"Melinda Shore" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Judy wrote:
Alaska takes such pride in scenes like that. Clearly, they still do
exist.
But I think most likely at the majority of polling places, things looked
pretty much like they did at most in the lower 48. We have an "Elmer" (or
two) here - and I'm sure you do there. (In our case, that would be my
FIL.)

Hah! But sure, this is an aging agricultural community and
there are a lot of old-fashioned names. Everybody turns out
on election day and there's an election day dinner at the
grange.

Actually, my FIL's name isn't Elmer. There are some, of course, but I was
thinking mainly of the characterization, not the actual name. I can
guarantee that my FIL was the biggest and most popular character at the
voting location. And we were commenting that it has been a lot of years
since anyone put on a dinner at the grange hall - which used to also be the
voting location. They'd probably still be doing it but the hall got in such
bad shape that they had to sell it.

We had an extremely hotly contested race for highway
superintendant, though. That was kind of exciting.

We had one of those a couple of elections ago. The guy running for
(incumbent) superintendent hadn't attended meetings in over a year but still
thought he ought to have the job. He used to be the highway guy but, among
other things, got caught claiming hours when he was working at his other
job.

In our 2008 races, it was the senate seat, long held by fairly powerful
Republicans. It was lost last time by the Republican. Apparently even
these bred-to-be-staunch Republicans don't like you beating up your
mistress, even if she eventually decides not to press charges. So, horrors
of horrors, a Democrat got elected. And even worse, has done a pretty
damned fine job. Even serves in the National Guard. Party affiliation
aside, he really reflects the local community as well as anyone can.

The Republican up against him had NINE tax liens against his business for
failure to pay. He tried to come out against illegal immigration but his
stance lost some of its shine when it became known that not only had he
hired an illegal to do his housekeeping, he hadn't paid the taxes on her
employment.

I figured that if you voted for him that you pretty much gave up your right
to claim that you voted for the man and not for the party. That should have
translated to around half a dozen votes - cornerstoned by his wife and
mother. He ended up with just over 40%. Proving that some people believe
that any Republican must be better than any Democrat.

Ah well. It's over again. For a little while.

Judy