I have been looking forward to seeing the end of this election cycle. I'm pretty jaded with the electoral process. This may have everything to do with the fact that the second election I ever voted in was the 2000. That election didn't really sow seeds of confidence in a young woman's idealistic heart. Nor did the presidential election to follow. Though I guess my latent political junkie came out last night, because I surprised myself by staying up way too late to watch Chris Matthews honk at Keith Olbermann. I am pleased with some of the results (what with the House and all), though I fear we're going to have some lawyers holding us back for a couple weeks in Virginia (and Montana?).
I'm not terribly pleased with the governor results in my state, but my hope is that G-Rod gets indicted soon and kicked out of office. (Thought it's too bad about Duckworth.) I'm very pleased with the Senate and Governor seats in Ohio, though. I was also paying attention to the 15th district there, where I was once a constituent. I (sort of) know Mary Jo Kilroy, but it doesn't look good for her, which is too bad. (I campaigned for her once when I was 15 or 16.)
Back in my college stomping grounds, I was very pleased to see that Hostettler got kicked out of Indiana's 8th District and Baron Hill won in the 9th.
All in all, I hope we settle these disputed races soon. Frankly I'm just happy those horrible campaign ads are gone.
UPDATES: As for thoughts on the IL governor election, here's a quote from today's Beachwood Reporter:
How do citizens vote against corruption if both candidates in a given campaign are corrupt? That was my question. (The Beachwood Reporter has become a daily read for me. Check it out if you live in the Chicago area, though it's made me more bitter towards the politics here.)
Here is a great post by Sara Robinson about the historical momentum leading up to yesterday's elections and where liberals should go from there. (Hat tip to Res at Republic of Dogs.)
Matt of the Tattered Coat has a great quote from Whitman, which was the perfect way to start my day.
Chris Matthews honk at Keith Olbermann.
:)
Great way to put it. He does honk and honk and honk.
I'd love to be his sidekick on Hardball. I'd have a huge plastic mallet-like thing and when he'd start honking, I'd whap him in the head with it.
Yes, I'm glad the ads are over, too. But, I'm more happy we've got a little balance back.
Honk! Honk! Get out of our way! We're on a roll!
Posted by: blue girl | November 08, 2006 at 09:56 AM
I was very bummed to hear about Duckworth... And I was torn about the gov of IL... no good choices there is you ask me.
Hey Claire, where did you go to college??? You have probably said somewhere in here, but my memory looks like fishnets. Things slip through all the time.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 08, 2006 at 11:01 AM
The political commercials in the US Virgin Islands (where as a Territory they get a Representative who carries no vote!)sounded so sweet, they tricked Manny and me in the five days we spent there for his birthday. We kept hearing these reggae-based, sweet-toned rap songs and thinking they must be the radio's top six. Then we listened more carefully to the words. They were all political commercials. Our favorite featured a nice riff with steel drums. The slogans included Be Kind. And: deJoghne for better schools. Team three: We Dream Better.
Almost unable to believe it, we asked a few islanders, who told us civility mattered to them...not that everyone was always honest, but they did otherwise treat each other decently.
Posted by: grasshopper | November 08, 2006 at 11:16 AM
Grasshopper, that's how election ads should be! Someone joked to me the other day how you could tell if the ad would be positive or negative by the leading music. Why is it that all smear ads use the same heavy-handed minor chords?
I am proud to be a woman, today, though. Damn straight, second in line for the presidency!
Posted by: Claire | November 08, 2006 at 12:19 PM
For me, the win for Bob Casey was bittersweetness. On one hand, I started and ended my career in politics in that congressional district he won. Thus, I have some insider anger. Sherwood was a redneck without a clue. He deserved to be there as much as the crook who went before him for 32 years, Joe McDade.
However, Bob Casey is no charmer either. His father took Planned Parenthood to the woodshed in 1992. The Casey family of the Green Ridge section of Scranton needs to learn that outside of Scranton, women have rights and voices.
I'll take the win, but much like Claire, I will sit back and watch carefully hoping for a vote out by a stronger democrat down the road.
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | November 09, 2006 at 08:05 AM
I am so happy for my good 'ol state of Montana! You are right, it is a great change from the past elections. The only elections I have been able to vote in have turned out badly, so yay for change!
Posted by: Alix | November 09, 2006 at 05:19 PM
Claire,
Can I just tell you how very, very happy I am about these elections? Do you know what it is like to live in a part of the world where everyone HATES your government?
Posted by: Maryam in Marrakesh | November 11, 2006 at 02:47 PM
I was watching OH district 15 too, remembering the day Deborah Pryce came to talk to our 8th grade class in DC.
Bummer for Kilroy, but seeing as that is the only thing I wasn't happy with, it was a pretty great election!
Posted by: Lindalee | November 13, 2006 at 09:21 PM