Today, Sunday, is Election Day in Brazil (note to the United States: more people might actually cast ballots if you held elections on a day when not everyone has to work all day. Duh. - Oh, that’s right, the Republicans don’t want regular working folks to have the opportunity to vote.)
Anyway, while Brazilians are touching the voting machine screens for who they hope will be the lesser of the two evils in federal office races, my friends back in the States are grumbling about how disappointed they are in President Obama and how they might just sit this election out, come November.
Nobody can disappoint like a friend and ally (remember Bill Clinton?). But as pointed out in this clip, there is a big difference between a disappointing friend and a deadly enemy. Get over yourselves and get out and vote to keep the Democrats in office.
Don’t make me come up there and pull your ear!
For a little comic relief check out Bill Maher’s “New Rules” segment from a recent show where he channels President Obama’s alter ego “Barry Whitehouse.” (NSFW)
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7 comments:
Jim, my man told about some interesting rules about the elections. I was going to post a blog but I already put it on facebook.
1) No alcohol is to be sold on the day of elections.
2) No one will be arrested unless the crime is witnessed by a police officer.
3) In soccer is to be played in the country (however today I saw sand soccer in Chile, Brazil vs. Chile).
I am sure there are more but that's all he told me.
Nina - yes there are election-day-specific laws at play.
While the restriction of the sale of alcohol is on the books, it is not enforced in every state. Here is a list of where the law applies: http://g1.globo.com/especiais/eleicoes-2010/noticia/2010/10/saiba-quais-estados-terao-lei-seca-no-dia-das-eleicoes.html
Also it is illegal to conduct any electioneering today. So no pamphleteering, no waving flags, no wearing caps or Tshirts with your candidate on them near polling places, etc. Already today in Rio more than 100 people have been arrested for violating this restriction.
No cameras or cell phones at polling places.
I have not heard of the restriction on playing futebol -- interesting approach to encouraging voter turnout.
Love Barry Whitehouse :)
Have you registered and voted absentee in your former residence in the United States? I just did. Lots of Americans overseas are unaware that they are allowed to vote in Federal elections from their foreign residence.
Go to: http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=65281&qid=6666584 to register and vote, if you haven't already.
TLC - glad you like it!
Chris - we DEFINITELY continue to vote back in the Sates! Thanks.
That's great news. I know lots of expats here in the UK and many of them don't know that they can still vote in the US.
UK elections are on Thursdays but there are ways of voting postal ballots that mean you won't have to take time off to vote if you can't do that.
Hope the election goes well over in Brasil.
Jim, thanks for the info on states/alcohol. I need to check that out, as we went to lunch Sunday and enjoyed some quite delicious drinks. I was surprised.
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