And with the light at the end of the tunnel, Americans will finally head to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes on President of the United States, Congress, U.S. Senate, state legislators, and possible amendments to add to their state's constitution.
Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is a shoe-in for reelection, as are most members of Minnesota's congressional delegation that include Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison, Collin Peterson, and Tim Walz, as well as Republican Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen. I also expect the most vulnerable member, Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack to win despite a strong challenge from former Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan. And (sadly), Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann will win another term - even though she has done little work during her four terms in Congress.
Prior to this post, I predicted that Obama would win reelection despite a bad economy and that Republicans would gain control of the U.S. Senate. However, I am not as convinced that these results will prevail tomorrow.
For Obama, it was the first presidential debate he had with Mitt Romney that was a true game-changer. I liken it to a quarterback fumbling the ball on their opponents 48-yard line and then allowing the other team to score a field goal to tighten the score of a low-scoring game. Obama and Biden, in particular, had to work a lot harder not only to keep their base excited. They had to convince independent and undecided voters that Obama was up to the task of showing competency and toughness against half-truths or lies from Romney and Ryan.
But it's not to say that Obama and Biden were exactly truthful in this campaign either, as one of my favorite fact checkers pointed out on Sunday. Unlike 2008, there's not as much love and admiration from younger voters and independents. And there's certainly no love from Republicans and conservatives because Obama hasn't been as transparent with them and the public as we had hoped.
Then again, Romney and Ryan haven't done the best explaining their domestic programs to get the economy going and how to cut the federal deficit. What I especially thought was telling was when Romney said on Meet the Press in September that he wouldn't be able to balance the budget in one term. In fact, he said it would do more harm to the economy and that small steps would need to be taken in order to balance the budget over 10 years - something he would do in his second term (yes, he told NBC's David Gregory that on the program). It was that interview, along with the fact that Romney has been evasive when discussing his plans, that make me feel confident in my support for Obama's reelection.
As for the U.S. Senate, you can always count on someone who was favored to win to say something stupid about abortion and rape that dramatically changes the U.S. Senate elections in Indiana and Missouri.
And on that note, I'll leave it to you to make up your own mind on who to vote for. Whether you're voting for Obama, Romney, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, or Green candidate Jill Stein, just get out and vote. This will all be over soon.
Today is the day we, as a country, decide which direction we want to go in the future. As for the presidential election there couldn't be more contrasting views. You summed it up in very general terms and here is how I would sum it up.
ReplyDeleteIn the last week we saw why we need government with hurricane Sandy. There is a time and place for government but for me I’ve had enough in my life.
Obama, our president for nearly four years continues to offer more government as a solution to virtually every problem. The take over of health care, bailouts and corporate welfare of uncompetitive businesses, record debt, deficits, and spending, stimulus and manipulation of our dollar are just a few ways that Obama has proven to be a big government liberal. Most importantly, his character can be defined by these two things: how much he donates (as a percentage of his income) and how much he wants to tax the “rich” to give to lower and middle class folks. This Marxist philosophy ultimately leads to lower production, less free citizens more dependent, and eventually communism.
The bottom line is that folks who plan to vote for Obama should be prepared to live in a society where achieving great wealth is frowned upon and that anyone who is financially successful will be painted as an outcast. More and more people will be asking for handouts because they will feel “entitled” and when more and more people feel that way guess what……liberal democrats get more votes. It is extremely sad to me but I truly believe their motivation is more government dependence the more votes.
As for Mitt Romney, he is not the most conservative guy out there but he has shown that he believes in people much more than government. He is not apologetic for his success and he shouldn’t be and like most successful people in this world he wants to help others achieve. The fundamental difference is that Romney wants create an environment where businesses and people can succeed. These ideas include lower taxes, cutting gov’t spending, and repealing Obamacare.
Did you know that nearly every time (if not every time) taxes have been cut revenue went up in the government????? Did you know that 2007 under Bush tax cuts America had record revenues flowing into the government?????
By offering simple Business 101 solutions our economy should have recovered much faster. Romney also understands the elementary principle that when people keep more of their money they spend more of it and even at lower marginal tax rates if the economy is growing the government receives more taxes. This is not about tax the rich or government is the solution it is about putting in place a system for people who are motivated to go chase the American dream. Simple, basic, common sense, proven solutions is what Romney is suggesting.
I am a person that wants to be very wealthy, self sufficient, and give back to the community and to have Obama suggest I don’t deserve success or wealth and that government is a better steward with my money makes me sick.
Cagle? Tired of election season?? I'll believe that when I see it, with my own eyes!
ReplyDeleteThis election was an especially riveting one in Minnesota, and I can tell you I checked the ballot counts all night on Tuesday, if only to see the results of the amendment questions. For just a second, it actually made me miss working the elections as a reporter — but only for a second.
I'm proud of Minnesota for its relatively high voter turnout especially among the young, although it's a shame that Hurricane Sandy likely affected the ability of some New Yorkers to vote.
Without taking sides on a public blog, I will say that I was heartened to see politicians on both sides of the line working together in the face of Hurricane Sandy. If we had more cooperation and compromise from both sides on a daily basis, I think we could get a lot more done in this country.