What 2009 means for 2010 (More robocalls anyone?)
One thing's for sure: 2009 was a tipping point in North Country politics.
We saw massive fissures open between the region's "tea party" conservative movement and the long-established Republican Party.
We saw Democrats continue to flex their organizational muscle.
All that translates into more competitive elections down the road. Which isn't just a good thing, it's a great thing.
There's already talk of challenges against Republican Assemblywomen Dede Scozzafava and Janet Duprey.
It also seems very likely that Democratic Reps. Bill Owens and Scott Murphy will face energetic opponents next year.
My response? It's about time. An uncontested (or feebly contested) election is a missed opportunity.
For most of the first decade that I spent in the North Country, politics were kept in a lockbox.
There was a little drama occasionally in local races, but from the Assembly on up our politics were frozen in time.
Everyone (myself included) needs a little break right now from 24/7 politics. (Robocalls are the new black flies of the North Country.)
But with all the many problems this region faces -- and the many underused assets -- we need a more open and competitive debate over our future. I think we're going to get it.
Labels: election09
posted by Brian Mann @ 11/05/2009 07:43:00 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Not looking forward to the robocalls.
I would like to see communities pass local ordinances requiring that political signs be removed within 48 of Election Day. They are a blight on the landscape.
Anon 8:54AM, as I just pointed out in another post, those signs are guaranteed by the 1st Amendment. They may be a pain and all the calls may be irritating, but you either support the idea of free speech or you don't.
Brian- I agree with your assessment. The right side of the spectrum will go through whatever growing pains it will and it'll eventually hash itself out. We're just going through the process the Democrats went through back in the 50's and 60's. The issues are different, but the result will be similar.
I'd gladly see more contested elections, but I've had more than enough of the lies, distortions, and name-calling that have dominated our last two regional contests. They do little or nothing to educate us about the candidates or the issues. That is a form of "debate" I can live without.
As for Dale's observation about the turnout, I know for sure that in my household at least one voter was prepared to not vote, for the first time in her adult life, when she heard the news that Scozzafava had dropped out of the race. She was filled with anger and disgust that the one candidate she knew and trusted was compelled to quit. I wonder how many others there were like her.
I have wondered about that. How did women process Dede's leaving the race?
Brian,
You're dead on about the utility of having "competitive" elections (not just contested elections, as one of other posts suggests).
Competition in races yields higher participation and not just in voting but in volunteering and other ways of civic engagement. In the end our democracy is healthier.
What disappoints me is that as a resident of the Village of Potsdam we have returned the same old crowd to the Village and Town boards. I for one want to see R. Gardner finally retire as a Village Trustee and have Judith Rich from the Town join her.
jpm
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