Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Results, anyone?
I’m still confused about who won what in yesterday’s election – some of the races are too close to call. Georgia’s Senate race is one example. Herschel Walker was a great college football player but as President Obama says, “If you were at an airport with him, you wouldn’t hire him to fly a plane.” The rest of the unsaid words would have been something like, “Why would you hire him as a Senator?”. I have nothing against Walker but I sure wouldn’t want him to be my Senator. It’s not just because he is a Republican. It’s because he’s running against a man who represents many of my values.
And that’s why I vote – to express my personal values through people who seem to honor at least most of them. I live in a red state, so the chances are good that my legislators will not actually represent me in our nation’s capitol. Reproductive rights, stronger gun laws, immigration reform, public benefits. Poof! My voice will not be heard in Congress.
My friend who lives in Florida is totally discouraged that DeSantis and Rubio are staying in place. I think she lives in a “redder” state than I do if that’s possible. Yesterday we were commiserating over the phone. After this last hurricane and now after the election she and her husband are talking about leaving Florida. “I’ve had enough of Florida”, she lamented. Her husband works for a restaurant chain, and he is being trained for promotion, so he has options since his restaurant is located in several states.
My friends in New Mexico were praying for their Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, to keep her title. She is running against a local weatherman. I remember the guy from when I lived there. I have no idea what qualifies him to be Governor, but at least being in politics has gotten him a better haircut. That’s what I remember about him on TV, his weird haircut. This morning it would appear that she has retained her right to tackle the social problems that trouble New Mexico.
I can take some comfort from Pennsylvania’s Senate race. It appears that Mehmet Oz can take his crudites back to whatever state he really lives in. Oprah, who actually made Oz’s career, finally wrote a letter backing candidate John Fetterman. It’s the least she could do.
Here in Missouri, Trudy Busch Valentine lost. I didn’t believe she could win in this state, despite the name recognition factor. I was hoping that beer drinkers, of which there are thousands in this state, would support their namesake. Alas, they did not. But, recreational marijuana won the day. Now that surprised me. My Congressperson remains the same. I don’t know what she has done for me lately, but that doesn’t seem to matter. She wins, term after term.
I’m not sure how the battle for reproductive rights is unfolding this morning. I know there were plenty of women who came out to vote for the right to make their own decisions. I’ll have to wait for more results to know the outcome in several states. I happen to live in a state with very restrictive regulations. Abortions are banned except in cases of medical emergency. Even though Planned Parenthood no longer provides abortions, there are still people on the sidewalk carrying signs against choice. I know, because I work across the street from one of the PP locations. I wish those sign carriers would go home and work on issues of housing, feeding, and educating children. ALL children.
And so goes one of the most interesting mid-term elections in my lifetime. President Biden said our democracy was on the ballot yesterday. From what I can gather, there was not a red tsunami, although Republicans may well take over the House of Representatives and the Senate is still up for grabs. Stay tuned.