 By Samir Shukla
I live in North Carolina, a crucial toss-up state in this election. This year I'm urging each voter to be a VIP. Vote in Person. I say this in complete non-partisan manner to all voters. Mail-in ballots are fine and safe, and they should not be controversial in any manner. But this is such a toxic year, the best way to make the election process smoother is try to vote in person, if you are able, while of course keeping your personal safety in mind. North Carolina has a lengthy early voting period (October 15 - 31, 2020). Voting in person will, if nothing else, help ease the mess on Election Day by making it easier to tally up the votes as quickly as possible. Voting in person, for most people, is not any riskier than going to the grocery store while wearing a mask or shopping at a mall while taking precautions. You decide how you will vote, and the lines will likely be long, but remember that Democracy isn't risk free. Have a good day.  By Samir Shukla The Final Sttttreeetttchhhhhhhh Man, this year keeps piling on. Pandemic, economic collapse, social unrest, an overabundance of natural disasters, a caustic election that has unhinged America like never before and now the untimely passing of Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg. Talk about tossing tons of fuel into an already raging political fire. Ginsberg's death will dishevel the election even further with both sides digging into their ideological trenches. She will be replaced. It doesn't matter whether this is done before the election or right after the election.  By Samir Shukla
I’ll take an Xtra Large Election with Lots of Peppers, Smattering of Nuts, and Hold the Mail Are we finally approaching November? That month with a caustic presidential election that's been cooking for a couple of years now? All the primaries have wrapped, the conventions are over and out of the way, and the candidates are now finalized. Forget the boxing gloves, knives and cannon balls are out now. A flood of negative ads, misinformation, disinformation, and some of the worst human traits will be released and will float around everywhere like a visible virus.  By Samir Shukla Protest slogans require marketing not defunding. Everything in life is marketing, like it or not. Businesses spend considerable time and wealth on branding and marketing to persuade people to buy their stuff, use their services, take vacations with them. Focus groups are brought in to see if logos, slogans, advertising and marketing gimmicks help make their products more marketable and less intrusive.  By Samir Shukla
The Continuing Madness of American Politics Conventions Time The hour of the 2020 national political conventions has arrived. Not with a bang, but a virtual whimper. The conventions for this election are going to be unlike any other in history. Both parties are holding their conventions in August. The Democrats are essentially going to hold a virtual convention in Milwaukee with a small audience for the big Joe Biden speech accepting his nomination. They are encouraging delegates to stay home! The Republicans had moved their convention from Charlotte to Jacksonville because the North Carolina Governor wouldn't guarantee a convention without social distancing and facial coverings. Now President Trump, who pulled the convention from Charlotte due to his fight with Governor Cooper, has cancelled the Jacksonville convention due to Florida becoming the pandemic epicenter. The organizers were already scaling down their plans in Jacksonville, with smaller crowds, President Trump giving his big speech in an outdoor venue, and limiting media and guests. Now, the Jacksonville events are completely cancelled while a small group will gather in Charlotte to conduct party business. Sure, conventions maybe old school, but they fire up the party activists, put spotlights on up-and-coming political stars that can showcase themselves with high profile speeches. All that effort is now moot. I attended the 2012 DNC convention for Obama's official reelection kickoff in Charlotte as a member of the media. I was looking forward to covering the RNC convention in Charlotte with media credentials this year before jittery Republicans moved it at the whims of President Trump. I was planning to attend both conventions this year; now looks like I will be watching whatever they come up with on TV. Keep the popcorn handy. A Century of Women's Vote It's almost unfathomable that the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave took 144 years since becoming an independent nation before allowing women to vote. Our forward-thinking Founding Fathers, who created the brilliant Constitution, didn't think women had enough brainpower to be able to cast a vote? It took decades of struggle before women won the right to vote, thanks to the 19th Amendment ratified on August 18, 1920. Celebrate 100 years of this achievement this month. (See Jenn Allen's article on the topic). According to US Archives, more than eight million women across the country voted in elections for the first time on November 2, 1920. Tens of millions of women will vote to help decide the next president, several senators, the House, and, more importantly, local and statewide races, when the country votes on November 3, 2020. Bring it on ladies; don't miss the vote this year. Female is future. Notable Dates: August 17-20, 2020: DNC convention (Milwaukee, virtual) August 24-27, 2020: RNC Convention (Charlotte, virtual) September 29: First presidential debate, Notre Dame, IN. (University of Notre Dame) October 7: Vice presidential debate, Salt Lake City (University of Utah) October 15: Second presidential debate, Miami (Adrienne Arsht Center) October 22: Third presidential debate, Nashville (Belmont University) November 3: Election Day |
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