I volunteered as a "poll observer" in my state, which is largely considered purple. Area is suburbs just outside of a major metro area.
I spent a couple of days just sitting and watching - not very exciting, but actually interesting at the same time. Speaking as a voter, I'm reassured that the procedures used in my county are actually very good and appear to leave very little room for fraud on the part of staff or voters.
When voters arrive, they must show ID - either a driver's license or other state-issued ID.
A poll worker helps them check in through the computer system, which scans their ID and shows their name & address. Once the voter signs their name on the screen with a fingertip, they are sent to the tables at the back of the long room where the printers are set up.
After walking past the many voting booths - just tall tables with plastic screens set up around the tops of each table - the voter arrives at the printer table. By the time they get there, one of the poll workers is pulling a ballot and an envelope, both with that voter's name & address, off of the printer.
Voter is given a black ballpoint pen and shown how to fill out the ballot. Any questions are answered and voter is sent to one of the booths in the middle of the room.
Once the ballot is filled out, the voter puts it in the envelope and takes it back out into the hallway where the big rolling ballot bin is waiting. The poll worker there checks the signature on the envelope, helps the voter seal the envelope, and the voter drops it into the bin. And they're done.
Also, many, many voters were stopping by to drop off ballots that they'd received in the mail, putting them into the same bin.
If the voter gets partway through filling out the ballot but makes an error, or changes their mind, they can start over with the computers and have another ballot printed out. The poll worker will "spoil" the old ballot - write over it so it will not be counted - and that ballot and its envelope go into a separate plastic bag on a table behind the printers.
They can handle virtually any sort of handicapped voter. One person came in who was entirely blind, but there is a device there that will read the ballot to them and allow for touch voting. (I wanted to look closer but didn't want to bother the voter.)
Tables were set aside where voters could sit down, or roll up in a wheelchair, if they wished.
About midday, two people arrived from the counting center downtown and collected all the ballots from the bin. They placed them into a couple of large red plastic boxes that were then tied shut with zip-loc ties, so they could not be secretly re-opened and closed again unless you had the exact same zip-loc ties to re-close them with. Not foolproof, but still good. They also take the "spoiled" votes with them.
Tech support dropped in a few times a day to make sure things were good. They seemed to be constantly making the rounds of polling centers and some were on call in case of any tech issues.
Overall it was a very smooth process that left little room for any funny business. I was very glad to see that there are no blank ballots anywhere; ballots are printed out one at a time as voters sign in, and each one has that voter's name and address on it.
There is also supposed to be a way that you can go online, a few days after voting, and see that your vote was counted. I haven't looked for that yet.
About the only drawback I could see was that if the system went down, there was no backup. As I mentioned, there are no blank ballots anywhere. The computers did go down for a short time on one day, and if the workers had not been able to simply reboot them they would have had to wait for tech support with no voting happening.
One strange thing was that I saw maybe three people wearing some political gear - hats and a mask - but the poll workers said nothing about it. I still think the old rule of "no political gear in the polling place" is a good one, especially with as crazy as some folks are right about now, but it wasn't up to me.
So, at least in my county, I was actually reassured by what I saw. Hope things are at least that good in yours. I'm supposed to go back again on Monday for another day of observing on the day before the election, so we'll see how it goes then!
We've all seen countless stories here about individual patriots getting cut off by their own family and "friends," being called the worst names, etc, by people they thought they were close to. I'll admit that I'm hoping these massive pic-and-email drops might make a few of those TDS sufferers finally see the truth of why we support President Trump. I can only hope that will happen.
It was a text poll. And I totally pushed 2 for Biden. And I don't even feel bad about being a filthy liar. I'll just tell them I believed their polls and wanted to vote for a "winner," LOL!
Seriously, let them think it's working. Liars REALLY hate it when you lie to them in return.
Just got back from a WalMart right outside of a very large metro area. Walked in with no mask, the greeter smiled and waved, I was in there about an hour, and nobody said a word or seemed to have a problem with it. Didn't see anyone else without a mask, but maybe they'll consider it after today.
So, if you do not want to wear a mask - don't! Just try it and, as POTUS says, "Let's See What Happens!"
No, I am not in the USMC. But I can tell you the fundamental difference between a Trump voter and an anyone-but-Trump voter:
Trump voters go by Trump's DEEDS.
Never-Trumpers go by a candidate's WORDS.
Pin them down on this and you will see it every time. It is absolutely the biggest difference between the Right and the Left at the moment.
"Do you just want nice words? Do you just want someone who will tell you want you want to hear?"
Yes, they do. They really really do. It never goes any further than this. Look at the horrific damage the Left has inflicted on its cities and its people for decades while their voters STILL support them.
"Or do you want somebody who will actually Do Things that make life better for everyone?"
screaming starts about how Trump says mean things
Every. Single. Time.
At this first debate, I saw a President who was disgusted and angry over the entire disgraceful shitshow - a president who KNOWS how much is at stake here and actually gives a whole hell of a lot of fucks about it.
And I saw a smirking, laughing, rude little bitch who doesn't give a good goddam about his own country because he sold it out to the Chinese and the Globalists long ago.
This is the only thing that might be an Achilles Heel for Trump: The Art of the Deal emphasizes over and over that you must be willing to walk away from any deal. You can care, but not too much.
But this is one deal that Trump is not willing to walk away from: Saving the USA and her people from the scum of the earth. Because he knows how horrible they really are and he knows what they are trying to do.
That's what I saw tonight. The line has been drawn here. And we've all got to help our President hold that line because he cannot and will not walk away from this one, and that leaves him uncomfortable -- and vulnerable.
It's late and I've been watching riots for too many weeks and right now I'm not nearly drunk enough to tolerate the destruction any longer. My only weapon at the moment is humour. These tunez aren't real, but if anybody wants to write them up or add to the list pleaz feel free!
Shotguns in the Suburbs (Are Waitin' For You Jerks)
Riots Be Safe But School Has the 'Rona
Queefa the Antifa
Soros Paid My Bus Fare, Grandma Bought My Vest
Molotov Meltdown (I Hate It When I Set My Friends on Fire)
We Traded Our Police Chief for a Pimp Czar
Mace in the Face
Do the CHAZ CHOP Cha Cha (and Ruin Yo City Fo Evah)
Those Rollin' Dumpster Fire Blues
I'm Just a Peaceful Protester from Portland (Livin' in the Shithole Called My Life)
LiveStreamer Dreamer
The Tear Gas Twist
My Ass Got Arrested (MAGA)
Blac Bloc Beatdown Boogie
300-Decibel Woman
Skateboard 2A
I Wanna #WalkAway But My Shoes Are On Fire
Last week there was a guardian at the door, but I slipped in anyway and did not put on a mask at all. Did not see anyone else without one, but nobody looked twice at me.
Today: Bunch of signs at the door, but no guardian. Walked in without a mask. Most people wearing one, but saw a few without!
We're making progress. I know it seems pretty tiny in light of RBG and what's to follow, but I think we're quickly getting over this masking stuff. Keep On Not Wearing Them!
Now what? Can a vote to confirm a new justice even be held this close an election? As if there weren't enough riots in the streets already - hold on to your butts
I did not see anyone else in there with no mask, but nobody said anything or seemed bothered by my not wearing one (at least, not to my BARE face, lol)
At the very least, if you must wear a mask or they will not let you in - pay for your stuff and then immediately take your mask off before you leave.
Yeah, it's a very small thing, but sometimes all it takes is one person to get the ball rolling. No more masks for us, gang!
Cut through everything else they say: What is the biggest objection your TDS-afflicted friends and family have to President Trump?
They will tell you they hate him because he LIES. That he LIES AND LIES AND LIES ABOUT EVERYTHING.
What they especially hate is how he lies about Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama.
Never forget that some of your friends and family built a big part of their identity around supporting these people. Voting for them proves that they themselves are NOT racist and NOT sexist!
Remember, there is very little that's more important these days than proving you are NOT racist and NOT sexist.
How could they be racist or sexist? They voted for the first black U.S. president. They loved and adored his beautiful black wife. They voted for what they believed would be the first female U.S. president.
But then Trump comes along and destroys all that with the vicious lies he tells about HRC and the Obamas.
How could he not be lying? If what Trump says about them is true - that they are corrupt to the point of treason/sedition and have committed terrible crimes, some of which are so horrific they're hard to imagine -
-then what?
Where does that leave your family and friends?
If Trump is right, it follows that HRC and the Obamas are the liars. They're the criminals. They're the enemies trying to destroy our country. They're the ones who were only using their supporters and never cared anything about their wellbeing at all.
To your family and friends - according to their own definitions - you can't hate the Obamas without being RACIST. You can't despise Hillary without being SEXIST.
And that's where it stops - in a screaming, profanity-laden, head-exploding loop of illogic where their entire identities are at stake.
These people desperately need an off-ramp. I have tried to tell a few that it's not their fault they were lied to and manipulated for decades by professional liars and manipulators who have no conscience. But it doesn't seem to help.
How can we give them an off-ramp? What do you think would help?
TL;DR - If Trump is right, then HRC and the Obamas are wrong and so are their supporters. There's no middle ground. By their own definitions, TDS sufferers cannot hate HRC and BO without being sexist and racist themselves. Cue the screaming. How can we give them an off-ramp?
yeah I know most will say "you can't do anything". Have you been able to persuade anybody you know out there, especially anybody you care about, that these fires are very real and intentionally set and are spreading very very fast?
I don't have teh stomach to abandon them. There are chiidren involved.
they are exactly like the dog in the burning restaurant meme that says This is fine
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"Red Mirage" means that on the night of Nov. 3, when the in-person votes come in, it will look like Trump wins.
But wait! When the mail-in votes come trickling in over the next several days, guess what? Biden wins!
They are TELLING EVERYONE EXACTLY HOW THEY PLAN TO STEAL THIS ELECTION.
They aren't even trying to hide it.
It is astounding to me that there are effectively TWO Election Days:
One for in-person voting (November 3)
and one for mail-in voting (Whenever the DNC decides it has enough fake ballots.)
How the hell is it possible that in-person voting has a cut-off date but mail-in votes do not?????
Now, just to be fair: I'd never say a word to anyone who DOES wear a medical mask out in public. Maybe they have a reason and that's none of my business. But otherwise? No Way. Masks are so three months ago!
When a mammal is threatened, it will respond in one of three ways:
FIGHT: Actually stand its ground and engage the enemy with as much force as necessary to win.
FLIGHT: Turn and run from the threat, hoping to live to fight another day.
FALL: Surrender.
Yes, I know the third response is sometimes said to be "fuck" - but hear me out on this one.
That can be part of the Fight response, as part of dominating the enemy. We all know that happens whether it should or not.
But that can also be part of the Fall response, as part of surrender. We all know that happens too, whether it should or not.
You see Fight among people who post here. That can include anything from memes to online posts to standing guard at your home/business to actually shooting back - anything that stands up to the enemy without fear.
You see Flight among the socialist side (Antifa, BLM) the minute anyone actually does give them a serious fight. They run away screaming and crying Every Single Time.
You see Fall among the masses of average Democrats out there who just want it all to go away, and are convinced it will if they are just nice enough to those who threaten them. That's where putting BLM signs in the window, and replacing their Facebook picture with the BLM logo, and kneeling, and foot-washing, and shoe-shining, and walking through the streets yelling support for BLM comes from.
These people are trying their very very very very hardest to surrender. They are putting on a full show of submission because they're convinced it's the best way to keep them from being seriously hurt.
Virtue Signaling is just surrender turned up as loudly as possible, which is why they get so extremely angry when we refuse to do it - they're convinced we're endangering the rest of them
They get full-blown screaming hysterical at the sight of a MAGA hat, or pretty much any other sign of Trump, because those are the signs of people who will NOT surrender. Those folks will only KEEP FIGHTING BACK, thereby seriously endangering the ones who are trying so hard to yield and not get hurt.
The two positions are not compatible. Either the Fighters have to start yielding, or the Fallers will have to find their courage. Right now, I'm not sure which is less likely.