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According to pundits we’ll soon know which way the country is “leaning” once election results pour in tonight. But I wonder, is that really true? Exactly what will we know in this crazy time?
Here’s a quick set of questions for you to sort out what’s really happening. Let me know what you think.
1. What if the Republican candidate for Governor wins Virginia the year after President Obama won the state? Does it really mean there’s been some kind of fundamental shift (once more) in the American mood? If so, what is that shift? If not, why not?
2. What if any of the three gubernatorial candidates win in New Jersey after such a horrid, negative race? That’s right, what if one of them actually gets elected! Indeed, what would it say if Chris Daggett, the Independent, holds his own, garnering maybe 10% of the vote?
3. What about the circus-like congressional race in Upstate New York (not too far from my hometown)? The Republican drops out due to pressure from conservatives, only to endorse the Democrat. What does this race tell us about the state of our affairs? Will the results tell us anything more or different?
Take a crack at one or more of these questions and write back. Let’s figure out what this election is really about.
Post your answers and thoughts in the comments.
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Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Sep 30, 2011 | IsabellaBack in school, I'm doing so much learnnig. -
Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Sep 28, 2011 | MinervaI don't even know what to say, this made things so much easeir! -
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Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Nov 10, 2009 | mark j mayberryI hope u feel the same about Michael Vick. -
Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Nov 3, 2009 | Ed Collective, WCRX-LPAmerican voters are impulsive and predictable.
Electoral politics are technical.
The New York 23rd Congressional District and the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races are examples of voter impulsiveness and predictability and how candidates (and political parties) try to wring advantage out of technical electoral rules.
Look at the technical statistics on party affiliation in New Jersey:
Gov. Corzine (Democrat. Registered NJ Democrats: 1.7 million) Chris Christie (Republican. Registered NJ Republicans: 1.0 million) Chris Daggett. (Independent. NJ Independents: 2.3 million).
Think about the campaign tactics in New Jersey and how they relate to these statistics.
Virginia governor race is about the impulsive behavior of voters. Democrat Deeds assumed too much predictability of voters. Republican McDonnell understands how impulsive voters are.
New York 23rd. This is an electoral race (races?) unwittingly performed for the amusement of the nation.
In central Ohio (where I am) the technical side of electoral politics manifests itself this year.
There are an unusually high number of write-in candidates campaigning because a lot of announced candidates didn’t fill out their paper work properly.
City auditor: two write-in candidates. City school board, unexpired term: three write-in candidates. City school board, full term: three qualified candidates and three write-in candidates City council: one write-in candidate and six qualified candidates. -
Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Nov 3, 2009 | Cathy GassenheimerWhile there has always been partisanship in America, I remember a time when there was such a thing as a "liberal Republican," and a "conservative Democrat." Working for a Congressman for 3 years in the late 70s and early 80s, I observed that oftentimes partisanship stopped after stepping off the House floor.
Is that the case any longer? How and why have we lost our way? And, how can we get back to thoughtful discourse and dialogue? -
Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Nov 3, 2009 | Rick WeldonThe fact is that everything happening around the Nation today validates the eloquent concerns of President Geo. Washington in his farewell address in September of 1796. He correctly predicted that a party system would busy itself with accumulating power, not serving the interests of the American people. As long as American voters cast votes based on how closely a particular political aspirant hews to their national party platform, we will continue to get the government we deserve, one that will never meet our real expectations. -
Re: Today's Elections: A referendum on what?Nov 3, 2009 | Laura YoungI appreciate your posts, Rich. They are always thought provoking.