rushthatspeaks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rushthatspeaks) wrote2010-11-02 05:45 pm
rushthatspeaks) wrote2010-11-02 05:45 pm
the unexpected perks of participatory democracy
So one of the main political contests around here has been the District 17 House race between the incumbent, who is (inexplicably, but I'm happy about it) a Democrat elected by one of the most conservative districts in the country, and Bill Flores, who is the Republican. His campaign has been, well, I am not entirely certain what he actually stands for, because he has been mailing us things based totally around My Opponents Are Evil. Seriously, I have vague assumptions about what he probably stands for given that he sends postcards of Nancy Pelosi as the scarecrow on the porch of a haunted house, but he could also support having zombies conquer the planet and no one would know because he never says anything about it. I was almost inevitably going to support the Democrat anyway, but, you know, there are a lot of races around here where there is no Democrat option, and the way to get me to pick you in an all-Republican race is to actually have a platform that I can understand well enough to say whether I think it's less evil than your opponent's, just saying. Anyway, the mailings have bad Photoshop and have made me mildly hostile towards Bill Flores. Also, he seems kind of vaguely Tea Party-ish.
Todaygaudior and I went to vote, at the Very Large Church near our house, and when we pulled up into the parking lot there was only one vacant space, which was being blocked by some people with video cameras and matching T-shirts. They moved aside and waved us into the spot, so we parked, and when we got out of the car the guy with the largest camera swung it towards us, and another man walked up to us, leading with his hand.
He andgaudior shook. "Hi," he said, "I'm Bill Flores, and I'm running for Congress. What's your name?"
"Hi,"gaudior said, with her usual bright, friendly smile. "I'm gaudior and this is my wife, rushthatspeaks."
This is what they mean when they call someone's face a study.
I was actually rather impressed. He kept the professional, warm, cheerful face while nonetheless having what was obviously a moment of total and complete brain shutoff centered around the concepts of 'these people a) exist b) vote here c) oh God this is on video'. (Yes. Yes, we do vote here, thank you.) I had to start fighting with my own face right away, of course, but I think I managed. Total politeness was maintained on all sides as we headed into the building. I think he may have fallen back on 'y'all have a nice day' but I'm not sure because as I said I was fighting with my facial expression; I know we waved.
We did not collapse laughing until we were out of both eyeshot and earshot. I have been grinning and luxuriating in it ever since; it was the best moment of Zen I've had out of politics in basically ever.
They probably won't use that footage, but we could have been lucky-- it could have been a live feed. Not sure how I'd check.
Homosexual agenda for the day: ACCOMPLISHED.
Today
gaudior and I went to vote, at the Very Large Church near our house, and when we pulled up into the parking lot there was only one vacant space, which was being blocked by some people with video cameras and matching T-shirts. They moved aside and waved us into the spot, so we parked, and when we got out of the car the guy with the largest camera swung it towards us, and another man walked up to us, leading with his hand.He and
gaudior shook. "Hi," he said, "I'm Bill Flores, and I'm running for Congress. What's your name?""Hi,"
gaudior said, with her usual bright, friendly smile. "I'm gaudior and this is my wife, rushthatspeaks."This is what they mean when they call someone's face a study.
I was actually rather impressed. He kept the professional, warm, cheerful face while nonetheless having what was obviously a moment of total and complete brain shutoff centered around the concepts of 'these people a) exist b) vote here c) oh God this is on video'. (Yes. Yes, we do vote here, thank you.) I had to start fighting with my own face right away, of course, but I think I managed. Total politeness was maintained on all sides as we headed into the building. I think he may have fallen back on 'y'all have a nice day' but I'm not sure because as I said I was fighting with my facial expression; I know we waved.
We did not collapse laughing until we were out of both eyeshot and earshot. I have been grinning and luxuriating in it ever since; it was the best moment of Zen I've had out of politics in basically ever.
They probably won't use that footage, but we could have been lucky-- it could have been a live feed. Not sure how I'd check.
Homosexual agenda for the day: ACCOMPLISHED.
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