What has changed regarding the mid-term elections?
Today's post is a follow-up to a similar one on October 22. After a couple of weeks I am a bit less afraid to hope for fundamental change. And I feel excited because women's voices have become increasingly important on the political scene. The LA Times wrote an article headlined, "Women Poised for Gains on Election Day." To quote,
Widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo is giving female candidates one of the best chances to significantly boost their ranks within Congress and statehouses since the heralded "Year of the Woman" in 1992.
"I've been calling it the perfect storm for these women," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. "Before they even open their mouths, it's clear they are not your standard-issue members of Congress -- not white male, blue suit with red tie."
"They look like change, and are seen as agents of change," Walsh said.
The ranks of competitive female candidates this year are lopsidedly Democratic, so they could play a key role in determining which party controls Congress and statehouses come January.
At the same time, I am a bit more worried about the election process itself. I am not alone. Many lawyers will be fanning out across the nation, according to this New York Times article. Quoting from it,
Several days from what Republican and Democratic campaign strategists expect to be a close election, the legal machinery of a messy fight is shifting into high gear.
Democrats say they are most concerned that voters will be prevented from voting by long lines or poll workers’ demanding unnecessary forms of identification. Republicans say they are guarding against ineligible people trying to vote.
The parties are sending their largest concentrations of lawyers to states with the tightest races like Maryland, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. Most of them are unpaid volunteers, though many from large firms are working pro bono to meet their firms’ expectation for hours of public service.
The most accurate news comes from abroad. Today the British media writes - BBC News poll respondents see the main issues as the war in Iraq (52.35%), national security (4.8%), economy (7.24%), illegal immigration (2.79%), Bush's leadership (19.11%), scandals (5.41%), health care (1.31%), and social issues (3.14%), none of the above (3.84%). The Financial Times sees the key issues as the Iraq war, national security, ethics scandals, the economy, immigration, plus the "hot button" issues of gay marriage and the estate tax.
Expanded election resources:
Expanded election resources:
- Washington Post - Politics section "Campaign 2006"
- Yahoo! News - Full Coverage: "Midterm Elections 2006"
- BBC News - Americas section: "US mid-terms 2006"
- Financial Times - US Homepage "In depth: Campaign 2006"
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with our COM603 class here at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
It was a pleasure to "speak" with you, Class. Thanks for the note.
Having a good semester?
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