Daily Archives: 11/03/2010

(Community Matters) If voters in Travis County decided state elections –

Bill White would be preparing to take over as Governor of Texas (60% to 36%)

Linda Chavez-Thompson (51%) would be transitioning with Lt Gov David Dewhurst (42%)

Barbara Ann Radnofsky and Hector Uribe would have won Attorney General and Land Commissioner races by 4 and 11 pts, respectively.  And, Judy & Rebecca would be incoming Texas State Education Board Members.

of course, as Tom used to say, if aunt Mary had balls she’d be uncle Joe

(Community Matters) I was shocked to read that voter turnout in Travis County totaled only 39.8%.  Turns out, 40% was the estimated national average voter turnout for midterms. Examiner.com reporting Texas’ as lowest state in the country at only 28% (DC at 27%).  Questions about our spend in light of these numbers.

btw, 55.8% of Travis County voters voted early; 53% statewide

48% of Travis County voter pulled a straight party ticket – 30% Democrat, 18% Republican

(Community Matters) It doesn’t feel bad or wrong to share the power & responsibility for governance with fellow Americans. Let’s get to work.

(Community Matters) So much of this country is mad, and I don’t blame them.  It’s about jobs, about prioritzing economic and national security.  Do I think we’ll see even more attention & cooperation focused on job creation and spending control – I hope so.  (I won’t go into my perspective that w/ cooperation we could have done this during the last two years  – today is congratulations and collaboration).  When we were in Grant Park two years ago, we talked about the dog catching the milk truck in this economic time; we knew then that it was gonna get much worse before it got better.  And, we were (are) seriously grateful it was gonna be Barack Obama making the hard calls during the next few years.

Will we repeal health care – no.  Will we roll back the enforcement of financial and environmental regulations – no.  I guess as a booby prize, our tax cut for highest earning families might stay in place – at least temporarily.  I don’t think the latter is good for the country (either from the perspective of balancing the budget or furthering the economic chasm), but hey, if you insist, okay I’ll pay in less.

Some observations: 1) Ds had their hats handed to them all around the country.  We should hear loud and clear from all Americans that jobs and the economy are #1, 2) others will try to impose their own interpretations – this is fair, their opportunity and Ds are left in charge of the executive and the Senate to maintain the values we bring, 3) a hero, Tom Perriello said it best last night when remembering what he promised his father, “That I would always remember that judgment day is more important than Election Day and that it’s more important to do what’s right than what’s easy.”

Huge electoral swings are to be expected during an economic crisis.  In FDRs midterms of 1938, Ds lost a net of 72 House and 6 Senate seats.  Ten years later with Rs obstructing Truman’s efforts to revive the economy, Rs lost 75 House and 9 Senate seats.  Nevertheless, I’m hoping we can look to the future, not the past. If gaining the US and so many state houses will yield cooperation and collaboration in digging out of this economic quicksand, then my friends who lost their races notwithstanding, it was a good night.  as an aside, fortunately, most of my friends in Texas and around the country kept their seats.

for those who lost their seats or those who ran and lost, thanks for serving/willingness to serve. I’ve never understood the overwhelming need to stay in office. Hope your lives are richer; enjoy being outside of those bubbles.