GOTV

When I was younger, I always admired people who got the job done the first time, and didn't make excuses. Didn't pass the buck - the buck stops here!

I first learned about Admiral Hyman Rickover when reading a book about the voyage of the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear submarine. Rickover had a reputation as a perfectionist and a hard task-master. But he needed to be - nuclear energy did not not (at that time) allow for mistakes or short-cuts. That's why USN nuclear reactor techs were in high-demand in the civilian nuclear energy area. But when businesses decided to cut corners to save money, not even the best trained people could stop the short-cuts from creating havoc and destruction.

Although NC voters supported Democrats in 2006 and 2008, and the state went for a Democrat for President in 2008, the political map of North Carolina was painted bright red on Tuesday. The US Congress will be divided between the major political parties beginning in 2011, and so will the NC Congressional delegation.

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) successfully defended his US Senate seat, and as expected, defeated two challengers with ease. The polls had been trending in his favor in the past week, and the Republican won with over 55% of the state’s votes yesterday.

Crossposted on Daily Kos.

On a cold January day almost two years ago, I joined thousands of young Americans on the Capitol grounds as we heard our new President address the fears of our generation; "a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights."

Our generation wasn't taking it sitting down - we voted in record numbers in 2008. During the last presidential election, young Americans were energized, and a solid majority voted for change. We stood up to the tyranny of the word "impossible" and proved wrong everyone who doubted the possibility of an Obama Presidency. We cast votes for equality - equal dignity, equal opportunity, equal rights. We voted for prosperity, and we were not going to lower our sights.

Please help us combat the voter intimidation tactics being used at some NC polling places this year: if you know of anyone working the polls tomorrow or on Tuesday, get them a copy of this Election Protection Hand-Out, which includes the the North Carolina Voter Bill of Rights as well as the truth about several major myths being used to discourage voters this year. And if protecting voter rights is a concern of yours, we invite you to join Democracy NC's mailing list for alerts about Election Protection and other electoral reform issues.

Thanks!

Here's a handy link that takes you to a virtual postcard with info on how to find out about Early Voting sites in your county, how you can still register to vote, where you vote on election day, how to view your sample ballot and more. I'd appreciate you passing the link on to others via Facebook, email, etc. Email me if you want the html code for this.

As a bonus, our graphic gives you a break from all that red, white and blue!

http://www.democracy-nc.org/voteearly2010.html

We're turning up the heat on our GOTV here at Democracy North Carolina and we need your help with our virtual phone bank! We have phone lists of targeted voters (African-American senior citizens, college voters, etc.) who need a nudge to return to the polls in 2010 and we need your help phoning them with Early Voting and other information. Sign up on-line, we'll send you a list of about 40 names plus suggested scripts, and you can work from home or your office. And please help us spread the word by sending this opportunity to people you think might want to help! Thanks -- and Happy Voting in 2010.

Sign up on-line here: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6601/signup_page/phonebankingvolunteer

Before You Trick or Treat This Year...
Why Not Trick or Vote?!
We’ve seen some truly scary things this election season, but now’s your chance to reach out to voters in the Triangle and urge them to head to the polls anyway.

From the Democracy North Carolina GOTV Team:
Join Trick or Vote and their partner Rock the Vote in a Triangle area canvass – and come dressed as your favorite Halloween character so you're ready to party afterward!
Where: UNC Student Union, Chapel Hill (Map: meet at the walkway between the Union and the Union Annex in The Pit area )
When: Friday, October 29th, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
What to Bring: Walking shoes, a water bottle and your costume!
For More Information: Contact Tracy Leatherberry at Tracy@rockthevote or (336) 312-5196.

Hope all of you are doing well here on Blue NC. I have been deep in GOTV -- and I work for a nonpartisan group -- so haven't been able to comment on any of the candidate threads but I would like to offer some free GOTV resources to any of you interested.

As I'm sure we all remember, turnout for the primary elections here in North Carolina was abysmal to say the least. At one of the most crucial points in our nations history, when our economic and political future seems to hang in the balance, it boggles the mind that so few of our citizens trekked to their courthouses and libraries to make their voices heard. Granted, turnout for midterm elections has never been stellar here in the old north state, but the 2010 elections will determine the political course of the country in one of the toughest climates it has ever faced. In a time like this, when so many people care so deeply about so many issues, my fear is that the lamentable turnout during the primaries reflects a burgeoning lack of faith in the electoral system as a means to affect government for the better.

A new report shows that non-college youth vote at levels nearly half of that for college students -- exacerbating the divide between economic levels when it comes to civic participation. Ideas for changing that statistic are welcome! (Or even just an answer as to why you would go on record as opposing youth voting as happened in Illinois!) From the Democracy NC Link of the Day: