The Morning After
Nov. 3rd, 2004 08:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmagrant01First, thanks to all the supportive folks who commented on my play-by-play last night, and who invited me to come chat with them. It was a good way to cope with the stress of the evening.
The Good News from where I Live:
♥ Democratic sheriff elected -- the first African-American sheriff in our county's history!
♥ Commuter light rail approved, finally. Can't wait to start taking the train to work!
♥ The Democratic candidate for state rep for my district won, ousting the asshatty Rep. incumbent. (I campaigned for this guy personally, so I'm thrilled!) He won by 500 votes. Yes, only 500 votes. Amazing, huh?
♥ The county I live in, and apparently the larger area, went to Kerry, depsite the fact that I live in a very red state. Mwahahaha!
♥ Every local race I voted in that had a Democratic candidate in it was won by the Democrat. This makes me want to go hug my town.
The Bad News, pretty much everywhere:
× Looks like Bush is going to win re-election. I have to say I expected it. And a small part of me thinks it's for the best: I don't think anyone could dig this country out of this hole Bush has got us in. I'd almost rather see him flounder and make things worse for four more years than to see the Democrats try and fail to fix the shitty mess he's created. I don't think anyone could fix this mess easily, and maybe it's better in the long run if the Republicans get the blame. If Kerry had failed, it would have set the Democrats back even further.
ETA: Kerry has conceded. So yeah, over. :-(
× Anti-gay "defining marriage" proposals passed everywhere they were up. I don't know what to say about this, honestly. I'm physically sick to my stomach to think that so many people in my country would deny marriage and all the wonderful things it brings to a single minority group. It refuels my conviction to keeping fighting the fight, though. When I'm sitting in a nursing home in 60 years, I hope I can look back on these days as the dark ones before my country truly embraced everyone.
× I fear that Bush will think he has a mandate and will continue as if half the country didn't hate him. The man has shown time and again that he doesn't listen, doesn't learn from his mistakes (nor even admit that he made them), and sees the world through his own narrow (conservative Christian) point of view. Why should that change? After all, it looks like he actually won legitimately this time! Fucker.
× DeLay's redistricting in central Texas worked, despite the sacrifice and hard work of the Democrats in the Texas legislature. The only truly Democratic area in Texas was carved into three gerrymandered districts, stretching just far enough away from my Democratic city to ensure a Republican majority in each. And those districts now have Republican representatives, just like DeLay wanted. At least Morrison gave DeLay a run for his money.
× The House and Senate are slightly more Republican than they were before. This depresses me in a way I can't begin to describe. I have seen the US take a huge step to the right during my short lifetime, and I'm genuinely afraid for the future.
But I'm not going to leave, like I'm hearing many people jokingly proclaim. Hell, I probably won't even leave Texas, because then the other side will have won. There's nothing the conservatives in my state would like better than for ivory tower liberals like me to get back to northern California where we belong. Fuck 'em.
I'm here. I'm a Texan. And I'm a liberal Democrat. Deal with it.
Okay, I feel a little better. But I want more GOOD news, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, and Greens out there! Comment here and tell me what good things happened in your local area. Restore my faith in my fellow Americans. Please.
ETA: I'm already thinking ahead:
The Good News from where I Live:
♥ Democratic sheriff elected -- the first African-American sheriff in our county's history!
♥ Commuter light rail approved, finally. Can't wait to start taking the train to work!
♥ The Democratic candidate for state rep for my district won, ousting the asshatty Rep. incumbent. (I campaigned for this guy personally, so I'm thrilled!) He won by 500 votes. Yes, only 500 votes. Amazing, huh?
♥ The county I live in, and apparently the larger area, went to Kerry, depsite the fact that I live in a very red state. Mwahahaha!
♥ Every local race I voted in that had a Democratic candidate in it was won by the Democrat. This makes me want to go hug my town.
The Bad News, pretty much everywhere:
× Looks like Bush is going to win re-election. I have to say I expected it. And a small part of me thinks it's for the best: I don't think anyone could dig this country out of this hole Bush has got us in. I'd almost rather see him flounder and make things worse for four more years than to see the Democrats try and fail to fix the shitty mess he's created. I don't think anyone could fix this mess easily, and maybe it's better in the long run if the Republicans get the blame. If Kerry had failed, it would have set the Democrats back even further.
ETA: Kerry has conceded. So yeah, over. :-(
× Anti-gay "defining marriage" proposals passed everywhere they were up. I don't know what to say about this, honestly. I'm physically sick to my stomach to think that so many people in my country would deny marriage and all the wonderful things it brings to a single minority group. It refuels my conviction to keeping fighting the fight, though. When I'm sitting in a nursing home in 60 years, I hope I can look back on these days as the dark ones before my country truly embraced everyone.
× I fear that Bush will think he has a mandate and will continue as if half the country didn't hate him. The man has shown time and again that he doesn't listen, doesn't learn from his mistakes (nor even admit that he made them), and sees the world through his own narrow (conservative Christian) point of view. Why should that change? After all, it looks like he actually won legitimately this time! Fucker.
× DeLay's redistricting in central Texas worked, despite the sacrifice and hard work of the Democrats in the Texas legislature. The only truly Democratic area in Texas was carved into three gerrymandered districts, stretching just far enough away from my Democratic city to ensure a Republican majority in each. And those districts now have Republican representatives, just like DeLay wanted. At least Morrison gave DeLay a run for his money.
× The House and Senate are slightly more Republican than they were before. This depresses me in a way I can't begin to describe. I have seen the US take a huge step to the right during my short lifetime, and I'm genuinely afraid for the future.
But I'm not going to leave, like I'm hearing many people jokingly proclaim. Hell, I probably won't even leave Texas, because then the other side will have won. There's nothing the conservatives in my state would like better than for ivory tower liberals like me to get back to northern California where we belong. Fuck 'em.
I'm here. I'm a Texan. And I'm a liberal Democrat. Deal with it.
Okay, I feel a little better. But I want more GOOD news, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, and Greens out there! Comment here and tell me what good things happened in your local area. Restore my faith in my fellow Americans. Please.
ETA: I'm already thinking ahead:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 06:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 06:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 06:58 am (UTC)Also, Melissa Been defeated long-time Republican Rep. Philip Crane, his constituents finally kicking his drunken ass to the curb.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:01 am (UTC)Ooh, wasn't that great? As depressed as I was about the national numbers, I was cheering every time the Bean/Crane thing popped up. Maybe Hyde will be next.... </wishful thinking>
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 06:59 am (UTC)* WA also retained its incumbent Senate Democrat and all six of its incumbent House Democrats. The rest of the seats are pretty much too close to call, except for one (maybe two) incumbent Republicans. (Which means WA didn't cause Congress to lose ground, at least.)
Unfortunately, only two of the initiatives I was voting for went the way I wanted them to go. >_< So not much good news other than that.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:05 am (UTC)And it looks as though both the state house and senate will be Dem majority for the first time in 30 years...final numbers aren't in yet.
So why the hell did Bush take our state???
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:15 am (UTC)The way I look at it is, these amendments are the last gasp of homophobia. It's like that Southern governor declaring, "Segregation now, segregation forever." And look how well that worked out for him. I'm not saying that everything is going to be roses in a few years, and certainly there are still lots of homophobes out there, but I do see it as an ironic sign that progress is being made.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:17 am (UTC)*hugs* Thank you, Rita! I really needed to hear that!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:46 am (UTC)Oh, and love your icon! I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "The only Bush I trust is my own." *grins*
Agreed
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:04 am (UTC)In my county, I voted straight Dem ticket and every last person I voted for won in my area. New Jersey had no loss or gain in the House of Reps, which isn't necessarily a good thing, but nor is it bad. Every person who won was incumbant, retaining 7 Democratic seats, and 6 Republican ones. I believe Frank Pallone will continue doing good work for District 6. Go Jersey.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:15 am (UTC)We passed issue #1 (the gay marriage ban) *growls menacingly*
We reelected two repuclicans back to Congress, but on a local level we elected all demacrats to sherriff, judges and our county comminssiner *we didn't have alot on the ballot).
Us Ohioan have been talking about George Voinovich running for Pres in the year 2008. He is an amazingly sincere, honest-seeming man. He doesn't scream sleaze or politcian. It has been working for Ohio for decades in different capactities. He is a republican that my Dem and Inde Ohio friends would actually vote for. The question is outside of Ohio, has anyone ever heard of him? Have you Emma?
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:Little to spare here
Date: 2004-11-03 08:18 am (UTC)Please don't lose hope, yet. Though it does not look good, we still have 32 electoral votes left to go.
Re: Little to spare here
Date: 2004-11-03 08:22 am (UTC)I'm enjoying hearing that lots of local races are going to Democrats. that gives me a lot of hope!
Re: Little to spare here
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:48 am (UTC)americans didn't get rid of their idiot (hard as they tried) but there is still a chance for us to get rid of ours.
kirsty
xxx
pink_princess_potter@yahoo.com
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 10:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2004-11-03 10:48 am (UTC) - Expand(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2004-11-03 03:59 pm (UTC) - Expand(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2004-11-03 05:05 pm (UTC) - Expand(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:54 am (UTC)Obama won in my state. Illinois now has two liberal democratic senators.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 09:30 am (UTC)I know of at least 3 others liberal Democrat who also are Texan. You're there. Hold on.
And I agree that the Democrats might have received the blame for what happened in the last few years. That's what happened after our last provincial elections. The PQ lost to the PLQ and now the PLQ has to deal with all the shite the PQ left behind when they lost. Bah.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 03:18 pm (UTC)I'm hopeful for the future, despite everything. I don't know if I can get past my hatred of Bush anytime soon, but if he makes an effort to reach out to people like me, I'll try. Not that I seriously expect that to happen...
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:A little bit of sunshine
Date: 2004-11-03 09:44 am (UTC)-Nora
Kittyeatsyou@gmail.com
Re: A little bit of sunshine
Date: 2004-11-03 07:26 pm (UTC)And don't leave! A mass exodus of liberals is the worst thing that could happen!
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 09:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 11:29 am (UTC)I kept seeing Shrub's befuddled smug look this morning on NBC and dear God it's making me agree. Reading several of the post election entries has calmed me down.
But I fear for the future.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 02:04 pm (UTC)*giggles*
kirsty
xxx
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 02:13 pm (UTC)Bush took the state and the Senate power has been shifted from Dem to Rep. Only a few parishes in the whole state were won by Kerry. I guess that's what you get when you live in the South though.
The gay marriage ban wasn't an issue this go around, but from the vote two months ago was thrown out of court by a judge. But I haven't a clue as to what they're going to do with it now. They may drop the issue for a bit, then try to have another election on the matter. If that does happen, it'll get passed just like last time and the possibility of it actually getting put into the constitution is greater than before.
Damn. All that just makes me sad. And it was my first time voting too. Oy. We'll just have to get through it the best we can and hope that the economy and jobs don't get any worse. Otherwise, in a year or so, my butt is moving to London (plan of action since March, but it may be employed early than previously thought). Heheh.
Thanks for the opportunity to discuss. (I hope all that makes sense.)
<333
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 02:42 pm (UTC)Please excuse all the horrible grammar and tense errors.
If I wouldn't have kept adding things to the middle of sentences, it actually would have made more sense. Heh.
<333
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 02:34 pm (UTC)I ate chocolate. Not too earth-shattering, I know, but I live in Canada.
NS (Nova Scotia) legalised gay marriages a couple weeks back.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:Oh! Oh! More good News
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 02:58 pm (UTC)I'm here. I'm a Texan. And I'm a liberal Democrat. Deal with it.
I love you so much. If I were in your place, I would do the same thing.
And yay Clinton/Obama!
no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 07:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-04 06:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-03 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-04 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-04 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-04 06:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-04 05:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 04:40 pm (UTC)