Yesterday's plans changed when I had a sudden spontaneous visit from an old friend I hadn't seen for ages, got caught up with news of family and mutual friends.
She tends to be the confidante of her friends in their troubles, classic youngest daughter situation, familiar to me, and she asks me for input. So we did some of that, too.
These friends' visits tend to change the course of the day, so yesterday was not a day of making, nor of writing as planned about the politics of making art. But she did accept an artwork off the wall! The winnowing continues.
I asked her to send a picture when it's installed in her home, which I'll share.
And there was a huge, seismic shift in NJ politics yesterday, speaking of politics, when a federal judge struck down the County Line on the primary ballot design,and ordered a redesign for our June primary.
This wipes away a lot of power from the Democratic party power brokers. This is a couple of white men, one North Jersey, one South, who've been using the ballot design to give total prominence to their chosen candidates.
This consigned all other candidates, however popular, to what Rep Kim, who's running for Senate, calls ballot Siberia. The design has been estimated to give a 38% advantage to their handpicked candidate.
The power brokers, were shoving in the governor's totally inexperienced wife, never ran for anything before, as the replacement for indicted Senator Menendez.
This brought about a rebellion from voters, with whom Kim is popular and a tested legislator. He won by huge margins those county party votes where clerks opened the voting or allowed secret ballots at the recent county meetings, held for the purpose of endorsing candidates in an election year.
He's the guy,you probably saw him, who was pictured doing cleanup at the Capitol after the January 6 insurrection. He gained deep personal respect there, walks the walk.
His popularity showed up starkly how the power brokers' choice was a nonstarter, and winning his court case against the Line has been a huge victory.
Now we're in the process of pressing the County Clerks to get on with the new ballot design ready for our June primary, and not waste time and tax dollars on appealing the decision. I've already written to my County Clerk to this effect.
And we have to press our local county party to do great checking on future candidates, now that it's opened up. We don't want people running and winning as Democrats then, in office, turning out to be Republican after all.
One thing and another, a busy social and civic day!
And the Easter cactus is getting with the program.
Happy day, everyone, note what's your own program of the day, and try to get with it!
I find it astounding that they can manipulate the voting procedure like that. Whatever happened to putting the candidates in alphabetical order? At least that's one thing that Canada has been doing right (not to say they won't change too).
ReplyDeleteNice to have a visit from a good friend.
Alpha order favors names from the beginning of the alphabet. Lottery works more equably. Having acquired a married name at the beginning of the alphabet, from a previous name near the end, I can attest to the many advantages it confers throughout life. I would fight it on a ballot. It's thumb on the scale.
DeleteIt was wonderful to see her.
Some good political news for a change.
ReplyDeleteYes, amazing, but great.
DeleteNice to have a new visit with an old friend.
ReplyDeleteA surprise one.
DeleteI just finished reading a book in which the POV changed from one family member to another and then back again to another. Father, mother, oldest sister, young brother all had voices but the middle child- a daughter- had none. I thought surely at the end of the book her voice would be heard but it was not. I found that strange. Your words on being a youngest daughter added to my curiosity about the author's choice.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got a visit. I love that picture of both of you.
I wonder if the writer was a middle child.
DeleteWhat a pleasant surprise for you! Spending an afternoon with an old friend wins the day. You are proactive....letter already sent to county clerk. Yay on you!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice, yes.
DeleteAnd a number of people felt that striking almost as soon as the decision came down was vital to assure our various county clerks that we were onto it.
so much underhandedness in politics.
ReplyDeleteMy visiting friend said it's just like India!
DeleteI hope the ballot redesign is ready and approved in time for your election. Smart to apply pressure immediately.
ReplyDeleteNo reason not, unless powerful people slow walk it.
DeleteSo glad you got a visit from a dear friend! I don't remember the New Jersey ballot design -- in fact I lived there so briefly I'm not sure I ever actually voted there. But this sounds like a good court decision.
ReplyDeleteIt's taken years of effort and organizing.
DeleteOh, it's so good to see an old friend! It will be lovely to see the photo of where she puts your picture! The local political stuff is interesting to me. We've done a lot of redistricting here -- certainly a different thing but interesting to see if/how results will change.
ReplyDeleteWe lost a terrific congressman to redistricting, to a hopeless right winger who blocks everything and refuses meetings with constituents.
DeleteGood on you for being so politically astute and active! (My last name is smack in the middle.)
ReplyDeleteIt's important to be active and keep up.
DeleteI love the photo and to have days thrown off by special visitors.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes it's good to be unscheduled.
DeleteOld friend's are the best i reckon, ease and comfort like worn slippers and a cozy blanket. The design of a ballot is so psychological isn't it ,especially if one is not firmly committed to candidate of choice. I know that I am discouraged sometimes when my choice is at the end of the line.
ReplyDeleteExactly. That's how good candidates get overlooked. People subconsciously assume they're unpopular because they're at the end of the line, when the chosen party candidate is blazoned at the top.
DeleteThanks for more background on the County Line ballot design - it was rather baffling to me. It takes a lot of stamina to keep fighting for years for such changes.
ReplyDeleteYay old friends and spontaneous visits!
Chris from Boise, up late watching owls pop in and out of the nestbox. They continue to be interested but uncommitted (as far as I can tell).
I'm hopeful about the owls. You'll see the mourning dove update in my Easter post.
DeleteIt seems complicated and very open to abuse, but I'm pleased you made your views knowns in writing.
ReplyDeleteIt's been simplified by the abolition of the Line, but yes, open to abuse. Hudson County has already agreed not to appeal. They know which side their political bread is buttered. And I've no doubt they extracted some advantage in exchange.
DeleteNice visitors are always welcome and a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteA warm Easter Sunday greeting to you from Viola
We have such happy sunshine weather... the splendor of Easter.
Hug
Thank you, and a happy Easter to you.
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