Comments on: Election Day November 2008 Open Thread.

By: xJane

xJane — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:43:24 +0000

minxlj—the battle is not yet over, there will be a number of legal challenges (based upon that—I’m not sure that an Amendment to the Constitution can be objected to on the basis that it is unconstitutional, but there are legal challenges drafted and waiting to be filed).

I’m also surprised that this discrimination was so pervasive—something to be said for right-wing religious money, neh? We will fight, though.

By: John

John — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:48:35 +0000

minxlj, it’s very easy (perhaps too easy) in California to amend the state constitution–a simple majority on a ballot measure is all it takes. The good news is that time is on our side–gay marriage is slowly normalizing with each generation. The bad news is that gays will have to suffer until then…

And thanks for Wil’s quote. It’s the thing that confuses me the most, that otherwise decent people were so callous and cruel, or so afraid of something so nebulous that they were willing to stamp on the happiness of others.

By: minxlj

minxlj — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:41:19 +0000

Wow – your 382 guess wasn’t that over-the-top then, was it? I was soooo excited last night watching all the results come in. I have to admit, despite my fierce hope that he would win, I had a nagging dread that somehow McCain and Ms Vapid would win…stuff of nightmares, I know.

I’m so happy for the US but saddened by reports that Prop 8 has passed. I have to say – WHAT THE HELL?! I’m confused that the Supreme Court can be overridden in their decision, and stunned that this could possibly go ahead. The ramifications of this are huge.

Via wilwheaton.typepad.com: “”One thing to remember, voting NO changes nothing. It doesn’t affect a single thing. Only a yes vote changes what is currently legal here in California. Do we teach same-sex marriage in schools now? NO. Is it affecting you in any way now, NO. Only a yes vote changes anything. A Yes vote puts discrimination into our state constitution.”

By: EBrown

EBrown — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:27:06 +0000

All voting will be absentee in Washington. They have been moving toward this for a number of years.

By: John

John — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:43:00 +0000

I’m resting easy that Obama’s winning this. He’s got Ohio and Pennsylvania. California’s safely in the bag. McCain had to get PA and every toss-up state to win.

By: xJane

xJane — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:15:28 +0000

ebrown: is WA going completely caucus…? or completely absentee?

By: ebrown

ebrown — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:31:35 +0000

I voted in person. There was a short line. I got my sticker showing that I voted plus a free cup of coffee at Starbucks. Love going to the polls but it will probably end as an option soon. (WA will eliminate polling places for the next election.)

By: angryyoungwoman

angryyoungwoman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:46:40 +0000

When I went to vote today there wasn’t a really long line, but there was a line (I’ve never had to stand in line to vote before) and the women at the polls said more people had come than they’d ever seen before.

By: xJane

xJane — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:08:29 +0000

Voting as a Religious Experience is apropos of this day and this site. I would tag it with Ritual if this were a post.

By: xJane

xJane — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:51:41 +0000

I have to say that my gut reaction to Rove’s “calling it” is one of cynicism. Is he trying to get dems to rest on their laurels (like we’ve been known to do) or get reps fired up so that they turn out in droves to cause an upset (like they’ve been known to do). It’s hard for me to think of Rove’s motives as being anything but calculating.

By: John

John — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:02:21 +0000

minxlj, it’s great to see you here! We’re keeping our fingers crossed, too…

xJane, I agree with you about the tendency to create self-fulfilling prophecies, but this may be the real deal. Long lines are being reported throughout the East Coast, and it’s well into the afternoon there.

By: xJane

xJane — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:26:18 +0000

I’d been hearing predictions of doom and gloom for polling place lines, so I resolved to get to the polling place at about 10 minutes before it opened to ensure that I could get to school on time. My husband and heard similar predictions & resolved to get there 40 minutes before it opened. We got there early and were 4th & 5th in line. Everyone else had heard there would be lines, too. By the time the polls opened, there were 50 people in line—mostly because they’d heard that there would be long lines. I know this is a bigger election than usual, but I wonder how much of it is because of the hype.

I have voted! Now, to sit back and watch the country go down the crapper. (Hopefully not, but as I told DH as we left this morning, I don’t have that much hope in my fellow American.)

By: minxlj

minxlj — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:22:30 +0000

I’m loving all that blue…let’s keep our fingers crossed then!! I’m having a nap when I get home from work then staying up to watch the BBC full coverage from midnight