New Look

Welcome to the Thanksgiving theme. Some fall colors, a new layout, it's a totally different look. I've added some of my favorite Bookmarks to the sidebar, and a new Custom Google Search right under the title, and you can still get to Joe's Average Americans in the sidebar. There's even an expanded Archive section.

If you're subscribed using an RSS Aggregator or email delivery, check out the new look at http://averagejoeblogs.blogspot.com.

Joe
Comment

GRIPE! -- I Didn't Test Well

Tonight I attempted to take a certification test for work. This is a national certification test administered around the country.

In preparation for the test, I completed 120 hours of computer based training on related materials, and studied over 325 sample questions. This training and testing was prepared by industry experts and cost my company thousands of dollars.

Of the 85 questions on the test tonight, I guessed at 35. Most of the material on the test was never covered in the hours and hours of training and sample questions I completed. I'll be very surprised if I passed this certification (I won't know for several weeks), and that really gripes me!

Joe
Comment

And So It Goes.....

Now that it's all been decided, and the fallout has already begun (with the "resignation" of Secretary Rumsfeld, I think I'll take a little break from talking politics. Campaign season can be pretty taxing, just trying to stay up to date with everything that's going on and getting the word out about the candidates you support.

So, for the next few days at least, I'm going to try not to speak about politics. No promises -- something crazy could happen that I just can't keep quiet about. But for now, I think, I'll try to focus on my family and sit back and think forward to 2008, the Presidential race to come, and whether the Republicans will regain any ground in the House and Senate in 2008.

If you voted in this election, you deserve a pat on the back for doing your American duty. If you didn't vote, you should be ashamed of yourself. And if you couldn't vote because you aren't even registered, well, shame is too good for you. Get yourself out there and register, because it all starts over now, and we'll be going to the polls again in 729 days, and you have a responsibility as an American citizen (if, that is, you are an American citizen -- for those reading this elsewhere, please forgive my rant) to participate in the process and vote. This great thing called Democracy can only function to it's fullest potential with the cooperation and participation of every citizen.

But I digress. Enjoy the post-election day weekend. Try to get away from the politico-babble on TV, if you can, and get out and enjoy a little late autumn weather before the first snowflake falls.

Joe
Comment

Election Results

Nearly twelve hours after the first polls closed, the fate of the Senate remains unknown. With two states -- Montana and Virginia -- too close to call, the Democrats need both states to seize control of the Senate while Republicans need only one to retain control.

Candidates in both states are in a statistical deadlock, while one county in each state reports problems with voting machines that have caused some votes to remain uncounted. We will likely not have results until later today, at which time a recount is expected to be announced in Virginia, drawing out the final results even longer.

Whichever party wins control of the Senate, you can bet partisan politics will play a HUGE role for the next two years with such an even balance of power. America, prepare to watch and learn why the Democrats are the party of "no."

Joe

Democrats to Win Control of the Senate ???

With the fall of formerly Republican-held Senate seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Rhode Island, and races in Virginia and Missouri running too close to call, it appears that the Democrats could very possibly take control of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. At the very best case scenario for Republicans, their majority would be trimmed to just one or two seats. This creates not only a challenge for the Bush Administration, but, I believe, a challenge for American society as well. With the extreme liberal agenda of today's Democrat party, unless the President wields his VETO with a heavy hand and American voters reverse the tide in 2008, I believe we have just witnessed the beginning of the great moral collapse of the American way of life.

It could be a sad, dark day in American history, though we won't truly know that for another two years. Pray with me, people.

Joe
Comment

Democrats to Win Control of the House

To take control of Congress, Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the Senate and 6 in the House. As the numbers are starting to show, it is looking very likely that Democrats will take control of at least one of the two branches of Congress.

Democrat gains in the Senate:

+ Pennsylvania
+ Ohio
+ Rhode Island

Democrat losses in the Senate:

- Connecticut (Lieberman)*

Democrat gains in the House:

+ Indiana #8
+ Kentucky #3
+ Indiana #2
+ Vermont #1
+ New Hampshire #2
+ Ohio #18
+ Pennsylvania #7
+ North Carolina #11
+ Arizona #8
+ Pennsylvania #10
+ Florida #16**
+ Connecticut #5
+ Florida #22
+ Indiana #9
+ New York #19***
+ New York #20

* Lieberman, who was a Democrat defeated in his primary, has won reelection as an Independent, though he says he will still caucus with the Democrats. Though his seat will no longer contribute to a Democrat majority in the Senate, it will help them push their agenda.

** Leading by only 1%, or 2,250 votes, with 91% of the precincts reporting, this could possibly (though not likely) fall the other way.

*** Democrat challenger leads by 2% with 84% reporting.

I've been giving this some thought this evening. I originally stressed how important it is for the Republicans to retain control of Congress this year in case a Democrat takes the White House in 2008. What I neglected to consider is this: in 2008, one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election again, as well as the entire House of Representatives. Should the Democrats take control of one or both chambers of Congress, they will have the next two years to prove to American voters that we NEED a Republican controlled Congress, and American voters will once again have the opportunity to swing the balance of power back. Maybe it's not as dark a day as I originally feared.

Joe
Comment

Election Results

To take control of Comgress, Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the Senate and 6 in the House. As the numbers are starting to show, it is looking very likely that Democrats will take control of at least one of the two branches of Congress.

Democrat gains in the Senate:
+ Pennsylvania
+ Ohio
+ Rhode Island

Democrat losses in the Senate:
- Lieberman*

Democrat gains in the House:
+ Indiana #8
+ Kentucky #3
+ Indiana #2
+ Vermont #1
+ New Hampshire #2
+ Ohio #18
+ Pennsylvania #7
+ North Carolina #11
+ Arizona #8
+ Pennsylvania #10
+ Florida #16**
+ Connecticut #5
+ Florida #22
+ Indiana #9
+ New York #19***
+ New York #20

Democrat losses in the House:

* Lieberman, who was a Democrat defeated in his primary, has won reelection as an Independent, though he says he will still caucus with the Democrats. Though his seat will no longer contribute to a Democrat majority in the Senate, it will help them push their agenda.

** Leading by only 1%, or 2,250 votes, with 91% of the precincts reporting, this could possibly (though not likely) fall the other way.

*** Democrat challenger leads by 2% with 84% reporting.

I've been giving this some thought this evening. I originally stressed how important it is for the Republicans to retain control of Congress this year in case a Democrat takes the White House in 2008. What I neglected to consider is this: in 2008, one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election again, as well as the entire House of Representatives. Should the Democrats take control of one or both chambers of Congress, they will have the next two years to prove to American voters that we NEED a Republican controlled Congress, and American voters will once again have the opportunity to swing the balance of power back. Maybe it's not as dark a day as I originally feared.

Joe