Election 2010

I'm not really in a position to complain about last night's results. For the first time in my life I didn't vote. Not because I didn't want to... but because I couldn't get home in time to do so despite plans to leave work early.

I'm grateful that Jim Himes and Dick Blumenthal will represent Connecticut. I know them both and they stand apart as among the few with true character and sense of responsibility.

Still some lessons to be learned - at least my personal take:

1 - Money don't buy votes: witness the brilliant smack down of Linda McMahon and Meg Whitman. Combined, they spent nearly $300 million. That money could have been much better spent. Sorry that women are setting such a terrible example.

2 - You can't win just on your record -- Unfortunately, this is something my friend Peggy Reeves found out here in CT. She was the first local state rep to actually get something done in Hartford in over 20-years, yet she did not promote her victories with the local press. While I counseled her to write regular editorials, get in front of the public and put out regular press releases -- she didn't. Her opponent, however, did. I believe that visibility (and a lot of negative support from disenfranchised republicans), was what led to her defeat. Basic PR could have made a huge difference.

3 - Don't believe everything you read/hear from the media -- wild and often erroneous reporting at one point put Paladino in a dead race with Andrew Cuomo. During the race, I listened to a report on polling numbers that had them neck and neck. We have to stop relying on these polls. Cuomo's brilliant strategy, let Paladino lose the race just by opening his mouth.

I believe we get the representation we deserve. Sorry Florida. Sorry Wisconsin. Etc. More Gridlock is on the way.

And my last lesson. Next time I'm voting early.



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