Hardly a time for celebration...

Yet, it was a race that was hard fought. Many put their utmost into this election today, and it didn't turn out. Although I feel disappointed, especially with regard to the national U.S. House races, It's hasn't been for lack of effort. Despite that, there are some bright spots to report.

I was going to join Jeff Kouba at the UBS Forum, but alas, duty called as the Republicans were short a poll challenger, and so I offered my services.

I got a gig poll-watching in one of St. Cloud's most liberal precincts--that is Ward 1, Precinct 1--the Atwood Center at St. Cloud State University. It was interesting, to say the least, since a vast majority coming through the door engaged in same-day registry.

True to form for a liberal precinct, the evening was not without its political dirty tricks. On one occasion, some Tarryl Clark supporters were electioneering in Atwood, handing out Tarryl Clark stickers. At one point, a person wearing Tarryl Clark stickers all over herself strolled past and hung around a line of people waiting to vote. The law states that there is to be no electioneering (that includes wearing buttons, speaking of candidates, etc.) within 100 feet of a polling place. By law, that would include a 100-foot perimeter around the entire Atwood building, with absolutely no electioneering allowed inside.

Another incident included supporters for Emily's List carrying an Emily's list poster around past the voters, and handing out pizza to those waiting in line. When asked to leave, they countered that Emily's list is merely a non-partisan group--but that didn't fly with the election judge (nor myself as a poll watcher), and they were escorted from the premeses.

BTW, in case you were wondering if Emily's list (a big money machine for pro-abortion candidates) was a "non-partisan" group, think again: (from their website)

Pro-choice Democratic women leaders are our first line of defense in fighting President Bush and his right-wing agenda.

I reported each incident to the Republican party headquarters, who will hopefully take the appropriate action.

And, just in case you were wondering why it takes so long for some precincts to report, consider this:

Knock it off with the write-ins!

After the voting machine spit out the totals, the election judges spent over an hour counting write in votes for such luminaries as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Bill Clinton.

Even though they were frivolous write-ins, those idiot votes still needed to be tabulated, and the taxpayer (that's you and me) was left footing the bill for six election judges for another hour and a half each.

Next time you think about doing a write-in to be cute--Don't.