Is the race really this close? Who do you think will win?

[SoonerTexan]

I posted a lot less on Facebook this time around too, partially because my priorities are a little different now with a kiddo (not that being political is bad, it just isn't as important anymore) and also because I'm honestly scared of some of my Facebook friends and it just isn't worth it to set them off. They are wonderful people most of the time, which is why I keep them, but some are just raging a**holes around election time. Which unfortunately happens to be MONTHS long.

Didn't stop me from participating here, though.

[ladymoreta]

ST, I also am *thisclose* to blocking that professor. I like when he posts about his classes and stuff, so I keep him around, but I'm looking forward to hearing a lot less political spewing from him.

I also haven't been as vocal this time around. It seems like this year there is a lot more anger about the election. Who knows - maybe we could have benefited from another Sarah Palin for comic relief?

[GrayMatterWife]

I wish my mother would take that advice. She never fails to talk politics with me even though we don't agree much. Drives me crazy, because she feels that I am intolerant if I don't want to listen to her rant against democrats.

My dad is like that. He rants and rants to me about how stupid and morally bankruptcy the Democrats are. My siblings are independents now but almost always vote Democrats. I have no idea how to respond to him. I just put the phone on hands-free and mute and pretend to listen.

[SoonerTexan]

ST, I also am *thisclose* to blocking that professor. I like when he posts about his classes and stuff, so I keep him around, but I'm looking forward to hearing a lot less political spewing from him.

He's a special case--he's not limited to election season. Even his wife gets annoyed by him and she is a very proud Democrat! It's just who he is.

[MarissaNicole]

Voter turnout has been high here.... makes things more exciting!

And I cant stand the new intollerance. My nephew loudly posted how he was defriending all Romney supporters.

Wife to PGY3

[SoonerTexan]

I want to be invited to this election party:

"Friends of Democracy and Various Forms of Economic Markets Including Socialism and Bloodthirsty Capitalism,

Truthers! Birthers! Dream Act-ors! The 99 percent! The 47 percent! Grandchildren of Polygamists! Please join us as we unveil our 5-point plan to color the states blue and red this Tuesday evening. Festivities start at 7pm Eastern, 1pm Hawaiian, but feel free to come whenever you get done committing voter ID fraud.

We'll have drinking games based on which state goes to whom, and various trivia games, like "Who's Line is It?" where you have to guess if a quote is from Obama, Romney, Limbaugh, or Stalin. Also, "The Book of Mormon or Star Wars?" where we will be guess which work of fiction a sentence came from.

We'll also have a "Fake Your Own Birth Certificate" station. And for the true crafty-types, a place to make homemade binders (bring your own women).

The grand prize goes to the person with the most horrific pre-existing condition which will unduly burden and tax the rest of us. Second prize goes to anyone who can explain after three drinks what happens in case of an Electoral College tie.

The party will be bi-partisan, so we'll watch Fox News, mute the TV, and listen to NPR. This way all in attendance can laugh and cry at the same time. Please note that unless you have 59 other friends laughing in lockstep with you, you may not invoke cloture and we can filibuster any measure designed to improve the party

[Sheherezade]

If I started a political blog for people to discuss issues in the absence of party politics (not dragging any names, name calling or party platforms in, just theoretical ideas), would you all participate? Or do you think most people just want to keep there mouths shut these days and their ideas to themselves? I've felt that way for a long time but I absolutely adored our debate forum when we had good political discussions. I think (being totally honest here) it is very rare these days to have a group of people actually talk about conflicting political ideas and not end up in the same old BS name calling cycle that we've all heard for the last two presidencies. Just curious. I've had a site reserved for the last two years (postpartypolitics.com) but I've never tried to do anything with it because I fear we will never actually escape the ugliness of party politics.

And, back on topic (sort of): I wonder if it isn't that the incumbent party feels more free to defend/vocalize their positions? I remember much more silence from my Democratic leaning moderate friends in the 2008 election - almost as if they were holding their breath to see if enough people would agree with them to validate their selection - than I see now. Now, it's my Republican leaning moderate friends that are quiet. The true partisans on either side are never quiet. Which is OK, I think. It's just frustrating when those are the only voices you hear. I know some of you are always in one camp and still more silent this election - but I don't think anyone on here is truly exclusively partisan on all issues.

[Vanquisher]

If I started a political blog for people to discuss issues in the absence of party politics (not dragging any names, name calling or party platforms in, just theoretical ideas), would you all participate? Or do you think most people just want to keep there mouths shut these days and their ideas to themselves? I've felt that way for a long time but I absolutely adored our debate forum when we had good political discussions. I think (being totally honest here) it is very rare these days to have a group of people actually talk about conflicting political ideas and not end up in the same old BS name calling cycle that we've all heard for the last two presidencies. Just curious. I've had a site reserved for the last two years (postpartypolitics.com) but I've never tried to do anything with it because I fear we will never actually escape the ugliness of party politics.

And, back on topic (sort of): I wonder if it isn't that the incumbent party feels more free to defend/vocalize their positions? I remember much more silence from my Democratic leaning moderate friends in the 2008 election - almost as if they were holding their breath to see if enough people would agree with them to validate their selection - than I see now. Now, it's my Republican leaning moderate friends that are quiet. The true partisans on either side are never quiet. Which is OK, I think. It's just frustrating when those are the only voices you hear. I know some of you are always in one camp and still more silent this election - but I don't think anyone on here is truly exclusively partisan on all issues.

I think people are too divided. Most of my fb friends are actually pro-Romney and are highly, higly, highly vocal. I prefer to keep my preferences to myself because I don't want controversy or arguments.

[Sheherezade]

That's what I've feared -- and it's kept me from attempting anything. How do you bridge a divide that just gets wider each year? I feel like the last time this happened, we fought a war, forged some amendments that said "this side won" and then we focused on rebuilding. Hell, honestly, good historians can trace the divides today through the Civil War disagreements on states rights vs. federal rights AND the discord in the sixties over women, race, religion, abortion. None of this seems really settled. It's just buried.

Boo on the negativity on election day. Sorry!

[scrub-jay]

Try being a Republican and just being called racist.

In 2008, I posted a lot here during the run-up to the election. I love politics. But the last 4 years have completely changed me. It's not a reflection on this forum, but on the political atmosphere in general. I rarely talk to anyone about politics. I know what I think and I vote consistently and I don't try to engage anyone ever.

Racist? Really? Wow. FWIW - I know we swing very differently politically, but I have nothing but respect for your perspective because I know it is firmly rooted in your values and very educated opinion. If this sounds trite, it isn't intended to, I'm just blown away that someone would call you a racist for being a Republican.

[SoonerTexan]

You can add backwards, intolerant, and anti-woman to that list.

[v-girl]

You can add backwards, intolerant, and anti-woman to that list.

And ignorant, uneducated, and elitist.

[PrincessFiona]

LOL Kris. I *might* know a crazy girl who voted for her.

[PrincessFiona]

Angie, I think a blog like that is a great idea. Let me know when you get it done!

[GrayMatterWife]

Racist? Really? Wow. FWIW - I know we swing very differently politically, but I have nothing but respect for your perspective because I know it is firmly rooted in your values and very educated opinion. If this sounds trite, it isn't intended to, I'm just blown away that someone would call you a racist for being a Republican.

More than once. To my face. For merely saying that I was voting for the Republican candidate. But, at least those people had character. They were being honest.

Compare with my neighbors. I live in a very, very liberal neighborhood. Everyone assumes that everyone here thinks just like they do. They don't even bother to ask. So, it has been an enlightening and depressing experience into the soul of my neighbors. When they think it is socially acceptable to "speak the truth," they share.

It's loads of fun. I have also been told that Republicans hate the poor, hate Muslims, and--my personal favorite--hate women.