely despise the current President and his administration, and over the next few weeks, I'll attemp to explain why I can't stand Bush and Co. by using current examples as they pop up in the news and previous examples of the abuses committed by the administration. So stick around, stay tuned, and be sure to check back for my posts.