Kerry slightly ahead in battleground states... 01 November 04

Kerry & Edwards.

I think Mr. Kerry will do a lot to help the environment and to reduce tensions around the world.

Maybe today will be a sea-change on how we deal with the environment?! We can hope!!

Not only that, but also tonight’s meeting in which Mark is talking alongside (or rather, against!) Bjorn Lomborg. I have just received the list of attendees, and there is a huge list of people coming; and represents many many people involved in dealing with Global Warming.

Looking forward to it!

Greetings to all my UK friends! Very early this morning, my 87-year old mother and I voted. We were there just before the long lines formed indicating a very large turnout.

While in line, one of the 4 available voting machines malfunctioned and we had to go to another line. The fact that a new computerized voting machine stopped working caused me some concern. This should not happen and I hope it is just an anomaly and localized to where we voted.

My Mom and I voted for John Kerry. In a local election, we had a Green Party candidate for the first time and I voted Green since I agree mostly with the Green Party on the issues important to me.

It is customary for Americans not to share who they vote for publicly while in line. I wonder if this is the same in England. It is just not considered appropriate. However, while in line, I had a polite political discussion with those around me and we shared the same concerns and had similar views. One fellow shared that he is trying to reduce his car usage saving gasoline and I shared with him information concerning global warming that most folks here do not know enough about.

It is always a good feeling to vote and no matter who wins the election, be it Bush or Kerry, I want to share that Americans are voting in record numbers. This fact alone is reason for great hope since American apathy is truly our greatest threat. Our apathy, more than Bush, is our real enemy.

For those folks who are closely watching our election, the states of FL, PA, and OH are critical and Kerry must win 2 of 3 to remain viable. If Kerry wins all 3 of these states, then he should win the election. If Kerry wins both FL and PA, then his chances are very good to win. If Kerry wins PA and OH, but not FL, then it is still very close and the Midwest states will play a key role. Bad weather in northwestern states can then play a role in people not being able to vote so those people who own a 4-wheel drive vehicle will dominate.

So, we all hope here for a decisive victory and that it does not get bogged down in the courts with controversy.

The main dominate issue over here is the Iraq War. It appears like Vietnam. Everyone has their views but it remains difficult for us. Once we invest hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of lives with thousands maimed, it becomes very sad to have nothing positive to show for this effort in the end.

I was against the war but once engaged I hate to see the result become worse so I hope for some better news and I hope Kerry, if elected, will make the best decisions possible in dealing with this mess.

I am sorry that our country took many countries with us, including the UK, into this conflict, and I grieve for the tragic loss of life and suffering of British soldiers. I am torn between my views against war in general and the desire to see that the human sacrifice and suffering inflicted is not totally done in vain. So, I still feel that we our obligated to correct, if possible, the mistakes we have made in Iraq.

Hopefully a change in leadership can help us. I hope Kerry, if elected, can help us navigate the Iraq mess effectively so we can then move on and focus on the more pressing issues of global warming and rebuilding our energy infrastructure to reduce both our fossil-fuel consumption and our greenhouse gas emissions.

It would be of great help if the president were to come on board and promote GW abatement & inspire people to reduce, reuse, & recycle & use energy efficient & conservative measures & alternative energy. But the whole thing really comes down to THE PEOPLE in their homes & businesses doing the right thing. We don’t need Pres. Whoever to screw in a compact fluorescent bulb for us – though higher tax rebates on hybrid cars & more subsidies for public transportation would certainly help…..

If Bush wins, it just means a bigger uphill battle for us, & don’t forget to flood him with letters & emails about your concerns. I actually got a Republican senator, a sincere pro-lifer, to become more environmental friendly by my constant flow of letters. Bush is pretty impenetrable, but we should never grow tired of butting our heads up against that brick wall….