Yeah, we got smacked last night. But you know what? I’m not dismayed. I’m actually interested. Interested in seeing how the dynamic between a closely divided Democratic Senate and a more Republican House works. I give the Republicans 18 months to fix what they perceive to be wrong.
It’s only fair, after all, since that’s all they gave the President.
A high from yesterday: meeting and working with a great group of volunteers in Broad Run District, Republicans included. The “opponents” I interacted with were very cordial and not at all filled with malice.
A low would have been some of the reactions I got from Republican voters when trying to hand out sample ballots. A simple “No, thank you”, or even a “No” would have been sufficient, but to reach out and then quickly pull your hand away like the sheet of paper is diseased is uncalled for. Also uncalled for are the under the breath insults. “Yeah, right” or “Not on your life” are two examples. It doesn’t hurt to have a little civility once in a while.
High: Sharron Angle losing. Harry Reid isn’t my favorite politician in the world, but he’s better than his bat-sh*t crazy opponent. Had Nevada voters put up anyone else, Reid would have lost.
Low: Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) losing. He was one of the few true progressives in the House, with a blunt style, to boot. He told it like it was. Sorry to see him go.
High: Very better than expected voter turnout in my district yesterday. Great to see everyone exercising their constitutional right.
Low: Our guy, Jeff Barnett, pulled in about 34% of the vote. He’s a hard worker, with great ideas, but I guess the anti-Democrat mood didn’t help him.
All in all, it was a very long day, a disappointing day, but not completely unexpected. Now we take a breath, relax for a bit, and then start to gear up for a busy 2011 election season.
Agreed on Grayson. This is a guy who went and hired Jerome Armstrong to be on his political staff. THAT is a gutsy move. 🙂 I suspect we’ll see him again. I think he’d make an incredible Attorney General for Florida, for example.
The biggest loss to America last Tuesday was in Alan Grayson’s defeat. I know Alan. He and I have worked together professionally, here and there, over the last few years. He’s a champion for the underdog and a tireless warrior against government corruption. Thanks to him, a lot of truly foul misconduct overseas has come to light, particularly in places like Iraq. It’s an honor to have teamed up with him and, though I’d prefer to see him in Congress, I’ll be further honored if I get to work with him again.
Like me, he speaks his mind. Sometimes (and again, like me) that gives his critics a bit of grist for their mills. But you always know where he stands. He says what he thinks. The Alan Grayson you see and hear, is the Alan Grayson that lives and breathes. He may be caustic, but he’s always authentic.
Once or twice, over the last two years, folks have said we’re a bit alike. It hasn’t always been a compliment. But it has always been an honor.
Alan, from one elected Democratic lawyer, who believes government can and should do good for the people, to another: thank you.