In case you missed it, Virginia had a governor/state delegate/city office election on Tuesday and Republicans basically took a broom and swept up campaign nonsense, stood atop it and declared themselves winners.   They won fair and square but I wouldn't call them winners.

I have written before how Virginia has a one four-year term governorship, lest any one person do irreparable harm to the point of no return.  I like that.  My favorite quote of the day was in the Richmond Times Dispatch when one man who was fed up with being called by candidate recordings vowed, "...that the last person who called me, I was going to vote for the other guy."  Now you're talking.  So there.

I fulfilled my civic duty early and voted, each of my choices losing in the end.  Not to be outdone, at least I was more passionate about my choices than the aforementioned voter.  We all have our reasons for pulling the lever, figuratively speaking.  I am one who does not want everyone voting for precisely the reasons stated by the gentleman in the newspaper.  I want intelligent, informed voters to decide.  One doesn't have to be a scholar to vote.  A simple knowledge of candidate views and knowing personal choices of leadership qualities will do.  With 24 hour all the news, all the time, one cannot assert not knowing if he wants to know.    

Which brings me to my next point.  This week, pundits scraped from the bottom of every intellectual barrel will be asked what this means for Obama and the democrats going forward.  There will be wringing of hands and foreboding of House races next year.  My answer to all the guessing?   It means absolutely nothing. 

Virginia is not N.Y. or California.  We are unpredictable.  So never look toward this commonwealth for some great truth.  We are who we are.  Proud, tough, and on a political football field, we will pull a double reverse on the electorate in the blink of an eye.  Loyal to no one party, we mix it up, keep you guessing. 

So take it from one who knows:  as you watch the punditry try to interpret politics as usual here in the commonwealth, remember that just because we have a Republican governor now, there is neither cause for alarm nor reaason to burst with joy.

As long as the trains run on time and the governor does not opt out of any federal health care plan, I'll be fine.  And to our president, I suggest you keep Virginia in your sights.  Visit our rural areas and visit often.  Many of us who voted for you are still here, still believe in you and you will need us in three years.

And to the governor-elect, I remind him of that little academic exercise in law school and his thesis which implied women should not be in the work place.  I ask that he remember because he is going to need plenty of women in his administration, mainly to keep the trains running on time and to give him a reality check about healthcare and its effects on families.