Cuomo: Probe any NY schools that blocked student walkout

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Well, I do remember that Cuomo lost upstate back in 2014

But he still won overall because downstate - with a much larger population - carried the day. However, it's always like this. New York may be a "blue state," but that's based on the more populous downstate. Most areas around here - the more rural areas - tend to be Republican. It's been like this around here for as long as I've been voting. Most local elections are decided in the Republican primary.

Back in the day I tried to pick and choose, since my choices were limited. I'd vote for whoever was running for coroner, for example, but I learned my lesson when one of them was brought up on charges. Now I just vote a straight ticket. That doesn't leave a lot of choices - and I know I could get in trouble for saying this - but I did vote for a couple of Green candidates in the last election. The thing is, it was either vote for them - though I knew they stood no chance - or the Republican who would otherwise be running unopposed. I don't know if it sent a message, but I wanted to encourage anyone else stepping up - the voting public deserves a choice.

But the amazing thing - and we're seeing this in the most unlikely areas of the country - is that Democrats are beginning to win in areas that they have never stood a chance before! Not only did the nearby city elect a Democratic mayor, but the town (where I vote) now has a solid Democratic majority among the town supervisors! Previously, it would be something like "vote for four out of five" and the lone Democrat would be the one who was shut out.

However, this time around, I think only one Republican managed to hold on and win and he's clearly outnumbered. I'm not sure if it was the well-publicized Republican shenanigans that came out before the election, but I like to think that we're on the front end of the "blue wave" that we're seeing across the country - and that I'm hoping keeps on going into the midterms. I can really see this happening!

As for the weather, it may be Spring somewhere, and the mammoth snowbanks have started melting a little, but we've been hit with a major storm here at least once a week - and tomorrow is no exception. However, it's supposed to mainly hit Albany south this time around so we may be spared this one. But I'm not counting on it being over yet - we have had snow in April here and the way it's been so far this year, I'm not putting away my down coat and snow brushes and shovels.