Wayward Landlubber

It was nearing closing time at our county Democratic HQ. She walked in the door carefully, not advancing towards the desk where I sat, or the work table where Juli and Margo sat, but staying close to the door. She wanted a paper, 'I voted sticker'. It was her first time voting. Upon hearing that, we congratulated her and asked her some of her first impressions. She is an 18 year-old Hispanic girl who pre-registered at 16. She has been waiting these two years for this day. Juli bought her an I VOTED Button so she can save it in her scrapbook. " You Will remember this day all of your life", Juli said. We then shared our own first-time voting experiences. What a mixed bag of voting experiences this young Hispanic girl must be experiencing. My own first time, I voted to re-elect Tom McCall, a Republican, for governor. I have never regretted that vote, even as I detest the party he was part of. In subseqent elections I would vote to re-elect Mark Hatfield and Bob Packwood....

November 5 is nearly here. Whatever happens after the votes are tallied, we are not done. This is one battle, the war will be a protracted one. Maybe I am being hyperbolic calling this a war. But we have accepted the election contest this way since Newt Gingrich was focused on the House speakership. Gingerich seemed to have the impression that politics is a winner take-all proposition. Do not forget for a minute that anti-tax activist and Heritage Foundation shill, Grover Norquist was telling Republican legislators in the 1990's that "bi-partisanship is the moral equivolent of daterape". That statement should draw a puzzled scratching of the head. It does not, on one side of the political aisle. We Democrats are far to the left, as viewed by Republicans, even if we are to the right of Bernie. Yet woe unto the Republican contender that steps into centrist territory. To make matters worse this pugilistic event is played by the Republican side without Marquis of Queenesbury ...