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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 07:09 PM Nov 2018

Positive Vibrations

“Make way for the positive day
'Cause it's a new time, a new day
It's a new feeling, a new sign
Oh what a new day!”
Bob Marley; Positive Vibration


Yesterday morning, I heard one of my dogs barking. Looking out the window, I could see his tail wagging in a rapid circle, which indicated a friend was walking up my long driveway. I walked outside, and met a young lady, who I would estimate to be around 70 years old. She said that she hated to bother me on a Sunday morning, but wanted to encourage me to vote for Democratic candidates on Tuesday.

As she was listing the Democrats who will be on the local ballot – including my younger son – I asked her how she thought the contests would go? She said that she was cautiously optimistic, but very nervous. As the day turned to afternoon then evening, I had about a dozen phone calls from associates around the region; all of them gave the same answer to my question: cautiously optimistic.

My favorite call of the day was from my cousin, who survived the “road rage” shooting that killed his son. My cousin is set to drive elderly people from the rural areas surrounding his home town to the polls tomorrow. He is one of a number of such Democratic volunteers throughout our county. He is also cautiously optimistic about the local and nationwide elections.

Looking at “fave book,” I see that student activists that I am in regular contact with are also volunteering to provide rides to those in need. These young people are from a variety of public and private universities across upstate New York. My younger daughter – my only student at this point – had called me two weeks ago, when she sent her ballot in. In both of the contests where a republican was running unopposed, she did a write-in for me. “No republican should ever be unopposed,” she told me.

Her brother looks to be a pretty safe bet to win his election at the town level. He and his brother did virtually all of his campaign work. They have a lot of experience, and I am proud that they showed me that they are entirely capable of carrying on our family tradition. In another four years, they will be running my son for state office.

I went to the grocery store to pick up enough food for the next few days. I prefer to go late at night, when the store is near empty, but went in the early afternoon instead. I ran into a couple old friends. They both wanted to talk about the elections. Both were cautiously optimistic.

I like that all of these people are cautiously optimistic. I respect that. However, I am very optimistic. I think that we will recapture the House of Representatives. Win some governors' races. The Senate may or may not change; however, in 2020, we are in a very good position to take the Senate. And the republicans planning to run for re-election know that. That is important.

Other than voting tomorrow, there is only one thing left to do: I want to thank everyone here who has worked for Democratic Party victories, and who has or will be voting.

Peace,
H2O Man

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Positive Vibrations (Original Post) H2O Man Nov 2018 OP
K&R backtoblue Nov 2018 #1
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2018 #23
K&R 2naSalit Nov 2018 #2
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2018 #24
"No republican should ever be unopposed." Qutzupalotl Nov 2018 #3
Some of our Republican Arkansas state office holders were opposed by the Libertarians. LiberalArkie Nov 2018 #11
There is one H2O Man Nov 2018 #25
Positive Vibrations malaise Nov 2018 #4
Everything is looking H2O Man Nov 2018 #26
I am very very hopeful malaise Nov 2018 #36
one good thing about what happens after the midterms renate Nov 2018 #5
Exactly! H2O Man Nov 2018 #27
You deserve to be proud. panader0 Nov 2018 #6
Well, thank you. H2O Man Nov 2018 #29
Peace to you, H20 Man. democrank Nov 2018 #7
Right! H2O Man Nov 2018 #31
So excited for your son! coeur_de_lion Nov 2018 #8
At this point H2O Man Nov 2018 #32
Been looking forward coeur_de_lion Nov 2018 #37
I am cautiously optimistic, too. babylonsister Nov 2018 #9
Darned right! H2O Man Nov 2018 #33
Kicking. eom littlemissmartypants Nov 2018 #10
Thanks H2O Man Nov 2018 #34
Super positive vibrations, watoos Nov 2018 #12
Thank you for H2O Man Nov 2018 #35
and thank you Kurt V. Nov 2018 #13
Thanks, Kurt! H2O Man Nov 2018 #40
Dug up that Bob song and played it. Then Redemption Song. Am now Enoki33 Nov 2018 #14
Good! H2O Man Nov 2018 #41
K&R! gademocrat7 Nov 2018 #15
I must admit that before the '16 election I felt a foreboding elmac Nov 2018 #16
K&R mountain grammy Nov 2018 #17
Thanks Pal! woofless Nov 2018 #18
I am sooo excited for tomorrow. Everything is going to get better peeps. BeckyDem Nov 2018 #19
It's going to be a blue wave of various sizes all across the country. And trickyguy Nov 2018 #20
Was so excited I got those candidates criss-crossed. Just a little nervous. trickyguy Nov 2018 #21
I've seen so much good this past few weeks. nolabear Nov 2018 #22
And I want to thank YOU, my dear H20 Man! CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2018 #28
Cautious optimism seems to be the sentiment for those who have lost peekaloo Nov 2018 #30
"No republican should ever be unopposed," kentuck Nov 2018 #38
K&R suffragette Nov 2018 #39

Qutzupalotl

(14,230 posts)
3. "No republican should ever be unopposed."
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 07:25 PM
Nov 2018

We need a name on the ballot in EVERY race, in EVERY district. Come on, party leaders, just pay the damn filing fee so we’re ready when the Republican opponent implodes.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
25. There is one
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:40 PM
Nov 2018

contest for a state assembly seat here, with a republican against an alt-right independent. The one is a decent old-time republican, the other from a family of felons. And there is another with just a republican. I think that this year will help change that in 2020. Change is in the air.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
26. Everything is looking
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:42 PM
Nov 2018

even better here in the evening hours. People are exciting about participating in the effort to make serious changes.

renate

(13,776 posts)
5. one good thing about what happens after the midterms
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 07:30 PM
Nov 2018

Assuming that Democrats do well (I know the sentiment is definitely on our side; I just worry about dirty tricks)....

The Republican senators who will be up for re-election next will have to worry about more than just pandering to their base to have any chance in 2020, so they will have to behave differently from how they've behaved so far. My fingers are crossed that their pathetic milquetoast pandering to racists and to evangelicals who think Trump is the second coming will lessen after tomorrow.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
27. Exactly!
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:46 PM
Nov 2018

That will involves the possibility of taking a position on a impeachment from the House. And this includes their deciding if they would prefer Trump or Pence on the top of the 2020 ticket. Bad options for them.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
29. Well, thank you.
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:52 PM
Nov 2018

I talk to my cousins in PA, too. Their family has long been involved in the party at the state level. The three sisters live in different cities, which makes it interesting. They have been working very hard for the past two years. I think it sounds good now.

democrank

(11,052 posts)
7. Peace to you, H20 Man.
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 07:35 PM
Nov 2018

I have to believe that change is gonna come.

Today I traveled through rural parts of three northern New England states and was pleased to see so many yard signs for Democrats. Let's hope....

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
31. Right!
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 11:06 PM
Nov 2018

It's funny -- when I went to the store, I noticed someone had taken Anthony Brindisi signs from one intersection, and replaced them with a cluster of Claudia Tenney signs. But I'm confident that Anthony will win the congressional seat tomorrow. Though we are in a republican region, most of those in town and county government here can't stand her.

coeur_de_lion

(3,666 posts)
8. So excited for your son!
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 07:47 PM
Nov 2018

And excited for all of us democrats. Proud and excited.

I've never seen this much enthusiasm for voting in my life.

I'm super optimistic and occasionally cautiously optimistic but a tad nervous.

Thank YOU for all you do to promote democratic causes and people H!

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
32. At this point
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 11:10 PM
Nov 2018

in my life, I'm convinced that my greatest contribution is being a grumpy old man. DU continues to allow me a place to practice that art.

I love the amount of passion among voters this year. Since I posted this OP, I've gotten a number of communications from college students and old hippies. There will be a shift in power this week.

 

watoos

(7,142 posts)
12. Super positive vibrations,
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 08:06 PM
Nov 2018

H2O Man, we are taking back the Senate, tomorrow. It's karma, I can feel it, I can hear the blue tsunami coming.

Some wise person told me a long time ago to never release negativity into the universe, I try to live by that.

Love your title, Positive Vibrations. Can't wait to vote.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
35. Thank you for
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 11:14 PM
Nov 2018

the Positive Message! I think that it is possible we take the Senate. That would/will be outstanding.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
40. Thanks, Kurt!
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 03:22 PM
Nov 2018

Big lines in my small town today. There are two villages, and six hamlets in our township. By noon, more people voted than in the 2016 election!

Enoki33

(1,584 posts)
14. Dug up that Bob song and played it. Then Redemption Song. Am now
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 08:39 PM
Nov 2018

more than cautiously optimistic. Thank you.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
41. Good!
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 03:25 PM
Nov 2018

Redemption Song is a favorite. When my older daughter was approaching her teens, she asked if she could play my guitar. Within an hour or so, she had taught herself that song. I figured if she could do that her first time on guitar, she could keep mine.

 

elmac

(4,642 posts)
16. I must admit that before the '16 election I felt a foreboding
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 09:05 PM
Nov 2018

that it was going to be close race and the enthusiasm wasn't there for a lot of voters to show up. I still thought HRC would win, wasn't prepared for how bad it did go. This time I feel excitement, an energy I haven't felt since the 2008 election. Even with all the GOP dirty tricks I think we can do this, pull a big, blue rabbit out of the hat.

BeckyDem

(8,361 posts)
19. I am sooo excited for tomorrow. Everything is going to get better peeps.
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 09:47 PM
Nov 2018

Cathartic song that means to me many of the corrupt cretins will be gone and even more so in 2020!


I can see clearly now the rain has gone


trickyguy

(769 posts)
20. It's going to be a blue wave of various sizes all across the country. And
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:06 PM
Nov 2018

a few of the biggest ones will be in Georgia for Andrew Gillium and
in Florida for Stacey Abrams. You go Dems.

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
22. I've seen so much good this past few weeks.
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:14 PM
Nov 2018

I know they’re out there too and they’re scary but we have such remarkable citizens and representatives I’m delighted to be among them.

Love will win. In any number of ways.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,308 posts)
28. And I want to thank YOU, my dear H20 Man!
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:47 PM
Nov 2018

Your calm, intelligent thoughts and writing about these matters bring hope and serenity to me and to so many others.

You are the gentle voice of reason that reassures us against the panic and paranoia that we would otherwise feel.

We are all in your debt!



peekaloo

(22,977 posts)
30. Cautious optimism seems to be the sentiment for those who have lost
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 10:56 PM
Nov 2018

more than a little bit of faith in their fellow Americans.

Here's hoping some of that faith gets restored tomorrow.

Best of luck to your son.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
38. "No republican should ever be unopposed,"
Tue Nov 6, 2018, 06:59 AM
Nov 2018

The motto of the "new" and improved Democratic Party.

Republicans have made it necessary with their incompetence and lack of character.

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