Thoughts On The Election

If you're a conservative and live in Texas, election day couldn't have gone much better. The GOP continued its dominance in the state, took back the Senate nationally, and fared much better in gubernatorial races than most analysts predicted.

Locally, I was pleased that Debra Danburg, who tried to run as a conservative (*snicker*), was sent packing by Martha Wong.

Nationally, I was happy to see Jim Talent win in Missouri. He was a good Congressman in that state when I lived there, and he will make a fine addition to the Senate. And perhaps poor Jean Carnahan, who was clearly out of her league, can spend some quality time with her family (now that the Missouri Democrat Party is through using her).

I was also happy to see Norm Coleman win. I think he'll also make a fine addition to the Senate, and brings experience in municipal government (real government) that the GOP should draw upon. Mon-Dull just seemed confused during the few days he was back campaigning. It was kind of sad.

And what about Steve Largent blowing it BIG TIME in the Oklahoma governor's race? Largent had a solidly conservative voting record in Congress, but at times he's had a tendency to say stupid things (and to take his voters for granted). He blew a double-digit lead in his race in a matter of days by saying and doing stupid things (stuff no seasoned politician such as himself should ever have happen). I guess he'll have to put his ambitions for national office on hold for a while. But the fact that creepy David Walters somehow managed to win the Democratic nod to take on Jim Inhofe for the Senate (albeit only to lose, badly) means that Largent probably still has a political future in Oklahoma. If Walters can keep on coming back, anybody can.

I enjoyed this year's election night routine. I took in Will Kimbrough at the Mucky Duck with John, Cathy, Callie, and Alex, and then the group moved to watch election returns and celebrate.

[Posted at 18:30 CST on 11/06/02] [Link]