"Why not? It worked in 'Blazing Saddles.'"
Nov. 5th, 2008 03:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariBarack Obama is the next President of the United States. As much as I've said I could live under either candidate, I much preferred the outcome we got.
However, Proposition 8 in California (as of 2:34) looks like it will pass. With 84.2% of districts reporting, it's 51.8% for, 48.2% against. The only upside to this is that the margin has been closing tighter and tighter as the night goes on. Still, there's only 15.2% left to count, and that may not be enough to "Crossover" past 50.1. Two other states have passed amendments to ban same-sex marriage. Arkansas no longer allows adoption to unwed couples, and as marriage there is heterosexual only....
I lost my faith in the electorate in 2004. Four words were all I had after realizing the majority of Americans were stupid enough to vote Bush into a second term. I honestly could not see how we could have lost that one - but we did. And people were PROUD we lost that one. It left a very deep scar, one that has shaped much of my plans over the next four years, and beyond. But the next day, once the dust had settled, I wrote this:
When this day began, I wished the country goodluck and godspeed. And I asked the voters to prove me wrong in my belief that the too much of the electorate are uneducated reactionaries and religious radicals.
62,101,161 voters proved to me they were able to look past their prejudices, party affiliations, and disbelieve the lies spread to vote the right guy in. In this, the voters proved to me that this country and its electorate may be heading, finally, in the right direction. Hell, in 2004, Austin and the Valley voted Kerry. This year, Austin, the Valley, West Texas, Dallas, Delta, Houston, and even BEAUMONT went for Obama. You did it. YOU GOT LOUDER. Thank you. :)
However, with so many bans on gay marriage, and one hanging in the balance...well...we still have a long way to go.
It's funny - I was at an election party with friends all night long, and there were tears and shouts of joy and cheers and fist-pumping when Obama was declared the winner (I mentioned Drudge called it at 7:45PST, no one really cared till Jon Stewart mentioned it ;) ). I kinda hung back, watching them. The election didn't invigorate me like when Clinton won his two terms. And I didn't feel the same intensity of emotion I felt like when Bush got his two terms (don't get me wrong, I hate Bush, I wanted to love an Obama win as much as I hated the Bush victories). I simply didn't feel a part of anyone's victory or defeat - my political attention is mostly north, in Canada, where I'm planning to move.
Obama's acceptance speech was the most Presidential speech I've heard in eight years. McCain's speech was given by the McCain I have not seen since 2000, the one I said I could have voted for. What was telling was the reaction of the crowd. The difference in the crowds responses to the speeches and people named in the speeches show the difference between the people I consider The Good Voters and The Bad Voters better than any explanation I can give here.
Now, folks, on January 20th, you'll have President Barack Obama. He will not fix our problems overnight, even with a Democratic congress. The Bush Administration has left us with a Katrina Style Clusterfuck and it's going to take a LONG time to disentangle us out of the mess left for us. Don't despair when it feels like this one knot won't untangle in the first 100 days. Or even the first year. Maybe even the first TERM.
Just keep reconstructing this country, and remember, when things look tough, and you feel you can't go on, remember the last eight years, and keep up the fight. I may not be in the US then, but I will do what I can to make sure the country hears my voice when and where I can. As much as I love this country and an Obama Presidency is a good thing, its not enough to keep me physically here. Especially if Prop 8 passes.
But you've made me feel like getting involved again. Making me feel like I matter, instead of feeling like a pariah. We may still have a long way to go, but you all have taken a big step to restoring my faith in the people of the United States of America.
However, Proposition 8 in California (as of 2:34) looks like it will pass. With 84.2% of districts reporting, it's 51.8% for, 48.2% against. The only upside to this is that the margin has been closing tighter and tighter as the night goes on. Still, there's only 15.2% left to count, and that may not be enough to "Crossover" past 50.1. Two other states have passed amendments to ban same-sex marriage. Arkansas no longer allows adoption to unwed couples, and as marriage there is heterosexual only....
I lost my faith in the electorate in 2004. Four words were all I had after realizing the majority of Americans were stupid enough to vote Bush into a second term. I honestly could not see how we could have lost that one - but we did. And people were PROUD we lost that one. It left a very deep scar, one that has shaped much of my plans over the next four years, and beyond. But the next day, once the dust had settled, I wrote this:
And while the rest of us are just crushed, disenheartened, angry, scared and dumbfounded, one thing is certain: There are 1458 Days to the next election. GET INVOLVED NOW. Vote in every election, no matter how small. Talk to your representatives, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT YOUR PARTY. Make you voice loud and known. Get involved in the country. The Right is Loud. If you truly believe that your views must be represented: Be Louder.
When this day began, I wished the country goodluck and godspeed. And I asked the voters to prove me wrong in my belief that the too much of the electorate are uneducated reactionaries and religious radicals.
62,101,161 voters proved to me they were able to look past their prejudices, party affiliations, and disbelieve the lies spread to vote the right guy in. In this, the voters proved to me that this country and its electorate may be heading, finally, in the right direction. Hell, in 2004, Austin and the Valley voted Kerry. This year, Austin, the Valley, West Texas, Dallas, Delta, Houston, and even BEAUMONT went for Obama. You did it. YOU GOT LOUDER. Thank you. :)
However, with so many bans on gay marriage, and one hanging in the balance...well...we still have a long way to go.
It's funny - I was at an election party with friends all night long, and there were tears and shouts of joy and cheers and fist-pumping when Obama was declared the winner (I mentioned Drudge called it at 7:45PST, no one really cared till Jon Stewart mentioned it ;) ). I kinda hung back, watching them. The election didn't invigorate me like when Clinton won his two terms. And I didn't feel the same intensity of emotion I felt like when Bush got his two terms (don't get me wrong, I hate Bush, I wanted to love an Obama win as much as I hated the Bush victories). I simply didn't feel a part of anyone's victory or defeat - my political attention is mostly north, in Canada, where I'm planning to move.
Obama's acceptance speech was the most Presidential speech I've heard in eight years. McCain's speech was given by the McCain I have not seen since 2000, the one I said I could have voted for. What was telling was the reaction of the crowd. The difference in the crowds responses to the speeches and people named in the speeches show the difference between the people I consider The Good Voters and The Bad Voters better than any explanation I can give here.
Now, folks, on January 20th, you'll have President Barack Obama. He will not fix our problems overnight, even with a Democratic congress. The Bush Administration has left us with a Katrina Style Clusterfuck and it's going to take a LONG time to disentangle us out of the mess left for us. Don't despair when it feels like this one knot won't untangle in the first 100 days. Or even the first year. Maybe even the first TERM.
Just keep reconstructing this country, and remember, when things look tough, and you feel you can't go on, remember the last eight years, and keep up the fight. I may not be in the US then, but I will do what I can to make sure the country hears my voice when and where I can. As much as I love this country and an Obama Presidency is a good thing, its not enough to keep me physically here. Especially if Prop 8 passes.
But you've made me feel like getting involved again. Making me feel like I matter, instead of feeling like a pariah. We may still have a long way to go, but you all have taken a big step to restoring my faith in the people of the United States of America.
