The Chronicle’s Election Issue available

05 Nov 2008, Posted by Naureen Khan in election 2008, News, 0 Comments

Filed at 11:29 p.m.

Check out the Chronicle’s in-depth election coverage, in bins now or available online.

You got a sneak preview of both the N.C. GOP and N.C. Dems watch parties last night right here on the Election blog. Now, read our full coverage of the North Carolina Republicans’ reactions to the loss of the presidency as well as seats in Congress in contrast to the Democrat’s exuberant celebrations in response to the historic election of Barack Obama, the surprise victory of State Sen. Kay Hagan over incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole and the triumph of Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue over Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in the hotly contested gubernatorial race.

In the meantime, reporter Ryan Brown held it down in Durham, covering both the day at the polls and Durham’s joyous celebration over the new president-elect at Barack N’ Roll, accompanied by a stellar photo-essay by the Chronicle’s Maya Robinson, Zach Tracer and Chase Olivieri.

Putting it all in perspective, take a look at our sound-off with voices of Triangle voters and Duke students reflecting on the once-in-a-lifetime election.

Why voting is wrong

03 Nov 2008, Posted by John Schneider in Backpages, Backtalk, Soundoff, 1 Comments

I would like to follow up on my Oct. 22 anti-voting column “Please don’t vote” and do my best to clarify my position:

By advocating not voting I don’t mean to say that voting doesn’t matter—it quite clearly does matter. The last eight years prove that elections affect everyone’s lives to some degree. By the same token, I have a very strong preference in this election—I am not apathetic. But I am not apathetic on the Duke/UNC rivalry either, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK for me to kidnap Tyler Hansbrough. I’m not equating politics and basketball, but the point holds—just because you would prefer one outcome doesn’t mean that doing everything you can to achieve that outcome is OK.

So why is voting so wrong that you should abstain from it when the stakes are so high?

1. It legitimizes the tyranny of the majority. By voting you are not only voicing your preference, but declaring your intention to abide by the outcome—you cannot participate in democracy on the condition that your side always wins. But why should the fact that many people disagree with me matter? Obviously Hitler and slavery are extreme examples, but there are plenty of others I could have invoked: abortion, civil rights, the Patriot Act, government-subsided health care, lowering the top marginal income tax rate…whether any of these issues are right or wrong has nothing to do with how many people support them, just as Hitler and slavery were not OK because they were supported by a majority. (more…)

Slideshow: McCain Rally in Fayetteville

28 Oct 2008, Posted by Zachary Tracer in election 2008, News, 0 Comments

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain held a rally in Fayetteville Tuesday, drawing 8,200 people to the Crown Center.  He was preceded by country singer Hank Williams Jr., who sang a song he penned in support of McCain.  Former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, Sen. Richard Burr of N.C., Sen. Lindsey Graham of S.C. and Cindy McCain also appeared at the event.

John McCain - Zachary Tracer/The Chronicle

Look for full coverage from Julius Jones in Wednesday’s Chronicle and check out my Chronicle slideshow by following this link.