A Flyover at the Ballot Box

Also: there *is* a bell, but only for first timers.

I voted yesterday and it was wonderful. The parking situation was not perfect, but kudos to the Hamilton County Board of Elections for running a well-oiled machine.

First time in 20+ years since I’ve voted in Ohio. I got the “I Ohio Voted” or however you read the sticker with the red I. Shortly after I was able to vote in Ohio, I became a Missouri resident while in college at SLU. Not that it afforded me any discounts on tuition, but I was working in politics in Missouri and living there year-round, so as a rule follower, that’s what I was supposed to.

How’d I vote? For a lot of Democrats! Strange, right?

Obviously, I was happy to vote for VP Kamala Harris, as I endorsed her along with other campaign alumni of GOP candidates, Greg Landsman and Sherrod Brown. If you had told recent college graduate me that I would be eagerly voting for Brown, despite my very deep differences on economic policy, particularly free trade, I would have asked you what the hell happened.

But Brown, whose book I own, is a sincere protectionist of sorts. Trump? That’s one of the few sincere-ish beliefs he has¹. Bernie Moreno is a recent convert, to this and stolen elections. Nope.

Pavan Parikh, our Clerk of Courts, I was especially proud to support. I’ve known him since my SLU days (his SLU Law days) and he is just an all-around good guy. Even if I was on Earth 2 and there was a sane GOP, I would have voted for Pavan.

Yes on 1. Against all of the Republicans for Supreme Court. After the gerrymandering shit, and the boneless chicken wing decision? No.

The prosecutor’s race is a hot one. Here’s an instructive answer on whether or not she’s supporting Donald Trump from the incumbent prosector Melissa Powers:

Four years ago, our economy was stronger, our borders more secure, the cost of gas, groceries and childcare lower, and our quality of life was better. We have a lot of work to do to keep our community safe and our economy strong, and by nearly every measure on those issues, voters believe Donald Trump did a better job than our current administration. As I agree, I will personally be voting for him this November.

It gets worse if you want to keep reading. No serious person, in my judgment, should be in a position of power if they support this criminal. Especially a prosecutor.

There is one position where you had no choice: County Engineer, the office of which has certain professional certifications you must meet to be eligible.

It was neat to see first time voters ring the bell, as if it were like the staff at Long John Silvers did well, or it was a last chemotherapy session. Similarities to both, I guess. Voting is a lot like chemotherapy these days.

When I got outside? A fighter-jet flyover.

Pretty cool. I suspect for a funeral or maybe they were on their way back to WPAFB.

Afterwards, I thought I wanted to get Ollie’s Trolley, but opted to try Camp Washington Chili for the first time ever. It was superb.

I missed BLINK due to a work trip, and am missing the Stansbury Park pumpkin chuck, too. Seems like the calendar is conspiring against me for all the fun Cincinnati things. Maybe in 2025?

1. He was in the JAPAN IS EATING OUR LUNCH crowd.