Doin the absentee thing

I received my absentee ballot two days ago and I've been agonizing over it ever since. The recent "bailout" has really angered me. I truly believe it will go down in history as a monumentally idiotic decision, and someone needs to pay for it. I thought long and hard about it and I've come to the conclusion that not voting for John McCain would be foolish. Too many supreme court justices will be retiring soon and I just don't want to see Barack Obama appointing their successors.

John Kline not only voted for the revised bill, but he voted for the original as well. But Kline has always been strong on Social Security reform, and a solid Republican in most other instances, so on a whole I'm satisfied with him. That leaves me with Norm Coleman.

His support for this bailout has really irked me the wrong way. He's never supported drilling in Anwar, he's weak on social security, he's not averse to Federal meddling in education, he wants Federal IDs. All of that I can forgive however because he was strong on corruption at the UN, free trade, and more or less strong on tax reform. On top of that, I think he works well in the Senate. Many of my friends were angry to find out Norm strongly supports guys like Ted Stevens. I think that's a good thing. The only Minnesotan we have in congress who can pull strings is James Oberstar. Coleman sits on important committees and it would be advantageous to have a Minnesota Senator get some seniority.

But this bailout is so wrong for our country, that I feel I would not be doing my duty as a citizen if I didn't axe someone for it. So, after talking to numerous people, as well as hours of contemplation, I've decided that I will not be voting for Norm Coleman. Instead, I will be voting for Dean Barkley. Blueman, a democrat, pushed me over the top in his support for Barkley. Independents usually don't carry much clout in congress, however, the tea leaves definitely point to a near 60% majority for the democrats in the Senate after the elections. That type of situation can give some influence to a swing voter who can add a crucial vote to break a filibuster.

This was not an easy choice to make, and I don't do it lightly. I urge all of you to really take a close look at your favored candidate in the race. Especially you democrats. How members of the Minnesota DFL can support a comedian with no connection to our state and no political experience is beyond me. And I certainly don't understand how these same people then can criticize Sarah Palin. Al Franken is a joke and it's a real statement about the DFL that they would nominate this carpet bagger over the lifelong activist Mike Ciresi. Franken says he would not have voted for the bailout, but he has absolutely 100% no record to look at. At least Barkley has public service on his resume.

I don't want to sound clichéd, but a win for Dean Barkley would send a message to both parties in this state that we won't accept votes for disastrous public policy, nor washed up has beens with name recognition,. Wannabe Hasbeens, maybe. But Washed up Hasbeens, I think not.