Not Too Shabby

I am going to demur from election comment except to note a few things.

1) I underestimated the size of the Democratic majority in the house but I maintain that the same problems will persist.

2) The awful Tax Payers Bill of Rights was doomed in Maine from the start, not because a majority of Mainers thought it was a bad idea but because lots of Mainers like to vote "no" on everything except increasing the state's debt through bond issues. When issues like TABOR are on the ballot, I'm very grateful for those Mainers who are Meaners. (Standard non-meaner/meaner conversation: "Can I have a.." "No" "But it is only.." "No" "How about a.." "No" "Why do you.." "You ain't originally from Maine, is you?" "erm..no. Damn! Now you've got me doing it!")

And finally...

3) Mike Ockenballs lost the sheriff's race! And not only lost, but came third in a three way race after he unseated the incumbent back in the GOP primary. So not only did he blow it personally, he lost it for his party. Oh happy day! Ockenballs (or to give him his real name, Ockenfels) has gone from Rockland chief to Iraq mercenary to political law enforcement candidate to unemployed. Perhaps he will perform a citizen's arrest on himself, citing indigiency. The reasons I am so happy are listed here (see? I can be a Meaner too! "No you can't, you're from away") and also because Knox County bucked its own trends and elected a Democrat and the first woman in Maine, to serve as sheriff. All hail Donna Dennison*!

Bye bye, Al Ockenfels
(*Despite the fact that one of her signs handily obscured my view of oncoming traffic as I tried to merge from the street my office sits on into the flow on Rt 1A yesterday. Not the most auspicious demonstration of public safety savvy.)

UPDATE: Congratulations to blog chum Margaret Evans Porter who won her legislative race in New Hampshire!