tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post5701027619394413580..comments2023-11-30T03:44:34.585-05:00Comments on Opinions Nobody Asked For: A Few Election RuminationsJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-59739362882794007012008-11-07T18:38:00.000-05:002008-11-07T18:38:00.000-05:00Real quickly, here's the promised explanation:I'm ...Real quickly, here's the promised explanation:<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty sure it's a lot easier for a third-party candidate to get on the ballot in MN, and get equal funding. For example, this helped Jesse immensely (and the independent in this senate race) because he had a ton of money to spend at the end of a one of the most contentious races I've ever seen, (but only between the Republican and Democrat.) So his ads at the end were basically, "vote for me as a message to the major parties" and people went along with it largely because they didn't think Ventura could actually win. That also explains the 15% for the independent in this senate race.<BR/><BR/>As far as wackos... Minnesota is a DFL state, so we love our blue-collar Democrats, but less so our white-collar democrats. That keeps a guy like Franken, who's more white-collar, from cleaning up. Coleman isn't quite a wacko, though he's strictly Republican, so you've got a very democratic state debating between an unideal democrat and a somewhat reasonable incumbent republican. It's a close call. Also, this race was one of the longest-running, most expensive senate races this year. A lot of heat.<BR/><BR/>As for Bachman... that district is rigged pretty well for the Republicans, and really holds some of the most Republican counties in the state. It's hard to get a Democrat out of that one. Nobody likes Bachman, but they're not willing to vote for the Democrat.Matthew B. Novakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441950586412209361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-74170656784285154002008-11-05T23:03:00.000-05:002008-11-05T23:03:00.000-05:00Will explain when I get back into town. I promise...Will explain when I get back into town. I promise.Matthew B. Novakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441950586412209361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-82928247809888046692008-11-05T15:38:00.000-05:002008-11-05T15:38:00.000-05:00I was pretty sure it was going to happen, I mostly...I was pretty sure it was going to happen, I mostly just made my prediction to be different, and to be right on the extreme off-chance it came true.<BR/><BR/>When the email about Stevens went around the office, one of the first responses was, "Well, I can understand how he could be innocent." So it's not just Alaskans.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06383789548221247888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-57074066964817776872008-11-05T12:28:00.000-05:002008-11-05T12:28:00.000-05:00Touch screen is nice when it prints up a paper cop...Touch screen is nice when it prints up a paper copy for you to review and approve before it is officially submitted.<BR/><BR/>Ease of use (large print, clearly defined layout), less resources used in the process (as the paper receipt is printed on receipt paper, in more condensed form than a ballot), and quick response times.<BR/><BR/>What's not to like?-Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16998205576045100941noreply@blogger.com