Today’s Faves: Canadian Confession, Baby Sarah and UK student visits the U.S.

Voices without Votes continuously aggregates interesting links about the election from world bloggers. Our authors take turns picking their top 3 personal favorites every weekday.

In today's round up, we learn about a Canadian who confesses to know more about the US election than that of her own country, a new Tennessee father going out of his way to show support to the McCain-Palin ticket and a UK student who spent time volunteering in the Obama campaign.

1) Blog becomes confessional

Canadian blogger of Two Chicks Nest confesses ^[1] that she knows more about U.S. politics than that of her own country.

“This is not an informational post, but rather a confessional. I'm calling myself out. I've lived in Canada for a year and I don't understand Canadian politics. I follow U.S. politics like it's my (part time) job, but I barely even notice what's going on in the country that I am living in. Tsk tsk. Canadians are very interested in U.S. politics. The Canadian news broadcasts the vice presidential debates, for god's sake! How is it that we have 24-hour news cycles in the U.S., but we barely ever mention anything beyond the U.S. border? Americans, have you heard anything about the Canadian national election that took place yesterday?”

The blogger then asks for advice on how to become better informed on Canadian politics.

“So how do I bone up on Canadian politics? Does anyone have any reading recommendations? I'd prefer some books that can give me a historical context of how the parties developed, etc. I should probably ask my tween nieces for some lessons in Canadian government and politics.”

2) Father names baby “Sarah McCain Palin”

In a recent USA Today article ^[2], a new father in Tennessee named his baby “Sarah McCain Palin” in support of the Republican ticket. Asian American blogger Diana comments ^[3] on the supportive gesture.

“What a gesture! And a clever and beautiful name, to say the least! I think, however, a unique spelling (Hollywood-style) of the “surprise” moniker would be more appropriate. How about: D-I-V-O-R-C-E?”

3) UK student visits the States

Raf Sanchez, a student in the United Kingdom, recently visited the U.S. and worked on the Obama campaign. He comments ^[4] on the emotions of Obama supporters.

“Voter registration was easily the most rewarding part of my work on the campaign. It’s here that you really feel how much Obama’s candidacy means to people, especially many African-Americans old enough to remember the Civil Rights struggle. People don’t just agree with him. He is cherished. His “improbable” success is something people draw personal pride and happiness from, as a parent might from the success of a child. To be allowed in on a little bit of the solidarity people feel for the man is incredibly empowering.”

He then writes about his rare opportunity to meet the man he was campaigning for:

“On my last day before leaving for the UK I met Obama on a tiny airstrip in New Hampshire. His jet, adorned with his mantra of ‘Change’, looked comical amongst the Cessnas and Piper Cub light aircraft. He seemed tired but glad to see us. He asked me about Virginia, nodding in quiet approval as I told him about our field work there. He is more substantial, tougher looking than his trademark slim suits make him appear on television. There is a swagger as he walks. He thanked us for our work and within minutes his jet roared off. For those of us left on the runway it was a moment on which we would giddily compare notes until hours later. For him it was just one more campaign stop on a long and difficult road to the presidency.”

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