50/50

In looking at the 50/50 vote splits here and across the nation, I can't help but look at the genesis of the partisan polarization that continues to afflict us. With all the screaming about the "stolen election" I have my own take.

When George Bush and Al Gore were running for President, no one really cared all that much for either of them. Gore was wooden, and Bush was, well, a Republican. Polls showed a near 50/50 split right up to the election. Magazines wrote about it, astrologers made note of it. Pundits discussed Gore's unlikability and debated Bush's intelligence.

Incredibly, the election turned up exactly that, a REAL 50/50 split, such as no one could have imagined.

Then all the shouting began. Gore suddenly became beloved, when he had not been. And conversely, Bush became hated.

Gore's people asked for a recount of only the heavily democratic counties, when the only right thing to do was recount the entire state, but every recount came up with the same thing, a virtual tie.

Of the two only one could emerge a winner, and in this case it was determined by an unbelievably small number of votes, but there was a "winner" nonetheless.

Proof that every vote really does count. Same thing is true in Humboldt County today.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens when all the votes are counted.

But for now, it looks like the Salzman/localsolutions golden touch has turned to lead.

It's a sign that bodes well for future elections.