As it happens, I will likely be out of town on Election Day this year, so for the second time in my life, I applied for absentee ballots for the midterm elections for both the First Mate and I. Yesterday we filled out the ballots and today I'll send them off in the mail.

I rather like the absentee ballot process. It gives me a little time to research the issues with the ballot in front of me, an opportunity I probably would not take otherwise. For the FM, it gives her the ability to take her time while I walk her through the voting process; even though the election officials allow me to assist her in the booth, she feels rushed and pressured with the amount of time it takes for me to read the ballot to her.

Both of us supported the Republican candidates on our ballot, and did so gladly. Tim Pawlenty deserves re-election; he has done a good job managing a return to fiscal responsibility in Minnesota, even if he did endorse public funding for professional sports stadiums. Mark Kennedy has represented Minnesota in Congress with a high degree of professionalism and honor for the past six years, and he will do the same as Senator in the next six. John Kline has also represented MN-02 with honor, and the former Marine colonel stands head and shoulders over Colleen Rowley and her Sheehan-supporting tactics, including picturing Kline in a Nazi uniform. Just in case anyone forgot:

I did cast one rather whimsical vote on this ballot; I voted for myself for Mayor of Eagan. My radio partner Mitch told me that he usually picks one race where he has no particular preference to make himself a write-in candidate, in order to later confirm that his ballot got counted for other races. The FM also cast a write-in vote for me in the same race, so I sense a grassroots groundswell for a new mayor here in Minnesota's eighth-largest city. I'll check after Election Day to see if any other Eagan residents decided to cast votes for Edward Morrissey, and I'll be sure to report on the results. I'm already preparing my concession speech.

Meanwhile, Mitch has decided to read the Star Tribune's endorsement slate for the upcoming elections. Start here and go back through his posts. One can hardly fail to see the Democratic bias in their editorial positions. On one hand, they endorse Colleen Rowley over the experienced and effective John Kline in my MN-02 despite her lack of experience, but because her outrage and fame as an FBI whistleblower "precisely the qualities that Washington needs" to change the direction in Congress. However, Obi Sium doesn't get the nod for MN-04 despite being a "thoroughly decent man with an inspiring affection for the values of his adopted country".

Be sure to read all of Mitch's posts on the Strib endorsements.

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Tracked on October 23, 2006 2:34 PM