Bob McDonnell win in VA

Just called a few minutes ago. Not surprising news.

Nov. 3rd, 2009

Just about one year ago today, Barack Obama won the presidency, the Democrats took even greater control of Congress, and what seemed to be a wave of Democratic fervor was sweeping the nation. Democrats won special congressional elections shortly after to increase their majorities, and Al Franken was eventually declared the winner in the Minnesota Senate race after months of counting and recounting ballots. Tonight, November 3rd, 2009, the popularity of the Democrats will be tested, after bailouts, stimulus bills, and a summer of hemming and hawing on healthcare has seen a resurgent, if more polarizing, Republican party reemerge from their bitter defeats last November.

The major races today are NJ Governor, with Gov. Corzine running for his 2nd term against Republican Chris Christie and an independent candidate, Chris Daggett. In Virginia, Creigh Deeds is running against Republican Bob McDonnell. And in NY-23, Democrat Bill Owens is running against Conservative Doug Hoffman in what could be the most interesting race of hte night. Before the GOP candidate dropped out, it looked like Owens could possibly win with a little over a 3rd of the vote. Now, it's unclear whether undecideds will go towards Owens or Hoffman.

My predictions for the night

Corzine in NJ- just barely.

McDonnell in VA- Deeds has run a pretty awful campaign

Hoffman in NY- showing just how conservative the Republican party has become.

Obama Cabinet Disappointment- HRC

While I think it's generally a good thing that Obama is picking pragmatists for his cabinet, the one disappointment thus far, for me at least, has been his likely pick of Sen. Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.  She is a qualified politician, however, as a diplomat she might be lacking.  She will already have ins, as a result of her husband Former President Bill Clinton, yet this could be a bad thing.  People might know he on Bill's terms, as opposed to Obama's. 

My second problem with Hill as Sec of State is the fundamental differences she has with Obama in terms of foreign policy.  While Obama isn't exactly a dove, Hillary is hawkish, saying tough statements during the primary about attacking Iran, being ready to "obliterate" it.  While Iran is a dangerous nation, it seemed that there could be a sort of  thawing of relations with them under Obama, as opposed to continually keeping them under the gun, which in turn will make them more aggressive.  Hopefully, she won't hurt Obama's foreign policy plans by imposing too much of her own style into them.  While Iran certainly needs to be contained on our terms, we cannot throw around words like "obliterate", which only make the situation worse.

My final problem is what she could be doing as an alternative to being Sec. of State.  In the Senate, she could have become a true beast, wielding an incredible amount of authority almost on part with Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy.  She is not as trained in diplomacy as she is in politics, and if she were to stay put in the Senate, her influence would only increase over time.

Besides feeling a need to give Hillary a good position after what she did in the General Election, Obama might also be making a tactical move for 2012.  With his only foreseeable challenger, HRC, in his cabinet, he is almost certainly eliminating her from contention in 2012, as it would be hard to run against him after being part of the administration.

Only time will tell how this very soon to be appointment of Sen. Clinton to Sec. of State will turn out.  Hopefully, she won't be as hawkish as she was in the primary.  

Joe the Plumber Interview

I was in shock a little over a week ago when I found out that a friend of mine somehow got in contact with and interviewed Joe the Plumber.  I mean, he is Joe the Plumber, a guy who is famous for no real reason and thus probably trying to cling to the spotlight for as long as possible by doing whatever he can, but it's still crazy that my friend Michael from down the hall interviewed him.  The full interview is here .  What's even more crazy is that the interview is now making the rounds on the main stream media circuit!  The interview was cited on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, as well as on the Huffington Post.  Way to go, Mike!

Alaska

Also of note today, Ted Stevens lost his reelection bid to Mark Begich!!  No more Ted Stevens and no possibility of Sarah Palin.  Woot woot number 58 in the Senate!

AG

Breaking News: Eric Holder will be Obama's Attorney General, making him the first African-American A.G.

Letter

Obama today submitted a letter to the people of Illinois stepping down as Senator so that he can ascend to the Presidency. Here's the full text of it.  Quite a nice letter; he clearly is appreciative of the people of Illinois for helping to make him who he is and for helping him to get where he is today.  The letter reads as follows:

Today, I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate — one of the highest honors and privileges of my life — I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation’s next president. But I will never forget, and will forever be grateful, to the men and women of this great state who made my life in public service possible.

More than two decades ago, I arrived in Illinois as a young man eager to do my part in building a better America. On the South Side of Chicago, I worked with families who had lost jobs and lost hope when the local steel plant closed. It wasn’t easy, but we slowly rebuilt those neighborhoods one block at a time, and in the process I received the best education I ever had. It’s an education that led me to organize a voter registration project in Chicago, stand up for the rights of Illinois families as an attorney and eventually run for the Illinois state Senate.

It was in Springfield, in the heartland of America, where I saw all that is America converge — farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. It was there that I learned to disagree without being disagreeable; to seek compromise while holding fast to those principles that can never be compromised, and to always assume the best in people instead of the worst. Later, when I made the decision to run for the United States Senate, the core decency and generosity of the American people is exactly what I saw as I traveled across our great state — from Chicago to Cairo; from Decatur to Quincy.

I still remember the young woman in East St. Louis who had the grades, the drive and the will but not the money to go to college. I remember the young men and women I met at VFW halls across the state who serve our nation bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I will never forget the workers in Galesburg who faced the closing of a plant they had given their lives to, who wondered how they would provide health care to their sick children with no job and little savings.

Stories like these are why I came to Illinois all those years ago, and they will stay with me when I go to the White House in January. The challenges we face as a nation are now more numerous and difficult than when I first arrived in Chicago, but I have no doubt that we can meet them. For throughout my years in Illinois, I have heard hope as often as I have heard heartache. Where I have seen struggle, I have seen great strength. And in a state as broad and diverse in background and belief as any in our nation, I have found a spirit of unity and purpose that can steer us through the most troubled waters.

It was long ago that another son of Illinois left for Washington. A greater man who spoke to a nation far more divided, Abraham Lincoln, said of his home, “To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.” Today, I feel the same, and like Lincoln, I ask for your support, your prayers, and for us to “confidently hope that all will yet be well.”

With your help, along with the service and sacrifice of Americans across the nation who are hungry for change and ready to bring it about, I have faith that all will in fact be well. And it is with that faith, and the high hopes I have for the enduring power of the American idea, that I offer the people of my beloved home a very affectionate thanks.