2026 Elections

[neoplacebo]

There's three constitutional amendments on the TN ballot. I read about them on the sample ballot page on the county election website. I read the summaries of them. One of them seemed reasonable, but then I thought "hell, why would Republicans want to change the state constitution? So I decided to vote "no" on all three. You just can't trust these people.











































































'

[Vrede too]

Well, we have officially voted. Longest ballot I've ever seen, I think. After you get past the candidates you've heard of, you get a page of non-partisan keep/reject judges, along with candidates for jobs you didn't even know were jobs, like "Board of Equalization". They do put out a good voter guide, though. https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2026/

There are also 14 Propositions and a couple of local Measures. I read the summaries, then schlogged through the detailed summaries, tried to read the actual text but my eyes glazed over. So I'm thinking here I am, having spent a career reading and making some occasional sense out of legalese, and I don't really understand this - yet some barely literate tru*per who can only think in slogans gets to vote too. Anyway, I voted for half of them, and against the others.

Karma. You've probably authored your share of obtuse legalese.

There's three constitutional amendments on the TN ballot. I read about them on the sample ballot page on the county election website. I read the summaries of them. One of them seemed reasonable, but then I thought "hell, why would Republicans want to change the state constitution? So I decided to vote "no" on all three. You just can't trust these people.

I also have 3. Two are GQP tax limitation amendments, one of them restricting local governments.
:bs: :bs:
I'll vote against these. The third is a farmland preservation measure that a Dem candidate told me she's supporting. I'll have to look at that one and who else endorses it.

[GoCubsGo]

:thumbup: :clap: :happy-cheerleaderkid:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/21 ... 5845652706

[Vrede too]

:thumbup: :clap: :happy-cheerleaderkid:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/21 ... 5845652706

Nttawwt.

US judge orders halt to taxpayer-funded ads featuring Trump

... Manhattan-based ​US District Judge Jennifer Rochon temporarily barred the advertisements after plaintiffs including watchdog group Common Cause brought a lawsuit alleging the ads were political propaganda designed to help Republican candidates in the November 3 midterm elections, not public service announcements.

Judge Jennifer L. Rochon was appointed by Joe Biden, but she began her legal career by clerking for Dementia Don's conservative and (later) corrupt elder sister for 3 years. Irony.

... "We won't stop until this administration is held fully accountable, and no president from any party can waste and abuse ​taxpayer funds ​for propaganda ever again," said Common Cause President ​and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón....

GoCommon CauseGo!

[GoCubsGo]

Judges orders.

DonOld don't care bout Judges stinkin orders.

[Vrede too]

Judges orders.

DonOld don't care bout Judges stinkin orders.

He might care about this:
A growing number of prominent Republicans are endorsing Democrats in 2026
:---P

Republicans confront anger from their own red-state voters ahead of midterms

GOP operatives conducting a focus group in a traditionally red Midwestern state this month were taken aback by what they heard from their own party's voters.

Asked what they blamed for rising gas prices, those voters pointed to "corrupt politicians" and "billionaires" — a response that surprised some longtime strategists who've never seen government corruption emerge as a top issue for so many Republican voters in congressional races, according to a person involved in the discussions.

Billionaire Dementia Don is the most corrupt POTUS we've ever had, by far.
:---P

... There are fears that Republicans could see a washout in parts of the country that are suffering the most from high fuel and grocery prices — where they worry many blue-collar workers are feeling ignored by the president who once pledged to drain the swamp and, instead, has made plans to build a ballroom in it with a price tag in the millions.

:puke-left:

... Top Democrats, for their part, remain confident they will win the majority – and not by a small margin. They feel particularly good about defeating incumbent GOP Reps. Monica De La Cruz of Texas, Juan Ciscomani in Arizona, Gabe Evans in Colorado plus Ryan Mackenzie and Scott Perry in Pennsylvania. That's on top of the two incumbents already abandoned by GOP groups, according to multiple people familiar with internal polling. They're also confident they'll win in the open seat in North Carolina's 11th , where GOP leaders pressured Rep. Chuck Edwards not to seek reelection, and Nebraska's 2nd, where Republicans also pulled resources.

Republicans are still spending in most of these races and say their own internal polling shows a path to victory, particularly for Ciscomani and Evans and possibly De La Cruz. There's also hope of last-minute enthusiasm boost in seats like North Carolina's 11th, where Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit early this week....

Just Deranged kiss of death in the home district of myself and SoupySales.

A sleeper Senate battleground has turned into a real Republican liability

Roger Marshall was running behind.

The bus Kansas Republicans booked for a five-day barnstorming tour sat idling Tuesday morning, with other statewide candidates onboard. The tour was already a few minutes delayed as state party chair Danedri Herbert awaited word from the senator who some Republicans grumble isn't campaigning hard enough as polls show him tied or trailing.

Finally, she got word: Marshall would ride separately.

As the bus reached its first stop in rural Newton, Marshall crept aboard — and was spotted by reporters doing so. He then joined the other candidates exiting to greet the crowd like he'd been there the whole time.

Marshall is playing catch-up as he races to avoid becoming the first person to lose a Senate contest to a Democrat in the state in nearly a century. He faces the most serious challenger for a Kansas senator in over a decade as his party stares down a grim environment under President Donald Trump's second term.

National Republicans are pouring millions into the state to prop him up; national Democrats are responding in kind, and Democrat Adam Hamilton, a well-known United Methodist pastor, is suddenly flush with cash for the campaign's homestretch.

But some Republicans think it's already too late for Marshall.

:---P I like lazy RepuQs.

... Kansas has been especially hard-hit by some of Trump's policies. His tariffs and spiking fuel prices left the state's row crop farmers struggling. A plan to import cheap foreign beef infuriated ranchers in a state that produces the second-most cattle annually. And his threats to cut off U.S. sales of Bombardier planes — a Canadian company whose U.S. headquarters are in Wichita — rattled the state's robust aviation industry....

Opps.

RCP Average 9/8 - 10/14: Marshall (R) +0.3

[Vrede too]

They must be very very desperate. Dementia Don is continuing his red state push by coming to NC to campaign for US Senate candidate Michael Whatley vs shoe-in former Gov Roy Cooper.

My plans:
I know this will bore most of you, but this gives me a sample ballot and a score sheet for after the election.

US Senate: Roy Cooper (D)
US House of Representatives District 11: Jamie Ager
Is this the year we flip NC11?

Judicial races: I'm going to be lazy and shun my usual research in favor of voting a straight D ballot. I figure anyone running as an R in 2026 has zero decency and integrity. If SoupySales cares to share dirt on any of the Ds I will open his posts and consider the input. I'm not likely to vote R but I may leave the line blank.

NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 1: Anita Earls (D)
She has the money to run a bunch of TV ads.
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1: John S. Arrowood (D)
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 2: Tobias (Toby) Hampson (D)
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3: Christine Marie Walczyk (D)

NC State Senate District 48: Doyle G. Brown, Jr. (D)
Incumbent Tim Moffitt (R) has been terrible for a long time. I believe he was O Really's State House Rep years ago.
NC House of Representatives District 117: Lynne Russo
There are several reasons why we might flip 117.

There are a bunch of Henderson County races where only Rs are running: Judges, District Attorney, Board of Commissioners, Clerk of Superior Court, Register of Deeds, Sheriff. Yuck. I want to criticize the local Dems for being lazy and defeatist, but it's not like I've thrown my hat in the ring, even since retirement. Back in Missoula I worked on countless campaigns and even ran for office, but I just haven't gotten worked up about it here in Hooterville. Maybe I'll do goofy write-ins if I don't just leave the races blank.

Henderson County Board of Education (You may vote for THREE):
Only two Ds are running . More power to them.
Reid J. Barwick (D)
Mary Ellen Kustin (D)

NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS

Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor
Meh, unless I learn otherwise I'll leave it to those most affected to decide.
City of Hendersonville Mayor:
Jennifer Hensley, chiropractor, calls herself "Dr"
https://jennhensleyformayor.com
Laudable Resume, decent Issues, scant Endorsements, high class website.
Jerry Smith, Jr., attorney and former teacher
https://jerrysmithformayor.com
Laudable Resume, decent Issues, no Endorsements , high class website.
I may have to research this race further or punt. SoupySales?

City of Hendersonville City Council (You may vote for TWO):

2024: All-female City Council is seated in historic first

Gina Baxter (i) Nonprofit Professional
https://baxterforhvl.com
Resume. Slim Ballotpedia entry and website

Jeff Groh owns two small businesses
https://groh4council.com
Convention of States. Advocates "for an Article V convention of states to rein in an out-of-control federal government." Nope, not looking further.

Melinda P. Lowrance (i) pastor steward and chairwoman of the Trustee Board for St. Paul Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church
No website
Melinda P. Lowrance has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
I hate voting against the only Black but c'mon, put some effort into getting my vote.

Brett Werner Retail Food Safety Officer with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. South Carolina
https://betonbretthvl.com
Okay Resume, except for the South Carolina thing . Good on the Issues, no Endorsements

Do the female incumbents want my vote? I hate breaking up the historic all-female City Council, but I'm leaning towards exclusively voting for Brett Werner or perhaps voting for him and Gina Baxter. SoupySales?

REFERENDA

"Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting."
MAGA voter suppression, Against

"Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%)."
GQP scheme to hamstring effective government, Against

"Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments."
GQP Big Brother plot against local control, Against

Henderson County Open Space Preservation Bonds
For

[GoCubsGo]

They must be very very desperate. Dementia Don is continuing his red state push by coming to NC to campaign for US Senate candidate Michael Whatley vs shoe-in former Gov Roy Cooper.

No competitive elections for me, no Republicans worth voting for.

Still important to make noise.

[neoplacebo]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

[GoCubsGo]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

[supesalemgr2]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

Mine was a direct deposit as well last week. Today I received the explanation as to what it was.

[neoplacebo]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

[supesalemgr2]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

" I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers."

This is what makes America great. You can do whatever you wish with the money.

[neoplacebo]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

" I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers."

This is what makes America great. You can do whatever you wish with the money.

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

[Vrede too]

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

What makes America great is religious bigotry.

https://x.com/AbdulElSayed/status/2111617964277395680
Bazinga.

Abdul El-Sayed’s genius response to Trump's brutal comment regarding his name
Abdul El-Sayed roasted the president online after Trump mocked his name at a rally in Dalton, Georgia

The Democratic candidate for United States Senator in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, has hit back at the president and “owned him” in a scathing viral post, responding to Trump’s attack on him earlier in the week.

... The Michigan politician's post garnered over 100,000 likes and over 1 million views, with some saying the Democrat has “the best political rhetorical skill in the country”.

“Donate a few million to the ballroom, and he’ll pronounce your name properly every time,” another person added.

... The Democrat candidate initially responded to Trump misnaming him by saying the president was “not just attacking me. He’s attacking all of us.”

He added, in a post on X, “He thinks so low of us. He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor’s office. He thinks we don’t know any better. It’s time for change.” ...

2026 Michigan Senate
RCP Average 9/24 - 10/18: EL-SAYED (D) 48.0, ROGERS (R) 46.0
SPREAD El-Sayed +2.0

[supesalemgr2]

Got my bank statement in the mail yesterday. It shows a $90 debit to my account, supposedly as a rebate for Medicare members. It represents less than half a month of my monthly Medicare payment.

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

" I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers."

This is what makes America great. You can do whatever you wish with the money.

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

I am sorry Neo misunderstood my point. My post was to indicate the freedom we have in this country, not the source of the payment.

[neoplacebo]

Boy, DonOld really doesn't like you. It was supposed to be a credit.

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

" I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers."

This is what makes America great. You can do whatever you wish with the money.

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

I am sorry Neo misunderstood my point. My post was to indicate the freedom we have in this country, not the source of the payment.

I am sorry that you thought I misunderstood your point. I just didn't think you had a point (as far as I know, nobody has mentioned having to spend their money a certain way or for certain things). I mentioned ACLU and China merely because trump hates the ACLU and one of his bribery schemes invoked a caveat; that the money he may give you must be spent only on American products (which is the definition of directing someone how to spend their money). So i determined that you didn't have a point at all. But you did get me thinking......since I can spend my money however I wish, I may just go down to the local Wal Mart gas station and walk up to the diesel pump and just pump about fifty bucks worth of it right on the ground. After all, I have nothing that has a diesel engine. If anyone asks me why I'm pumping diesel out on the ground, I'll tell them "I'm making a point." ok

[neoplacebo]

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

What makes America great is religious bigotry.

https://x.com/AbdulElSayed/status/2111617964277395680
Bazinga.

Abdul El-Sayed’s genius response to Trump's brutal comment regarding his name
Abdul El-Sayed roasted the president online after Trump mocked his name at a rally in Dalton, Georgia

The Democratic candidate for United States Senator in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, has hit back at the president and “owned him” in a scathing viral post, responding to Trump’s attack on him earlier in the week.

... The Michigan politician's post garnered over 100,000 likes and over 1 million views, with some saying the Democrat has “the best political rhetorical skill in the country”.

“Donate a few million to the ballroom, and he’ll pronounce your name properly every time,” another person added.

... The Democrat candidate initially responded to Trump misnaming him by saying the president was “not just attacking me. He’s attacking all of us.”

He added, in a post on X, “He thinks so low of us. He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor’s office. He thinks we don’t know any better. It’s time for change.” ...

2026 Michigan Senate
RCP Average 9/24 - 10/18: EL-SAYED (D) 48.0, ROGERS (R) 46.0
SPREAD El-Sayed +2.0

If I had to pick, I'd say what made America great was the rise of the middle class (late 1940's - early 1970's) and the progressive taxation policy. But neither of those exist anymore in any recognizable form.

[supesalemgr2]

It was listed as a direct deposit from SSA and appeared in the debit column of the statement. The checks I write appear in the credit column. No idea if my bank is confused about definitions, but I did see that my balance was $90 more than I thought it was. I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers.

" I may write a check to the ACLU just to get rid of that money or spend it on Chinese firecrackers."

This is what makes America great. You can do whatever you wish with the money.

I had no idea that what makes America great is the president of our country telling voters he'll send them $5,000 if his party wins the midterm elections (this happens all the time and has been going on for decades after all) or when the president sends potential voters $500 as a "rebate" from a program he's trid to destroy for ten years. Or when a president tells voters that if they were a victim of contaminated water on a government installation that they were forced to live on he might settle their claims if his party wins the elections. Or when the president tells voters that if they're victims of a natural disaster he'll send help right away if his party wins the elections but he may not if his party loses. Yeah, it's what makes America great. I would not vote for trump is he gave me ninety thousand dollars.

I am sorry Neo misunderstood my point. My post was to indicate the freedom we have in this country, not the source of the payment.

I am sorry that you thought I misunderstood your point. I just didn't think you had a point (as far as I know, nobody has mentioned having to spend their money a certain way or for certain things). I mentioned ACLU and China merely because trump hates the ACLU and one of his bribery schemes invoked a caveat; that the money he may give you must be spent only on American products (which is the definition of directing someone how to spend their money). So i determined that you didn't have a point at all. But you did get me thinking......since I can spend my money however I wish, I may just go down to the local Wal Mart gas station and walk up to the diesel pump and just pump about fifty bucks worth of it right on the ground. After all, I have nothing that has a diesel engine. If anyone asks me why I'm pumping diesel out on the ground, I'll tell them "I'm making a point." ok

Your point will be made that Neo is not real bright.

[Vrede too]

Negative Dem ads here focus on the economy, corruption, experience and political record.
Negative GQP ads here focus on hate, especially towards transgenders and "illegals".
The different visions for America are clear.