Glenden BrownElection memories
When I was a child, election night was a strange mystery. My parents disappeared soon after dinner and didn’t return until they done the arcane process of voting. It simply happened.
The first election of which I have any memories was 1976. I thought Jimmy Carter’s smile was too broad and Gerald Ford was too grim. By 1980, I was paying more attention. I remember feeling that Carter - a fundamentally decent man - had been done wrong by Reagan in some unnameable way. I said to my mother I thought Reagan should give Carter a job in his new administration.
By 1984, I was, sadly, a Reagan supporter even though I liked both Mondale and Ferraro.
In 1988 I voted for the first time. Jack Kemp spoke at Grinnell College; I attended and was impressed at his fierce honesty, the way in which he knew he was in a space in which people disagreed with him and yet he was there to speak. I sent in an absentee ballot. Same in 1990. FWIW, in 1988 I voted Bush-Quayle to be contrary. Living in Iowa, I figured my Utah vote didn’t matter.
1992 I was living in Virginia.
By 1994 I was back in Utah and proudly walked from my apartment downtown to my polling place after work and gladly voted. In 1996, I pulled the lever (well, punched the card) for Dole (and regretted it immediately) but voted straight ticket Democratic for every other race. I figured my Presidential vote didn’t matter in Utah. I have not voted for any Republican since 1996.
1998 I voted straight ticket D for every race.
In 2000, I went to my polling place after work, waited in line and then proudly and confidently voted for Gore - and down ticket I voted straight party Democratic. 2002 was another straight ticket year for me. I was by 2002 so thoroughly disgusted with Bush and the Republicans I realized I might never again find a Republican I could vote for.
In 2004 I volunteerd with Paul van Dam’s senate campaign and I loved every minute of it. My friend Dina Blaes ran from Salt Lake County Council (and sadly lost). There was something powerful about stepping into the voting booth in 2004 and seeing a name I knew on the ballot. Seeing the candidate I saw in the office, the candidate for whom I’d made phone calls and for whom I’d delivered yard signs. I punched the card proudly and confidently for the Democratic ticket that year - for van Dam, for Kerry-Edwards, for Matheson-Hale for governor. Peter Corroon for County Mayor - someone I’d seen on the campaign trail repeatedly.
2006 was a great night (you can find my election blogging here on OneUtah). I proudly voted for Pete Ashdown for Senate and somewhat reluctantly for Matheson for Congress (I get that Jim Matheson is a good guy, I don’t think he’s a good Democrat).
My 2007 city election blogging and actions are recounted in detail on OneUtah as well. Ralph won.
So here we are in 2008. Twenty years since I first cast a ballot.
As the Bush Administration had staggered through its second term like a common drunk on the bender to end all benders, I’ve watched in despair at the destruction they’ve wrought. Ruinous wars, insane budgets, destructive social policies. It’s time for a new start, a New Deal one might say.
I voted early - mid morning at the County Complex. Obama-Biden. Springmeyer-Valdez. Corroon. Matheson. Rebecca Chavez-Houck. Jean Welch for attny general. I voted for Randy Horiuchi even though I don’t really like him. I voted for both the County Props.
In a few days, election 2008 will be a memory. Soon George W. Bush will vacate the Oval Office and maybe we will miss him, but we want to miss him.
I hope November 5, I can wake up and say, “Barack Obama - President-elect.”
October 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Here’s to that, Glendon! And boy you’re young! I first voted in 1968 and that was when you had to be 21 to vote. (Nice post.)
October 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Becky - I don’t feel young today! Thanks.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I, too, voted for the first time in ‘88 — having been raised a conservative and being quite young and naiive ( I was nearly 19), I voted for Bush I.
In ‘92 I had some college and life experience and had learned that I was a lot more liberal than my relatives - I voted for Clinton.
In ‘96 I was dissatisfied with Clinton, but thought that the alternative was worse, so I did the “lesser of evils” thing and voted for Clinton again, but I was continually evolving past the big two parties.
In ‘00 I was thrilled to vote my hopes instead of my fears, and joyfully cast my vote for Ralph Nader (and I don’t regret it, because Utah is not a swing state).
In ‘04 I felt the Green Party candidate, David Cobb, should be given the chance. I still respected Nader, but wanted the Green Party not to be centered around him. I had to write in Cobb’s name.
In ‘08 I’ll vote for a Green again - Cynthia McKinney. I’ve been disappointed in Obama’s stances on FISA, the economy and nuclear energy. This year will be the first year that I vote for a woman and a person of color for president, so I’m feeling very excited about that.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Jenni - I keep reminding myself that FDR ran as a moderate but in response to circumstances adopted increasingly more progressive policies.