It was one of the least satisfying election experiences I have had. I keep thinking back to 2008. I wish I could go back. It has been downhill since then. Today I had a "discussion" in the line waiting to cast ballots with the Tea Party nut that threatened me with harm and screamed about killing the President when I was holding a "teach in" in front of Food Lion here in Mathews, Virginia during the attempt to get a decent health care bill passed. They surrounded me and then passed out their false versions of the bill off Jerry Fallwell's website. Today they pulled another election fast one. They were all at the top of the ballot. Seems that the repugs passed a new law changing the order on the ballot from alphabetical to listing in the order of filing. No one was told but somehow the rpug candidates are all at the top. I wonder how they knew? They had this huge campaign scaring people about how the dirty liberals and the UN were going to take away everyone's property rights by having a planning commission mandated by the State. The repugs will save you though. From a repug administration? Are people really that stupid? We'll know in a few hours. If you want to send me encouragement read on below and then comment please.
I wrote the background information the other night:As the "Occupy" movement grows the Tea Party tries to take over our region. The State Senate race is the big one. Dr. Ralph Northam is seeking re-election on a campaign that accurately portrayed him as a middle of the roader and not very Partisan even thogh he is what the democrats have to offer here. I like him enough and he does fight for some good stuff. I got a big card in the mail from the repugs telling me how much like the candidate I wish we had he was. Man if it were the truth I'd have worked my butt off for him. The House of Delegates should be a shoo in for the repugs. The Pharmacist they are running is well known and he is trying to fill a repug seat. The Dems came up with an unknown who did not campaign very hard from where I sit.
Then the local surrealism. Never before have I heard folks on the street compare this local election to what must have gone on in Germany at the beginning of the Nazi rise to power. I already mentioned the strong arm and scare tactics. My diary linked above tells about the bridge set up. Big turn out it seemed in this heavily right wing County. I am going to switch over and begin trying to see returns. I'll Update once in a while.
5:54 PM PT: UPDATE: 2/4 precincts in. Republicans sweeping all but the Board of Supervisors and the School Board. Interesting. However Northam seems to have the Senate race under control overall. Hodges was declared winner by AP in the House race (R).
6:02 PM PT: Dr. Ralph Northam (D) WON Re-election to the VA Senate
7:39 PM PT: It's over. Even though Northam won he lost Mathews by about 10%. The Sherriff and commonwealth's Atty. lost. We held the school board and the Board of supervisors. Most of the other incumbants lost. Overall not bad!
8:30 PM PT: As I watch the live blog it looks like the VA Senate is now under their control. So they have no one to blame for their future failures which will be catastrophic. The old Chinese curse is upon then"May you get your wish!". Unfortunately the people have to suffer through it all.