Election Day 2006

Everything's bigger in Texas... including the field of gubernatorial candidates.

It seems odd that someone who only gets 25% of the popular vote can become the governor, but in a race that has 5 candidates, it's very possible. Preliminary polls show incumbent Rick Perry retaining his post with about a third of the vote. But you never know.

Did you know the Spanish word for Governor is Gobernador? Try saying that without thinking about California Gobernador "Ahnuld" Schwarzenegger.

The odd thing is that the governor's race has consumed so much of the local media's attention that I actually had to do some digging to check out the candidates for the House and the Senate. . . . . . . . . That was fun.

Also, I was unaware until I stepped into the voting booth that you could make a selection that would automatically cast votes right down party lines... you know, without being bothered by the candidates themselves. How mindlessly convenient!

So, yeah, I voted. I like voting. Even though I know very little about politics, I like to push the buttons and get my "I voted" sticker (which is now in the trash can since it had been removed and reapplied twice to a couple of different baseball caps). It's like I'm part of a club. Plus, I reserve the right to have an opinion about the state of affairs in my little corner of the world, and if I don't vote, how can I do that in all good conscience.

"The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government." -FDR

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." -Ronald Reagan