BE PREPARED, BE PATIENT & BE PERSISTENT
By Liz Gunn || The time has come once again for the people of South Carolina to cast their votes for or against the candidates running for state office. I say this because in so many races, I tend to be voting against a candidate more so than for their opponent. In South Carolina, a place where a philandering former Governor can get elected to Congress, a drug dealing reality star can get on the ballot and an unemployed, unheard of can win a primary for a United States Senate race – there is truly never a dull moment when it comes to politics.
That is one of many good reasons for you to get out and vote, even if you understandably despise every candidate on the ballot. You have to let your voice be heard. The worst thing we can do as tax-paying citizens is let them win by default. I’m a firm believer in the old adage that “if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”
I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time by endorsing a candidate in this post. Who cares who I am voting for? What I will offer are just a few things to think about tomorrow. Voting is a privilege, and not one to be taken lightly.
Please do not vote straight ticket. I honestly wish they wouldn’t allow people to do so. I am not talking about people who end up voting for all Republicans or all Democrats – I’m talking about people who walk in and out in about 30 seconds without ever casting a vote for a singular candidate. That’s really no better than than someone walking in and making their selections blindfolded.
It’s no secret that the best thing a candidate in this state can do is have an “R” by his or her name. In the last election my ballot was split right down the middle with half from one party and half from the other. Not everyone deserves your vote just because of their party affiliation – please keep that in mind.
One thing that maybe some voters don’t realize is that a ballot is not like a standardized test. You do not have to make a selection in every race. You can leave items blank if you have never heard of the candidates or dislike all of them equally. If you’re caught off guard by an issue you don’t know anything about – feel free to leave it alone. They should really allow people to select “none of the above.”
Be nice to the volunteers. I really can’t imagine wanting to work at the polling places on Election Day, but someone has to do it and they are not getting paid. They deal with a lot of headaches throughout the 12 hour day. Don’t be one of them if you can help it.
One interesting thing that has changed since the last Election Day is that liquor stores are allowed to open tomorrow. Up until July of this year, South Carolina in typical South Carolina fashion was still hanging on to the Election Day ban. This change came about as part of a legislative deal that now requires liquor stores to close on Christmas Day.
Lastly, the most obvious and most important part – just do it. This one is especially for females and minorities. It was not even 50 years ago that African-Americans were not allowed to vote. Women have only been allowed to vote for less than a century. Not showing up tomorrow is a slap in the face to all the people who marched, picketed and protested on your behalf. We’re so lucky to have this process by which we elect our leaders, but it would work much better if everyone participated.
Not sure where to vote or who’s on your ballot? Not to worry. FITS has you covered with that information and more here. Make your way to the polls tomorrow then come back tomorrow night for real time results and commentary, right here.
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Liz Gunn is a wife, mom, travel enthusiast, food snob, daydreamer and lifelong Gamecock fan. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.
116 comments
Yes to vote Haley out of office and our lives!!
Clown. Landslide.
Moron. .Haley will be indicted so it want matter.
Ervin is a quitter and Sheheen is a loser.Fuck you Dems.
Shut up, Simran!
Nice post Liz. Sanford may have cheated, T-Rav may have MANY personal issues and the dude that won a primary may be unemployed.
NONE of them are QUITTERS like Tom Ervin. That truly is the story of this election cycle.
He “took one for the team” .. WHAT team is the question …
$4 million for the team?
you just gave yourself away, sandi.
Who is sandi?
bless your heart
Who is Smirks?
Just one of the folks.
Now thats funny, I don’t care who you are.
Vote? Vote? But Liz, what shall I wear?
Unless you are a candidate, I don’t think it matters. I’ll be wearing flat shoes & a light jacket in case there is a line and in case it’s cold.
I wouldn’t be caught dead in flats.
Don’t worry about that, where will you have lunch or go shopping afterwards?
LIZ! Where did you get that picture? Ukraine. Here is a South Carolina voting machine. http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2014/10/31/qamy-avoiding-lines-election-day/18189731/
Don’t blame Liz. While attacking American’s today and the voters, Obama praised Ukraine today as a true beacon of how elections should be carried out.
No shit.
I hope I don’t have to dip my thumb in ink after voting. The Taliban may cut them off.
touche…was in a hurry and needed one that had not been used recently.
“Please do not vote straight ticket. I honestly wish they wouldn’t allow people to do so. I am not talking about people who end up voting for all Republicans or all Democrats – I’m talking about people who walk in and out in about 30 seconds without ever casting a vote for a singular candidate. That’s really no better than than someone walking in and making their selections blindfolded.”
Liz called it right on this one!!!!! If we ever get to where we have approximately a 50-50 (Republican/Democrat) voting base in this state, I hope the ability to pass a law eliminating the straight party option from ballots can be passed. Of course, in the here and now, that is an impossibility.
What a dumbass. What gives you or Liz the right to tell people how to vote?
Socialist.
The “dumbass” is you.
Socialism is an economic system and wouldn’t necessarily equate to one opposing straight ticket voting.
Let me guess?Youre a Republican.
Gee, that was a toughie.
Rave on Nut Nut.
I will. Gonna be one big party in America tonight when the socialist/dems take a beat down tonight.
Gee, you got Rogue Elephant on your side, that’s a real feather in your cap. Who the hell doesn’t think there is going to be a beat down tonight? It’s no real secret.
Sandi Morals, who’s telling someone how to vote. Just advocating that when someone votes, they put a minimal amount of thought into the process, something which is totally absent in straight party voting, no matter which party you vote for.
Sandi’s just scared that if people can’t vote straight ticket, they may actually scrutinize a candidate instead of pushing a button that arbitrarily makes them vote for said candidate.
Can’t have anyone give Nikki the smell test, or they might get a whiff of her bullshit.
speaking of dumbasses, you may want to pick up a dictionary and look up “socialist”.
I did.
Definition: mamatiger92
Insult Level: First Grade
Exactly, just a dumb ass. Surprised Jim/GT/Sandi didn’t go for the bread and butter call on that one: Nazi. When the tin foil hats can’t think of anything else, they bring out the Nazis.
Today, Sandi-Morals’ gig ends. WIn, lose, or draw; Nikki’s payment for her comments on here will end.
Want to bet your EBT card on the governor’s race today?
Just who in the hell are you? You come to this site just three days ago, say you’re self-employed from Florida, if that’s the case you have no skin in the game in SC. Crawl back under your rock troll.
Fuck you and your gestapo tactics. Don’t worry about my ‘skin’ and nice to see Tango is getting your business.
Gestapo tactics, don’t need gestapo tactics to discredit you, you’re doing a good job of it all by yourself.
Tango isn’t getting my business, just went to your profile dumbass.
Please.You clowns have been on Tango’s blog voting for Rand Paul in his poll on the 2016 election.
So? Why does he put up a poll if he doesn’t want it answered?
Just think it is hilarious ya’ll deny visting Tango’s blog and you guys/gals are all over it.
Proof is Rand Paul has 10 votes in Tango’s poll and he doesn’t have 10 votes in SC.
Go away troll, I wouldn’t even piss on Tango’s blog let alone vote on it.
I voted you down for that.
Ooooohhhh… I know the rest of his year is going to be a living hell for that. Idcydm, are you shaking in your shoes?
Not at all. This troll is so stupid he gives me a down vote because I wouldn’t piss on Tango’s blog but an up vote when I tell him I don’t need gestapo tactics, what a dip shit.
Every dog deserves a bone.
lolcow, everyone one of us responding is playing you like a fiddle.
You Democrats are so slick.
Come on GT, you can do better than that.
GT is God. I am not worthy of such an accolade.
Only in your delusional mind GT.
The idcydm/corruptionincolumbia led ‘Fits Clown Car’ is going in circles.
Get back with me after you both vote that Democrat Party ‘straight’ ticket today.
Out.
“Out”…What’s wrong, tired of getting your head handed to you, what a dumbass you are.
I have some more voting to do.
Remember, you can only vote once, dumbass.
Sandi can’t help it, she’s used to voting for herself multiple times through her sock puppets.
Who is Sandi? Did you vote for Tom Ervin, moron?
Who says? You Democrats broke that golden rule long ago.
LOL!!!!!!
oops.
what a maroon.
? You must be drinking early this morning.
Been GT the entire time. No one else can be that unhinged…no one else compliments GT…his use of “Democrat Party” rather than “Democratic Party” is straight from the Rush Limbaugh playbook (that is where GT gets his ideas and parrots them). Sandi is GT.
Every dog deserves a bone? You sound like a liberal.
Woah, step back everyone, Sandi’s got a downvote and she ain’t afraid to use it! What a badass!
Sure, especially since I don’t have one.
Section 8 or Obama phone?
Nyet and nyet.
Obama ‘Hope and Change’ bumper sticker or signed autograph from Jimmy Carter?
Nyet and nyet, again. Proudly voted for Reagan both times.
Hi Sandi! Did you get a sex change to go with that name change?
Who is Sandi?
Apparently you. I note almost identical parallels with your fascination with Tom Ervin, as well as your tendency to upvote your own posts almost immediately after making them.
You appear to be having paranoid delusions like Smirks. I have hard of that ‘Tom Ervin’. Didn’t he help elect Haley?
You fucktard.
Nice Frankie. Enjoy the evening while the Republicans stick it up your socialist asses.
They’re printing out the “Have you seen me?” spots on milk cartons already.
Still haven’t made up my mind…I like Tiddle-Dee’s position on many issues but Twiddle-Dum has made some very good counter points.
Let’s all go out and vote. Give the Dims a royal ass whoopin. LOL
YES SIR!!!! They ain’t gonna be able to take it tonight after Brown wins in New Hampshire and Tillis wins in NC. MY ‘sources’ have em both winning.
Landslide!!!!
They are going to be very close either way. I was born and raised in NC and can’t for the life of me understand how my home state drifted so far left. They seem to be gradually coming back to their senses but it isn’t the same state I grew up in. When the Dim. party left conservatives back in the 60’s I was in college and later the Army. After that I came to SC and have found a home where conservatives are welcome. We will see.
“Where conservatives are welcome” you know the kind of place that ranks almost dead last in education, quality of life, median income, quality of roads and infrastructure, and until recently where blacks stayed in their place and drank from their own fountains and had there own restaurants etc..ahhh the good ole days.
You said yesterday you live in Montana. Any blacks in Montana?
So Jim am I to assume by your comment what you mean to say is the reason most of the south is dead last in almost every standard is due to the black? Really thats the point you’re gonna make?
No. My point was that you are making inflammatory,racist comments about blacks yet apparently are comfortable living in a state that blacks avoid.
i never mentioned blacks..you did. Your true colors are showing arent they? I guess the truth is something you avoid like education huh?
I dont blame the blacks for anything much less the state of the south or southern states. i lived in SC for years and i blame the idiots that vote straight party and fear..who vote for party more than country..im sure you know exactly what i mean. But please dont let facts stop you from making up more shit in your head..please continue.
What a beautiful state. Been talking to my ‘sources’ on the ground. Dems had 47%-32% early voting advantage prior to today. As you know that doesn’t matter as many of those Dems are conservative Dems that vote Republican in state/national elections. That is also less than advantage than they had in 2010 when they got wiped out in the state legislature and in 2012 when Romney defeated Obama.
Also ,over 50% of the early voters were 60 and over and the 18-29 vote was down from 13% to 5% (from 2012).
Hagan won’t be able to hold on if turnout models hold from 2010/2012.
You dumbasses are going to be fooled by Scott Brown a SECOND time? HAHAHAHA! He can move and run for the Senate in 48 more states and you still won’t get it. He is the type of person you loathe…but none of you can see the forest through the trees.
“I was the most bipartisan senator in the United States Senate,” Brown said, “I voted 50-50. So I worked with everybody. And here’s the problem, I was the most bipartisan senator.”
“Voting is a privilege, and not one to be taken lightly.”
I’m not voting for the jail warden, thank you.
“Voting is a privilege, and not one to be taken lightly.”
I’m not voting for the jail warden, thank you.
The Scott/Crist Florida governors race is an important test for Republican strength in 2016. Barack Obama ultimately carried the state of Florida with 50.01% of the vote, to Mitt Romney’s 49.13%, a margin of 0.88% in 2012. Without Florida the map is much more difficult for Republicans.
Think Scott will win however he is not a great campaigner or speaker. Like most governor’s ,he has had to make some tough choice’s which were not popular.
The independent candidate is pollng at 7% and medical marijuana is on ballot. That may hurt Scott in the end,
“Be nice to the volunteers. I really can’t imagine wanting to work at the polling places on Election Day, but someone has to do it and they are not getting paid. They deal with a lot of headaches throughout the 12 hour day. Don’t be one of them if you can help it.”
Could you be more vapid? Quick, google the definition of that word before you answer.
I’m sorry, but how is this comment of yours NOT vapid? Google asshole.
Did you vote for Sheheen or Ervin?
“I really can’t imagine wanting to work at the polling places on Election Day, but someone has to do it and they are not getting paid.”
You do make it sound like only a loser would want to be a poll volunteer. You can do some serious people watching. Some voters can be obnoxious by insisting for a paper ballot. Other believe your interested in who they are voting for. I know a volunteer and had a very interesting conversation about her experiences. Incidentally she never had anyone attempt to vote who didn’t have some photo ID.
I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. Just based on my experiences on Election Day – it’s not something I would volunteer to do. Volunteering to work with the general public at an event where people are likely impatient, maybe even annoyed…no thanks. I’ll find another way to volunteer my time.
I don’t think they’re losers at all…I think they have a lot more patience than I do.
Yeah, you’re not helping with that response. Put down the skinny margarita and walk away, Liz.
Helping what? I wasn’t talking to you.
You’re not helping YOURSELF.
Context clues – use them.
I don’t need help, but thanks.
If you think that’s vapid you’re probably one of those dickheads causing trouble and holding up the line. It’s a touch screen dumbass. Move it.
FITS, if you’re gonna get a woman to write about politics on here again, please get one who at least knows something about …politics.
This article is actually about the importance of voting.
“if you’re gonna get a woman to write about politics…”
The more important point. What does being a woman have to do with it. Misogony much!
You’re slipping.
PS. Occasionally, I have to be called out to. Remember “camel toe” ? Sorry.
Be nice LIBERAL!
your smoke break’s over, sandi.
the drive thru isn’t going to run itself.
I own the damn thing..
Don’t disagree with you but she didn’t really say anything inaccurate so far as I can tell. Wait -T Rav is that you? You mad bruh cause she called you a drug dealing reality star?
Straight ticket shouldn’t be on the ballot. The only thing that should be on the ballot are candidates. You are voting for individual people to run the office, not a party office.
In 2010, governor’s
election results were rigged. Sheheen had a lead in earlier results. But then
the results of Columbia and surroundings were held for several hours, and were announced
around mid-night. These results were so late because they counted the votes
unfairly; & gave a heavy victory to Haley in Columbia to cover the overall deficiency
of votes. Sheheen’s campaign should make sure this does not happen again today.
what did you wear to vote?
Something sexy, party, casual?
A chiffon gown over Levis with sequined red fuck-me-pumps with live goldfish swimming in transparent heels?
An Adidas hoodie with matching sweats, and pink Yumasushi high-heeled tennis shoes?
A black burka with a provocative horizontal slit showing off “come hither eyes?”
…or perhaps a more subdued look – a saucy hajib showing a little racy rouge on your cheeks?
None of the above…I wore black pants, black over the knee riding boots, a white t shirt and a denim jacket…and sunglasses, naturally. Very incognito.
Diamond jim now, LOL, what about Sandi shit morals ?
Out here in “progressive” Taxifornia, leaving a blank in the ballot is considered fair game for some taxsucker g’ment employee to mark it his way. … Happens all the time.
Do you folks still have write-ins?
Do you mean the option to write in a candidate? Yes, but voting is all electronic. (Well, I say all of it – absentee is still paper I believe). That is terrible to hear for your state!! So you still have paper ballots?
I have been playing with computers since ’77, built my own in ’79. There is not an electronic voting machine or system or electronic vote tabulator or tally machine that I can not hack into and change. I have a standing $10,000 dollar bet I can do it with a local election judge. (Some of those vote machine makers buy parts from my companies.)
The paper trail of a paper ballot is the only system that can reliably be validated and/or recounted … not always, but usually.