I don't vote. Would be a complete waste of time.

Does this mean you're going to start responding to e-mails again?

Ha. Yes. And I've got a lot to say to you. :-)

Best of luck in your search for a career outside of politics. It can be liberating. No matter what you do, I know you'll do great.

Ditto on O'Reilly who is a hell of a guy.

I still think the GOP blew it in VA. That was a race that was winnable in a state that was winnable. A month ago, the race seemed red. I think the GOP went over the top on the death penalty ads and Kaine's response about his own religious faith taking a back seat to his civic duties was well done.

The Dems ran good campaigns and the wind was against the Republicans. It happens. But I am suprised by the margins of victory.

One difference is that the ballot initiatives in California that Schwarzenegger backed are not 'nonpartisan' by any means. Prop 77 (Redistricting Reform) is well meaning and I may even have supported it if it didn't give 3 old white guys the job of redrawing districts. I agree we have serious problems with incumbancy and how districts are drawn in California, but the answer is to get more voices into the mix, move towards some sort of proportional representation scheme. Just my .02.

The Bloomberg initiative was VERY partisan and would've given Republicans a lot of help. Actually, and it's kind of funny to think back to this now in light of his huge win, he was worried about getting re-elected with the (R) after his name and that was the purpose of the proposal.

"Hang up the chaps": that wasn't a subtle reference to Gov. McGreevey, was it? Ha ha.

I agree with you that, as far as the NY scene, the worst thing to do is over-strategize. I think there's a lot to be optimistic about: New Yorkers by now basically know that being tough on crime is the way to go (that doesn't sound like much, but in the 70's that was a novel concept, and we can see in France that to some people it's still alien). They also know that rent control is not feasible (despite what you say, it's on its way out). And they know that corporations are the lifeblood of the city, not some evil entity that we're fighting against. Now it's just a matter of convincing New Yorkers that there's too much waste in government, that our health-care spending is unsustainable, that we should have school vouchers, etc. All will take time, but I think we're moving in the right direction, and that's the only way to move the city to the right, not some silly tactical stuff. The social issues are a non-starter.

Good luck with your job search, too.

I didn't call your voicemail. Who are the democrat friends you are inventing?

Karol, having worked hard, although on a volunteer basis, on Joel Zinberg's campaign in the other city council district, my only thought is to wait a few days before you make any important career decisions. Like Patrick, Joel was a great candidate, but we couldn't even get close against the local machine. I'm frankly disappointed, frustrated, exhausted, somewhat angry (I imagine over things that you're pissed about, too, but I don't want to write about here) and probably a lot of other emotions. Just give it a few days. You may turn out that, win or lose, politics is still your true love.

Yaron, I've told this story before but when Rich Lowry was debating running for mayor a few years back, he was the perfect conservative candidate, obviously. He told a story about being in an elevator and getting recognized by a little old lady. She was very excited about the prospect of his running and he was quite pleased to be recognized and admired. And then she said 'but you're for rent control, right?' at which point Rich Lowry said 'of course!' He tells this story that he realized then and there he couldn't run for office. He hadn't even announced and was already squirming.

Rent control is one of those issues that unites Republicans and Democrats in this city. The anti-semitic Rent is Too Damn High party got a lot of attention this season because, well, rents are too damn high.

Dawn, I have friends who are not only Democrats but actually work on campaigns and do more than give their candidate a lukewarm endorsement the day before the election.

Bob, I know politics is my real love but working on campaigns is exhausting, pays poorly and is too sporadic for me to survive like this for too long. I want a regular, normal job for awhile. Maybe I'll do campaigns on the side but this can't be my full-time life.

Aside from the fact that Democrats won two gubernatorial seats that had been Democratic seats to begin with, I'm not sure what the "resounding victories" are that Howard Dean spoke about today. Am I on glue, or did a Republican win the biggest landslide in NYC history last night?

yes, dorian.

Karol:

You will be a success in whatever you do.

So don't ruin your life by going to law school.

The thing is that I might have to, Jake. It's hard to break into lobbying/govt. affairs without a law degree (or without a name like Gore or Pataki). I'll try but I hope you won't be too disappointed in me if I do have to end up getting that JD.

The NYC mayoralty race had nothing to do with Bloomberg. The race was a referendum on Bush's domestic and foreign policies.

That is why the Republican won the mayoralty race in a historic landslide.

The Democrat party is doomed in America.

Well, it might be ok if you got a JD, if you promise not to go into a law practice.

Well, it might be ok if you got a JD, if you promise not to go into a law practice.

Cross my heart and hope to die.

"The NYC mayoralty race had nothing to do with Bloomberg. The race was a referendum on Bush's domestic and foreign policies."

So NJ and VA were not about Bush but NYC was. Ooh boy. Bloomberg did not have coattails enough to help the GOP in NYC, let alone have enough to declare this a ringing endorsement of Bush's policy. NJ and VA also are a lot more represenative of America than Sodom on the Hudson. Sorry. Not buying.

oooh, ooh can I get in on that action??? I hope you die, too!

Von Bek:

If you Bush hater's can cherry pick races and label them referendums, I can too. Don't forget about the big Republican victory in Ohio.

I was glad to see the results in Ohio. I'm a conservative, not a Bush hater. But you gushing that New York's mayoral results was proof that Bush is a stunning endorsement for Bush is absurd. I consider myself a man of principles and am willing to buck party when those principles (small government, no defecits, restoring American soverignty, keeping the public square open for religious discourse, maintain life in all forms, preserving our religious and cultural heritage benefiting men and women of the United States and the West, freedom from taxation) are violated. Do you honestly think that NYC would vote for Bush over Kerry if that election were held today ? I don't and anyone not reading the Grand Old Pravda or living in cloud cookoo land would agree.

Karol, nobody won, nobody lost.

The status quo stayed the same. Republicans had pretty good showings compared to 2003 and without having a Republican candidate for Mayor and the citywide races, it's hard to get registered Republicans to come out in droves to vote.

We've made some interesting posts today over at Urban Elephants. I don't think giving up is the right thing to do. We have to keep at it. If we're at 35% now, next year, we maybe at 40%. We will still lose but by 2008 we may be at 50%. At 50%, we will win some and lose some. But it's not easy.

We need to look towards next year and really look at what works and what doesn't. Today's Daily News had mayor votes by Assembly District. I think it's important to see the areas that were for Bloomberg and areas that were for Ferrer. The Bloomberg areas are where we should keep focused at for now.

Tomorrow there are some calendar things going on. I hope you'll be out for a drink or two tomorrow. Stop by Margaritas. :)

Von Bek, by that same token, do you think Virginia would've chosen Kerry over Bush? Of course not. And NJ was never a swing state either.

Well, it might be ok if you got a JD, if you promise not to go into a law practice.

I could have used that advice, oh, about five years ago.

The less seats we have, the more liberal the Council, and city (because everyone loves a winner), becomes.

Your point about getting Republicans elected to City Council is well taken, but it assumes that our candidates are running slightly to the right of their Democratic counterparts. Not the case in my district.

I don't see how electing this guy:
Here’s where Patrick Murphy stands on the Issues:

instead of electing this guy:
Garodnick for New York issues page

would have made that seat, the City Council, or the city less liberal.

In addition, all of the city council candidates lost by a wider margin than Ferrer. So we can justify our third party votes or abstinences on similar grounds to your vote for Silk.

Probably not but VA is starting to get a little red and why not ? With the expansion of the federal government there are now more government workers who are increasingly moving into northern VA. All thanks to the "big government conservatives". And Killgore, with the exception of his actually opposing illegal immigration, was very close to Bush's positions on most issues, certainly more so than pro abortion RINOS like Bloomberg and Forrester. The VA race also helps Warner raise his profile on the national level, beating out Bayh and Edwards as the anti-Hillary. Bush also campaigned for Killgore in a very heavy military area. The VA race had a bit of national political implications, one more loss in a bad year for this administration.