ONE WEEK!

We've just entered the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas music is officially standard in my car for the rest of the year (as of this past weekend), and the mid-term elections are but one week away. Throw my birthday in-between, and yup, it's definitely the best time of the year.

(Side note: tomorrow is the last day for Pennsylvania counties to receive absentee ballots, so if you live in PA and haven't applied yet and won't be able to make it to your polling place next Tuesday, scurry over to the Bureau of Elections at your county seat and pick one up, ASAP!)

Basically, for political junkies, this whole week is Christmas Eve. The last-minute push, the end of campaign ads, and FINALLY seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... all while wondering if the last year of your life will mean anything after next Tuesday... it's almost undescribable.

Then comes that crucial day when volunteers, campaign staff, and candidates -whose adrenalin will rush an entire 24 hours- will brave the elements to stand all day at the polls to greet you and I, hoping to influence our vote at the last minute. As the polls close, they will retreat to elaborate parties to watch in nervous anticipation as the results come in.

And what will those results be?

Democrats have been closing the gap in Pennsylvania and across the US over the past week. However, I believe Republicans will pull it out, possibly even sweeping both the House and Senate for a total takeover of Congress. But it's simply wait and see.

Now, my choices for those of you who live in my district:

TOM CORBETT for Governor

• His opponent, Dan Onorato, is Rendell reincarnate. While Sam Rohrer was my first choice, he's no longer in the race, and I've been very impressed with Corbett throughout the campaign. So go with Corbett. A vote for anyone other than Corbett is a vote for 4 more years of Ed Rendell.
• The Lt. Governor candidate, Jim Cawley, I would not recommend voting for. However, as he and Corbett run as a team, there's not really any alternative. The PA GOP has some apologizing to do about that one.

PAT TOOMEY for US Senate

• Joe Sestak is your alternative. To quote one of the best ads of the season, "There's left. There's far left. Then there's Joe Sestak." This dude is way out there. Stick with Toomey.

DAVE ARGALL for Congress

• A wanna-be conservative when it's convenient, Tim Holden is the Democratic incumbent. While Holden DOES actually act like a conservative at times, and probably is one to some extent, we must take back the House to put a halt to the liberal left permeating DC. Vote for Argall.

JAKE CORMAN for PA Senate

• Corman is a fantastic Senator who has served our district incredibly well. He's going to keep this seat for as long as he wants and deserves it.

MARK KELLER for PA House

• Basically the same story as for Corman. Keller is to Perry County and the PA House what Joe Pitts is to Lancaster County and the US House, an all around great representative!

For those of you in PA who do not live in my district and your options are not on this list... for these midterms, I'd highly recommend you simply vote Republican in the categories I mentioned. I do not know of any Democrats or Independents anywhere in Central PA who would be better options than the GOP candidates on the ballot. Here are some that might be your options for Congress: Bill Shuster, Jim Gerlach, and Joe Pitts. All are worthy of your support.

VOTE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd

Independence Day ~ The Tea Party of MY Generation

A GOP take over of Congress is... A Good Thing?

Yes, there is a question mark at the end of the title of this post.

And I believe it's a legitimate question. Is a Republican takeover of Congress a good thing?

A GOP takeover of both the House and Senate is not out of the realm of possibility. I'll be celebrating along with the rest of the GOP & conservative faithful if this becomes a reality.

However, even with control of both houses of Congress, the GOP will be able to accomplish little. Anything we can actually get through to the President's desk will be vetoed... and we won't have a veto proof majority.

Thus, while taking control of Congress will slow down and probably result in a temporary halt to the ultra-liberal agenda permeating Washington today, there is little a Republican Congress will be able to actually DO.

Then comes 2012, and what happens? Republicans are portrayed as having accomplished nothing with the opportunity given them.

So unless the Conservative frenzy continues for another two years, a GOP takeover now could cost us the White House and Congress in 2012.

Therefore, taking back Congress, yes, is good for now. But could we just be delaying the inevitable?

Imagine an energized Democratic party with control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives... and an Obama Administration with nothing to lose.

Ouch.

Predictions revisited

It's time for more predictions, but first, some explanation...

I haven't posted anything here, well, basically since the PA Primaries in May. It's not that I no longer care about politics, far from it! I did, however, desire a break after the emotional roller-coaster that was the primary elections this year. Additionally, I spent the summer at Camp, my brother got married, I took a three week vacation, and am now in what is becoming a desperate search for a job.

And yes, those were all excuses.

I'll be coming back into the blogosphere slowly (hopefully - unless I get a job which consumes my every moment), so this first re-entry post will be short. Just warning you.

The elections loom, and it's time for some updated predictions.

I disagree with Dick Morris - probably not wise on my part - but I don't think the GOP will take back the House. I think we'll fall 1 seat short. I have no real proof to support this thought, it's just a hunch... I hope Dick Morris is right on this one!

Courtesy coast-usa

I agree with Dick Morris - this is the better paragraph already - the GOP will take back the Senate in less than a month. I further believe Speaker Pelosi will no longer be in office come January.

Coming back to Pennsylvania...

Toomey's been a trooper and looks to pull out a victory over Sestak. He has some terrific ads, "Say it ain't so, Joe!" He will be a fantastic Senator. Too bad our party passed him by 6 years ago. But history looks to correct itself and leave us with Senator Toomey before long.

The surprise, for me, has been that Tom Corbett has maintained his double digit lead over Dan Onorato. Frankly, I'm almost shocked by this... especially after Onorato's ridiculous "this is how you say my name" ad gained him 10 points in the polls - virtually overnight.

Courtesy Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Somehow, though, Corbett's managed to hang on to his lead. I'm still not ready to call this one for Corbett, but unlike my previous thoughts that Onorato had this one in the bag, I'll now call it a toss up.

Coming local, we've got high hopes for David Argall to topple Tim Holden for Congress. Unfortunately, Holden has at least one fantastic ad... and the district, for some strange reason, still seems to like him. I'd say this one is still a wait and see, too.

There's my thoughts on the upcoming election. Next post will hopefully be related to the administration or policy or something more interesting. Until then...