November 7, 2006, Report from the front-line
Just got back from a poll observation mission as a volunteer lawyer with the Pennsylvania combined Democratic campaign, assigned to walk around and observe polling stations (with fellow lawyer-monitor Philadelphia lawyer Phil) in an urban suburb in Delaware County, PA, where it looks like Joe Sestak is on his way to becoming a member of Congress... and Curt Weldon to... retirement.
(BTW... we should also wish a hearty "sayonorum" to Rick Santorum...)
If conditions nationwide parallel the sliver of the Keystone State I saw today, then the nice weather and a general feeling of the importance of this election will bring out a heavy turn-out... and a probable big Democratic win.
I got back here to Brooklyn... and voted.
So... if I can get up at 4 in the morning (2 days after the marathon) and drive over 100 miles each way to help keep this election clean... and still make it back to vote, the least you'all can do is vote too... for the candidates of your choice (though... I might have some suggestions!)
So get out and vote! All we're playing for is the future of the planet and our eternal souls.
No pressure.
Comments
Buckle up for two years of gridlock.
Republicans deserved to lose. They tried to play on the middle of the road and got run over by diluted conservative policy.
This loss may be a good thing - it'll remind Repubs of the old mantra: united we stand, divided we fall.
Anyway, the jury's still out whether or not we'll lose the war against militant Islam. I suppose we will given the number of people who deny we are at war to begin with.
It'll be interesting to see how Pelosi responds.
Congrats to you and your party,
Jay
Posted by Jihad Jay at November 8, 2006 12:23 AM
Thanks, Jay! Glad to hear from you. It's been a while.
I pretty much agree with your assessment. And it wasn't just a middle of the road Republican strategy; it was almost entirely a defensive strategy-- none of the initiative that the Republicans have usually shown (and the Dems have not... including this cycle) the last few years.
Still and all, the bulk of new Democrats elected aren't nearly as knee-jerk dovish on war/peace and terror related issues as, perhaps, me, or many or most liberals in general... (for example, we've now got a number of newly elected Democrats who are vets and retired military officers, including one, and maybe two, with the rank of Admiral... not your classic peace-niks!)
We'll see how the Dem leadership handles all of this. Nothing wrong with gridlock, if the alternative is worse... or something!
Still, it would have been nice to win for some reason other than "Marc Foley". But that didn't happen.
Hopefully, Virginia and Montana's senate races can be resolved now in a clean and orderly way and whoever wins does so without overhanging suspicion. Hopefully, maybe people will feel better about the new voting machines now... or maybe not!!!
Posted by the talking dog at November 8, 2006 12:31 PM
Rumsfeld Is Gone
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Posted by fwf at November 8, 2006 6:42 PM
Why no concern about a former CIA head being named to head the Department of Defense? Maybe it explains why the Dems got some military officers to run, that they are sick of being subservient to the CIA. And after all, isn't the CIA the personal representative of the Bush Family in our government?
Posted by Just Wondering at November 8, 2006 9:28 PM