Election Roundup 2005

The off-off-year election is over and while, in general, the Republicans and Dubyah took a minor drubbing, I wouldn’t read too much into the results.

Both Virginia and New Jersey elected new Democratic Governors. Virginia to replace an existing elected Democratic governor who was restricted from seeking another term and New Jersey to replace an interim Democratic governor. The margin of victory in both states was surprisingly large but there was no net gain or loss for either party.

I don’t know much about the Virginia race other than Dubyah came out to campaign near the end. The joke is that Dubyah's appearance cemented the victory for Democrat Tim Kaine who won easily by 5 points.

The New Jersey race was an exercise in mud slinging. The low point came when Republican Doug Forrester created a commercial publicizing Democrat Jon Corzine’s ex-wife’s criticism of him. Forrester also had a commercial featuring his own wife claiming that he was pro-choice. The people of the State of New Jersey rejected both messages giving Corzine an easy 10 point victory.

In Medieval Kansas the state school board, to no ones surprise, approved the new state science standards including the recognition of Intelligent Design as an alternative to Evolution and a redefinition of science to include supernatural conclusions. It’s rumored that the University of Kansas is working on updated courses in keeping with the new theory of science in the state. I’ve been told that next semester the University will offer the following science electives:

- Alchemy 101
- Astrology and Tea Leaves
- Understanding the Natural World through the Interpretation of Scripture
- Witch Detection 101
- Modern Black Magic – a National Disgrace

I’ve been unable to verify whether or not the Department of Biology at the U of K has been closed down but I have it on good authority that a bill outlawing electricity in favor of candles has been presented to the Kansas State Legislature.

In California Arnie’s four initiatives all went down to defeat. In Texas a constitutional amendment outlawing same sex marriage was overwhelmingly approved. Hehe, I read the text of that amendment a while back and it’s so poorly written that technically it outlaws ALL marriages, including those between one man and one woman, although obviously that isn’t the intent.

In the meantime New York City returned Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg to office by an overwhelming 19 points, rejecting “stuck in the 60’s” Democratic candidate Fernando Ferrar. Last, but certainly not least, the good people of Maine soundly rejected an attempt by a church group to repeal a law outlawing discrimination against gays.