It's Shavuot starting Tuesday, which means my precinct here in the Urban Hellhole votes at the Grad Hospital in the eponymously named neighborhood, instead of the usual place at the synagogue.
Some thoughts about the various choices below the flip, including Babbette v. Gregg, the only good election in Pennsylvania. You should care, because I live in a "swing state."
So here are the things I need to vote on.
Congress: Chaka Fattah v. Nobody.
Seems like an easy enough decision.
Senate: Sestak v. Specter
I really hate this one. On the one hand, Sestak is not the kind of candidate I like, and he seems likely to be nearly as infuriating as Jim Webb. On the other, Sestak's opponent is mainly known for bullying Anita Hill, and, more recently, campaigning with GW and Caribou Barbie.
So, basically, no really good candidate, yet Sestak has to be the default choice, since my intuition is that he can win. I started to get a bad feeling about Specter's chances when he rushed the stage like ODB in a debate. Seriously, Arlen, it's time to retire.
Governor: Many
There are four or so candidates in, but since I only vote for pro-choice politicians, it's really Joe Hoeffel or Anthony Williams. Both of them would be good choices.
I'm voting for Williams because: (A) he's from Philadelphia, and in a budget crisis we need an urban governor; (B) school choice will revitalize the city.
Assembly: Babette Josephs v. Gregg Kravitz
So, the one you've all been waiting for. And, finally, a race that will be won by a liberal for sure. In fact, it's a race where there seems to be no real policy difference. Which is, in essence, the problem. Guess I need to think on it more, since the debate wasn't terribly enlightening, and neither was Kravitz's mailer. Josephs's flyer had some useful information on it, like not to vote at BZBI, but otherwise contained stuff I already knew.
Ballot Questions: Several
The one of real importance is abolishing the formalized corruption at the BRT. I was not happy with how Michael Nutter handled the SEPTA strike or the racial attacks at Southern High, but he is trying to root out the looters. There's no question that strengthening Nutter's hand against patronage is a good idea.