Comments on: The Vote Is In

By: Simon Jessey

Simon Jessey — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The last six years have been very divisive. America has essentially been rent in two by a dominant Republican government theocracy. This election has been decided on issues like Iraq, national security, stem cell research, the economy, morality and civil rights.

The good news is that there are signs that this polarized nation is beginning to unite again. The Republican juggernaut has been stopped in its tracks, as America has become increasingly alarmed at the direction it has been going.

There are still many places in America that are, if you excuse the expression, beyond redemption as far as the rights of women and religious freedom are concerned; however, America as a whole appears to be saying that enough is enough. It would be too much to expect the nation to reverse the decline we all feel immediately, but I certainly think we have many reasons to feel just that little bit happier than we did yesterday.

By: rainbows4dinosaurs

rainbows4dinosaurs — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hmmmm... personally, I don't think this post-election goodwill is going to last very long. I believe what we're going to see the first year is democrats trying to pass bills through congress, maybe barely getting through the senate, and the president obstructing those bills either through vetos and more likely with his infamous method for imposing an irreversible line-item veto: the signing statement.

So after a year or so of the two sides tussling it out, as well as ever increasing chaos and misery in Iraq, the Dems will declare 'enough' and start the investigations , exposing all the dirt from the last six years. This way they can say "well we tried to work with Bush and the GOP, but they are just too corrupt" or whatever and the 2008 election will be yet another partisan, acrimonious nail biter.

By: alexatheist

alexatheist — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As a gay man I was especially dissapointed in the passage of the anti marriage equlaity amendments but don’t forget that SD defeated a proposed ban on all abortions in that state. The news is mixed but it signals a change in the direction America is heading.

By: DVanWechel

DVanWechel — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Here in Colorado, I was very disappointed to see that not only did the voters pass a ban on gay marriage, they also voted down a measure that would afford committed same-sex couples the same rights as committed heterosexual couples.

Equal protection under the law ? unless you're gay. I guess Colorado is 'ok' with promoting a message of discrimination and intolerance.

Very disappointing.

By: david715

david715 — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have mixed feelings about this midterm election. It was sad to see that so many states overwhelmingly supported including discrimmination in their constitutions by banning gay marriage (looks like I’ll be moving to Arizona) and my state, Texas is still very red with only a few new democrats elected in some sparse districts. There is still a lot to do but I’m happy some of these more extreme nut jobs like Santorum were finally booted off. I was glad to see the Dems easily win the house and hopefully the’ll win the Senate too. At least we can rest more easily that future house bills like imposing the death penalty for anyone who doesn’t accept jeevus as their personal saviour won’t be created and if it is, won’t pass.
I was listening to Nancy Pelosi’s speech last night and she said America is ready for change but only if the president wants to listen instead of being a know it all. Very true, any new efforts by Democrats will probably be useless unless King George gets off his ass.

By: rainbows4dinosaurs

rainbows4dinosaurs — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sure it's disappointing to see so many new gay marriage/civil union bans imposed, but I'm optimistic about the long term struggle for equal rights. Massachusetts has had legal gay marriage for several years now and Vermont has had civil unions for even longer, yet no lightning bolts or balls of fire have been hurled at the citizens of either state nor is anyone trying to marry their pet hamster.

As time passes, people will see that it's really no big whoop. And when the next generation (always more liberal than the last) becomes old enough to cast their own votes, repealing these constitutional bans will be a no-brainer.

By: karen

karen — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Just heard that a recount in the VA webb/Allen race could take till mid-December. There’s only an 8000 vote difference.
Let’s hope they don’t let Katherine Harris volunteer to help.

By: alexatheist

alexatheist — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

More good news: Rumsfeld is stepping down!

By: island57

island57 — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m not surprised that here in TN we voted to alter our constitution to ban gay marriage. We came close to electing Harold Ford to replace Frist, but no go there either. It went to the white guy, big surprise. Ford was such a conservative and also a religious nut, I wasn’t really excited about him anyway. But a Dem. would have been nice.
I hate that Pelosi won’t persue an impeachment against Bush. What a lucky guy he is!!

By: aviaa

aviaa — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As time passes, people will see that it’s really no big whoop. And when the next generation (always more liberal than the last) becomes old enough to cast their own votes, repealing these constitutional bans will be a no-brainer.

(nods) Absolutely. I have the same hope. I do think, however, that it?s important to continuing yelling about the indignity of amendments, if nothing else then to keep the next generation aware of the injustice? and ready to fix it!

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In other, post election news, it appears that Rumsfeld is stepping down http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4319935.html.