As you’ve probably heard by now, last night the Democrats picked up a fair-sized majority (26 seats) in the US House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the Senate is still locked at 49/49 with two undecided races (Montana, Virginia). As you can probably guess, I’m rooting for the Democrats to win those. I’d like to again see a day where the government is working in the best interest of the people instead of its own best interest, and the only way to do that is to have people who are not affraid of standing up against what they feel is wrong. Frankly, I’d like to see a day when the senate is split 100 ways, with each candidate standing up for what is right in the eyes of their constituency, but for now I’ll take what I can get.
In Florida, things turned out OK. Republican Charlie Crist has won the office of Governor, which means things should stay about the same as they are now, but with less backbone. Although I would have rather another conservative won (Max Linn, who got a smaller percentage of the vote in this election, 2%, than Nader did in the national election in 2000, 4%), I’m not sad to see him take office, no matter how creepy I think he is. (Yes, I think he’s closet gay, which would explain why he’s been married only once, for 6 months, as well as those weird vibes he gives out; then again he may just be a model for the Nietzsche “Over man”, but I doubt it.) I would have preferred to see a more bi-partisan group take office, but only one Democrat, Alex Sink, made her way into the Republican fortress in Tallahassee. Still, I’m overall happy.
I’m not happy that all of the amendments proposed passed. Why we’re determining funding for anti-tobacco education in the frigg’n constitution I have no idea, but I guess people want to feel better about themselves, and this is a way to do it.
On the other hand, I’m glad the constitution is now harder to amend, the only drawback to which will likely be that amendments will now be written as simple-language propaganda, like the two-second sound-bite politics which have developed over time. Remember that because of 30-second commercials and FCC regulations, we went from “It’s the economy, stupid” in 1992 to “Stay the Course” and “Cut & Run” in 2006. It wouldn’t surprise me if by 2036, political slogans consist of single monosyllabic statements like “Ugh!” (which is short for “We’re sick of this, time for change”), “Yes!” (short for “Keep things the way they are because we actually like them! 4 More years!”), and the most popular “Eh?” (short for “what the hell is going on here? Why do we have to choose between the lesser of two idiots?”). That last one is what 80% of people will be asking, before they’re indoctrinated into the “Ugh” or “Yes” camp, convinced that a vote for “Eh?” is throwing their vote away. “I’m a Yes that swings to the Ugh for time to time,” political pseudo-elites will thoughtfully state.
Finally, I’m actually a bit ticked off at both Broward and Dade counties. Voter turn out, people! It’s a friggn’n election, the most important in a long time, and all we can muster up is 44% of voters in Broward and 36% in Dade? Do you realize that “majority” decisions were made by little more than 20% of all registered voters? See, now this is why we need more political parties. That won’t happen, however, until we finally admit we need both a run-off system and, to a certain extent, publicly funded elections. (I’m partial to the idea, but I don’t want to take the right of an individual to donate to a political campaign away from people.)
Ok, I’m done. Enjoy your government.
Paint the house, and senate Blue. Dems have the senate now too. (hey that rhymes) As for voter turnout 44% is excellent, at least in the United States, where we don’t REQUIRE a person vote and mind you those countries that require a person to vote, generally they have to vote for the dictator in power 😉
As for Miami-Dade, Everyone in South Beach was too stoned or drunk to vote, and the rest of Miami couldn’t even find their own house yet alone, a polling place.
However, I do agree that everyone who can… should vote.
Yes, I am a registered Democrat, and I’m pleased that both the Senate and House are now Dem. I would like to think the vote was a referrendum in support of gay marriage but, realistically the vote was a referrendum on getting out of Iraq.
It’s always good to have a house and senate that is opposite of what party the president is. That creates gridlock… and gridlock is good, it means only the reallly important stuff that both parties agree on will be passed.
And finally for the record. G.W. is a murdering, hate monger – the worst president since Nixon. Here’s a message for any republican reading this… If you want the presidency again, put up someone decent and moderate like John McCain and here’s a message for my fellow democrats. Two words… Barack Obama. America won’t vote for Hillary.
“As for voter turnout 44% is excellent, at least in the United States”
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That’s like saying “Well, I’m doing well financially because I’m not doing as badly as Jim.” Comparitive subjective arguments like this make no sense when attempting to reach an objective conclusion. What about other democracies which regularly pull in 75%? Heck, Iraq had 70%, and militia groups were telling them “If you vote we will kill you.” You don’t even get that in Detroit.
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“I would like to think the vote was a referrendum in support of gay marriage but, realistically the vote was a referrendum on getting out of Iraq.”
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If anything, things went the other way when it came to gay marriage. 8 states had referendums on the matter and 7 of them banned it. (Not saying which way I go on the matter, just a statistic.)
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If anything, I have to agree with a lot of the conservative talking heads on this one. This was not a referendum on “Conservative versus Progresive.” This was a referendum on the Iraq war and the corruption of the Republican party. The reason Republicans did as well as they did (and didn’t lose a lot more) is because people like their conservatism but didn’t like the fact that they’ve done nothing to really further it. The Democrats, on the other hand, had conservatives join their ranks and as such won out, many able to convince their constituents that if they were voted in they wouldn’t jack up taxes to pay for welfare mothers, wouldn’t allow terrorists to flock into the country, and wouldn’t allow illegal immigrants free entry/amnesty. Oh, and that $1,050,000,000,000 Bush has borrowed in the past 5 years from foreign countires (more than all other previous presidents COMBINED) wasn’t too welcome, either. (If you read “Why we want you to be Rich” by Trump/Kiyosaki, they spend a LOT of time talking about that, with many many gory details.)
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The fastest way for Dems to destroy their gains this year is to go too progressive, too fast on social issues. First take care of the economy, immigration, the massive trade deficit, medicare, social security, corruption in congress, oversight, and health care, then worry about gay marriage, abortion rights, the death penalty and guns.
I think voter turnout is right about where it should be.
Can you imagine what our government would be like if the ‘average american’ voted?
Why else would they decide to have elections held in the middle of the day on a freaking tuesday?
Personally i have met a lot more people that I would rather not see vote (not because of their politcal views…but thier outright stupidity and why they would vote for one candidate over another).
‘He seems less scary’ is not, in my opinion, a good reason to vote for someone.
I say keep things inconvenient, so only the people passionate about a side or issue vote. And then let the more passionate person win
It will be a passion free for all of doom! That is how i see our government.
“It will be a passion free for all of doom! That is how i see our government.”
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Foley, Santorum, and Clinton all nod approvingly.
I’d make a more coherent responces but im too busy laughing in between my typing!