I love politics. Even in frustrating and disappointing midyear elections like now (although given that they’ve been predicting losses since the election two years ago, was it really surprising to anyone (except maybe the Colorado Udall race? Because that surprised me)). I’m probably more interested in the judicial branch of government right now (and thanks to all of the high profile cases these last few years, I certainly feel like a amateur constitutional scholar :),) but I really love thinking about why people make the decisions that they do. Or at least, the decisions they would make if they were inundated with political ads.

Random thoughts:

1. Even though I don’t think it will really happen, I hope that the few Republican women and minorities who won seats will help shape some more moderate politics from the conservatives. I loved that NPR article from a few years ago that talked about how the women in the Senate, from both sides of the aisle, were fundamental in stopping the government shut down because they knew how to communicate and compromise with each other. I hope it continues.

2. Seriously, did nobody remember that the Republicans SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT last year????

3. I don’t think the legalization of marijuana should be a state thing, making me a minority in this state. I am alllllll for the decriminalization of the possession and sell of marijuana. I also support all the research on medical cannabis and allow the FDA to regulate and sell it. But since there are already “herbatoriums” all over this state from the medical marijuana use, it’s not as if anything is really going to change. It’ll just mean avoiding Mount Tabor on certain weekends.

4. The two Personhood amendments in North Dakota and Colorado did not pass. Woo!

5. I am daring the new Republican Senate and House to offer one bit of legislation that does not involve repealing Obamacare (especially since they never seem to have any suggestion with which to replace it with). And I’d take wagers for how long it takes them to introduce the appeal, but I don’t think there’s a clock that could be accurate to that degree of picoseconds come January.

6. I’m super, super glad not to be living in Wisconsin anymore.

7. Can we shut up about the panic over Ebola now?