No reading last night

[jmc_bks]

I didn't get any reading done last night, not homework and not for pleasure. By the time I got home after voting, the polls were closing and the news stations were beginning to make their predictions. I've never watched a midterm election so closely before. In fact, I fell asleep with CNN on, and woke at 2am with it still on to see the shift in the political landscape. I'd be interested in learning about the mechanics of their predictions, because it seemed like most of the local ones were very skewed, then evened out in the end.

Things that pleased me:
South Dakota voters rejected the abortion ban
South Dakota voters rejected the JAIL amendment (I have a problem with measures that strip what little power the judiciary has)
Arizona voters rejected a ban on civil unions as alternatives to marriage for same sex couples
Missouri voters authorized stem cell research
Voters in 4 or 5 states authorized the increase in the minimum wage (Are you listening Congress? Other people need raises, too.)
Claire McCaskill in Missouri
Bob Casey Jr. in Pennsylvania (Dan Savage must be pleased to see the ouster of his favorite frothy mix)

Things that irritate:
The refusal of both Steele and Ehrlich to concede until the absentee ballots are counted
Lieberman in Connecticut (can you say "sore loser"?)
Voters in at least 6 states approved bans on gay marriage and/or civil unions (language varies)
The coverage of Britney Spears filing for divorce -- aren't there more important things to worry about and to report on? That's just pathetic.

Things that worry:
The tight race in Montana (go, Jon Tester, go!)
The tight race in Virginia

Now, back to our regularly schedule programming.

Comments

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

If I was physically still able to turn cartwheels, I'd be doing it all day for the sweet, sweet ouster of Santorum.

:)

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I can't do cartwheels, either. Would somersaults of joy be an accepable substitute? His concession speech was the first one I saw on CNN last night.

Re: :)

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

I did cheer during the speech, which was gracious, if riddled with rhetoric and lies. My favorite was how he always stood for the downtrodden and underprivileged. I actually yelled at the screen, "Oh no you fucking did NOT!" when he said that.

Re: :)

[sarahf.livejournal.com]

As someone said on another LJ, "I'd also like to thank God for his defeat!" Yeah!

Re: :)

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

You know, I tuned out when he mentioned god. I just don't want to hear about god guiding people in politics. But I felt a little sorry for one of the kids, 'cause she was crying. That just seems sad to me -- don't force your kids to attend your humiliation, even if it'll make you look like a family man. Kids don't know how to hide their hurt...even if their father is a moron.

[sarahf.livejournal.com]

VA is close, yes, but it's about 8000 votes difference right now, plus one final Webb-leaning precinct still to report. That'll stand up to a recount, I'm pretty sure. Montana though....still anyone's game according to CNN numbers. And then there's still Lieberman. Even if we get our 51, he's one of that number, and if he defects for a chairmanship or something, we're down to 50/50 and Cheney. So, it'll be interesting.

[davidgallaher1.livejournal.com]

Lieberman in Connecticut (can you say "sore loser"?)

Or 'sore winner' ...

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I know....I'm still suck on him being a sore loser in the primary, though. I understand the political dynamic that got him re-elected, I just have a problem with a politician who refuses to hear what his [original, base] constituency is telling him. "Well, they think they don't want me, but I know better and I'm not ready to get a 'real' job, so I'll be a weasel and get around them." Yup, I'm bitter, and I'm not even from CT.

CNN

[(Anonymous)]

I watched the midterm election closely this year, too. I abhor politics. I really do. You have to ask yourself if any of these people are in touch at all with what's really going on? Medicare reform, health coverage, minimum wage, working poor, the deficit, the war. I think as a country, we're spread thin.

Keishon

Re: CNN

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I'm generally pretty cynical about politics, too. I think the average politician is out of touch with the average American on a lot of levels, ranging from finance to health to which fights are worth spending lives to defend or gain.

Rumsfield resigns

[(Anonymous)]

watching the press conference right now.

Keishon

Re: Rumsfield resigns

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Gah! No tv here! There's got to be streaming feed somewhere. Thanks for the info!