Working the Polls in North St. Louis: Atmosphere of Anxiousness

agitate | 11/2/2004 | agitate

[Agitate]

I returned from working the polls in predominately black North St. Louis at about 10pm. We closed right at 7 and were out by 9:30. It was a record turnout I'm sure. Everyone from the very old, to the very young, including some who appeared to be mentally affected and some who appeared to be homeless. Some people who were obviously 30, 40 and much older said they were first time voters.

One powerful and obvious theme was hard to miss among the voters: They were all afraid that someone wanted to keep them from voting. Really, their fear of "someone" (evil republican conservative I guess) oppressing their vote hung in the air.

When I took more than a second to find a person in the voting roster, 3 out of 4 would start with "I know I can vote!" or "I voted last year, I can vote!" or "Don't tell me I can't vote!" or "I'm not leaving until I vote!" Honest to God (and I don't say His name in vain, I mean it) people would start this without me saying a word besides "hello!" And they did it to all the judges, not just me.

I'm not exaggerating. It was sad to see so many had believed the lies of liberals who are obviously in the business of manipulating them. It was sad to see so many who believed this huge lie


Some highlights:

People were wearing the sickening "VOTE OR DIE" shirts.

People were glaring at me for having a Republican Election Judge badge on.

A lawyer from the DNC was there as a challenger. He was a really nice guy, I got along with him better than I did the veteran democrats working the polls. He appeared to be a fair guy, but of course he was in Kerry paradise and liked what he saw. He drove most of the veteran poll workers crazy.

I had to help several people vote straight democratic tickets. Some of them seemed really clueless and loss, and I felt bad for them. I can't tell you how many times I heard "I wanna vote straight democrat" today.

VERY long lines in front of the table. A group of people talking, snickering and looking my way when one says loudly "WHO in here is Republican?!" I look at him and say happily, with a smile, "I am Sir!" He says, "Congratulations," for which he gets some laughter. I keep smiling and say thank you, but not in a malicious way. I really feel too sad for these people to be angry.

Told several people with "KERRY 2004" buttons on they would have to remove them or cover them up, because I could. Ah, schadenfreude.

The ladies there with me, who had worked the polling place forever were not happy with me because I kept calling the election board about some things going on that weren't supposed to happen. Oh well. I'm so sick of scummy tactics of St. Louis democrats I didn't care.


BEST parts of the day:

Liberal Activist from Americans Comming Together comes up to the table asking for numbers on how people were voting. She doesn't identify her group. I ask her who she is with, she says "I'm with the non-partisan, non-profit organization Americans comming together, and blah...blah...blah...." At that point, I told her she would have to get out and stop asking questions. She started blathering something, I went to get an election board official who happened to be there (blessing). He told her I was right and she would have to leave and stay 25 feet away from the front door of the school (election rules). She left, with me walking her out. A few minutes later I looked up and she was back, in the hall talking to people in line! I was quite mad now, and went out and told her to get out or the police would be called. She kept saying something, I kept at her. When I took out my cell phone she made a quick retreat for the door, with me trotting behind her. I can't remember when I had so much fun! After that racist flyer, it felt so good!

People were in front of the school, passing out democrat flyers. I saw people comming in with them all day using them to vote, sickening, sickening. Then, around 4:30, one man asked, "where are the republican flyers?" I could have hugged him, but I restrained myself. Of course, there were no republican flyers in North St. Louis today.

I really hope more black people wake up from the liberal democrat spell. It was truely pitiful to see them enthusiastically tow the Kerry line, like he was their savior. I'll pray hard for them, and hope Bush wins in a landslide.

[Agitate]

I hope this wasn't too long and boring. I just had to share what was really a great day and a great experience, especially runnig off that liberal. Yes!!!

[Agitate]

ping!

[KSCITYBOY]

Bumping the sad truth of the democratic plantation

[Peace will be here soon]

I tell you, it does take some courage to do what you did. I have heard stories of people getting run out of polling places in the north side, fearing for their lives.

It looks like Matt Blunt is going to win the Governors race. And Kinder is also in the running.

The Carnahans did well though. But overall its a good night in Missouri !!

Go GW !!!!

[Criminal Number 18F]

Thank you, Agitate!! It was a privilege to hear your story. Thank you both for representing the party of conservatism in a place where it's pretty lonely, and thank you for keeping your cool and good humour, AND thank you for telling us about the experience!

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[campfollower]

Thank you for sharing a slice of today with us.

[perez24]

You are one brave Republican. Heck, democrats are afraid to go up in North St. Louis.

[Agitate]

Bumping the sad truth of the democratic plantation

Well put, unfortunately. It was worse than I thought, and I already thought it was bad. Pitiful is the word, but I know some can be reached. Some will listen when given the opportunity to learn. Still, so much waste today.

[Agitate]

You are one brave Republican. Heck, democrats are afraid to go up in North St. Louis.

LOL...Thanks...my parents were quite nervous. I believe God sent me there, and he probably will again. There are some very good people up there, you just don't see them on the news. If they get away from liberal democrats, who knows how their lives, and the next elections could turn out.

[Agitate]

I tell you, it does take some courage to do what you did. I have heard stories of people getting run out of polling places in the north side, fearing for their lives.

I avoid obvious trouble. One huge HUGE young man had a Kerry bumper sticker on his chest, and wore it with attitude. With no deputies around, I, and unatheletic woman, was not going to challenge him. I may have been running had I gotten in his face.

It looks like Matt Blunt is going to win the Governors race. And Kinder is also in the running.

The Carnahans did well though. But overall its a good night in Missouri !!

Go GW !!!!

hallaleujah!

[philomath]

thanks for pounding this out after a long day. amazing the sway over your voters by those manipulating them. best fought like you did, with examples of how to do it the right way delivered in the beast's belly!!

[VOA]

bump...good piece of history...

[VOA]

bump...good piece of history...

[Missouri]

Ping.

[Bahbah]

Very enlightening post, and yes, it is sad. Good work, FRiend.

[cardinal4]

Good work chasing the hippie off! I saw a group of rabble rousers outside of our polling place in Florissant. They saw us pull up in an SUV with Bush-Cheney stickers on it, and wisely stayed away as I walked by them. All in all a good day for MO, with the exception of the Carnahan usurpers. And again, thanks for watching the Republican interests in enemy territory!

[kevkrom]

Of course, there were no republican flyers in North St. Louis today. I really hope more black people wake up from the liberal democrat spell. It was truely pitiful to see them enthusiastically tow the Kerry line, like he was their savior.

I think the GOP needs to make this their next major mission -- convincing the folks who live in these "blinder-mentality" areas to question the wisdom of voting for the same-old, same-old and never seeing anything improve. The GOP needs to reach out to these areas, especially the younger people who haven't been as deeply indoctrinated by the lies -- and show them that there is an alternative.

[Missouri]

I really hope more black people wake up from the liberal democrat spell

There is a morning talk show host on WGNU 920 A.M. by the name of Liz Brown. She is one of the reasons that the Black population is in a state anger, denial, and ignorance. She is a hard-core Bolshevik and is good at firing up a "mob".

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Thank you for your service to St. Louis, I appreciate it! I can certainly understand your parent's concern. The concern is not based (in my mind) on race, it based upon mindset. Yesterday, I was scheduled to walk neighborhoods to get the vote out for President Bush. Due to the weather, most volunteers chose to work the phone banks, so I had to venture out alone. I was walking in a middle-class neighborhood in Fenton, and had been warned about a heavy concentration of union autoworkers in this particular subdivision. So, here I was, alone, going door-to-door. As it turns out, I was not treated badly by anyone, but, I was warned twice by residents to "be careful" about what doors I knocked on, due to hatred of Republicans. One man told me that I "might get shot". (Note to all: Fenton is a very nice area, with no crime to speak of). After the 2nd warning, I did get more leery of each house that I went to.

Thanks again, Agitate, I am proud of you! Glad to be here, MOgirl

[colette]

Maybe we can go back and meet with those people when there isn't an election. Relationships can change minds. My experience is that a lot of Black Americans FEEL that Republicans don't care about them and don't like them. Maybe if we were in that neighborhood for the next four years trying conservative/libertarian solutions for their problems they would have more hope than fear.