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Nov 9, 09:44 AM: Note to the new Democratic Congress

Dear Democrats,

Pass a voting rights bill for the District of Columbia, and forget about giving Utah an extra seat.

Bush won’t veto it. Nancy Pelosi: Please incorporate that into the “first 100 hours.”

Thanks,

The 580,000 residents of the District of Columbia

Dave Stroup  Politics  Comment [4] 

Nov 7, 12:14 AM: Please vote, not all of us can

Remember to go vote. Also remember that there are over 500,000 people in the District of Columbia who will not be electing members of Congress tomorrow.

Take advantage of your chance to vote. Although it was said in 2000, 2004 and many times before that, this is an important election. In fact, very election is an important one.

Remember that it is your Congress, and the people you select to send to Washington are your advocates in the federal government. If your Congressman or Senator is running for re-election, consider whether or not they have earned that priviledge. Have they worked their hardest to serve both you, your district/state, and the nation as a whole. This is your chance to give them a job review.

To me, this Congress has failed on a number of issues. They have failed to create a meaningful national security policy, they have failed to keep the federal budget in check, they have failed to promote education, they have failed to ensure the United States remain a leader on the world stage, and they have failed to put the interests of the country ahead of their own.

You, as voters, have the chance to fire those who have failed to serve their country. You as voters have the chance to vote for a different direction. Consider what your representatives have done and said (and left undone and unsaid) in your name. The last two years are on them, but the next two will be on you if you don’t carefully consider whether they deserve another chance.

By virtue of the U.S. Constitution, I can’t vote tomorrow. I live in Washington, D.C. and do not have a voting member of Congress, and have no senators. Those who call the District of Columbia home pay taxes, serve in the military and love their country just as much as those who live in Wyoming, Rhode Island, or Texas. Consider that when choosing whether or not to support those in Congress who have consistantly avoided the topic of voting rights for those who live in what, for a long time, had been considered the capital of the free world.

Be informed. Be skeptical. It’s your turn to have a voice, and to do more than just shake your head at the television.

Please vote, because there are some who live in this country who do not have the chance to do so.

Dave Stroup  Politics  Comment 

Nov 6, 10:25 PM: Election Update: House

I was originally going to go through and predict outcomes in the hot House races, but instead I’m going to just post what I think the final breakdown will be.

I’m guessing somewhere around a 223-212 Democratic majority.

My Senate predictions may be a bit overly optimistic for the Dems, in reality I’m thinking the Dems will pick up 3-4 seats.

Also, I’m going to predict that Erlich will win in Maryland.

Dave Stroup  Politics  Comment [7] 

Nov 6, 03:39 PM: Election Update: Senate

Here's where I post my predictions for most interesting of the U.S. Senate races.

AZ: Kyl (R) 51.5%, Pederson (D) 48.5% (R hold)
CT: Lieberman (CfL) 44.5%, Lamont (D), 42.5%, Schlesinger (R) 13% (D hold)
MD: Cardin (D) 52%, Steele (R) 48% (D hold)
MN: Klobuchar (D) 53%, Kennedy (R) 47% (D hold)
MO: McCaskill (D) 50.3%, Talent (R) 49.7% (D pickup)
MT: Tester (D) 50.1%, Burns (R) 49.9% (D pickup)
NJ: Menendez (D) 52%, Kean (R) 48% (D hold)
NV: Ensign (R) 59%, Carter (D) 41% (R hold)
OH: Brown (D) 53%, DeWine (R) 47% (D pickup)
PA: Casey (D) 59%, Santorum (R) 41% (D pickup)
RI: Whitehouse (D) 51%, Chafee (R) 49% (D pickup)
TN: Corker (R) 52%, Ford (D) 48% (R hold)
VA: Webb (D) 51.5%, Allen (R) 48.5% (D pickup)
VT: Sanders (I) 65%, Tarrant (R) 35% (D hold)

Net change: Democrats +6 seats.

Dave Stroup  Politics  Comment [9]