Now's Your Chance: Vote

Bob Schieffer Says Exercising One's Right Is More Than Good Citizenship, It's Fun!

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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Several presidential campaigns back, I wrote an essay on the joy of voting, and some folks have asked me to repeat it. So, by (I guess) what I'd call "semi-popular demand," here it is.

Several of my fairly famous colleagues have disclosed they no longer vote, as a way of maintaining their neutrality as journalists. I admire their objective, but I don't understand their reasoning.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my job, but it is a job. I wouldn't equate it with voting, which to me is my duty as a citizen ... like paying the water bill.

I remember reading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as a young man, and how surprised I was to learn the Nazis had used an election as a springboard to power. Had I lived in Germany then, I hope I could have voted against them. I wouldn't have wanted to be neutral on that one.

Besides, voting is just so much fun.

As a reporter, I have to back up what I say with facts. But I need to give no reason, marshal no argument, for why I voted the way I did. Maybe I just didn't like the candidate's attitude; that's reason enough to vote against him. Or maybe I found a candidate really qualified. That's a good reason to vote for him.

It is my vote, and I can exercise it any way I choose, but no candidate gets my vote unless I believe he or she deserves it.

We take voting so seriously at my house, my wife has instructed me not to tell even her who I voted for. She's afraid I'll disappoint her. Oh, ye of little faith!

But isn't that the best part? We can tell everyone, or no one.

So go vote. It's good for the country, and it's good for you. As my mother used to say, it makes you feel big and strong.

[gawjesuno]

Harry spoke with a guy this morning that summed it up, "It started with Slavery, and now is redemption".Things haven''t been bad like it is fixing to be.But I hope he proves me wrong. You are forever hearing the hellish stories about being black but never stories about things we have seen happen and experienced. Being from Mississippi, I can tell you some stories.I will say GOOD LUCK Barrack Hussein and I hope I''m wrong about him but.... You know the saying " Once you go black, you never go back" so we probably have had our last white president. I believe it was referred to as redemption. Their black leader sold them into slavery, and whites shed blood and lost their lives to free them, but who really cares about that?It was Theirs and OUR ancestors not us, again who cares?They are African-American, I guess that makes me what German-American? What happened to we are all just Americans? This is America, USA so it should be American-African, American-Mexican,American-Asian like it is American-Indian. We are all Native-Americans of 1 nationality or another.I am American-German and American-Indian, (a Native-American).

[mollydtt]

P.S. my vote won''t do much on the national level, my state is firmly for one candidate, and the electoral votes are not going to be changed by my vote. The local races, however, are up for grabs, and I''m making sure I get my say.

[mollydtt]

Vote---but most importantly, be sure you understand the ballot choices before you enter the election booth. I''ve heard people screaming about how we need to vote for something that actually is worded in such a way that you need to vote against it. Know what your local candidates support. There are some real weirdos out there. Please vote intelligently, and do your research.

[noloyalisti]

Please MAKE SURE AND VOTE and especially if you know young people, make sure to remind them to vote on Tuesday. Make it seem to them that the anti-American action it is to not vote on November 4th. We need help to elect Obama as President as well as electing an overwhelming Democratic Congress.

OBAMA offers real change we need. We need to make sure that the rich, making over $200,000 per year, pay their fair share. To give back to society their wealth, for the wars many of them supported and for the future of our country. With a strong Democratic majority in the government we can start to take apart the fascist government that has taken firm hold of America. A government where the the rich corporations run and own everything to the detriment of the middle class and working people. Make no mistake, we have a serious culture war here in this country. It is the huge majority of the people against the few percent of rich elitists (Democratic or Republican) who have far more than they need to live on compared to the rest of us.

I can say from my point of view, if McManiac and his dirty corporate scum get in, many, many people will go down, in favor of large corporations who have instituted fascism, low pay and exploitation.

On November 5th, we will either celebrate V for victory or V for vendetta. So be ready.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot - V

[pdchapin]

As long as you vote, you are supporting and maintaining the status quo. That''''s fine if you like the way things are. If you truly want change, don''''t vote. Get out and support organizations and issues you like, and oppose elected officials programs.
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Wrong. Not voiding says you don''t care. Since you don''t care, politicians feel free to ignore you. The better strategy is to vote third party or even write somebody in. This says that you''re vote is out there and the politicians could get it if they did the right thing. That''s more likely to attract their attention.

[random_radar]

Voting for anyone gives approval to the way politics is working. If you really don''t like any of the candidates, not voting sends a signal. Low voter turn out worries all politicians because it is a signal that revolution is brewing.

As long as you vote, you are supporting and maintaining the status quo. That''s fine if you like the way things are. If you truly want change, don''t vote. Get out and support organizations and issues you like, and oppose elected officials programs.

But don''t send the wrong message by voting in elections and making the politicians think they have a mandate. Voting gives legitimacy to governments. Low voting percentages tell the tyrants they are not popular and are in danger.

[shimano35]

fsw3----Make me an electoral vote and I will get right to the polls!!!

[joe68sg1]

Article from Yahoo! Just another example of republiCON distain for our country.

Bush team rushes environment policy changes

Whether it''s getting wolves off the Endangered Species List, allowing power plants to operate near national parks, loosening regulations for factory farm waste or making it easier for mountaintop coal-mining operations, these proposed changes have found little favor with environmental groups.

Even some free-market organizations have joined conservation groups to urge a moratorium on last-minute rules proposed by the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.

John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation, which joined Lehrer''s group to call for a ban on these last-minute rules, said citizens are cut out of the process, allowing changes in U.S. law that the public opposes, such as rolling back protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Industry is likely to benefit if Bush''s rules on the environment become effective, Madia said.

"Whether it''s the electricity industry or the mining industry or the agriculture industry, this is going to remove government restrictions on their activity and in turn they''re going to be allowed to pollute more and that ends up harming the public," Madia said in a telephone interview.

What is unusual is the speedy trip some of these environmental measures are taking through the process.

[phoenix357-2009]

Bruce Springsteen is a CRY BABY FOOL....here he is crying about everybody loosing their jobs and houses and what does he DO???? GOes and becomes a Socialit. GOod -ONE Bruce, and they call you a boss...now thats a joke. Sounds like you smoked a little too much and can''ts remember you make more than the $120,000.00 per year Heil Obama wants to takes from ya!!!! Go live in a dog-house, that''s all any of us will have left once this guy is done *** the country up. Why don''t you write a song abouts goinz from the frying pan and jumpsins into the fire brucey-toocey!!!!

[smurfcrusher]

"No where in the constitution does it guarantee the right to vote. The electoral college decides who will be president. We are allowed to vote to keep the masses happy. We are a republic not a democracy. Democracies always fail."

Posted by rmsdm4

What a bizarre post. With very rare exceptions, the Electoral College vote parallels the popular vote.
This is why candidates work their tails off crisscrossing the country shaking hands with common citizens, so they will vote. Even in the highly contested 2000 vote, the electoral college voted as expected. You need to get a firmer grasp of reality.

[smurfcrusher]

We can''t afford four more years of Bush''s failed policies.

How much of a maverick is McCain, after voting with George Bush more than most other members of the Republican party?

How much of a maverick is McCain, if he can''t choose the members of his own team (Lieberman, Ridge) and instead is saddled with ultra right-wing Palin?

McCain is maverick in name only.

Obama has a decade in the Illinois Senate and has taught Constitutional law. It''s high time we had a president who understands and respects the Constitution, instead of calling it a
"****** piece of paper" as George Bush did.

I noticed the Republicans were overjoyed at six years of one party rule - and looted the treasury.

Now, one party rule is to be feared, if you listen to them. You can''t trust the Republican party - they had their chance and blew it. Sweep the jerks out and let''s undo the damage they wreaked!

[reb212]

It''s hard for me to believe that Obama is the only hope the Democrats can come up with. Just because someone can talk with a silver tongue doesn''t mean he knows how to lead our great country. No Military experience, in the Senate less than 6 months, known to associates himself with terrorists and no leadership qualities. Wake up America, this man will lead us into a depression. LOOK at the qualities that John McCain brings to the table, experience in the Military, experience in government, a leader in all ways. This America is the man that will lead us to a better life.

[phoenix357-2009]

noloyalisti

I don''t know where your sorry a-- has been but $200,000. is not RICH. That is what you get if you work hard and follow your dreams to own your own company and give others jobs. The only thing Obama is doing is getting sorry fools like yourself out of your closet and take your freedoms away. People making $200,000.00 or actually the Obama klan has dropped it to $120,000. are the hard working upper middle class. YOU OBAMAZ FOOLS MUST ALL GET BODY FLUIDS ON ONE ANOTHER!

[noloyalisti]

Please MAKE SURE AND VOTE and especially if you know young people, make sure to remind them to vote on Tuesday. Make it seem to them like the anti-American action it is not to vote on November 4th. We need help to elect Obama as President as well as electing an overwhelming Democratic Congress. We are at a true crossroad in history.

Obama offers real change we need. We need to make sure that the rich, making over $200,000 per year, pay their fair share. For their wealth, for the wars and for the country. With a strong Democratic majority in the government we can start to take apart the fascist government that has taken firm hold of America. A government where the the rich corporations run and own everything to the detriment of the middle class and working people. Make no mistake, we have a serious culture war here in this country. It is the huge majority of the people against the few percent of rich elitists (Democratic or Republican) who have far more than they need to live on compared to the rest of us.

On November 5th, we will either celebrate V for victory or V for vendetta. So be ready.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot - V

[michaelcook2]

If you are a multi-millionare vote for McCain. If you are not, follow Warren Buffet''s advice,... he said in news interviews that it is unfair that he makes tens of millions every year with passive income, pays 17% tax rate, and his secretary works 8-9 hrs a day and pays 32% tax rate. This is the world Bush & McCain love. John McCain and the mistress (named Cindy) he divorced his first wife for, are worth 100 MILLION DOLLARS! He can''t remember how many houses he has, MCCAIN IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNIST EVER! SURE LET''S GIVE HIM AND ALL HIS WEATHLY FRIENDS MORE TAX BREAKS! JOE THE PLUMBER IS A TOTAL IDIOT - WHO I''M SURE HAS DONE SHODDY PLUMBING WORK FOR MANY FAMILIES, AND HE''S A HUGE FRAUD!

[cbs_oliver]

Bob,

It''s fun for you and me. We live where the rich folks live - where most of the people are Republicans.

It takes me 10 minutes to vote from the time I leave my house to the time I cast my vote.

Then my wife and I spend 10 minutes chatting with the the folks running the polling site.

Now the folks in the inner city, where the poor folks live and in other places where mostly Democrats live they have a harder time.

Naturally.

Could take them hours to vote. Some may get fired because they don''t make it to work on time. Or else they decide to take a pass on voting.

Not so much fun for them.

Too bad.

[rmsdm4]

No where in the constitution does it guarantee the right to vote. The electoral college decides who will be president. We are allowed to vote to keep the masses happy. We are a republic not a democracy. Democracies always fail.

[hober_mallow]

I''ve voted in every single election since I was eligible. Even if was as mundane as a bond issue to paint the fire hydrants.

My motto is:

"If you don''t vote, you can''t complain the next day."

And I reserve my right to complain !!!

[hennighg]

It IS fun. Also, I have been able to complain loudly and for as long as I wanted to for the last 8 years. I voted for the other guys. It''s not about your candidate winning. You win, period, when you vote. I have won every single argument against the non-voter friends of mine, except, of course, for the ones who chose not to for reasons other than laziness. Vote. Complain.

Oh, yeah. And for 10 or 15 minutes you feel like Superman. Then you get a ticket or someone honks at you or you get an unexpected bill. But the feeling for those few minutes after you vote is worth all the hassle.