I just saw a post on a Vermont news blog where people were discussing the gubernatorial election (which apparently is tight right now…the incumbent Dem still slightly in the lead); a person commented that she doesn't like either candidate. "I want Howard Dean back! Waaah!" Several of us agreed with her!!
We had 7 candidates for VT Governor. It is so close that the VT Legislature is going to have to choose. (They always pick the person who got the most votes.)
Peter Shumlin Dem 87,756 46.55% Scott Milne GOP 85,286 45.24% Dan Feliciano Lib 8,189 4.34% Emily Peyton Ind 3,163 1.68% Pete Diamondstone LibUn 1,643 0.87% Bernard Peters Ind 1,404 0.74% Cris Ericson Ind 1,076 0.57%
I hereby call upon the youth of this nation to take over! Get involved, run for office, throw out the old boys' club in Congress. You have two years: GO!
As I recall, the millenials are are more numerous (by a bit) than the boomers. It seems things are trending in the direction I would like, but it's much slower than I would wish. The political situation here is not in such a mess as in the UK, but I do wonder what it will be like in a couple more decades... Strange Things Happening Every Day [Click]
I just now checked the current returns in California. The most interesting part was the propositions--it seems every one I voted for was a winner--and none were close. All about 60:40 for or against.
Tonight on NPR they said it looks like only about 37% of Americans voted yesterday. When the final numbers are in, if it's less than 38.1%, then it's the lowest voter turnout since 1942, which was during WWII. It isn't that voters flocked to endorse Republicans, it's that more non-Republicans are giving up.
I'm not sure that's the most precise way to look at it. It has been notorious for decades that the groups that lean Democratic -- young people, minorities, economically disadvantaged people -- tend to need a presidential election to motivate them. This time general disaffection with Washington probably suppressed turnout across the board. Doesn't really suggest anything about 2016, but does mean that Democrats need to find some way to energize their likely supporters come 2018.
I'll be 82 then. Even if I'm retired, I'm not sure I'll find the stamina to be out knocking on doors.
Okay, here's how Vermont turned out. In the VT House, Republicans gained 9 seats. They will now have 54 of 150 seats. Progressives gained a seat, so will now have 6. In the VT Senate, Republicans gained 2 seats. They will now have 9 of 30 seats. The rest of the seats are occupied by Democrats & Democrat/Progressives. Our Democratic Governor may have won by a little over 2000 votes. The VT Legislature will have to formally choose him. Everyone is talking about low voter turnout: 37% nationally (lowest since 1942) and 43.7% in Vermont (lowest since 1978). But I have to say I was surprised by that, because working at the polls and then counting the vote into late evening, it is plain that my town had a solid voter turnout. I will see if I can learn the percentage.
OK, here's the Illinois results: Republicans narrowly defeated Gov. Pat Quinn and won the open Comptroller office. Other state-wide Democratic incumbents won handily. And Republicans could not pick up a single additional seat in the Illinois House, leaving Democrats with a veto-proof majority.
For federal offices, Republicans knocked off two freshman Democratic representatives (one of them a race way down south I hadn't heard about), but couldn't dislodge the other three. And Sen. Durbin won a record 4th term handily.
I voted about 4 and could see a line starting to form as I left. The Tribune reported instances in Chicago where people in line to vote when the polls closed at 7 actually got in to cast their ballots at 3 a.m.
I just saw a post on a Vermont news blog where people were discussing the gubernatorial election (which apparently is tight right now…the incumbent Dem still slightly in the lead); a person commented that she doesn't like either candidate. "I want Howard Dean back! Waaah!" Several of us agreed with her!!
ReplyDeleteWe had 7 candidates for VT Governor.
DeleteIt is so close that the VT Legislature is going to have to choose.
(They always pick the person who got the most votes.)
Peter Shumlin Dem 87,756 46.55%
Scott Milne GOP 85,286 45.24%
Dan Feliciano Lib 8,189 4.34%
Emily Peyton Ind 3,163 1.68%
Pete Diamondstone LibUn 1,643 0.87%
Bernard Peters Ind 1,404 0.74%
Cris Ericson Ind 1,076 0.57%
Updated: 1:35 AM Precincts Reporting: 266/275
I hereby call upon the youth of this nation to take over! Get involved, run for office, throw out the old boys' club in Congress. You have two years: GO!
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, the millenials are are more numerous (by a bit) than the boomers. It seems things are trending in the direction I would like, but it's much slower than I would wish. The political situation here is not in such a mess as in the UK, but I do wonder what it will be like in a couple more decades...
ReplyDeleteStrange Things Happening Every Day [Click]
--Alan
I just now checked the current returns in California. The most interesting part was the propositions--it seems every one I voted for was a winner--and none were close. All about 60:40 for or against.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Tonight on NPR they said it looks like only about 37% of Americans voted yesterday. When the final numbers are in, if it's less than 38.1%, then it's the lowest voter turnout since 1942, which was during WWII. It isn't that voters flocked to endorse Republicans, it's that more non-Republicans are giving up.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that's the most precise way to look at it. It has been notorious for decades that the groups that lean Democratic -- young people, minorities, economically disadvantaged people -- tend to need a presidential election to motivate them. This time general disaffection with Washington probably suppressed turnout across the board. Doesn't really suggest anything about 2016, but does mean that Democrats need to find some way to energize their likely supporters come 2018.
DeleteI'll be 82 then. Even if I'm retired, I'm not sure I'll find the stamina to be out knocking on doors.
Okay, here's how Vermont turned out.
ReplyDeleteIn the VT House, Republicans gained 9 seats. They will now have 54 of 150 seats. Progressives gained a seat, so will now have 6.
In the VT Senate, Republicans gained 2 seats. They will now have 9 of 30 seats.
The rest of the seats are occupied by Democrats & Democrat/Progressives.
Our Democratic Governor may have won by a little over 2000 votes. The VT Legislature will have to formally choose him.
Everyone is talking about low voter turnout: 37% nationally (lowest since 1942) and 43.7% in Vermont (lowest since 1978). But I have to say I was surprised by that, because working at the polls and then counting the vote into late evening, it is plain that my town had a solid voter turnout. I will see if I can learn the percentage.
OK, here's the Illinois results: Republicans narrowly defeated Gov. Pat Quinn and won the open Comptroller office. Other state-wide Democratic incumbents won handily. And Republicans could not pick up a single additional seat in the Illinois House, leaving Democrats with a veto-proof majority.
DeleteFor federal offices, Republicans knocked off two freshman Democratic representatives (one of them a race way down south I hadn't heard about), but couldn't dislodge the other three. And Sen. Durbin won a record 4th term handily.
I voted about 4 and could see a line starting to form as I left. The Tribune reported instances in Chicago where people in line to vote when the polls closed at 7 actually got in to cast their ballots at 3 a.m.
I plumb forgot to mention that while our VT Senators weren't up for re-election this time, Rep. Peter Welch was re-elected in a landslide. wOOt!
DeleteVERY GOOD Ally news!
ReplyDelete--Alan
(Who can't fathom why people don't vote.)