2009.11.02
Contest time! Let's guess the size of the 'sweep'
Locality-by-locality breakdown of the 2008 presidential election in Virginia / Wikipedia
Virginia Republicans appear so confident of a sweep of the state's top three offices that Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, the GOP's candidate for attorney general, brazenly carried a broom all over the commonwealth during Halloween weekend.
If the Republicans manage to avoid winning Tuesday, Cuccinelli's act will go down in Virginia history as the epitome of overconfidence. But when you look at the polls, you can understand his chutzpah.
So let's play a little election game here: I want you to guess the combined percentage by which one party will beat the other in the race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Here's how it will work: Add up the percentage gap between the candidates and tell me which party will come out ahead, and by how much. Your entry will be the name of a party and a number, like this: Republicans, 27 percent.
Here's how to calculate your entry:
- Governor: Bob McDonnell 59 percent, Creigh Deeds 41 - gap equals 18
- Lt. Governor: Bill Bolling 54 percent , Jody Wagner 46 - gap equals 8
- AG: Ken Cuccinelli, 69 percent, Steve Shannon, 31 - the gap equals 38
Thus, your entry would be Republicans, 64 percent (18+8+38).
Note that if you predict the Democrats will win one of the races, that would be a negative number when adding up the percentages. Thus:
- Governor: Bob McDonnell 59 percent, Creigh Deeds 41 - gap equals 18
- Lt. Governor: Bill Bolling 54 percent , Jody Wagner 46 - gap equals 8
- AG: Steve Shannon 52 percent, Ken Cuccinelli 48 - the gap equals 4 (which counts as -4 when you add up your totals).
Thus, your entry would be Republicans, 22 percent (18+8-4).
The winner will get bragging rights as the political guru of this blog. And a book, as yet undetermined, that will have some bearing on politics.
Rules:
- Post your entry as a comment to this post.
- No entries will be accepted after 7 p.m. Tuesday
- In the event of a tie, I'll draw the winner's name from a hat
The contest begins NOW!
One can never be too confident when the Dems are involved. They have been known to CHEAT - remember when the Roanoke election when Republican mayoral candidate got ZERO votes in Grandin Court? LOL, they said the machine "malfunctioned." Obama won by taking small populated areas where ACORN could register dead people and others who were clueless about why they were voting. Never count the leftist out, power is their drug and they will do anything to get it.
Comment by Vast right wing conspiracy — November 2, 2009 @ 10:52 am
49
Comment by Mark Johnson — November 2, 2009 @ 11:01 am
I think the republicans take it bit closer to 6%-8%
Comment by tony — November 2, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Oh BTW..when we saw Cuccinelli with a broom on TV this morning my girlfriend and I looked at each other and said simultaniously "we know what hes really gonna do with that broom"
Comment by tony — November 2, 2009 @ 11:29 am
I predict the GOP wins by a combined 30 points.
Comment by T Witten — November 2, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Gee Vast, paranoid conspiracy theorist much?
Obama won by kicking McCain's ass. If you disagree, please find and source one case of a vote for Obama having been found as cast by a dead person. One.
Comment by Kristen — November 2, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
GOP 34 points
Comment by Joe — November 2, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
@6
Took less than a minute to find dead people on the voter lists
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Dead_people_voting
"Melvin Porter, although he died in January 2007, cast a vote in the March 4, 2008 Democratic primary in Dallas County."
Comment by Henry — November 2, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
Henry...which has nothing to do with Obama.
WingnutConspiracy might be confused by the difference between names on rolls and votes cast.
Comment by Kristen — November 2, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
It's kinda like people getting credit cards for their dog. Just like freedom of speech covers some monsters who do not deserve it, voting rights, most especially because of previous abuses, allows "dead" people to vote (and who knows what else) but that hardly accrues to only one side.
BTW, bragging about "reclaiming" Virginia will hardly make up for the fact that Pat and Jerry's kids could not deliver Virginia for McCain/Palin. I will take that trade any day of the week and glad to have it. It is a pipe dream that Virginia can ever really come out from under such a shadow. The Dems who have won here have hardly been Liberal or activist. That is just not how it is done in Virginia, yet. You can enjoy your little victory, I just wish Virginia could.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 2, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Republicans, 24.
Comment by VVarlock — November 2, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
unfortunately gop 20
Comment by dave — November 2, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
As for dead people voting this might shed some light as well. This kind of stuff makes cheating WAY too possible.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/56423
Comment by T Witten — November 2, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
T Witten,
CNSnews? Jeez, couldn't you find something on WorldNutDaily that supports your argument?
They're more reliable!
Comment by Dan Casey — November 2, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Even if you grant the source credibility and believe every word of it. The question remains that there is a vast difference in a dead person or a person who has moved or been adjudicated a felon, still being on a roll and that dead person, moved person or felon actually VOTING. How many relatives think to send the registrar a death certificate? How many people think to rescind their voting address with the registrar? How many registrars do not have the funding and resources to manage and maintain the rolls? How many dead or otherwise ineligible people have been proven to have voted AND is that number worth changing the voting registration system? I cannot argue it does not happen, I can certainly argue that it is not possible to prevent all voter (or registrar) error, ignorance or fraud.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 2, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
Dan,
Did you have issue with the analysis conducted by Aristotle International?
I hear they also believe the sky is blue...wrong there also?
You probably didnt even look at the analysis did you Dan?
Comment by T Witten — November 2, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
T Witten,
You are on to something. Check out this article and be glad this is Virginia and not New Jersy
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703932904574511612622116146.html
Comment by watchdog — November 2, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Dan
I wouldn't bust on any news sources. You work for the Roanoke Times.
Comment by Henry — November 2, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
I love the accusations about Dems acquiring dead peoples votes.anybody remember Bush-Gore?
Comment by Tony — November 2, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
Republicans 35. Get ready for 2010!
Comment by Michael A, Howdyshell — November 2, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
As much as it pains me to say this, I have to go with...
Republicans 43%
Comment by Lynda K — November 2, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
Republicans 26 "Change you can really believe in" and weep!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 2, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
I wouldn't bust on any news sources. You work for the Roanoke Times.
Comment by Henry
And you're a regular on their blogs.
Everybody get out and vote.
Comment by Art Hill — November 2, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
To bad so sad Sandi.
Can't wait until 2010 and 2012. If we still have a country to effect change on after this ludicrous health car bill.
Comment by Michael A, Howdyshell — November 3, 2009 @ 6:52 am
Saw Obama's campaign manager on the Today Show this morning talking about how the losses the Dems are facing today do not reflect on the President, He actually said that the election results today were insignificant and the most important thing to happen in this election was the NY Republican's traiterous choice to drop out of the election and endorse the Democrat. It seems the Obama media machine is already trying to distance itself from any potential losers and claim victory in spite of the actual outcome.Now we find the libs on the blogs doing the same thing.
Thank God today is the last day of listening to the liberals and their lapdog media drone on about how Virginians will be better served by the detailed plans of the candidate who ironically has put forth no plans or details. The last day of hearing about not "choosing style over substance", even though their candidate has revealed no substance. No more deceitful attack ads, empty rhetoric and blindly partisan endorsements. Just 12 more hours and then we can look forward to the predictions of doom and gloom and about how Virginia has regressed 50 years. Gotta love the party of hope.
BTW - GOP by 28
Comment by Another Chris — November 3, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Don't believe the LIES folks...these elections ARE a referendum on 0bama.
Why do you think he ginned up ACORN so fast in NJ?
Once again, his ACTIONS speak volumes, while his WORDS have no meaning.
Comment by T Witten — November 3, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Another Chris thinks he has heard the end of something, ROFLOL!! Not in a million years and another galaxy have you heard the end of anything. There is nothing, not even being in control, that I like better than back seat driving, and saying I told you so. People get ready, we will be more than happy to point out every error, misstep, missed cue, illogical move, wrong direction, unkept promise, lies come home to roost and remind you all (probably daily) how bad a choice Virginia made. You know, just like you all have done with Obama. I cannot wait for the swearing in to be done. I am going to start researching this very day. I know that WND and FOX keep you all armed, but guess what, we have sources for ammo too. Life is good. Defeat is just another thing to blame on the opposition and another opportunity to remind folks of the choice they had. WOW, are you new at this or what?
AS to the 23rd District in NY. The titmouse head of the Conservative movement is leading you all off a cliff and you do not even see it. The mouth that drove the Republican from the race to clear the way for the Conservative who knows little about the district and has not lived there may well win (it is a conservative district) but this "eating your young" style of politics repulses more people than it gains and you will reap what you sow. RINO's bite when cornered and someone is in for a rude awakening. As soon as the actual Republicans realize the dead weight of loud mouth Conservatives is the problem and NOT the solution, America can move forward again. Did you not even notice how "to the middle" the Republicans in Virginia ran? Do you not see the writing on the wall? Electing a Republican who promises bipartisanship will NOT mean between Conservatives and Republicans! America is center right and Conservatives are not. Period.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 3, 2009 @ 10:34 am
As I and my girlfriend were going to vote this morning our cat followed us.we live very close to our polling place..when we went in to vote I asked the lady there if my cat could vote as well.she said laughingly"hed have to be 18" I told her hes only one or two but we could sure use his vote..hes a Democat..
Comment by Tony — November 3, 2009 @ 11:40 am
With 20% self identifying as republican and over 30% as Dem that leaves @ 50% independent.
Put 8-10% on each wing that still leaves 30% in the middle. The 30% that each party needs to get to win. If America is Center Right as so many claim then those would be easy for the R's to grab up with a moderate strategy.
Instead the Republicans appear to be leaning towards a right right strategy run by idiots, ideologues and egotists who serve themselves first and then party and country considerations. This strategy will fail in 2010. Even the most energized base 10-15% can only bring you so much. The other problem with an energized base is that it feeds the base of the opposition too.
So Republicans begin Nov 2009 with 20%. Add to that 7% for getting their base ginned up really well and getting them out to vote. Add to that 10% bonus for the fringe right all voting republican instead of some other independent party. 37%.
But consider the response. The Left's base and fringe will respond almost as well due to the rhetorical nature that has to be used to gin up the base of the right. So Dems with 30% base plus 4% for a kind of anti-response and 9% for the fringe. 43%.
The centrist independents and undecideds are still the deciding factor here. The Republicans embracing the extremists at WND and Beck's hour of lies push away the deciding factor.
Not that I am complaining much, a couple of years in the wilderness for them could make them return to a more centrist social platform and cast off the Falwellian Reich. It would be nice for me to be able to vote Republican occasionally without having to vote for a Fundagelical science hating moron.
Comment by VVarlock — November 3, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
Sandi, if history is any guide, we should expect nothing less from any true liberal than incessant whining, complaining, deceit and hypocrisy. No solutions of course, but plenty of the above. So hop on into the back seat and start braying, we were expecting it. While you're back there, re-read your first paragraph and tell me again, who is it that has an obstructionist mentality?
Oh I am quite certain we haven't heard the last of the kids in the backseat, but at least the end of the Deeds campaign is in sight. Perhaps he will be more forthcoming with the details of his loss than he was with his transportation plan. You are right about one thing though. Virginia, and America, ARE center right, not the far left liberal wackos that Obama and his cronies seem to think they are. Perhaps today will be a wake-up call.
And why did the Commander-in-Chief order the Acorn troops into Jersey? Are the brothels having trouble getting work permits for illegal immigrant minors?
Comment by Another Chris — November 3, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Btw- it was not just one poll. It was 2 separate polls one by the Wash Post and one by another polling company - Democracy Corps.
Even assuming a bias in the polls, as many on the right will claim; it still shows moving away from the middle will be disastrous for the Republicans.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/the-incredible-shrinking-gop-only-one-in-five-self-identify-as-republican/
Comment by VVarlock — November 3, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
But 40% consider themselves CONSERVATIVE, while only 20% liberal.
Ideology, not party.
Comment by T Witten — November 3, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
What will cause Dems to lose seats in 2010..is Obamas policies..I tend to vote against canditates instead of for them..Obamas victory was really a vote against Bush and his ilk..Now Obamas the incumbent with a growing amount of people unhappy at the least and quite angry in some cases with his policies..Ownership of banks,auto companies..Cap n Trade and the Health bill just name a few.There is no doubt that Dems will lose seats in 2010..no matter what the Republicans do..they are out of power so all the blame or credit will be on Obama and the Dems..
Comment by Tony — November 3, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Another Chris, you are amazing: If history is any guide, we should expect nothing less from any true Conservative than the incessant whining, complaining, deceit and hypocrisy we have had for the last 10 months. No solutions of course, but plenty of the above. They have been in the back seat braying all this time; we were expecting it and yet, while you're back there, can you suddenly see where I got my first paragraph and tell me again, who is it that has an obstructionist mentality?
I know we haven't heard the last of the whiners who want their country back, but at least the end of the McDonnell parade is at hand and now he too will have to govern with a hostile populace salivating for his "failure". Perhaps he will be more forthcoming with the truth than he was with his transportation plan and his plan to govern in a bipartisan fashion but I doubt it. I am right that Virginia, and America, ARE center right, not the far right Conservative whackos that Rush, Beck and their cronies seem to think they are. 2008 was not a wake up call, 2009 was not a wake up call and 2010 will not be a wake up call because some of you do not want to wake up and face the music you created. You would rather attack and complain than govern and that has been proven beyond doubt. Good luck with that!
GOTCHA!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 3, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
right wingers win 3 by total of 17. Is there a bank that would make a loan
on such numbers?
Comment by Don't vote it will only encourage them — November 3, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
Right wing 12,4,1 total 17
Comment by Don't vote it will only encourage them — November 3, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
right wing totals 12,4,1
Comment by Don't vote it will only encourage them — November 3, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
So I gather DVIWOET is going with 17.
Comment by Kristen — November 3, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
GOP, +38%
Comment by Adam Doyle — November 3, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
Witten
The Democratic party catering to the moderates and Republican party catering to the right. The middle goes left in that scenario.
I know that ideology and party are not the same, but many people vote both, not either or.
However, it really doesn't matter if the republicans lean to the right any further and do not start acting like fiscal conservatives again (start by repudiating BushII as a fiscal liberal/moderate not a conservative).
There is a meta study which shows just how fractured and incorrect your 40% is.
http://www.unc.edu/~jstimson/Pathways.pdf#page=8
This study shows that while many Americans identify as conservative that the actual practical effect is much further to the liberal side. Part of the possible reason for this is the success with which the right has been able to malign the word liberal. The label conservative is much more popular than the label liberal, but the actions and opinions of the people who will claim conservative when asked that simple question are not in line with what the far right, the Falwellian Fundagelicals mean.
The study broke down the positions into moral issues (gay rights, abortion, etc) and new deal type social welfare issues (spending, civil rights, race issues, redistribution of wealth).
Figure 1 (for those who will not bother to actually read the study and want pretty pictures).
This figure shows that when not just asked liberal or conservative, but when asked specifics about typical liberal or conservative positions the actual effect was well over 50% liberal 'mood' in 2004 while the response to the general question showed a symbolic response of significantly less than 40% liberal.
Figure 3
When the two areas (social welfare and moral) were separated there was a huge rift among so-called conservatives.
The top half of figure three shows that among those who said they were liberal over 70% were liberal on both issues. The bottom half shows that among those who identified as 'conservative' less than 30% were conservative on both issues. It also showed that over 20% of people who self-identified as conservative were actually conservative on neither of those two sections.
So, that 40% of America is schizo. I again say that if the R's do not at least make a modest attempt to cast out the crazies and attract moderates they will repeatedly be the minority party.
Comment by VVarlock — November 3, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
we know one thing.whoever wins..its still gonna suck!The winning side will feel good for 10 minutes then back to SOS..
Comment by tony — November 3, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
Republicans (36%)(12+10+14)
Comment by GAR — November 3, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
"he too will have to govern with a hostile populace salivating for his "failure". "
If the indicators are correct, he will no more have to gevern with a hostile populace than will your hero in the White House. Perhaps CONSERVATIVE Virginians should adopt the "We Won" mentality demonstrated so adeptly by the left. But as usual, we won't. We will instead reach a hand of bipartisanship across the aisle in attempt to represent all Virginians. It will be interesting to see how it is received.
"You would rather attack and complain than govern and that has been proven beyond doubt."
First, I guess it's a good thing I'm not running for office, and second, I didn't hear you pot, what color did you say the kettle was?
Comment by Another Chris — November 3, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
And on that we can agree Tony!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 3, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
22
Comment by Doug — November 3, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
+28 GOP
I'm only entering for the book...the review is hilarious.
Comment by Kristen — November 3, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
Yep..that ole benovelant right wing we know um well..just ask the 1,000,000 murdered Iraqis..yep .them sum good ole boys..
Comment by tony — November 3, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Wow...the GOP really kicked their arse didnt they? Independents made a statement loud and clear last night. NO MORE BIG GOVERMENT NONSENSE.
Great stuff.
2010 is going to be ROUGH for the Dems, if they dont change their ways.
Comment by T Witten — November 4, 2009 @ 10:39 am
But what you fail to grasp is that it will be even tougher on us. You think we got in this shape because of Liberal or Democratic rule for the last half century? Do you seriously believe Obama is to blame for ALL of this mess we face? Are you really that partisan and bitter, have you no sense of proportion, no knowledge of real history and no idea what is ahead for the service class we are fast becoming. The message of "Atlas Shrugged" that you all love so well is very simple: "don't be the trash" and just who do you think the trash will eventually be? Gloat while you can, because if the eyes ever open, the first to be blamed will be those who helped this all happen.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 4, 2009 @ 11:03 am
Witten
I do not believe you have evidence that there was an independent movement towards the Republicans, at least not a large one.
VA always goes against their previous years vote. It's like they do it to show how independent they are.
There was no other significantly large percentage switch.
So what we have is a small statement that Obama's popularity has fallen.
I think NY is much more a bellwether and should be a loud message to the R's. Running right is a bad idea and splitting the vote amongst moderates and the right is only good for the left.
Comment by VVarlock — November 4, 2009 @ 11:05 am
VVarlock,
Look at ANY exit polling data. The GOP won the VAST majority of the Independents last night. BIG TIME.
0bama won the independents over BIGTIME last November.
There was an ENORMOUS switchover. Look at any exit polling data from last night.
0bama sold himself as something he isn't...a moderate. His policies, so far, betray the trust of many, many, many voters. They wanted ECONOMIC change...not STATISM.
Comment by T Witten — November 4, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
"The Associated Press exit polls showed that nearly a third of voters in Virginia described themselves as independents, and nearly as many in New Jersey did. They preferred McDonnell by almost a 2-1 margin over Deeds in Virginia, and Christie over Corzine by a similar margin.
Last year, independents split between Obama and Republican John McCain in both states."
Comment by T Witten — November 4, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
"key factor, as in most elections, was independents: Obama split Virginia independents with John McCain in 2008, en route to becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the state since 1964. McDonnell, though, won independents by a thumping 66-33 percent.
Corzine, too, lost independents in New Jersey by a wide margin, 60-30 percent – the reason he lost a state where Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 10 points."
http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/election-2009-virginia-jersey-exit-polls-obama-economy/story?id=8984551
Comment by T Witten — November 4, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
No response to that data?
Comment by T Witten — November 5, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
Exit polling is highly unscientific, but I will give you that I appear to be incorrect, you at least have some data which shows a movement of independents in VA and NJ. I concede that point.
However, I would like to point out that the Republican candidates in both of those races ran more moderate than they may actually be and at least ran races intended to draw the middle. In NY the race showed that the independents in the US are mainly in the middle and that they do not trend right as far as that far right candidate.
Comment by VVarlock — November 5, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
@ VVarlock,
W/ regard to Virginia, Bob McDonnell has been a Pat Robertson bootlicker his entire career, and he still is one.
I will never forget the day 14 years ago when Sen. Deeds called me and almost BEGGED me to write a correction/retraction to a quote of his that I had put in a story about Pat Robertson.
It was so strange, because he had obviously said what I had quoted him saying, I had written it down word for word. And he was honest enough NOT to flat-out claim that he HADN'T said it. But what he was doing was more of less pleading with me to write that he hadn't said it, anyway -- to go along with a minor charade, please please please -- and I refused to go along.
It sounded like he was scared of Robertson way back then. And I wondered 4 years ago, when McDonnell ran against him for AG, and again this year, in the governor's race, whether McDonnell's candidacy wasn't partly driven by Robertston's desire for some good old-fashioned score-settling.
About that 1995 story: It was the one where PR's bodyguard pulled a gun on me and a Roanoke Times photographer. I am working on the "story of that story" right now but it is a long one. Stay tuned.
Comment by Dan Casey — November 5, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
Who cares about Pat Robertson? Not anybody I know.
Comment by T Witten — November 5, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
Dan is dreaming up conspiracies already with Pat Robertson pulling the magic strings. Was McDonnell born in Kenya too?
Comment by Henry — November 5, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
T Witten, you are braying about polling and statistics that are frankly embarrassing, so please do not use "VAST", "BIG TIME" and "ENORMOUS". When roughly 40% of registered voters bothered that means that the majority of Virginians either had no opinion or saw no appreciable difference so reading the tea leaves as favoring a slaughter of some sort is false on it's face. OF COURSE any candidate that wins will need the Independents to do so ESPECIALLY in Virginia. THAT is why McDonnell was in sheep's clothing and distancing himself from any values issues that are usually the Republican and ALWAYS the Conservative drumbeat. Your side has been insisting for months that Obama somehow fooled us and ACORN frauded him into office, well we feel the same way about McDonnell. Even as I pray hard I am wrong, I fear for the path of Virginia just as you do for America. You got your victory and it may well be a trend if the TEA folks have their way with enough Independents and even more Independents and Dems stay home again. Sometimes, you just deserve to get beat and this was one of those times.
Trust me Warlock, McDonnell is as moderate as I am!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 5, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/opinion/05collins.html?em
Gail Collins is hilarious and right on the money with this.
Sorry TWitten. The results yesterday don't speak of much at all. I notice you ignore what happened in NY state.
Comment by Kristen — November 5, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Sandi
Aye, I know his true bent, including the voting record which was attached to the article on his thesis, showing he predominately voted in accordance with his thesis' positions.
Thus my careful "Republican candidates in both of those races ran more moderate than they may actually be and at least ran races intended to draw the middle." As has been my position, the far right, anti-intellectual, anti-any-government, Falwellian Reich is hurting the Republicans.
Kristen
Good article to put a little light onto the claims of the R's from this election.
They are also ignoring that there were 2 U.S. House elections and neither the Republicans nor the conservatives won a single one. Not NY, not CA.
So, by that margin the Republicans will win nothing in 2010, thus adding to the Democrat majority (not my actual belief, but shows the pain of extrapolating out prognostications from an incomplete data set).
Comment by VVarlock — November 5, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Honestly, our elections are a joke. Seriously. Think about it for a moment. Even the last Presidential election with the larger than normal turnout, Obama was elected by a whopping 22.8% of the country. Now, granted, a large portion of the population can't vote due to age, criminal records, or some other such reasoning...but that's it. Less than half the total population voted in that election for President too, so it's really not possible for anyone to truly say they have a mandate from the public when so small a portion of the public actually votes, let alone votes for the winning candidate. And we're trying to bring our system to the rest of the world. Yep, makes sense to me.
Comment by Other John — November 5, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
Other John
Americans are ungrateful louts with no respect for their system of government who are highly disillusioned by the 'two-party' system.
In emerging democracies the percentage is usually much higher. In 2005 and 2009 Iraq has a turn out of over 50%. Afghanistan had 70% in 2004 and between 40 and 50 in 2009. This, in spite of the fact that each of those 4 elections had violence threatened or carried out on voters or at voting places.
Americans no longer appreciate their democracy, no longer care to participate in the system that makes this country great. Even those who do participate do so not knowing squat about most of the candidates or issues.
How far the mighty have fallen. How disgraceful it is that Rome has fallen to the barbarians.
Comment by VVarlock — November 6, 2009 @ 2:11 am
@Sandi
"T Witten, you are braying about polling and statistics"
Asses bray...you ARE a Democrat...are you not?"
-----------
Kristen,
I dont ignore NY. I just think 2-3 weeks of campaigning is utterly unrealistic if you want to win an election.
-----------
To all, I dont want a Conservative ACTIVIST in office. I WANT a principled Conservative in office. One who WILL Listen to the other side and work with them, but also hold true to his/her basic principles.
Nobody is right 100% of the time. Ideas from all angles should be considered, whether the GOP is in total control or not.
Comment by T Witten — November 6, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Witten
From the actions we have seen from the Republicans, I doubt there is a 'principled conservative' in congress today.
They seem as a group to be more sexually promiscuous than Clinton.
I doubt that the left is much better, but surely we have the right to demand better from a party who claims to be about 'conservative values', that their religious bigotry against gays is actually about the 'sanctity of marriage', that they are god's party, that they are guided by their religion, ad infinitum. The Republicans, hypocrites even worse than the Dem's.
That is what you get when you have a religion that is about zero personal responsibility.
Comment by VVarlock — November 6, 2009 @ 11:11 am
VVarlock,
Dems have no standards. Thats fine. Nothing to live up to.
I disagree that there aren't any principled members in the GOP. AND I bet there are a few reasonable, principled Dems as well. I was just stating what I would like to see personally.
Comment by T Witten — November 6, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
T. Witten, if the shoe fits...
You say, "I WANT a principled Conservative in office. One who WILL Listen to the other side and work with them, but also hold true to his/her basic principles." Do you know of any such person in office right now? Do you yourself offer any such "listening" and "working with" type of posts? You can say what you do not WANT all you like, we all see what you post and advocate as well as what you insult and disdain.
Democrats have standards and a platform JUST like the Republicans and while many individuals on BOTH sides fall far short of them, the parties as a whole stick pretty close to them IMO. The thing that causes problems is when one side has standards they want only the other side t "live up to".
You cannot have credibility (outside of your sheep) if:
you rail against adulterers while patting them on the back
you rail against welfare cheats and hug corporate welfare cheats
you rail against anti-American protesters and then turn into them
you rail against gay marriage hurting the "sanctity" you yourself do not feel about marriage
you rail against religious bigotry and discrimination while practicing it
you rail against the campaign funding and finances of only the other side
you rail against people who do not pay taxes and applaud the businesses who do not pay taxes
you rail against the government meddling between doctor and patient and support the insurance company doing the same
you rail against government funding for ACORN and salute funding for Blackwater
you rail against Democrats while being JUST AS BAD
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 6, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
"When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are."
Comment by T Witten — November 6, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Witten 68#
Translation " You are right Sandi Republicans are hypocrites and I don't have a response so I will call you names".
Well played sir.
/Sarcasm off
Comment by VVarlock — November 8, 2009 @ 6:15 am
Arguing with the irrational and unreasonable is irrational and unreasonable.
Comment by T Witten — November 9, 2009 @ 10:49 am
TWitten, you continue to add great value!
"Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
"Yabba dabba doo"
Comment by Kristen — November 9, 2009 @ 10:57 am
"Arguing with the irrational and unreasonable is irrational and unreasonable" I know T. Witten, but I am a Liberal and I have faith and hope that you will someday see the light so I just keep on trying.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 9, 2009 @ 11:24 am