obligatory election post

[cellio]

I'm disappointed by Bush's win, but I don't think it's the end of the world just yet. I'm more frightened by the strangle-hold that the Republican party now has on the federal government. I don't want any party to control all three branches. With a Republican congress, a Republican white house, and several Supremes likely being appointed during the next term, this is a far cry from the balance of power that was designed into the system. Supremes are for a long, long time, compared to presidents. We need to work hard in the mid-term elections, and we need to make sure our so-called representatives hear from us, frequently and numerously.

I'm not about to flee the country like some people are discussing; that just makes things worse for those left behind. And it lets the Bush camp win. While it's tempting to say to the south and heartland "you made this mess; you deserve the results", I'm not ready to let them destroy my country without opposition. The 51% don't have more rights to be here, and to be heard, than the 49%.

By the way, I've heard people saying that the Democrats didn't do enough to get the vote out. I don't know about elsewhere, but I have been bombarded with phone calls, flyers on my car, and flyers stuck in my front door reminding me to vote, and almost all of them have been identifiably from Democrats or affiliated organizations. A couple were anonymous. No obvious Bushites (though I did get some calls supporting the Republican senate candidate). Just a data point.

Comments

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

The Democrats did a fine job turning out the vote. However, the Republicans capitalized on a few critical issues, including gay marriage amendments. President Bush, when expressing his gratitude to his campaign team, should probably offer thanks to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which made gay marriage a national issue.

The Bush/Cheney ticket was eminently beatable (not an unpleasant prospect to this libertarian), but not by a dour hard left northeast liberal coupled with an ambulance chaser (a worse prospect).

gay marriage

[cellio]

That's a good point. A lot of folks probably went to the polls to vote against "those perverts getting our rights", and voted for Bush while they were there.

I agree that Bush/Cheney was beatable. I suspect the fact that a lot of Kerry's supporters couldn't muster much more than "anyone but Bush" and "hold your nose and vote for him anyway; it's important" didn't help.