My hopeful scenario

Here are my predictions for the next two years:

Nationally:
- Our new Republican overlordsHouse is coming in with an axe to grind, not with a feasible agenda. They want to repeal the health care law, but they can't without the Senate being on board as well. It doesn't mean they won't put a lot of gusto into trying - and with that sort of attention on it, a lot of people will realize they like a lot of the health care law. Besides, according to the exit polls, the people who voted for the Republicans are pissed off about the economy, and there is no silver bullet for that. Not raising taxes, not lowering taxes, not spending more, and not spending less. In expending a lot of gusto on health care, while not doing anything to really improve the economy, it will put the Democrats into a better position going into 2012.

- Nothing will really get done in the Senate, except a lot of fillibustering. Immigration Reform will get discussed, but it will be divisive, and only a nominal change will get passed. But it will be enough to make some minor improvements in the lives of immigrants, and will help shore up the hispanic vote for 2012.

In Minnesota:
- Some state Republican was quoted as saying, in reference to our upcoming gubernatorial recount, that "this time it's personal!" I'm assuming that's a reference to our last recount, where (after months and months and months and months) Al Franken ended up going to the Senate instead of Norm Coleman. Minnesota law requires an automatic recount when the different is less than 0.5%. In 2008, the difference between Norm Coleman and Al Franken was 0.01%. In the gubernatorial race, it is 0.43%. Those are all small margins, but I'm a little bit more confident that a 0.43% lead will hold in a recount than a 0.01% lead. (And I'm hedging here, because I dont want to jinx anything.) Ultimately, the goal of the Republicans is going to be to keep the recount going as long as possible, because the way state law is written, it sounds like our current governor will stay in office until it is done. With the new Republican state legislature, they will try to push a few things through. However, if they do take this tact, it will piss off a lot of Minnesotans, who tend to like their divided government.


Really, I need to tell myself these stories about what will happen, to not feel overwhelmingly sad today. Feingold lost, and even though I haven't been a resident of the state of Wisconsin in over a decade, that's the loss from yesterday that hit me hardest. I was in high school when he was first elected. When he still seemed like a long-shot in the primary, he came and spoke to my high school youth group. He was enthusiastic and genuine - everything that you'd want from a green-around-the-ears politician looking to topple a powerful incumbent. Even though he went on to become the powerful incumbent, he has remained one of the politicians I have had the most respect for. He voted against the PATRIOT act in 2001, and I have never forgotten that he took an unpopular stand, that many people thought was going to be his political suicide, to try to protect my right to privacy.

In local politics, my Democratic congressman was reelected by wide margins. My district is so electrically blue that a Green would be more likely to be a viable opponent than a Republican. In outstate, an 18-term Democratic congressman - Jim Obserstar - lost. This is sad, but really didn't surprise me. I heard a little bit of a debate between him and his opponent when I was driving to lunch one day, and he sounded old and a little bit confused. In his opening statement, he went over time, and was cut off at an awkward place. The Republican running against him eluded pretty much every question he was asked, but I think confusion and awkwardness sticks with many people more than elusiveness does.

From thaadd

An owl pouncing on imaginary prey! It's banded, and looks like it's inside, which makes me wonder if they sometimes keep owls as pets in Japan. Or maybe it's a rehab owl, with neurological issues? (More common than you'd think - a raptor eating prey that had lead shot in it is a big culprit.)

Regardless, it's a super cute little owl!