Political Rants

I can't stop watching the CNN election results online. I'm like an election junkie.

And I'm supposed to be working! Well, to be fair, I'm working the ref desk on an election Tuesday night, as I've done for 11 years, which means I'm mostly looking up patrons' polling places. I can do that AND keep one eye on CNN.

On the theory that 'all politics is local', here's what I'm watching: Right now the Missouri Senate race is neck and neck. As a near neighbor (Iowa) this is of interest to me. They don't yet have info on our Iowa gubernatorial race, which is of even greater interest to me. Ohio is looking good, which pleases me (my family is in Cleveland).

Oh wait, I hit Refresh! Now...the McCaskill has pulled ahead in Missouri (yay!), but this means nothing--polls are open for another hour here in the Heartland.

Refresh again. Still nothing on the Iowa gubernatorial. Bah! And Missouri is back to neck and neck. Bah!

It looks like Santorum had his ass handed to him on a plate--CNN's calling it for Casey, even with almost no precincts reporting (based on polling, I assume). Well, that's encouraging. Santorum makes my teeth itch.

Virginia is neck and neck, but I find I don't like either candidate, so I can't get very excited there.

Of course all of this is ridiculous, as almost no precincts, even on the East coast, are fully reported. And we may have another Ohio or Florida to contend with. Come on, who's up for it? Montana? A Dakota? Guam?

Ultimately, I will wait for Jon Stewart to tell me what's what. Yes, that's right, I've decided that my late night election coverage will ultimately come from...Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

What?! I may be CNN's whore, but I'm married to Stewart's Daily Show

Cheers, everybody. Don't forget to vote.

This election cycle, MoveOn.org is trying a new voter turnout calling system, Call for Change



It's a step in the right direction, I think, to energize progressive voters. I hope it works. I get the feeling that a number of elections today will be decided by just a few votes per precinct. I did some calling this morning through my state party's GOTV project (I'm a precinct captain, so this made more sense for me), and was pleased by the response. Less apathy, more definite "yes, I have voted" or "yes, I'm on my way to vote!" than in previous years.

It really does matter, folks. I believe that. I have to. Otherwise, what are we all doing here?

My favorite DSM Register columnist wrote this great article in support of my favorite candidate this entire election cycle--Denise O'Brien, the Dem running for Iowa Secy of Agriculture. She's an organic farmer (!) and tough as nails. The Register stupidly, and rather half-assedly, endorsed her opponent, and they've been regretting it ever since. A flurry of letters to the editor plus Rekha's column have made them look foolish.

The Democrat from Atlantic isn't just the better candidate for Iowa agriculture secretary, she's one of the most exciting candidates for any office in next week's elections. Even if agriculture isn't your issue, she's talking about our identity and quality of life as a state.