[random, some links] sorry, this _is_ mostly political

[wispfox]

I was very charmed last night by seeing a man and a very small child (presumably father and daughter), with the father spinning around in circles, holding the child on his shoulders.


starandrea's Notice of the day today is rather amusing. Go, New England!

I refused to stay up last night to watch the election results, and it appears that was a wise choice. Especially since we have lots of waiting to do for Ohio!

I can't decide if I'm scared or disappointed by the fact that apparently half the country actually approves of Bush. (Or, at least, they think they do...)

tafkar notes the worrisome aspect of a single party holding sway over all three branches of the government, along with a link to explain why.

I've never really been a political person. I'm not very good at it, and I know it. The past four years have made me _far_ more political than I normally am, but I'm also reminded strongly of why I normally avoid it. I'm so _tired_ of politics. So very, very tired. So while I know there are still more things that can be done, I'm just too tired of it all. And it's not like I'm very _good_ at political things; I tend to not be able to remember specific facts/points well enough to have even a vaguely useful debate about much of anything.

Comments

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Well,wispfox I am quite good at politics, but for all of me all this does is have me eating my liver...

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

... because we lost anyway down here too.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Point.

Scary, scary people...

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

stepford voters?

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

(had to look up the reference)

Indeed. That would certainly explain a lot!

(why are you awake?)

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Why was I awake???

Your election!

Also, I'm a night owl who doesn't work.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Your election!

Also, I'm a night owl who doesn't work.

Both good reasons, although I didn't stay up Tuesday night because I knew I couldn't do anything else about the end result anyway. :)

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm a Sixties Babe (just), and couldn't possibly have slept whilst such an important election was on, one that had such significance to us, given our own rotten result.

I can't make up my mind about visiting the US yet.
It's probably a good bit more dangerous now. But then it's going to get worse before it gets better,I expect.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm a Sixties Babe (just), and couldn't possibly have slept whilst such an important election was on, one that had such significance to us, given our own rotten result.

I have this odd ability to sleep when everything I could do was done, regardless of whether or not I know the final results. (well, presuming I'm not being an insomniac just because)

I can't make up my mind about visiting the US yet.
It's probably a good bit more dangerous now. But then it's going to get worse before it gets better, I expect.

Yeah. Likely, that is all true. Would be nifty if you did, though...

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

We'll see. I've friend to contact about it first.

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that Bush got the majority of the popular vote with a sub 50% approval rating (according to those super-accurate polls, I know...) tells me two things:

1) There are a lot, er, a HELL of a lot of people in this country who I just don't understand.
2) Kerry just wasn't a compelling enough option for those in, for example, Ohio where "values" were the primary deciding factor at the polls.

I'm pretty disappointed, in general. 11 states passes same-sex marriage bans, as well, which is depressing. At lest Carl won! :) (http://www.electcarl.org/) ()

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

2) Kerry just wasn't a compelling enough option for those in, for example, Ohio where "values" were the primary deciding factor at the polls.

Kerry wasn't really a very compelling option in general, it seemed. Hell, I didn't vote for him because I particularly liked him/his goals, I voted for him because I liked him _more_, and his platform was closer to what I prefer.

11 states passes same-sex marriage bans, as well, which is depressing.

Yeah, that's not fun, either. Which 11?

But! Yay for Carl. :)

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

Kerry wasn't really a very compelling option in general, it seemed.

Yeah, I feel like if the democratic candidate were stronger, things might have been quite different. (wild conjecture)

Yeah, that's not fun, either. Which 11?

Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/02/ballot.samesex.marriage/index.html).

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

[from the link]

not right-wing to think that children need a mother and a father, not two mothers and two fathers

Heh. Are they arguing against gay marriage, or poly marriage?!

Anyway, ick. I feel bad for the people I know in those states who are against those bans...

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

Gay Marriage, although the amendment applies to both, along with common law marriage.

http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/oh/state/issue/1/

Ohio's Issue 1:
Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

Also, http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/18/gayohio/index_np.html

[jasra]

I was very charmed last night by seeing a man and a very small child (presumably father and daughter), with the father spinning around in circles, holding the child on his shoulders.

I love seeing things like that too. It just warms my heart.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*smile* Yeah. It made me grin while getting out of my car last night. :)

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

I find myself praying that the split within the republican party between the old-school conservatives and the neo-cons will be enough to prevent most of the damage that had the potential of being wreaked upon our fair nation. It's a long shot, but for the next two years it's the only one I can think of.

In the meantime I'm gonna go find some causes to support financially and temporally.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

It's a long shot, but for the next two years it's the only one I can think of.

Yeah...

I'm gonna go find some causes to support financially

This I can, and do, already do. Temporally, no. Just don't have the energy, and wouldn't even in the summer.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

But if you have any suggestions on who to support financially, I'm all ears. I may already support them, but...

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

I have only begun my research. I will report in my LJ what I find, who I'll support, and why.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

And yes, I understood that you'd only just begun. :)

[beowabbit]

I find myself praying that the split within the republican party between the old-school conservatives and the neo-cons will be enough to prevent most of the damage that had the potential of being wreaked upon our fair nation.

Me too, but that would have seemed much likelier if Bush had lost.

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

Actually, I suspect this will only enhance the polarization of the republican party. Bush will continue to do what he's been doing, which is rather extremist, which will distill more old-school and moderate conservatives from the mix than if Kerry had won and they didn't have someone to point at and say "I agree with him" or "I disagree with him". Erm, I'm not being very eloquent, unfortunately. Suffice it to say that the moderate and old-school republican rumblings will only get louder as they watch the President continue down a completely different path and drag the rest of the party with him.