Waiting for the other shoe to fall
Posted by Eric Seymour on 8 November 2006 | 9 responses
So, the Democrats took control of the House, but what of the Senate? The Virginia State Board of Elections won’t certify the results until November 27. After that, the losing candidate has 10 days to request a recount, and who knows how long that will take to complete?
Is it too much to ask that we could know who is in control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives by the morning after the election?
9 Responses to “Waiting for the other shoe to fall”
I share your lament, Eric. Oh for the days when one could go to bed at midnight and have a good idea of who was going to be running the show.
I hate to break it to you, but last year’s attorney general race in Virginia went into recount and wasn’t decided until December 21st. That one was a lot closer than Allen-Webb (300-something votes), but it’s possible that the Senate race could go on just as long. I think Barone used “Florida 2000″ to describe it on Fox last night.
Eh, we already know who’s in charge. The Dems only needed to control the House or the Senate in order to put the brakes on things, and they overwhelmingly nailed the House.
And if the best the Repubs can hope for is a 50-50 tie in the Senate with Cheney breaking the gridlock, then they already lost, anyway.
I really don’t like the lament of “why can’t we know by morning”…you know, democracy isn’t really supposed to be cut and dried. It isn’t neat, and sometimes it takes time. If you want the trains to run on time, maybe democracy isn’t the best system for you.
Cheers,
Dave
Is it too much to ask that we could know who is in control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives by the morning after the election?
Don’t you mean “who WILL BE in control?” They don’t take office the morning after the election, after all.
greg
Dave W,
So I hate democracy because I value a good night’s sleep as well? Good grief.
David,
I said nothing about “hating democracy” and you said nothing in your original post about wanting or valuing a good night’s sleep…only that you wanted a good idea at midnight of who was going to win the next day. The original post indicated a desire for results when waking…seems to me the sleeping has already been done.
My point is that fast food democracy is too simple and there is nothing wrong with democracy being less rehearsed and more extemporaneous…to paraphrase Kenneth Burke, to be awash in the human barnyard.
Cheers,
Dave W.
I just think it’s odd that in three of the past four national elections, control of one of the bodies of the federal government has remained “too close to call” well into the day after the election, or longer. It’s frustrating for us political junkies.
Ahh, too much parity in the league. Makes you wistful for the days of the dynasty.
Patience, Grasshopper…