Well, if you folks are seeing more of me lately, it is because the election is over.  More specifically...all my free time spent campaigning and managing a one horse political race wrapped up this past week.  While others did their civic duty and voted at the polls, I kind of took it a step further, and actually ran for a congressional seat.

Of course, there was no realistic chance of me winning (Party incumbents are all but guaranteed re-election, and my nemesis, Mr. Frank Lucas, and the Democratic challenger Tim Murray, had far more resources and manpower than I could ever muster), but I felt when I filed, that it was now or never...I could always wonder what might have been.  Sometimes you make the stand, even when you know the end results...that is where true courage lies.  Still, there were more than enough moments when I really wondered, like Admiral Stockdale, "Why am I here?"

Still, I cherish the experience...I got to participate in the process, understand policies and how they impact people, and most important, I actually got to interact with potential constituents.  It really was disheartening when one of my opponents (the incumbent) wasn't at most of the events.  Granted, he may have been busy, but it is like a lot of the widespread perceptions of Congress as an unfeeling and disembodied organization.  At least I felt better knowing I wasn't the only third party candidate...each district in my state fielded at least one.

In the end, I didn't do too horribly...as underfunded and undermanned as I was, I still managed to win nearly 5% of the vote.  I would have been content to have at least had more than one (actually about 5,000 votes was my "goal")...and I did better than that.

Now I'm not sure if I'm willing to return to that rough and tumble world (I did my campaign on a budget of about $5000, including the filing fee) but considering the results, and some welcome praise from family and friends, who knows?  I've got a year to think it over, and if the current leadership still isn't up to snuff, then maybe the lone wolf candidate may rise up again.

Till next time, be excellent to each other, whatever your creed or political inclination!