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Random thoughts about the election
Nov. 5th, 2008 11:36 am1. Yay!
2. I've read somewhere that Obama will not just be the first African-American President, but will be the first person of African descent to head any of the "Western" countries. Think Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, what have you. Ethnic minorities don't generally get to run the countries they live in (former Peruvian President Fujimori is one exception that comes to mind). So for all the deserved flak America gets for its social conservatism, Obama's election gives us a bit of bragging rights in the world.
3. Obama's children are 7 and 10, the first pre-teens to live in the White House since Amy Lynn Carter. Can't help but picture them running around in the White House. :)
4. Proposition 8 in California breaks my heart. California is such a messed-up state in so many ways; I'd almost say it's too big and propose splitting it up (North and South), but that might split up those 55EV too, and I've gotten used to them. If I had to choose, though, I'd take an Obama victory over Prop. 8's defeat.
5. Still have my fingers crossed about Al Franken in Minnesota-- looks like it will go to a recount, and we might not know until December. Norm Coleman took progressive icon Paul Wellstone's seat after Wellstone died in an accident, and the GOP made a big stink about the wake Democrats had for him. I'd like to see him flushed.
6. Speaking of Senators I'd like to see flushed: Saxby Chambliss won HIS seat in Georgia by questioning the patriotism of Max Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm while serving in the military. Chambliss is up in Georgia butthere's a good chance he'll end up he's below 50% in a three-way race, which would mandates a run-off. Dems are optimistic that a run-off would favor them, as the GOP is dispirited. I'm not so sure-- they won't be able to rely directly on Obama voters, and Republican voters may be terrified of a filibuster-proof Senate-- but one can hope.
7. The next major question: how will Obama choose to govern? There's no (OK, little) question that he will restore a sense of ethics to the White House. I have no doubt he will run a more open government. With the prodding of Republicans now terrified of being out of power, he will probably reverse the abuses of executive power we've seen in the past eight years. But will he go far enough? I know that his instincts towards unity and bipartisanship will frustrate a lot of progressives (including myself), who will want to yank the country drastically towards the left. Despite that anticipated frustration, I think a more cautious approach will be better in the long run, particularly if it helps the GOP recover from having been taken over by the fringe. But Democrats can be TOO good at compromise sometimes: witness Congress the past two years. When you're trying to compromise with someone who never gives you an inch, you end up giving the whole game away. Give the Republicans a voice, but it must be made clear that the agenda has changed.
8. Another next question: do I ever have to hear Sarah Palin's voice again? I'm hoping not.
9. Speaking of Alaska, Stevens is actually UP in that race? Alaskans are idiots. Apparently there is a reverse Bradley effect for convicted felons in Alaska: people aren't willing to admit to pollsters that they are going to vote for the felon. Reid has promised to initiate expulsion proceedings for Stevens if re-elected (which is saying something; Reid doesn't usually have such cojones).
[more as I think of it-- must go to Miriam now]
2. I've read somewhere that Obama will not just be the first African-American President, but will be the first person of African descent to head any of the "Western" countries. Think Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, what have you. Ethnic minorities don't generally get to run the countries they live in (former Peruvian President Fujimori is one exception that comes to mind). So for all the deserved flak America gets for its social conservatism, Obama's election gives us a bit of bragging rights in the world.
3. Obama's children are 7 and 10, the first pre-teens to live in the White House since Amy Lynn Carter. Can't help but picture them running around in the White House. :)
4. Proposition 8 in California breaks my heart. California is such a messed-up state in so many ways; I'd almost say it's too big and propose splitting it up (North and South), but that might split up those 55EV too, and I've gotten used to them. If I had to choose, though, I'd take an Obama victory over Prop. 8's defeat.
5. Still have my fingers crossed about Al Franken in Minnesota-- looks like it will go to a recount, and we might not know until December. Norm Coleman took progressive icon Paul Wellstone's seat after Wellstone died in an accident, and the GOP made a big stink about the wake Democrats had for him. I'd like to see him flushed.
6. Speaking of Senators I'd like to see flushed: Saxby Chambliss won HIS seat in Georgia by questioning the patriotism of Max Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm while serving in the military. Chambliss is up in Georgia but
7. The next major question: how will Obama choose to govern? There's no (OK, little) question that he will restore a sense of ethics to the White House. I have no doubt he will run a more open government. With the prodding of Republicans now terrified of being out of power, he will probably reverse the abuses of executive power we've seen in the past eight years. But will he go far enough? I know that his instincts towards unity and bipartisanship will frustrate a lot of progressives (including myself), who will want to yank the country drastically towards the left. Despite that anticipated frustration, I think a more cautious approach will be better in the long run, particularly if it helps the GOP recover from having been taken over by the fringe. But Democrats can be TOO good at compromise sometimes: witness Congress the past two years. When you're trying to compromise with someone who never gives you an inch, you end up giving the whole game away. Give the Republicans a voice, but it must be made clear that the agenda has changed.
8. Another next question: do I ever have to hear Sarah Palin's voice again? I'm hoping not.
9. Speaking of Alaska, Stevens is actually UP in that race? Alaskans are idiots. Apparently there is a reverse Bradley effect for convicted felons in Alaska: people aren't willing to admit to pollsters that they are going to vote for the felon. Reid has promised to initiate expulsion proceedings for Stevens if re-elected (which is saying something; Reid doesn't usually have such cojones).
[more as I think of it-- must go to Miriam now]
