Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

November 8, 2008

By David Evans.

The screech in Nevada, the S & L mechanic in Prescott, it must be Tuesday, the last of the national cycle. Dixville Notch voted for change 15-6. Hart’s Location voted change 17-10-2 (Ron Paul write-ins). Trent, Franks and Flake, the AZ GOP contingent, sojourned to Prescott, Richard Byrd (R-MS) went along with Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Mel Martinez (R-FL). So did Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who is probably in his last term.

A single CT voter can always make a considerable impression by an intelligent appraisal of a complicated situation. About Lieberman and all things political, a gentle laugh will capture a complex truth. A remarkable ensemble of Howard graduates graced the southwest over election weekend to remember a brother lost to the road. Musicians and other professionals will all tell you that the road will get the better of you, sooner or later. It takes some way too soon. Like a rejuvenated Phoenix, too-young Moe will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, especially in the young leaders. May they find new voice and amplification as change arrives.

The ongoing parlor game is the final number of blue Senate seats. Oregon is blue. The polls will be proved wrong in some states, they undervalue youthful voters and cellphones. AK, MN, GA seem to be the only remaining pickups. TX, ID, and other obvious southern and western states will change next time. Remember that we began November at 49-49-2 in the Senate. The institutional milestones are 60 percent (to prevent filibuster) and two-thirds (to override vetoes). Both will still occur on a bipartisan basis.

Wyoming is currently for Cheneys. Utah is for a progressive future. Oklahoma will be OK with change sooner than expected. The volunteer state will have a new Senator shortly. Alabama is overdue for a tidal wave. Only SC and LA let Senators serve a long time.

Palin will be the answer to a trivia question in the mid-twenty-first century, perhaps earlier. Look for her to move up the ballot at least once more, with the same ultimate mush resulting.

Day of Reckoning

Most surprising result Tuesday late was North Carolina, Wednesday late was Alaska. Minnesota was deadlocked. Tie goes to funny one. Colorado former rep Marilyn Musgrave lost by an unpredictable percentage. Texas lost twice-former rep Nick Lampson. Hunter consistently said Georgia, CDB was the music for Tuesday. I will consult the Hunter oracle about December second. It is again clear Hunter has no peer.

The next Senator from Georgia won a contentious runoff late in the summer. His opponent twice voted for “the appointed one” and was proud of it. In Georgia’s glorious history, few more than Wyche Fowler have been a pleasant surprise on Election Day. Fowler won a contest nobody expected him to win in the eighties. He and Sam Nunn were a powerhouse, together with a strong congressional delegation.

Columbus will host the annual peace gathering on November 20th. Big names will attend. None will be arrested, but those who will be arrested are conscientiously possessed of unusual courage. In the nineteenth year of this peaceful annual assembly, there is no chance of pre-trial diversion, probation, community service (in the usual sense) or deferred adjudication for stepping over the line. Crossers know they will serve three to six months federal. They peacefully, nonviolently, respectfully continue to petition the federal government until WHINSEC is closed, each according to their own conscience. So now in Georgia, Columbus Day has been moved to the weekend closest to November 16. This year, it is 11/20-22. Go or pay close attention. This is democracy at its finest. Then December second will reveal democracy at its most deliberative choice point.

Houston-Galveston has an extra inning for senate district 17. Every one of the 31 votes in Texas is important because change is just beginning to solidify for the Lone Star. The current presiding officer shortsightedly changed the rules for re-redistricting and recently continued to underhand contentious legislation by scheduling a vote during Houston State Senator Super Mario’s hospitalization. Mario Gallegos came and voted anyway. Draconian voter ID requirements failed and so will Lt. Gov. Dewhurst on his next electoral attempt.

Hunter says Mountain Dew will be the party favorite, and Glen Campbell’s Galveston will be the featured musical offering when the bell tolls in the TX Senate District 17 special election runoff. Just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets, both Houston and Atlanta are hosting tie-breakers. It is not too early to predict dancing in the streets, all night long. Final score: Houston Blue, Atlanta Blue.

The Minnesota statewide recount will commence November 15. Jeff Merkley’s win in Oregon has deprived the Udall family of a Senate seat. Mark and Tom are the only two remaining, but they both have long careers ahead of them.

The last day of Palin McCain had him in FL, TN, PA, IN, NM, NV, AZ. TN was designed to influence VA. She was in OH, MO, IA, CO, NV, AK. Each will have a deservedly prominent voice in the affairs of the nation in years to come.

It is not clear what AK voters intended in keeping Ted Stevens this close. Would they actually rather send Sarah to DC? Texans tried that way of getting rid of a governor in 2000. Arkansas did it in 1992. Many others did the same throughout NY, VA and OH long electoral histories. The other 49 have not yet forgiven the Lone Star for its collective myopia. Texans say he is a well-Connecticut Yankee, unjust like dear old dad and granddad. Prescott probably deserves better.

It is an exercise in raw politics for the fifth Tuesday after the first Monday in November. May the best candidates serve all their constituents well in January. The world has seen a little fresh evidence that people are capable of governing themselves, but the experiment is never safe, the conclusion is never proven. To cite an adage: democracy is not something we have, it is something we do. Only to the extent that we do it do we have it.

Written by admin · Filed Under Opinion