Centenarians reflect on elections past

Milt Long, Conyers, GA — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:28:02 GMT

If it's good enough for the old folks, it should be good enough for the rest of us! I'm just 78 years old but like the people you've written about, I'll be voting Democratic again this year. Once again we need someone in charge who'll look out for the common man & woman.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Tammy, Atlanta, GA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:21:25 GMT

Thank you for the beautiful story!

Centenarians reflect on elections past

DH, LaGrange, GA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:28:17 GMT

Great story. Thank you for sharing these three very experienced and wise people with us, Mr. Rutherford. My mother, too, always voted Democrat right through Al Gore before she passed away at 83. And I am following in her footsteps!

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Win Sewart, Oldsmar, Fl. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:56:37 GMT

Comments like, Voted Dem. Cause My Folks always did, is like believing Republicans caused 29 depresion. Knowledgeable folks know or have learned better. I have voted since Eisenhower. Twice for a Dem.; Jack Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. In todays politics Jack would be considered a Republican and Bobby too.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Ben Center — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:24:18 GMT

Just like most of the nation it isn't about the facts or how a candidate stands but the ticket or because thats what they have always done. You would think they could wake up and at least tryt o understand the vote.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

James Penland, Yermo, Ca. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:43:05 GMT

The only thing that surprises me is the rigidity of how the lady voted because her "Dad"did. I myself liked Ike but was a couple years too young to vote for him on his second term. I would have tho. To have seen the country then and now is saddening. Be nice for these 100+ years old folks to comment on the past vs now on all the Presidents they have seen and lived through. Good article tho.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Bohdan Szejner — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:52:27 GMT

Voting for a Democrat is insane given that the Democrats have caused this economic crisis (read Business Week's Robert Berner and Brian Grow article today on "Some say ..." Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in April 2007, has de facto blocked all 51 U.S. states from protecting themselves from unwise mortage lending, like Wachovia's! She put the Office of Comptroller and Currency in charge of it, instead. The Clinton appointee, Mr Hawke, was elected and he staunchly upheld the state non-interference in mortage lending. We all know the rest of the story, and why we need a Republican President!

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Marty Wilson (82 y.o.) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:07:11 GMT

Apparently, none of these people are Black. Blacks voted Republican all the way to MLK, who was a Republican as well. Democrats are not about change, unfortunately, they are as complicit in the WAR as the Republicans are. Nader '08 because it is time to know WHY we are voting, not just because my father voted. I have my own mind and do not believe in the silly debates that answer NOTHING. Two suits talking and talking and talking, and none of it can be taken on face value. They lie so much. I am glad we have the internet so that we can check the facts before we vote blindly based on some parties that have truly outlived their usefulness. That is about the size of it.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Harold Clark; Grover Hill,Ohio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:18:48 GMT

If the devil came along and said he was a democrat there would people who would vote for him, If the devil came and said he was republican there would be people who would vote for him. What total stupidity.
You have one now who is running that is a pure socialist, although he doesn't call him self that. His policies say that he is.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Alyce, Madera, Ca. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:17:47 GMT

Enjoyed Mr. Neilsens' personal glimpes of Ike and
Mamie. I liked Ike too!! He was an extra special man.
Congrats to the "youngsters" who have broken 100 yrs.!
I come from the same era, but thank goodness my parents broke from tradition--they taught my brother
and I,you thoroughly inform yourself about the issues
and the candidates, then vote for the person you feel
will do the best job regardless of the party. I def-
inetly will NOT be voting Democrat--NO WAY!!!!

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Ed W — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:52:01 GMT

My father did the same. He would have been 92 today and he, and a whole generation like him, was grateful to FDR for saving the country. FDR pulled the US out of a depression and took us through WWII successfully. So my Dad would have never voted any other way. And I have to say he was deeply disappointed that his two sons became Republicans.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

mike — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:19:51 GMT

A grand story about wisdom, and people of age. What a wonderful president eisehower story too.We all would be much better off if we listened to our parents, it's a very changing and different world, yes more about this would be very interesting, after all centarians have lived through it all.My wife and I had a wonderful geandmother she lived till she was 108 years young, and she had wisdom beyond belief. In this very diverse world we need a mixture of young and old explaining what needs to be done. I am sure Eisenhower and his family promoting student ambassadors, along with his desire to help boy scouts is because as we all do we try to give back more than we had growing up.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

RICHARD A WATERS COLUMBUS OHIO — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:05:25 GMT

I MAY BE ON THE WRONG PAGE TO SEND A MESSAGE BUT I'LL TRY ANY HOW. MAT INTERVIEWED A PERSON WHO DISCUSSES THE MATTER OF POSITIVE THINKING DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. MY QUESTION IS THIS , HOW DO I GET MY TWO GROWN DAUGHTERS TO REALIZE THAT MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES NOR DO I HAVE SUCH AN ABUNDANCE TO SHARE W/THEM FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. I AM A DISABELED VETERAN OF THE VIET NAM WAR AND I DO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THAT.I ALSO AM A PRODUCT OF THE WW2 CHILDREN WHO PRODUCED THESE GIVEAWAY IDEAS TO MY OWN CHILDREN.BABY BOOMERS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF RETIREMENT NOW.PLEASE DISCUSS W/MAT ,I AM WATCHING AS WE SPEAK. RICHARD A WATERS (RCHRD_WATERS@YAHOO.COM)

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Donna, Louisville, Ky — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:28:52 GMT

I am a Republican. And for the life of me I can't figure out why NBC is not covering the Acorn scandal! And why are they so PRO Obama. I guess Fox News has the only honest and fair news coverage.

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Lily, Shanghai, China — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:28:55 GMT

It is a nice story,and i regard it as a story!

Centenarians reflect on elections past

jon — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:17:07 GMT

check out this website www.real-wishes.com

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Beth, Monmouth County NJ — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:57:07 GMT

I may be not techo-sauvy and I know my comment here is not in respomse to this article, but I could not find a place to respond to a segment Ann Curry did this AM. She was asking a group of undecided voters if they knew any people who wouldn't vote for Obama because he is black and isn't that racist. Is it equally racist to vote for him ONLY because he IS black?

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Deborah Heinrich Knoxville, TN — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:04:43 GMT

10-16-08
This morning on the 'Today" show, as well as others, there was a considerable amount of coverage on 'Joe the Plumber.'
This got my train of thought going as all news goes these days on the upcoming election.
If you have followed the debates, as we all have,trying to decipher who is debating with the best talent, and who might actually keep these promises after the move into the White House, follow me on this fantasy.
Since it is much too late to actually run Joe the Plumber for president, figure out a way to make him the advisor on the issues to both cantidates and let's see if he can explain things that will actually work! If you want to know what the common working class people need, why are there no advisors to the cantidates who are common, working class people?
One says he grew up in a fatherless home and so he knows how hard it is; the other was a longtime military man and so he knows how hard it is, and I'm sure they both do. I do not wish to detract in any way from either mans accomplishments, but which one of you lives there now, and in todays economy?
I think the answer is obvious, Joe does.
If he could follow all the way to the White House, when the members of Congress are trying to decide how to help, Joe could find the member who is quietly trying to decide whether to buy medicine for a loved one, or one more weeks worth of groceries, or even money to go the doctor since you have no health insurance. Oh wait, there may not be anyone actually in congress who has to make that decision. I believe all the members of our government have some pretty strong benefits locked in for their health care.
Maybe Joe will need to move on to the government official who is trying to figure out how many gallons of gas they will need to purchase to go back and forth to a job that may pay two dollars more per hour than the cost of a gallon of gas. Wait, that won't help. Do any government officials actually have to have the transportation that they are provided stop those vehicles at the local mini mart so they can top off the tank?
Hmmmm...How about if he goes to the one who stayed up late last night packing because his home has been forclosed on and he has to find an affordable rental home to throw into the mix of "which bills to we pay this week, and which have two or three more days in the grace period of five days" before the threatening phone calls start? Sorry, that won't work either. That scenario isn't likely to happen to someone who has put the guidelines in place after their mortgage was secure.
I guess what I am trying to point out is this; you would not send 'Joe the Plumber' to perform surgery on a ruptured aortic valve. At least not unless he could do a passably good job at it for about 90% less than the surgeon would. So, why are we sending people to Washington to rework Social Security benefits, when not one of them has to live on the 1000.00 or under that most of our Senior Citizens do?
On every debate I have watched they have groups of average people on the stage who as far as I can tell simply provide a segway in the form of a question, that either person will answer with "My opponent doesn't know how do deal with this, but I do..."
I don't really see that either of the choices are going to make a big difference. No matter who is elected, they will go to Washington and work with the people whose thought processes on these things will not be different, because they have no basis for comparison.
So since we can't realistically vote for Joe, and we don't have any other choice that is practical, it seems we wind up praying and pushing a button and just leaving it in God's hands. Just be careful about that praying in public thing, that has not been an option for a long time now. Did we vote on that?
Like I said, it is fantasy, but am I really the only one who just might "Vote for Joe?"

Centenarians reflect on elections past

LYNN ORMAN, CHICAGO, IL — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:08:39 GMT

THE LAST OF THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI DELTA MEN ~
AT 93 & 96 YEARS TWO OF THE OLDEST LIVING BLUES LEGENDS, DAVID 'HONEYBOY' EDWARDS AND PINETOP PERKINS
REFLECT ON VOTING ON THE PLANTATION, REMEMBERING VOTING THE WAY THE WAY THEY WANTED THEM TO VOTE, REFLECTING ON THE NOMINATION OF OBAMA... THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE FEATURES A NUMBER OF BLUES VETERANS AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE PAST AND THIS ELECTION. HONEYBOY EDWARDS WAS MOST RECENTLY INTERVIEWED ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO REGARDING THE FREEDOM TO VOTE & HOW AMERICA & DEMOCRACY HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS. ON NOVEMBER 7TH JUST THREE DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, HONEYBOY & PINETOP WILL PERFORM TOGETHER FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE SYMPHONY CENTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS AS A PART OF THE BLUE SHOE PROJECT, WWW.BLUESHOEPROJECT.ORG FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.
THIS COULD BE A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THIS INTERGENERATIONAL GROUP. A MOMENT OF HOPE & CHANGE THROUGH THE STORIES, SONGS & MEMORIES OF TWO BLUES LEGENDS, DAVID'HONEYBOY' EDWARDS AND PINETOP PERKINS,
WWW.HONEYBOYEDWARDS.COM LYNN ORMAN 847-452-6469

LAST OF THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUESMEN~LIVE IN DALLAS WON THE 2008 GRAMMY FEATURING, HONEYBOY, PINETOP, ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR. AND HENRY 'THE MULE' TOWNSEND. HONEYBOY IS THE LAST OF THE RUNNING PACK WHO WAS WITH ROBERT JOHNSON THE NIGHT HE DIED....

Centenarians reflect on elections past

LYNN ORMAN, CHICAGO, IL — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:09:55 GMT

Centenarians reflect on elections past

Anonymous, Fort Bragg, NC — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:52:33 GMT

Hello all:

Just a thought, How are soldiers fighting for our country supposed to vote absentee when their is no means of a mail system?? (ie. Afghanistan and other countries where we have troop presence that is not covered so much in the media) There are thousands of troops in such countries and they have no means of mailing an absentee ballot!!! Please address this ASAP, before its too late, I would be interested to hear either party, democrat or republican, candidate's views on this matter. We have a number of men and women serving our country that are in very remote areas and have no access to mail, or even the internet. Thank you.

Sincerely, a soldier's wife,
Anonymous
Fort Bragg, North Carolina