Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Decision 2006

It's election season. After six years of George W. Bush, twelve years of a Republican Congress, and three years of a poorly planned and executed Iraq war, things could get very interesting this November. But for the incompetence and lack of vision of the national Democrats, massive GOP losses would seem a sure bet. As it is, the country once again looks to be very evenly divided.

I will be casting my ballot in one of the tightest races for the Senate this year, the New Jersey battle between Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and Republican Tom Kean, Jr., a state senator and son of a popular former governor. I keep tabs on the Jersey race and other races across the country at Electoral Vote, a website that highlights daily and weekly polls from races around the country and keeps a running tally of the likely outcome of the race for control of Congress.

I've never been a party-line or one issue voter. I've voted for Republicans and Democrats. I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 (a source of ongoing shame for me) and John Kerry in 2004. But this year, I'm rooting hard for every Democrat on the ballot. I'll be voting for Sen. Menendez. I'll be rooting for Sheldon Whitehouse in Rhode Island, even though he's running against my favorite Republican Senator, Lincoln Chaffee. The fallout from the Mark Foley scandal has convinced me that the national GOP has become thoroughly corrupt. That, together with the Bush Administration's failures in Iraq and fiscal policy and the ongoing pandering of the Republicans to the anti-gay right, makes it clear for me. We need change of direction. Vote Democratic.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know much about politics. I've been watching Mitt Romney and Harry Reid for a while with some interest (since they're Mormon). I'm actually quite delighted that Reid is the most successful Mormon politician I know of and is democrat.

greenfrog said...

...Vote Democratic...

Ok.

Tad said...

Hi Chris,

If I remember it well weren't you the president of the "Young Republicans Club" in our high school? So it seems as if there has been more than one significant change in your life! :)

I actually found your Outer Boroughs blog about a year ago and meant to send you a note about it. I loved the post where you talked about getting angry in the parking lot in front of the kids and KK. I think we've all been there and I was so glad you shared it.

We've certainly been thinking of you and KK a lot and hope that you both are doing well through this.

Please give us a call if you or KK's travels bring either of you to Paris. We'd love to have you stay with us.

Tad

Chris said...

Hi Tad!

You remember correctly. It's amazing the things the closet can compel a person to do--like vote Republican!

Don't be surprised if I show up on your doorstep in Paris.

Good to hear from you, and thanks for the good wishes for the family. (And don't cross me in a parking lot!)