A gentle reminder to get out and vote -- UPDATED
We toyed with this idea of running a stirring rah-rah piece this morning, dunning all Weber County Forum readers to get out and vote. After our 2+ year harangue however, during which we've discussed in detail the hundreds of reasons to oust Boss Godfrey and his ilk from the helm of Emerald City government, we believe we've said all that needs be said. We thus post a simple reminder. We've talked ourselves hoarse. It's now time for the lumpencitizens to "put up" or "shut up."
Today is primary election day. Please get out and vote.
Your blogmeister just returned from his Polk School polling place, where it appeared the election turnout is good so far. Over 200 voters had already cast their ballots in the six precincts there, upon his arrival at 9:15 a.m. It would appear that the citizens of Emerald City are in little need of inspirational reminders anyway.
If you haven't made it yet to your polling place, please make it your top priority today. If you're unsure of your polling place (many precincts have been strangely "juggled" this year) contact the Ogden city switchboard by phone at 629-8150, or the Weber County Clerk at 399-8400.
Do not wait until the last minute; allow sufficient time for possible long lines.
As is often said about our form of democratically elected representative government, "the citizens in our democracy get the government they deserve." At the close of this day we'll have chosen general election finalists, half of whom will be with us for the next four years. However this new leadership turns out, the government that they turn out to be -- be it good, bad, ugly or corrupt -- will be the government we deserve.
Imagine Boss Godfrey for four more years -- with a voter MANDATE.
Scary.
Update 9/11/07 2:58 p.m. MT: We've just received word that the gnomes in the Ogden City IT Department will be rigging up a feed to deliver real-time vote tallies of today's election vote, which will be viewable from your home computers. We're still not quite sure how this project will be structured; but be sure check back here. We'll definitely provide appropriate links or feeds from Weber County Forum, as soon as this project is up and running, just as we did for the 2005 General Election.
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26 comments:
An election morning message:
Election day, on which we must calmly and dispassionately assess the options open to us, and having done so, reach the conclusion that logic, intelligence and a concern for good governance lead us to, and thence to cast our ballot accordingly.
Or, to put the same idea just a little differently: time to vote Godfrey and his cronies out.
Man, I love election days. This is the one day we can make them sweat... the powerful, the office holders. No matter how much money they might sink into their campaigns, no matter how many polls they take, no matter how confident they might insist they are, once this day begins, their fate is out of their control and in ours. All across the city, ordinary people... shopkeepers, school teachers, baristas, super market clerks, lawyers, firemen, cops, gardeners, professors, bus drivers, realtors, plumbers, architects, electricians, housewives, old folks... out of the office holders' sight, beyond the reach of consultants and campaign managers and Official Flacks, are voting and there's no way the office holders can know how. For this one day, this 13 hours, they have to wonder, worry, stew over what we are going to do. This one day every now and then we get to make them sweat.
God, I love election days.
I cast my ballot to run the runt out of office. I hope enough of you have had a gut full also.
Tomorrows headline: Godfrey ousted!
Last time I checked the Pizza Runner's sign it said "VOTE OR SHUT UP".
Since I have no intention of shutting up, I voted this morning. A very pleasant and painless experience. School kids running around; one even recognized me and said hi. My friend Eric was working at the table so I didn't even have to say my name (though I said it anyway). Plenty of voting machines with no lines. I expected it to be more crowded at 8 am, but I got in and out in five minutes and now I can proudly display my "I voted" sticker for the rest of the day.
Damn, that voting felt so good I think I'll do it several more times today!
I like the Neil Hansen for Mayor signs, He has put up HONOR OUR HEROES AND VOTE TODAY. Is this guy great for thinking of those that fight and die for our freedoms. Way to go Neil, I'm with you all the way.
In all it just felt good to vote once again. In a days time we can affect over 200 people, lets get the word out to continue to vote and take pride in this ability.
Suzy put hooser mayor.... I guess that has a soul ring to it...nice.
suzy, hooser daddy
Dr. H:
Yes, it did.
And I like --- a lot --- having polling places in public schools. I want the kids, however young, asking what all these grown-ups are doing in their school gym.
Jefferson got it right: “Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.”
To all you chumps that are getting your jollies with this voting nonsense, just remember the Golden Rule, He who has the Gold Rules.
You don't have to look any further than the elected Utah State Legislature to prove the point.
We do have the best government that
big money can buy.
I remember going to south weber elementary years ago and voting, the kids faces were of amazement and wonderment. At an early age they become interested, and this needs to continue, for i believe they become so enthralled they wish to vote as well. Just a thought.
Victor i will not throw away my given right of voting, I believe that people often do choose money over quality, but its my vote that i hold sacred to make that choice.
Great article.
Ogden, Utah: Outdoor Recreation's New Garden of Eden
Great article as far as it went, but it didn't mention anything about Malan basin's new world class ski resort, or gondolas or California criminals setting up shop or phony mayor's looting the public treasury and giving it out to their friends.
Whoever wrote it obviously doesn't have the vision.
Bonnie:
And a thoughtful piece too. Note the closing paragraph:
Free for now of the Applebee's-anchored strip malls and McMansion clusters that have invaded other outdoor-recreation hubs such as Boulder, Colorado, only time will tell what's in store for Ogden as it continues on its trajectory of fast-and-furious growth. Who knows? Fifteen years down the road, once-eager proponents of development may be mourning the grass-roots feel of early-2000s Ogden. But as it stands in August 2007-with XTERRA's massive, gear-stocked trailers having just wheeled off to the next race and GOAL volunteers furiously gearing up for its first annual Paddle Fest-the trails are prime, the leaves of the canyon-lining trees are turning a glorious yellow and the level of enthusiasm and energy about town is absolutely infectious. It's time, kids-grab a bike, board, boots and a buddy and get yourself Ogden.
An outdoor paradise... if we can keep our Mayor and his cronies from cutting it up, paving it over and selling it off bit by bit behind gated walls that is.
Thanks, but no thanks, here's the feed.
I promised Kathleen of the IP department I'd refrain from linking the feed, until the polls close at 8:00.
For those clever souls who've already found it however...
The test data is interesting, innit?
Just went to the city website and it says they will begin posting live results starting at 8pm. Here's the address:
http://app.ogdencity.com/Candidates/Main.php
Soooo it has just come to my attention that Ogden City, which of course is under the complete control of the little evil one, is in charge of the election today.
Is there any one here that can give us the details of security of the process? Does Godfrey and his minions have control over the machines and the programs that run them and the discs that the votes are recorded on? What is in place that would prevent him from rigging this election today? Is there any way he could do it? You know in your heart that if he can he will.
Oz.
the election is being run by the county clerks office. you know by Gloria berrett the one Godfrey fired. so Godfrey has no control over this and it will be a fair election.
just every one get out to vote the little one out.
Oz:
And to Utah's credit, the electronic voting machines we bought [though not immune from hacking and breakdowns], do produce a paper record of each vote. Many states... including [surprise!] Florida bought machines that produced no paper record of the votes cast [making a recount if needed impossible]. Florida is now considering junking its brand new hellishly expensive computer voting machines and returning to paper ballots instead. At least we didn't do what Florida did. Be thankful for small favors.
The primary is actually run by the City Recorders office. And her boss is Boss Godfrey.
Another great idea
Are you sure?
I was told by a reliable source that the General election will be under the control of Gloria Berrett, but that this primary is indeed being run by Ogden City.
And Curmudgeon, if one can rig the computer to give a phony tally, why wouldn't the so called paper trail be rigged too?
Just nervous about you know who!
Ozboy:
Well, if you care to, the Utah machines are set up so that you can look at the paper record of your vote... you have to open a window on the side and look at the print out. If it's not what you punched in, you start raising holy hell right there in the booth before your vote is finally cast. It's not foolproof, Oz, but it's a lot better than the Florida system [adopted by some other states as well] in which the only record is electronic, so there is not hard copy check on what actually happened at the polls.
Myself, I liked the older paper ballot system. Computer voting machines can be hacked, despite the claims of the manufactures otherwise. They've been embarrassed in some states when the press ... that portion of it that actually digs for political news, that is, rather than reporting primarily re-written press releases... has brought in hackers who easily, in moments, got past the security of the machines.
Nothing's perfect. [Remember the Butterfly Ballots in Florida, arranged in such a way that people who thought they were voting for Gore actually cast a ballot for Pat Buchanan?]. Old fashioned paper ballot boxes got stuffed too. [Remember landslide Lyndon?] No system is pefect. But it seems to me that the opportunities for wholesale manipulation, on a very large scale, are much greater with computer voting systems than with paper ballot systems. Given an option, I'd prefer the latter.
Yes, it means results come in much more slowly. But hell, I miss the longish [well-watered] election eve parties that didn't end until well past midnight because it took so long to count the ballots. Another treasured bit of political Americana disappearing in the digital world....
Ah yes I do love election day as well. i must say it felt good, and today I did something that I haven;t done in my entire life as a voter, I crossed party lines and voted Democrat! You would think a native Californian would have already done that huh? But it felt good, plus I'm sick of Godfrey and his garbage, time for some new blood! Lets go Hansen!!!
Well after all the words, with both sides claiming to have public support, in a few hours now, we will know. Will Ogden be a nice place to live and raise a family in a setting of natural beauty? Or have the voters now decided they would prefer to live in the "L.A. Del Norte" that Godfrey wants to make, complete with the debt, the corruption, and the graft?
I am confident the Ogden voters are wise and informed. And today, they had a clear choice.
I know that in the past, the Ogden voter has taken a dim view of politicians who view the public with contempt.
I know that typically, voters hate local politicians who take them into debt without permission.
But the Geigers claim that it's all different now - that people will see all the "good" that Godfrey has done by funneling money to cronys and plunging us into debt.
So this only, I don't know - Have Ogden voters changed as the Geigers claim? Do they want to take the city in a new, downward direction? Have they secretly long wished that somehow, Ogden could become more like the crowded, polluted Salk Lake City?
Do people live here because they have to, secretly wishing Ogden could be someplace else? Or do they like it here?
By tomorrow morning we should know. The only thing left for me is to decide where I want to live in the years to come: Whether Ogden, or if she is to be tarnished, then in the next hidden jewel.
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