I voted

I never miss an election, no matter how small/local. Having said that, I am absolutely fed up with the endless campaigning this year. I can't turn on a local radio or television station without seeing or hearing a political ad, so I don't - Spotify and Netflix FTW. I can't go to my mailbox without reams of campaign flyers falling out...really ecologically friendly, no? There are yard signs everywhere, and it seems to be on quite a few tee shirts/ball caps in these parts.

Now look, I'm glad for the 1st Amendment; hell, I like 'em all come to think of it. And I'm glad people are engaged...that's always a good thing (well, not always - assuming they're informed it's a good thing). But I am a dude with two degrees in political-type stuff and I'm sick to death of it this year. I love political theory and the miracle of democracy. So if I'm sick of it, I can't imagine how fatigued people who hate politics must be.

The good news is after tonight we'll get a break from the 24/7 campaigning. Until Thursday.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1923/...9c7706ff_h.jpg

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Originally Posted by guido

I arrived at my polling place at 7:05 and already the lot was full and I had to park in the satellite lot. Long lines to cast ballots since we were having a town election as well so two paper ballots needed to be fed into the machine. Most folks seemed cheerful and engaged. Only one idiot in a red hat. I held my tongue, the poll is sacred ground...

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Man, you just can't help yourself, can you...

...neither can I. And that, sir, we have in common!

My polling spot was also more crowded than usual. Very good to see - whatever the outcome.

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Originally Posted by Corso

{Guido}Red Hats at polling station

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Attachment 110100

[Corso]Man, you just can't help yourself, can you...

...neither can I. And that, sir, we have in common!

My polling spot was also more crowded than usual. Very good to see - whatever the outcome.

old time voting in my town, with a paper ballot and a hand-cranked wooden box

Comfortably long lines for Ward 19, Precinct 6 this morning at 8. About a ten minute wait, along with four dogs.

I did not vote because my wife threw away the large amount of paper the government sent us in France to vote by mail.

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Originally Posted by Corso

Man, you just can't help yourself, can you...

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Actually it seems I wasn't making myself entirely clear. When I said the guy with the red hat was an idiot, I meant that the time for political posturing was over. Goodness knows we have had enough. It was time to get on to the serious, sacred responsibility of casting a vote.

I'd have worn my ITMFA shirt if we were being political. But no it was dignified black. I respect the process...

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Originally Posted by guido

Actually it seems I wasn't making myself entirely clear. When I said the guy with the red hat was an idiot, I meant that the time for political posturing was over. Goodness knows we have had enough. It was time to get on to the serious, sacred responsibility of casting a vote.

I'd have worn my ITMFA shirt if we were being political. But no it was dignified black. I respect the process...

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Guido, I had a very large smile on my face when I typed my reply!

Since we both live in the Commonwealth, I'm sure (besides the different viewpoints we have at times) we both want whats best for our state.

We voted! I went randomly in the morning, my polling place is super close to my office, and I was in and out in less than 15mins. The wife went around an hour before polls closed, she had a short wait.

I feel like our county has a LOT of polling places. Mine is about 1.5 miles from my house, and I actually pass another polling location on the way to mine.

https://i.imgur.com/16v2702.jpg

When i had my sticker on, she wouldn't leave it alone. I put it on her, she totally ignored it.

More fun in NYC: Long Lines and Jammed Machines Frustrate Voters in New York City - The New York Times

What a marvelous night. The Democrats got something, the Republicans kept something, and millions of people voted. The control of the House changed in a peaceful, dignified fashion. I wish the GOP had kept it, but it does my heart good to see the will of the people done.

Locally, my astonishingly gerrymandered perma-Republican district in west Houston tossed out a ten term GOP Rep. Heaven knows he needed to go. An extremely intelligent Houston lawyer Democrat beat him soundly, and I hope she does a good job. She can't do any worse. On the Senate level, a wildly unpopular Republican beat a Democrat from west Texas in the most expensive Senate race in history by a margin of 3 points; the polls had as recently as last week suggested 10. I suppose the lesson is even if you run against a person many people dislike and raise tens of millions of dollars from out of state, you'll still need to say something - anything - of substance if you want to win the Lone Star State as a Democrat. I think if O'Rourke had reached out to moderate Republicans he'd have won. But he didn't. The man never even tried to build a coalition in a state that's been solid red for forty years. I don't know what you call it, but it sure ain't bright.

No other real surprises down here. Dems did great in urban areas, 'Pubs did great everywhere else. As more folks immigrate to Texas (from other states and elsewhere) it'll surely get more purple. I think that's a good thing; I like to see politicians in fear for their jobs. Kinda reminds them who their boss is, ya dig?

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Originally Posted by King Of Dirk

you'll still need to say something - anything - of substance if you want to win the Lone Star State as a Democrat. I think if O'Rourke had reached out to moderate Republicans he'd have won. But he didn't. The man never even tried to build a coalition in a state that's been solid red for forty years. I don't know what you call it, but it sure ain't bright.

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I read an article about that very thing, one way might've been better for him to the get the Senate seat, the other way might be better if he ends up in a big race in 2020...I'm happy to see 8.1 millions voters in a Texas midterm.
The voters here turned down two Propositions that I really didn't want to see pass. So that's nice..

The GA gov race is a sh*tshow. On one hand you have Kemp, who is Secretary of State (who oversees voting FYI, and he didn't step down, he's *still* Secretary of State) who puts out embarrassing ads like the one below. The whole campaign he didn't talk about any specific policy goals other than giving teachers a raise, everything else he said was aimed at his opponent and chock full of buzzwords like 'extreme' and 'radical'. On the other hand you've got Abrams, who if she won would be the first black female gov in the country's history. But, she's she been seen as anti 2nd Amendment, raised a ton of money from out of state celebrities and whatnot, hasn't done a good job managing her own finances despite making way better money than most Georgians, and said things like "the blue wave is made up of illegals" and "no one should have to go into agriculture in GA."

Much like the Clinton vs Trump election, I didn't have anyone to vote for that I actually liked.

The predicted polls showed a really close race, but I was expecting Kemp to win by a healthy margin. However, right now the race is so tight we don't yet have a winner, in several races actually :: 218 Georgia Election Results : NPR

We passed an amendment that will direct up to 80% of the sales tax collecting on sporting goods to be used for land conservation, parks, trails, and protecting waterways. That's good.

Anyhow, I'll be glad when these midterms are over and we can start prepping for 2020! #sarcasm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q1cfjh6VfE

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Originally Posted by dgaddis

...embarrassing ads like the one below.

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Man, that is cringe-worthy. To the extent that I care what strangers think, I'd hate to think someone learns my voting record and assumes I'm just like that dude. I expect better from Republicans. Hence my perpetual disappointment...

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Originally Posted by dgaddis

We passed an amendment that will direct up to 80% of the sales tax collecting on sporting goods to be used for land conservation, parks, trails, and protecting waterways. That's good.

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That's great.

Attachment 110111
In Michigan, proposal 2 passed to let an independent committee form congressional districts. This is great. Our democracy has been damaged by gerrymandering. My 6th district in the southwest corner is manufactured to avoid parts of the city of more liberal Holland so my congressman Fred Upton can keep his job. 30 years ago he was a moderate but has moved right to avoid more conservative challengers. It isn’t a natural fit. I’ve voted for him many times but no more. He needs to go. His ads painting his opponent as extreme and radical really got on my nerves. There is nothing extreme or radical about wanting everyone to have health care. In the past he has won by huge margins like 70% but this time it was remarkably close so something is changing (just like I’ve changed) even if he still won. Our district has had a Republican representative forever and ever.

The town/county I left to move to AZ had a long time county judge that basically ran the town. He lost by a large margin to a challenger. The only thing he did that I approved of was to establish laws governing the bike trail that included hefty fines and vehicle seizure for motor vehicles on the trail. Other than that he doled out excessive jail terms for people of color, amassed a huge fortune on his judge pay, and basically maintained the status quo of generational racism. And he was a democrat. Glad to see him go.

IMO, this country is going off the rails. Pushing the boundaries of Posse Comitatus

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Originally Posted by King Of Dirk

Man, that is cringe-worthy. To the extent that I care what strangers think, I'd hate to think someone learns my voting record and assumes I'm just like that dude. I expect better from Republicans. Hence my perpetual disappointment...

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In Florida, it was interesting to see how tight the candidate races were and how, with one exception, the amendments were all blowouts. It's as if reasonable people can actually agree on many of the policy issues that affect their communities, but can't help but dig in their heels on the people representing their team.