Election Defections
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This election will rightly be remembered mainly for Obama taking the presidency. In four years it may well be known for the destruction of the Democrat party.
When the Republicans held the Presidency, House and Senate starting in 2000, they started to systematically destroy their brand. Absolute power creates nearly absolute corruption, stalled only by America’s elaborate set of checks, balances, and the enduring threat of armed insurrection. Now Democrats hold all the cards and every instance of their malfeasance will echo throughout the Internet.
One heart warming thought does come to mind however. Somewhere tonight there is an old and angry Klansman muttering in abject disbelief. That would be Senator Byrd.
Bigots aside, this election should also be remembered for the oddities of the electorate. Irony in the outcomes abound leaving many folks scratching their collective craniums.
We may soon see an Alaskan two-step shuffle that puts Sarah Palin into the ongoing national spotlight. One of Alaska’s senators — an old and corrupt fellow named Ted Stevens — was both convicted and possibly reelected (some absentee ballots are still being counted). Assuming his appeals fail, he likely goes to jail. At very least the Senate will exercise its muscle and boot Stevens from its membership.
Alaska law requires an election for Senatorial replacement to occur within 60-90 days. Governor Palin has sky-high popularity in Alaska and her political capital has not been irrevocably dinged by joining McCain’s campaign. She could run to replace Stevens and win with no real opposition. If this happens she gets four or more years of national experience and exposure. Come 2012 or 2016, she would be the only presidential candidate in modern times to hold a governorship (executive) and a senate (legislative) seat, making her highly qualified. If the Democrats implode as I suspect they will, she stands a chance of becoming the first female President and one that follows the first mulatto president.
That would make Sally Hemmings happy.
Astounding is that California — a state once known for being the essence of personal freedom — constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage. The deed was done not by the muscle and money of religious zealots, but by the hefty hubris of San Francisco.
First, Gavin Newsom — the city’s mayor and resident drunk — had the bad sense to be video taped threatening the state and nation with gay marriage, saying “like it or not.” Nobody with two or more firing neurons should be scared of gays marrying, but Newsom turned an instance of opportunity homosexual holy matrimony into a campaign cycle of dread. People uncomfortable but tolerant of pending changes were suddenly shocked and scared by Newsom’s screw you attitude.
It didn’t help that he presided over a lesbian wedding where a public school teacher — who incorrectly presumed to provide moral guidance on behalf of all parents — took her first grade class. The combination was potent – Newsom telling people they had to accept it “like it or not” and one of his employees indoctrinating seven year old kids. Borderline homophobes nearly hemorrhaged from the assault on their slow moving sensibilities. Newsom and company tried to push change faster than the general public was willing to allow.
Obama, Pelosi and Reid will do the same.
Californians went further, for the first time defeating most of the bond measures presented. California is swimming in debt, second only to the Federal government and voters finally realized being broke is a Bad Idea™. Alternate fuel vehicles – defeated. Police funding -defeated. Renewable energy – defeated. They also canned initiatives that normally get Californians excited such as decriminalizing drug possession and forcing electricity providers to produce power uneconomically.
California just got weirder. I didn’t think that was possible.
My town of San Francisco surprisingly defeated the defacto legalization of prostitution. Since gold rush days this wide open town has tolerated prostitutes both in and out of elected office. Legalization is a mere formality. However, the proposition as penned — which instructed the city not to police hookers and brothels — made no exceptions for intervention on behalf of involuntary sex workers — slave traded girls. This oversight killed the bill, and rightly so.
Sloppily written legislation is more dangerous well written legislation.
Oddly San Franciscans also defeated a proposal to rename a sewage plant after George Bush. We may be a wide open town populated with self aggrandizing citizens, but at times they show some restraint. But just often enough to surprise you.
Except about the military. San Francisco passed yet another non-binding resolution (we’re famous for our paper protests) to kill the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp in San Francisco schools. Schools can kidnap kids to attend a gay wedding but won’t tolerate teenagers who want to become military officers.
Make gay love, not war.
The one scene from this election that caused me to pause was Jesse Jackson. Jesse is a charlatan, creep, adulterer, con man and outright fraud with violent tendencies. But when Obama won the election Jesse wept openly. For the walking insult to humanity Jackson is, he was witness to a horrific time and episode in American history. He stood on the same balcony where and when Martin Luther King was assassinated. Jackson was splattered with blood from the rage of racial intolerance. Obama’s election — for all the grief it will bring — was a closing chapter for Jackson … the end to an evil era. I hope Jesse can now let go of his racial hatreds and move on.
Perhaps he can help that Klansman who’s having a heart attack tonight.
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