In a very close and exciting race, President Obama edged out the challenger Mitt Romney.

Congratulations, Mr. Obama!

On January 20, 2013, President Obama will be sworn into office for a second term as the 44^th President of the United States of America.

President Obama is projected to have won the election with 303 electoral votes to Mitt Romney’s 203.

Wait, that doesn’t sound like an “edged out’ victory.

Read on to learn more about how U.S. Presidents are elected, why this really was a close race, and why each vote was so important.

As of this morning’s paper, the popular vote is pretty much tied. With some 78% of the votes reported, the candidates are tied 49% to 49%. Considering the total number of votes, which was an outstanding turnout, President Obama has a slight lead with 52,071,449 votes to Mr. Romney’s 51,734,702 votes.

Whew, now that looks like a close race, but it wasn’t on the electoral side. Why is that?

In the United States, the voters don’t directly elect the President. The voters select electors who are pledged to vote for one or the other of the candidates in the Electoral College. It is the vote of those electors in that college that actually elects the President.

In almost every state, the presidential candidate who wins a majority of the popular votes wins all the electoral votes for the state. The electors in the state then cast all their electoral votes for the candidate prevailing in that state, even if the candidate only won by one vote.

So, technically, if one candidate had just one more vote in each of the 50 U.S. states than his opponent, that candidate would win all the electoral votes, but only have 50 more popular votes. A landslide! Not really, a really close race, but still a clear winner.

There is another interesting quirk about the electoral system. There are a total of 538 electors, one for each Representative (435), one for each Senator (100) and three (3) for the District of Columbia. If you recall, only the Representatives are distributed by population. This means that some small states, like Rhode Island (4), have a disproportionate number of electoral votes for their size. This also means that some big states, like California (55), have many more votes because of their greater populations.

Let’s look at an example. Say Candidate #1 wins Rhode Island (4 electoral votes) and California (55 electoral votes) by one (1) popular vote in each state, Candidate #1 gets a bunch of electoral votes (59) for only two (2) more people voting in Candidate #1’s favor. Now, to continue our example, let’s say the opponent, Candidate #2, wins the electoral votes in Texas (34) and Illinois (21) by a total of 2,000,002 votes. Candidate #2 is 2,000,000 votes ahead in the popular vote versus Candidate #1, but Candidate #2 loses in electoral votes 59 to 55. This is why the winning margin in electoral votes can be out of whack with the popular vote. A candidate can win the popular vote and lose the election by losing in the Electoral College.

In an election, swing states are states with close races where a candidate can win all the electoral votes with just one or a few popular votes. In this election, Florida (29), Ohio (18), Virginia (13) and Wisconsin (10) were swing states where the election results were very close and could have swung either way. If Mitt Romney had won these states by one (1) vote each for a total of four (4) votes, he would have won an additional seventy (70) electoral votes, and he would have won the election with a total of 273 electoral votes. 270 electoral votes are required to win. Of course, it would have taken more than one vote in each of these states, but you can see how valuable a vote is.

Every vote is valuable. Never assume you did not make a difference. You did. Our example illustrates how just a few votes can change an election. Your vote changed this election. It changed you. Now, the candidates you elected have changes to make.

I enjoyed this headline in today’s paper: “Pulling People Together Won’t Be Easy.” Well said and well directed to the winning candidates. Now, their work really begins. In our democratic republic, pulling together to make things better is really what it is all about.

Congratulations again Mr. President and all the winning candidates.

We’re behind you, let’s get going,

Grandpa Jim

As posted below for you to know

Not the day of “mid-term” election

Not the day of the”off-year” election

Today is more fun than any of those days

Today is the great day of the “Presidential” election

Only once every four years on Tuesday today after the first Monday in November

Jump up. Slip into those shoes. Start running. It is for you that the polls toll. Hear them ringing as you approach. Get in the line. Cast your vote onto the growing pond. See who we will catch. The day is here and the new elect are close upon us.

This is the day that the vote has made

Let us rejoice and be voters in it.

Hooray and pass the ballots,

Grandpa Jim

PS: Mary and I just voted at the local elementary school. Mary was Voter #169 and I was Voter #170. Both good numbers. This bodes very well for the election. There were plenty of empty ballots. Hurry on over, grab a ballot and get your lucky number for Election Day 2012.

PPS: This is a good one. Too close to call. I have to head to bed. Catch you all in the morning. You may be up late for the final call. Voter turnout was outstanding! Thanks to all.

November 6, 2012 is Election Day in the U.S.

In the United States, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is set by law for the election of public officials. This is referred to as the “general” election day.

Every year, there is a general election day, but not all public officials are elected each year. To help understand who is elected when and by whom, it may be helpful to review what type of federal government exists in the U.S.

The U.S. federal system of government is composed of three branches. Those three branches are the “executive,” “legislative” and “judicial.” This is referred to as a “tri-partite” system of government because it is composed of three parts. In this system, each part exercises functions the others cannot and all three parts are required for the government to function. In other words, the necessary power to govern resides in no one branch, but can only be exercised by the branches working together and sharing their individual powers. This sharing is referred to as a “balance of power” or a system of “checks and balances.” Without each branch accepting the checks of the other branches and all the branches balancing power among themselves, the government would fail and fall. To avoid this unacceptable result, the branches work together and have for over 200 years.

In part, the continuing success of this three-part system of government is the regular election of new officials.

The federal executive branch administers the day-to-day activities of the federal government. The executive branch issues the regulations that implement the laws the legislative branch enacts. This federal executive branch is led by the President and Vice President, who are both elected. All other employees of the executive branch are appointed.

Every four years, in years divisible by four, the general election day is designated by law for the election of the President and Vice President. This general election is referred to as the “Presidential” election. This year, November 6, 2012 is a Presidential election year. All registered voters in the United States can vote in the Presidential election.

The federal legislative branch makes the federal laws that the executive branch administers. The federal legislative branch is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House are referred to as Representatives and are elected for two-year terms. Members of the Senate are Senators and are elected for six-year terms.

Each U.S. state’s number of Representatives is determined in relationship to its population. There can only be a total of 435 House members, so the distribution changes as the populations of the states change. Currently, California has the most with 53 Representatives. Members of the House serve a two-year term and are up for election every two years. Only those voters in a geographically defined district within a state can vote for that district’s federal Representative.

Each U.S. state has two Senators, for a total of 100 Senators for the 50 states. Senators serve a six-year term. Senatorial elections are staggered so only 1/3 of the Senators stand for election every two-years. All the registered voters in a state vote for the state Senator up for election.

Finally, the federal judicial branch reviews, interprets and, if necessary, overturns the laws of the legislative branch and the regulations of the executive branch. The federal judicial branch is the Supreme Court composed of Justices who are appointed not elected. Federal Supreme Court Justices will not be on any election ballot. At the state level, however, state judges may be on the ballot.

In even-numbered years when the President and Vice President are not on the ballot, the general election day is called a “midterm” election.

If things are running smoothly, all Representatives and 1/3 of all Senators will be up for election in each Presidential election and each midterm election. This will be the case this year when all 435 House seats are up for election and 33 Senate seats will be on the ballot for the Presidential election.

Each U.S. State has a Governor, state representatives and state senators. Many states have judges who are elected. These state-level officials are largely elected in the same Presidential and midterm elections years as the federal officials. Most state officials have terms similar to their federal counterparts, so most will be up for election in this year’s Presidential election.

In odd-numbered years, the general election day is called an “off-year” election. Most federal and state officials are elected in Presidential and midterm elections. There are rare exceptions, but generally the off-year elections are municipal elections for mayors and other local officials and local citizen initiatives.

For U.S. citizens, this is a big Election Day. Everyone can vote for President and Vice President. Voters will have their federal Representative and state representative on their ballots. Many will see a state senator. Some may have a federal Senator. The state Governor may be up for election. State judges could be on the ballot. The list may continue. Check your local news and the Internet for a voter’s guide listing the offices and individuals on your ballot.

Double check your voting location. Be sure to bring your voter registration card. If you can’t find the card and you are registered, your name should be listed at the polling location. Bring your driver’s license or picture ID, and get ready to VOTE!

The best thing about being a voter is voting. The best thing about election day is the vote. The second best thing about election day is watching the results.

Good voting and save some popcorn for me.

I wonder who won,

Grandpa Jim

We are on our way to the 52nd annual Wurstfest.

New Braunfels, Texas has a long history of sausage. The town was established in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. At the urging of the nobleman, many Germans immigrated to this growing city on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers. The Comal from Comal Springs to the Guadaupe is only three miles long as its spring-fed waters wind through the town. For its length, the Comal River has the distinction of being one of the shortest rivers in the world. The river may be short, but one thing the city and citizens are not short of are sausages. They love to eat them, they love to share them, and they love a party with good German music and wursts for all.

From Old High German, wurst is the word for sausage.

In 1961, the Mayor of New Braunfels proclaimed the first “Sausage Festival,” a week activity featuring sausages at cafes and markets. With world-wide publicity, that first feastival attracted 2,000 visitors. It was a meaty success. The name has changed from Sausage Festival to Wurst Week and now WURSTFEST, but one thing as not changed, the wursts. They remain the wurst of the best.

In 1966, 35,000 attended and consumed over five tons of sausages. In 1969, 75,000 revelers besieged the sausage capitol of Texas. The vendors of links became even more creative with Wurst Tacos and Wurst-ka-bobs. In 1978, the German-American eat-o-rama was as one of the top attractions in the world for the month of November. In 1987, the WURSTFEST was rated in the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.

People were driving from everywhere to grab a sausage on stick and a whole lot of fun. In 2006, ABC’s Good Morning America TV show showcased the opening day for millions of viewers across the world. In 2007, a special entertainment area for children, Kinderhalle, was introduced, reflecting that the event is a family-oriented festivity for everyone. November 7, 2009 was the most-attended day yet, except for today or maybe tomorrow.

Go Wurst!

We’re on our way.

Save a sausage for us.

We’re on the road and almost there.

Grandpa Jim and Mary

It’s the silk flower time of the year.

We go to the you-can-craft-it-and-make-it-yourself store and buy these amazing bunches of fake flowers. I call them “plastic flowers.” For which remark, I am promptly given the “look” and sternly admonished with the comment, “They are silk and be respectful.” “I am . . . I mean they are . . . they sure are colorful,” I mumble, ending on the upbeat. When in doubt or in trouble, I try to fumble a compliment. It may not get me all the way back, but it can start the rehabilitation process.

It’s a yearly event.

Every All Soul’s Day, the graves in the cemeteries are decorated with bright masses of silk flowers.

We load up the car with sacks of color, make the trek down to the country, grab grandma and head on over the family plots.

This year we have to manage some other schedulings, so we drop off most of the flowers for the rest of the relatives to distribute.

Grabbing a few bright stems, we promise to stop by one of the closer graveyards on the way back to town.

It is a cool evening with a full moon just starting to shine through into the night sky.

“Over here.” I follow to where she stops. Kneelling, I pull out the faded blooms from last year. Mary arranges the new bouquet. We stand with our thoughts, say a prayer and move on to the next grave and then the next and another. Finishing up, I gather the frayed last-year petals and carry them to the bin behind the bushes for the caretakers to manage. As we leave that cemetery in the country, I turn and snap a picture between the trees at the graves of our family and friends with their new evening robes.

All Souls’ Day is the day after All Saints’ Day, which is the day after All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween. Halloween is October 31^st, All Saints’ Day is November 1^st and All Souls’ Day is November 2^nd. They’re the same every year, so you can’t miss ‘em, even though we all do miss them, our close ones who have left this world. We remember them all on All Souls’ Day.

In the ancient thought, each of us is composed of four separate parts: heart, soul, mind and strength. The strength does the lifting. The mind does the thinking. The heart does the listening – I think of the heart as an old two-way ham radio, “Roger that, Big Buddy.” And, the soul does the deciding.

I believe it is our decisions that make each of us uniquely human. No two people have ever made, or will ever make, the same set of decisions. To me, the portfolio of my life’s decisions is the fingerprint I leave behind in this land and take with me wherever I may go. Those old thinkers also seem to see the soul as that part that leaves the body and moves on its way.

On our yearly pilgrimage with the flowers, it is a comfort to me that the souls of those we visit are what continue and may still be lingering about that place.

With Halloween near, I quickly turn my head to see if I can catch a glimpse of a ghostly shape slipping between the trees. As we walk to the car, I lift my eyes to try to spy the more saintly in their heavenly gear. With a smile and silent laugh, I close the gate, gaze at the blues and reds of the fading sunset and feel the warmth of all those souls there.

I look forward to seeing you all again, and we will certainly stop by next year.

Happy All Souls’ Day,

Grandpa Jim