Election Day 2022

I read the young adult book On The Subject of Unmentionable Things (a local library has displays of books and this was one of them).  Finished a book!

The book is primarily about a sixteen year old girl who secretly runs a sex information website that gets tied up with a local Sarah Palin/Trump type mayoral candidate.  Neither is referenced but both (she was a former beauty queen and not very smart if very savvy; her messages are Trump-like) are clearly models.  

Even less political savvy teens should know this, though Palin (even if she just helped an Alaskan Native win a Democratic House seat, the ranked choice system helping) might be history to some younger readers (even someone six at the time should have remembered her).  The campaign is a major subplot though the focus is on the teen and her experiences. 

I did not know the campaign (she won though people thought she would not, but was tainted and unable to cause too much damage) was going to be as important.  And, you know, maybe it was not a great book in some ways to read before a very stressful midterm election. I thought the book overall was well written.  The author has two other books (one made into a movie) with some sort of teen mental health issue themes.

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I worked as a poll worker again.  We have more polling places in the Bronx now so there is now only two polling tables at our neighborhood polling place.  One problem (my voting place did not change though I was redistricted in other ways) is that many people did not know their polling place changed.  You can fill out an absentee ballot (it's a tedious thing) but really there was a serious fail here on making sure voters knew where to vote.  It's basic thing and too many people (fifty might not be a bad guess just for yesterday in the one polling place) did not know.  

We had a lot of voters -- it isn't a busy area and there were 10 days of early voting -- around 500.  Not too many people under 25.  Other than the polling location issue, things seemed to generally go smoothly.  Amusing butthead story -- a few people (including me) get there 5AM or so, as required, and think the doors are locked. Turns out the middle door actually was opened. A pollworker comes at 5:15 or so and opens up without an issue.  

I'm glad to take part in this whole process and glad people came to vote (including one blind person who took advantage of a ballot marking device that is nearly never used).  I worked with an election day vet (she's great at greeting voters with compliments) and though the heavy influx was a bit stressful at times, it was smooth as a whole.  Somehow one ballot was miscounted final-tally wise of the 300 used.  

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There has been some "red wave" predictions in the news. For instance, a few stories made out that the governor's race was real close. I did not believe it.  I was right.  Even with the Republican gubernatorial candidate likely getting coattails from  other races and midterm disfavor, he didn't do much better than the nonentity running against Schumer. He lost by around five points.  This is only "close" relatively (at best) and an unelected somewhat bland opponent in this environment is atypical as well.  

I purposely avoided Twitter and Election Night coverage. I checked something else and did see that Rubio won.  This was not too surprising (Beto in Texas and Abrams in Georgia also did not win; again, not really surprising, though oh in a nice, saner world, they would).  There was various nice things that happened.  The New York ballot measures all easily passed.  Some more important ones also passed nationally.

I checked the results early this morning (woke up before six after going to sleep around eleven; I stayed up to go in at 5AM).  One spin is that there was no "red wave."  But, I didn't expect a red wave.  I don't find that too reassuring.  It is important to underline, sure, especially given some of the media coverage.  

But, the idea it was some sort of SURPRISE to me is a bit misleading.  As to it being historically surprising, well, maybe we can admit the times are different there. Not "same old, same old" midterm time.  I figured a close Democratic Senate win (that seems to be the general prediction; looks like it will happen, but at best 51-49 with -- what a fucking disgusting thing given the totally incompetent, not a pair of right wing hacks with some credibility - another Georgia run-off pending) and hope of a House win (many races not called but the prediction is a Republican win akin or narrower than the current Democratic majority). 

I find the latter bit horrible and so very aggravating given the nature of that party now, but you know, again, I didn't expect the Dems to get net gains much at all.  I expected a nailbiter. So, it went the other way, let's say.  AGAIN, that's not akin to the horrid trifecta of 2016 or something. I find it a bit (again, it if helps, do it) spin to make out as if this is surprising.  Did people REALLY think the Republicans would swing a 250 or something majority?  By what dynamics there? Again, a Democratic hold was a tad optimistic, but far from fantasy-land stuff.  

I guess it's the new normal for control not to be clear on Election Day (things not being final, yes, this much up in the air? my experience over the years was that this is more novel stuff, a mix of COVID/nailbiter central). When it's real close, there are various reasons. 

Gerrymandering and the Supreme Court in the shadow docket rejecting racial discrimination in redistricting claims. Also, the whole mess with partisan gerrymandering and how New York courts handled it.  The governor's race was not where Democrats had to worry -- for instance, my state senator easily was beat by Sean Patrick Maloney, but looks like he was beat (this seems somewhat surprising though guess the race was due to be close).  So, the margin can be explained/blamed at least in significant part on illegitimate type things though the N.Y. thing was (though some focus on it) in no way just the "fault" of the court of appeals. 

I felt and continue to feel this election mattered more given the state of democracy and the perfidy of Republicans.  I was depressed when I saw the results.  Yes, some good things happened.  But, I just hate we live in a country that could vote for some of the simply horrible people that won.  And, a Republican House (even if it was by one damn vote) will be so fucking tiresome and can cause real harm.  

A 51 vote Senate also won't mean filibuster reform or exceptions unless somehow one of the two decides to change their mind (doubtful though I guess on abortion, we can dream ... but then, some good results in certain states might make the necessary votes handwave the need).  And, we don't even have the one shot reconciliation possibility with a Republican House, which is there to blackmail the Democrats to pass basic legislation.  

The results are to be determined but it does look like years more of struggling against people so bad that they would make movie viewers groan regarding the stereotypical nature of the heavies.  I expect more of my country in 2022. But, others see a bit more positives, and there were some.  Give me a Democratic House. I'll feel better. Ha ha.