Newparadigm,

I hope your grandma and her friends have kept their voter registrations and state ID scrupulously up to date, lest they get a nasty November Surprise on Election Day. And furthermore, the registration had better be pitch-perfect before October 6, which is the state deadline for changes or corrections.

As a former Republican and native Floridian, I can promise you that there will be poll watchers, from both parties, checking every document and challenging voters. (Never mind the caged ones who won't appear on the rolls, and might not know until November 6.) I don't know how many people know about this practice, but poll watchers are registered voters, posted by local party machines at each precinct. This is legal, by the way. They get a list of registered voters in the precinct and are allowed to challenge anyone whose ID doesn't conform. Moved, and the address on your driver's license doesn't match your voter registration? No vote for you. ID expired? No vote for you. Got married and changed your license but not your voter registration? No vote for you.

I know. I was a poll watcher 2004 and thank God, didn't have occasion to challenge anyone. (Did I mention there was a whispering campaign before the election, saying that blacks and Democrats were conspiring to commit voter fraud? Yeah. Yummy.) Now, I'd reprise the role just to ensure nobody was bullied or typo-ed or Jim Crowed out of a vote.

Everyone, tell your grandmas, tell your parents, neighbors, friends, significant others and total strangers. Make your vote count! Then write your Senator and Representative to demand national, sane voting legislation to replace the backward patchwork in place now. The Help America Vote Act was a joke.

My 90 year old jewish grandma was going to vote for McCain, but his VP selection convinced her that he he was sick in the head.

I've been canvassing and phonebanking for my local Dem House challenger Scott Harper against 10 year incumbent 71 year old Judy Biggert. I'm getting a lot of older woman, indies and Dems who are disgusted with McCain and hence the Republican party for foisting the fraud Palin on us. Hillary supporters are really angry about it. It's a real insult to their intelligence.

The last couple of days hardcore Republicans are getting really cranky, saying a few mean things and hanging up. Always a good sign.

Palin looks like a nightmare to many Jewish voters. Obviously, Jews are a pretty liberal demographic and Palin is decidedly conservative - no matter what lipstick she wears. Also, most older, mainstream Jews view Christian fundamentalists as dangerous nut jobs (despite their support for Israel, which many Jews view as a fortuitous result of their lunatic eschatological beliefs). Many Jews suspect that Christian fundamentalists are all closeted anti-Semites (like Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, don't you know). Further, the whole frontier-woman image -- with the shotgun and the camouflage outfits -- is far from a positive image for most Jews. (Gun ownership may be lower among Jews than any other ethnic group). Also, also, Jews like intellectuals and people who, at least, sound intelligent when they talk -- not so much Palin's strength. In other words, "A right-wing, gun-toting, Jesus-loving Shikse from a place that's cold like Siberia? Oy. What's to like?"

Here's what Florida needs to hear about Sarah Palin.

A noun, a verb, and "Jews for Jesus."

And here's what Floridians need to hear about making sure their voter registration is up to date.

A noun, a verb, the voter registration deadline (October 6th), and "purging the electoral roll for any reason."

I think the Grandma vote is getting motivated not just in Florida, but everywhere. Remember, these nice little ladies haven't spent their entire lives baking snickerdoodles. As kids in the 30's they went to bed hungry. As young women they worked along side Rosie the Riveter and dreaded the sight of a Western Union man on their street. They raised families during the upheavals of the 60's and 70's. They've buried husbands, sons, and daughters. Yeah, I know, cue the music for the Greatest Generation, but we often forget they have seen the good and bad of real life, and the decent and ugly of people.

My mom is one of them. As an example, she gave a very succinct explanation to me many years ago on her pro choice stance "Those judges would maybe have a right to discuss this after each one of them had a goddamn baby" (pre O'Conner/Ginsburg obviously, and for her it was very clearly a pro choice stand, NOT pro abortion).

She thinks McCain is a either a wackjob or so full of shit his eyes are brown (or both) and Palin is a poser busybody who loves to tell other people what to do. She's seen their type before.

She's for Obama, but as a word of warning, he'd better not step out of line, because I'm sure she knows the way to the woodshed and can still swing a willow switch so fast it whistles.

I have been in FL temporarily for 8 months. The big question for Jewish seniors is whether Palin's craziness trumps "Obama is a Muslim" and "Obama hates Israel", which is what I hear from a lot of my parents' friends. Granted, many are moderate Republicans who would be inclined to vote for McCain anyway - but many would have voted for Hillary. I still smell the racial aspect motivating them but they cover it with "Muslim" excuses. The good news is that they are definitely scared of Palin. The question is where the scale tips.

My grandma is really, really old and is one of those "I want to see a woman in the white house before I die" voters. I haven't talked to her since the Palin pick, but I'll bet she votes for McCain because of it.

Also, she has issues with race. I love her, but it seems pretty clear to me she won't vote for a black man, especially if there's a woman anywhere on the ticket. We got in a big argument about this over the summer. She said some pretty unforgivable things about the changing racial identity of the city of Cleveland (where's she's lived for most of her life). But I had to just let it go after a while, because I was hitting a brick wall. The stuff Obama said in his "race speech" about his grandmother's racist statements hit home for me.

Just offering up my personal grandma example. Nothing scientific, obviously.

My parents lived in Miami Beach with the rest of the "alte kockers" so I can relate to your post. I think Sarah Palin reminds them of their worst nightmare; the dumb "shicksa" they dread their precious son (or grandson) might bring home to meet them some day. It doesn't help that she's evangelical. There has always been a mistrust among elderly Jews of evangelical Christians no matter how pro-Israel they might be.

Wow, I hope a whole lot of 'Jewish grandmas' are in agreement with your mom.

My mom is not Jewish, but she and her table of breakfast pals have been 'fist bumping for Obama' since the Democratic Convention. These are a bunch of white haired, middle class women who've raised families and paid a lot of dues in their lives -- many of whom supported Hilary.

Campbell Brown may be getting some new fans in the 70s and 80s bracket, these white-haired ladies don't have much patience for the way that McCain is keeping Palin under wraps.

These women have plenty of time on their hands, and some of them follow the news quite closely.

Sorry about the busted post above. Hopefully this re-post will work:

My Jewish grandmother (early 80s) is a snowbird who spends half the year in Florida. She has been pretty thoroughly in the tank for Obama since about halfway through the primaries, though she voted for Hillary with reservations. When I last talked with her about this, she said that a lot of her friends in Florida were supporting Hillary laregely because of racism. They were saying things like, "Can you imagine those black kids [Obama's daughters] in the White House?" In an unexpected twist, my grandmother now thinks that an enormous chunk of the support for McCain in this country is grounded in racism.

I'm not sure how Palin has impacted my grandmother's friends' choices, but I can certainly confirm, along with many others here, that Palin is the antithesis of what Jews look for in the political leader, with the exception of her strong pro-Israel views.

Generally speaking, we Jews:
(1) Don't like hunting or gun ownership, are disgusted by the idea of shooting wild animals from a plane, and aren't particularly out-doorsy;

(2) Like people with who are open to debate and argument, and can come off as reasonably intelligent when discussing a bunch of differing opinions about a problem;

(3) Are socially liberal and definitely pro-choice;

(4) Admire some degree of familiarity with foreign cultures generally, even if superficial;

(5) Are somewhat uncomfortable with environments where there are virtually no Jews, such as Alaska (this is perhaps more true of my grandmother's generation);

(6) Are repulsed by Christian fundamentalists, who, as a poster correctly notes above, are suspected of being closet anti-Semites; and

(7) Think that there's something weird and kind of out of control about having five kids;

(8) Are impressed, rather than annoyed, by Ivy League resumes.

Generalizations, obviously, but in my experience these statements are largely true. Palin strikes out on every single one of these.

I think that constantly harping on the likelihood of Palin assuming the presidency should McCain be elected is actually a pretty good way to talk a lot of elderly Jewish voters out of supporting McCain. The more we can get them to picture the McCain/Palin President as a wolf-shooting Christian fundamentalist middle-aged grandmother with five kids, a laughable resume, a passport minted in 2006, and Bush-quality intellect, the more we increase Obama's chances.

I think many are all for gender nothing else "cut off their nose to spite their face type" or hide behind these tales they damn well know is more McBush lies but keep repeating it.
I cannot stand either McCain / Palin and am so tired of their lies ,hiding behind crooked tactics Re:Troopergate heck McCain camp is running the Gov. desk in Alaska .
The Holly Roller movement to push on the reast of the workd is nonsence they are idiots not to mention her cornering animals then shooting.
One thing I cannot figure out is if you are bi-racial why is only one race played out?
I am 78 years white corner setter,I love Obama ,Michelle and those pretty little girls .
I already thought this but glad they reminded us Obama is "The One" in a life time a gift to help and guide us to straighten out the McBush mess but he cannot accomplish this unless we get busy and help .