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Do the Right (or the Wrong) Thing!

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Today’s post comes from the Honorable Loomis Beechly, representing Minnesota’s fabled 9th district – all the water surface area in the state.

Greetings, Valued Constituents and Miscellaneous Voters,

My apologies for this message directed at a mass audience on what is a day of personal choice. I want to urge you … YOU, specifically … to go to the polls and vote your conscience today, especially if you live in the 9th district and your conscience is telling you to vote for ME.

If you’d rather vote for someone else, of course you have every right to do that, although I will feel a knife-like jab of intense physical pain if you put your “X” in someone else’s box. But don’t let that influence your decision.

The choice is yours to make.
Even if you do it wrong and ruin EVERYTHING.

But whatever you do about voting today, please don’t skip it and become a Civically Derelict American. Those who have tossed away their franchise in an expression of political ennui are the most heartbreaking and miserable of creatures. Why? They have squandered their most valuable possession, and will have no right to complain for the next four years.

Think about that. Four years without complaining? I don’t know anyone who can live that way!

You may believe that your vote doesn’t matter, but remember this – two major parties and a bunch of insanely rich people have just spent one billion dollars trying to influence what you will do today.

One billion dollars! This is the most money anybody will ever spend doing anything related to you. Seriously. So stay relevant. Stay focused. Hold your nose, get out and vote, and then go home and take a bath if you feel sullied.

But don’t be like Hamlet, who was an undecided voter right up to the end because he couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than two seconds.

Don’t believe me? Who could forget his famous Polling Place soliloquy?

To vote, or not to vote. I’m still an equestrian!
The weather is colder than a frozen scupper
that wheels barrows of contagious portions
and gendarmes against a tree of bubbles.
And through composting, befriends them.
or by proposing, spend them: a guy, asleep
No more; and not a peep, of our lost weekend!
The smart fakes, and the cow’s unnatural socks.
They flash that hairdo! ‘Tis a constipation
without to be wished. a guy’d die to sleep,
and sleep, purchase a Dream; Sigh. There’s the tub!

Yes, like I said. Take a hot bath and wash it off you.

I wish I understood Shakespeare. It’s mostly gibberish to me, pretty much in the same way politics is nonsense to a lot of ordinary people. But not understanding what is going on doesn’t keep me from seeing a Shakespeare play every now and then. So go out and vote, even if it leaves you feeling like poor Hamlet – all weird and iffy inside, but also like you’ve sort of done the right thing.

Sincerely,
Your Congressmen (maybe)
Loomis Beechly.

Hmmm. I’m afraid one of his aides has allowed Congressman Beechly to drink and write the constituent newsletter at the same time – not a good combination.

When have you regretted a vote?

141 thoughts on “Do the Right (or the Wrong) Thing!”

  1. I have to say I’ve never regretted any of my “top of the ticket” choices because they were conscious choices. My regret has always been those lists of judges at the end of the ballot who might as well have been apples or oranges. Or cans of tuna fish. In fact, I think I’ve always been more educated about tuna fish brands than judges on the ballot. But last night for the first time I went on line and pulled up my local ballot and googled all the judges up for re-election. At the very least you can see who endorsed them and that says something. Well, I’m off to the shower and then stand in the rain to vote!

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    1. Same here–I spent part of my down time at work yesterday checking on the judges, and let’s just say I’m really, really glad I did. I used the Secretary of State, Star Tribune and Minnesota Progressive Project websites to make my choices, but YMMV.

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      2. Thanks, CG and Robin for the links to information about the judges. I will be making use of that information when I vote today.

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  2. Good morning. I regret many of the votes I have cast. I think what maters the most is what you do to try to be good citizen yourself. Voting is not the most important thing you do as a citizen. We do not have enough people practicing good citizenship. The result is that we often don’t have people running for office who will do what needs to be done. However, I will vote today.

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  3. Marvelous soliloquy congressman. Off to vote early, then to the tub.
    Never have voted for the wrong guy. Today will be no different. Only regret I feel is for the consequences we all realize as a result of the vote cast by the unwashed masses.
    Voting booth voting booth, wherefore art thou voting booth? Whether this nobler to suffer the slings
    and arrows of outrageous fortune or to vote perchance to die and to thine own self be true.

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  5. That poem is a masterpiece, Dale. Well done.

    I have voted for one Republican in my life. In 1990 I voted for Arne Carlson instead of Rudy Perpich. I regarded Rudy as borderline mentally disturbed, and he was vigorously pro-life that year. I’ve regretted the vote for Arne many times, but not recently, as he has emerged as one of the wisest and most balanced Minnesota political figures. He campaigned powerfully against the Voter ID amendment. You’re all right, Arne. All is forgiven.

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    1. I voted for Arne, too – my lone Republican vote. I didn’t regret it then, and I sure as heck don’t know. I didn’t always agree with him, but I was very conscious of my “single issue” vote for him. Turns out he did reasonably well on education and a few other things, too.

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      2. I also voted for Arne that year. My other Republican vote was for Dave Durenberger, the year he was running against Bob Short. I was peeved with Bob Short for knocking Don Fraser in the primary. I don’t regret either of those votes. Both of those guys have been vociferously disowned by the Republican party of today, which sort of validates the choice in my mind.

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    2. My grandfather said he only regretted one vote that he made-that for Warren G. Harding. He was disgusted by Harding’s administration and the Teapot Dome Scandal. He voted a democratic ticket for ever after that election.

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  6. I don’t think I have ever regretted a vote – well, maybe one in elementary school when I voted for a friend instead of who I thought would actually do a good job as class president…but only that one. My grandmother, who was born before women could legally vote, admitted to having voted for Ronald Reagan – a vote she regretted deeply. “That was not good,” she said. You could have knocked me over with a feather. She was not at all what I thought of as a Reagan voter – but I think that was when she realized the Republican party she had started voting for in the 1930s was not the same party anymore…not even remotely (pretty sure she was unsure before then, but that was the nail in the coffin). If she were alive today I would place good money on her voting “no” twice…

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  7. OMG, Steve, I voted for Arne that time, too. The only time I’ve ever voted Republican. Rudy was way off the rails by then. Erratic.

    Just back from voting and I’m eternally grateful for the privilege of voting in Minnesota — Hurray for the League of Women Voters! It has always been a civil, cheerful, and well run operation in every instance and location. Occasionally there were even cookies! Today we saw a great sweatshirt logo: “Watch out or I’ll put you in my next novel”. Lots of cute babies, too 🙂

    This time Bill and I were prepared for the judges on ballot, but dropped the ball on the Soil and Water Conservation guys. So I left those blank. Shades of Rosanne Rosannadana, it’s always something, yes?

    Jim, I’ve been wondering why you have regretted so many of your past votes? Maybe you hold people to very high standards and they’ve let you down? I really truly believe that most of us, whether public servants or private citizens, do the best we can with what we’re given. We’ll never please everyone and there’s always room for improvement and growth. But I may be way off base — what did you mean? I think it’s good that you voted, even when you were unhappy with the choices you were given. Choices are rarely clean cut or “perfect”, are they?

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      1. I have been disappointed in the soil and water conservation board in my area because they have shown no interest in working with our Sustainable Farming Assoc. chapter which I think is trying to do some good things to improve soil and water conservation where I live. That might be some of these boards in other parts of the state that are friendly toward SFA.

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        1. Jim, you may be interested in reading what Naomi has to say about the board—how unreachable and unresponsive they are/were.

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      2. Oh, hey, I know Naomi! Friend of a friend, actually. I mainly see her in passing at SF conventions. I didn’t know she was this politically active, but it’s good to know someone took on the shadowy world of the Soil and Water Conservation District.

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        1. CG small world! I don’t know her but was directed to her blog by one of my mentees. I like her humor and pull no punches style.

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    2. Robin, I agree there are no perfect choices. The Green Party candidates are much better than Obama and Romney and I would happy to vote for them if they had any chance of winning. I guess some local and state candidates might not be bad choices, although some of the ones that I know do not seem to be overly well informed on things I think are important.

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  8. Morning all. Good long line at my polling place at the 7:00 opening – when it was my turn, all the booths and tables were taken so I sat on the floor and used my book as my hard surface.

    I can’t think of a time when I have regretted a vote, although I often regret OTHER people’s votes. My dad voted for Ross Perot back in the day and I remember arguing with him about the fact that Ross Perot would never survive a presidential campaign – he had such a thin skin and he was definitely a “I’m taking my ball and going home” kind of player (shades of Jesse Ventura). My dad did later in life say he had regretted that vote.

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  9. Some fun quotes from today’s Writer’s Almanac

    John Quincy Adams said: “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

    Rosa Luxemburg said: “Without general elections, without unrestrained freedom of the press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution.”

    Mark Twain said: “If there is any valuable difference between a monarchist and an American, it lies in the theory that the American can decide for himself what is patriotic and what isn’t. I claim that difference. I am the only person in the 60 millions that is privileged to dictate my patriotism.”

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    1. These are great, Sherrilee. Mark Twain especially. And now Congressman Beechly, “The choice is yours to make. Even if you do it wrong and ruin EVERYTHING.”

      Dale, this post is a gem 🙂 This “miscellaneous voter” thanks you for your public service.

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  10. The only thing I regret about any of my votes is that I’ve felt obligated to vote for the person who can win rather than voting my true conscience–tactical voting, I believe they call it. I’d much rather vote Green or Socialist (I’m sure you’re all *shocked* to hear that!), but I end up voting Democrat every time because they’re the only ones who have a chance to actually beat the Right. I’m really hoping instant-runoff/ranked choice voting catches on, so I don’t have to compromise so much.

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    1. My regrets about my votes are similar to yours, CG. I actually helped with Obama’s campaign this year. I helped moveon.org make calls to swing states to ask for volunteers to work in those states for Obama even though I disagree with Obama’s actions on some issues that I think are very important.

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    3. Yes to “instant-runoff/ranked choice voting.” I mentor some idealistic college students who will be voting Green. While I admire their dedication, I may have to go into deep solitude if their votes put Romney on top. I get a headache if I think about it too much—I wish it was tomorrow morning.

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  12. My dear friend Marilynn, whom I write every day, is a highly principled person. She and I agree on nearly everything, but there have been times she voted green instead of Democratic on the theory that Republicans and Democrats were more alike than not and she could only vote her conscience by going green. I know she later regretted a few of those green votes.

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  13. Great job, Dale. I love the soliloquy!

    I’ve never regretted a vote, but I’m exactly like CG about my choices. I haven’t heard the phrase “tactical voting” before; I’ve always thought of it as choosing between the lesser of two evils. That doesn’t make it right, but I’ve most often felt forced to vote Democrat when I would have voted Green. I’ve never voted Republican or Independent, but I once voted Green – I think it was before Bill Clinton. I don’t regret voting that way – it’s how I truly feel.

    I’ve become a fan of Hilary Thavis and Gaia Groove. Hilary grew up in Italy but her family is originally from the Mankato area and I’m friends with her aunt. Hilary and her husband, Emiliano Martino, graced our open stage at Rock Bend a few years ago and they blew me away. They live in Italy but were here this year from August through October. You may have heard them on PHC twice in September. Anyway, Hilary posted “Good luck, America!” on facebook this morning. Thanks, Hilary. We really need it.

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  16. You folks will remember that we have agreed to meet here in Dale’s treehouse to discuss things as they develop tonight. Actually, that would have happened on its own, without anyone saying it was part of a plan. I fear things might still be inconclusive when those baboons who work for a living are too woozy to follow the news. One expert this AM predicted that it might be Wednesday morning before we know who won . . . and we all remember Florida, don’t we?

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    1. my son reminded me that california may not be voting because the tweets and facebooks reports get out there by 4 or 5 and the election will appear over. i hope it doesnt come to that. hawaii ok. califoirnia no

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  17. jim ramstad was the republican who was a true moderate out in the 3rd congressional district. i was a hard leaning leftist but the points that ramstad differed with the gop party on let me know we were better off with him in there than the dems they were offering up at the time. made me feel real good to vote for a good gop guy wen i knew the democrats were where i came from. ramstad was one of the first to recognize the tea party influence and got the heck out when grover started dictating policy,. eric paulsen has come in and wants everyone to believe hs is moderate but as rt stated. talks like ramstad votes like bachmann.
    my folks voted for nixon in 1960 when they were young and my moms republican upbringing made them think jfk would be too liberal. his short stint made them the died in the wool dems they became and my mo says she cant believe they ever chose nixon over kennedy. just young and stupid is her excuse. i remember thinking when regan was elected that it may not be too bad. i was a carter guy but… wow was i hit with the wake up. regan and the bush boys showed how much damage the wrong element can do. lets hope we dont have another lesson coming any time soon other than one for the tea party to wake up and smell the coffee. it will take another 20 years to undue all w’s damage. a bout of romnesia could be the knock out punch.

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  19. I’m in a state of high anxiety today, but it was ameliorated by Nate Silver’s final stats on what will happen tonight: Obama’s “chance of winning” hit 92% with 315 electoral votes. I worry a lot about Ohio’s Sec of State having just installed new, untested software in all the voting machines, resulting in a lawsuit filed yesterday. Not to mention his vow to toss out several thousand provisional ballots and cut early voting short! I’m far too preoccupied with this election cycle, but it will help distract me from tomorrow’s PET scan for cancer recurrence. Thoughts and prayers appreciated.

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    1. We’ve got your back…and front, Cb. Don’t forget to BREATHE! I know it’s hard when you’re anxious, but that makes it all the more important.

      I’m off to do my election volunteer job. Catch you all later.

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    3. i like the silver voodoo taht give obama the 92% win.
      the gop goes crazy when the are confronted with this.
      denial are us is the gop moto this time around.
      i hope i hope i hope

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  20. hey a thought if the cabin in cornucopia doesnt sell to this buyer.
    trail baboon llc a land investment group could buy this after the lisitng expires and saves the 7% offer the money required to buy out the parties involves and do a community buy with a payment of about 400 a month if my numbers are anywhere near correct. 4 of us at 100 a month, 8 at 50 a month 12 at … even less (33.3 an month)
    anybody in?

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  23. How is the election looking at this point? Any way to get whack job Bachmann out of office yet? I’ve always voted DFL since I was 18 and voted for Carter as a senior in high school — have not regretted any vote. Still a little chapped about Dubya winning over Gore. That was just so wrong. But he did win a Nobel Prize.

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    1. Haven’t heard a thing about whack job—but I just got home a bit ago. They just called the race as a loss for the “pregnacy from a rape is God’s will” guy.

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      1. Yes, there seems to be some people who have decided they will not give in to the lies and cheap tricks that some people on Romney’e side seem to favor.

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  26. Busy day at my polling place. 1133 voters; 288 of them needed to register. I’m a registration judge, one of two in my precinct. Didn’t have time to eat breakfast or lunch. Didn’t eat at all till about 3:00 when it slowed down enough for me to sneak off and scarf down some potato chips.

    Now I can turn my attention to the news for the first time today.

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    3. Wow, Linda, that’s dedication. I guess I can’t complain about my morning – I had a medical appointment that required me to fast for 8 hours beforehand. Since it was scheduled for 10:45, I of course fasted for longer than 8 hours since I didn’t want to get up at 2:45 am to get a snack. I ran some errands after my appointment and was mighty hungry by the time I got home.

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  28. Amendments failing but mostly metro reporting so far I phoned and door-knocked against the anti-marriage amendment yesterday. Way out of my comfort zone but it is just too important. I really hope the numbers hold.

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    2. Hope so, too, Lisa. Good work! I’ve been looking everywhere on the web and can’t find anything on these results. I guess we’ll hear soon enough.

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      2. Yes, she is a good child.
        Currently only about 46% yesses for each one. An amazing number of blank voters (49000, and 52000).
        My city council person just pointed out something I’d forgotten in my joy that makes for even more joy – – four more years of wise Supreme Court appointments!

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  36. Tim Walz, Krista’s, Ben’s and my Rep, has 56% of the vote with 50% counted. Over Alan Quist. Remember weirdo Quist who Arne Carlson defeated in the Republican primary?

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  37. Well, Obama may have won the election. but I somehow lost my wine glass. My house isn’t that big. I think it is a signal to go to bed!

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  38. Evening gang.

    I’ve been home for awhile. Out of 1049 voters and 57 new registrations we ended up with 826 votes cast.
    Olmsted county is basically Republican. All the races were close, but Romney won, the amendments passed and a friend running for county commissioner barely won in our township. It’s always interesting; as we go through the ballots looking for write-in’s, so many people vote for the major offices and skip the rest of the ballot. In my friends race, he won by 12 and 122 people didn’t even vote for it.
    Apathy at it’s worst. And it’s discouraging…
    Glad to see the rest of the state – and the nation- votes better than people here!
    We had people arrive at 6:20 this morning and they were surprised we weren’t open for voting yet. Some arrived at 6:30 and waited. By 7:00 we had 85 people in our little one room school type building.

    One judges wife made us soup, we had cookies, and donuts. People dropped off cookies through out the day… we didn’t go hungry. But it was a steady stream of people all day and hard to fit in a bowl of soup.

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    1. We used to vote in Silver Creek Township, inland 4-5 miles from Betty’s Pies. It was much fun. Most people sat at a table to vote and discussed the election as they were voting, which was interesting in an area that was very liberal and very conservative. We odd middle of the road ones were looked at askance. After you voted you went to the community club next door, an old church, and paid money to eat at the pot luck to which you brought food.

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        1. Cool. This was how the community club paid for itself for the next two years, including an non-denominational summer kids Bible school I helped run. It was wonderful rural midwest life. Sure hope it’s the same.

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    2. So here’s what the amendment drama looks like to me: the floodwaters crested a few inches below the top of the sandbags around midnight, and are now starting to recede a little. I’m calling it a day. I hope when I get up tomorrow that’s still the story. 48.99 and 47.3 percent when last I checked….

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  40. Sorry but I have not been on, have not read the top end of this. Spent much of the day in a dark room hiding from sound and light. Bet tomorrow will be the same.

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    1. I don’t know if you’ve all gone to bed but BOTH amendments have been called:
      FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL !!!!!!!! So fabulous!!!!
      “Minnesota the first state in the nation to beat back a freedom limiting amendment like this!”

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