I am happy with the outcome of this years elections! Modest happy dance!
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I am happy with the outcome of this years elections! Modest happy dance!
Are we allowed to discuss this here?
If so, Congrats to the US for an interesting new president! That was an interesting campaign :eek: but it seemed to go on forever.
Can the world breathe a sigh of relief now? *aaaaaahhhhhhh* *phew*
it possibly should be in non-cycling related - but if you mean politics in general on here, I think that a site that's mature enough to discuss IUD's and the various other things on here, that we should be able to have a politics discussion maturely.
That being said, I'm pretty happy that we/the American public sent a pretty strong message to the republican party... and I hope that they respond to it.
Please don't be offended..but the first thing we did tonight, we watched the Jon Stewart live comedy show tonight that satirized the election. ...with their intermittent announcements of real state -by-state election results. I enjoyed the show.
If Canadians aren't allowed to have an opinion because we shouldn't/couldn't know something about U.S. national politics...then isn't watching a comedy show where Americans laugh at themselves..the best thing...for Canucks?
OK, ok, ok.... I'm saying the wrong stuff...:o
Disbelief or excitement about Obama...reminds me of when our Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau first got elected...A highly intellectual but coldly analytical Quebecois lawyer that infuriated people at times, yet did get the respect of many Canadians...regardless of their political allegiances. It was evidenced by the amount of homage paid to memory of him when he died.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):)
Yeah, politics is a no-no on TE. Celebrate tonight though -- I'll leave it up to Jeff and Susan to decide. Keep it in this thread m'kay?
Historical night my friends, feels pretty damn awesome.
I checked the FAQ and I don't see it as a no-no. I don't get it. We discuss everything else here, so why should politics be taboo.
BUT TONITE IS FOR CELEBRATION FOR ALL OF US.
I'm happy, too!
A local city had something on the ballot about making pot a "low priority" for local police. I think it's going to pass.
We also have a sad anti-gay marriage initiative, which eliminates unmarried couples (gay or straight) from being foster parents. I think it's going to pass, and I'm sad about that.
What was your weird issue on the ballot?
Karen
yahooo!! cartwheels! handstands! pushups!!!
yes we can :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuckervill
Only weird thing was slot machines in Maryland. Which isn't really all that weird.
Yay!!! Almost 100% for me (a few local elections didn't go quite as I would have liked), but I'LL TAKE IT. YAHOO!!!!
Of course, my state is one that still hasn't been called (5 hours after poll closing) on the Presidential. Not that it matters:)
Happy and still stunned about the results. At least the 3 hour wait to vote was worth it.
Well, I cried watching his speech tonight,and I generally pay ZERO attention to TV and/or American politics. You are very lucky to be led by a man like Obama and the rest of the world is breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Very, very happy.
Congratulations, America!!! :)
I went up to Rockefeller Center tonight. I though it would be fun to be in a crowd, and it was. A US map was on the ice rink, and states were colored red or blue as results came in.
A very low tech bar chart was on the building -- fabric draped from a scaffold was raised as each candidate gained points, and a very low-tech display of the totals was changed by human hands. It was riveting in a way that glitzy stuff could never match.
People who arrived early got a US map along with a blue and red marker, and folks earnestly colored in their individual maps.
I took my scooter instead of the bike and rode it home (couple of miles) and the feel on the streets was priceless. There was happy yelling, hugs, smiles and conversations with strangers. I was glad I had wheels and could skip the subway.
Pam
Same here, Indiana has never been a battlefield state in my lifetime memory and has voted a democrat into the white house for the first time since 1964! Indiana wasn't called until after I finally went to bed last night many hours after Obama made his speech. YES WE CAN!Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
Here's a cycling-related tie-in.....
One of the guys on our LBS Sunday morning ride, and the Saturday morning N2 ride is a broadcaster with a local television station. I thought it was PBS, but no...it's a local network. Well....there he was last night...on t.v.....giving the news! :eek: How strange! I'm so used to seeing this guy on his bike (he rides a nice Cervelo) and in bike clothes, not sitting behind a desk with a suit and tie on!
What a great night it was (really worth the political hangover I have this morning!). McCain's speech was gracious and eloquent, and Obama's made me cry. Even my 9 year old DD was riveted.
Sarah
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy right now!!
:::treading very, very lightly....:::
The reason I cried for an hour last night is not because "we won" - precisely the opposite.
It's because Americans in this small but very public way have rejected the politics of hate and division. It's because we said that we no longer want every day to be about "we won" and "you lost."
I'm well aware that hate and division are alive and well, and were the victor or appear headed for victory in several statewide races :(:(. I'm also well aware that as President... well, never mind.
But for what last night as a whole says about America - I'm very proud. It's nothing short of breathtaking, really. And I can let go of at least a little bit of the recent despair.
Well, here in the bluest of blue states, we are all pretty happy, if exhausted.
We had 3 ballot initiatives. They got a lot of interest during the election. The first was to abolish the income tax; it lost 70-30. The second was to decriminalize one ounce or less of marijuana; it passed by a 65% margin. The other one that passed was the one to abolish dog racing. I won't talk about that one.
I am supposed to go on a 35 mile ride today and I don't want to...
We also had five statewide ballot initiatives.
(1) - made it harder to bring future initiatives to the ballot - passed
(2) - bond issue for environmental reconstruction - passed
(3) - the only one that might be considered strange - to enshrine in the state Constitution existing common law concerning riparian and underground water rights. I honestly didn't understand the issues very thoroughly, and I don't think very many people did, but mainly looked to the endorsements of organizations that I'm familiar with. Passed.
(5) - [yes that's right, there was no 4, as it was removed from the ballot] - the so-called "payday lending" initiative, to limit the interest rate on short-term loans to 28%. Despite an advertising barrage by the loan shark industry, passed handily, though by a slightly smaller margin than the previous four issues.
(6) - to build a casino. There were actually casino interests on both sides of this one - support from the company that had already lined up contracts for the monopoly casino, and opposition from other players in the business. Defeated.
I cried when California was officially announced and he was named President-Elect. I've never been emotional about politics, but this one made me so happy!!!!!
"Yes We Can" now needs to become "Yes We Will"!!!!:D
I'm proud of ALL Americans who turned out to vote. With a regular voter turnout at a pathetic 54%, this election spoke volumes about people no longer wanting to be complacent in our electoral process. Go America (and I'm sure the rest of the world is just as glad it's all over). ;)
I went to bed anxiously, hanging on to a last shred of optimism. I woke up in despair. And just can't stop crying.
I'm not married any more.
My soul said I was married. My family said I was married. My minister said I was married. My church said I was married. The State of California said I was married. Even our photographs said I was married.
I was just wondering... how are they going to enforce this? What if you're single (gay or straight) and you adopt a child legally... then start having a relationship with someone WITHOUT being married (:eek:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuckervill
It seemed like, even though they say "all unmarried couples" that the bill initiative was very focused on gay people.
I'm really sorry to hear that. So many people that can't stop trying to impose their beliefs on to others. Hopefully we can move forward in the future :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Presto
I'm sorry, Presto. It's a sad day for foster children in Arkansas, as well, as the bigots passed an amendment preventing single people (read=gay) from serving as foster or adoptive parents. The ballot should have had two choices:
NO
YES, I SIGN UP TO BE A FOSTER PARENT
Karen
((((((((Presto, & all others in that position)))))))
I don't mean to discount by one iota the significance of what happened. It's a devastating loss to myself as an outsider to that struggle both geographically and personally; I can only imagine what it must mean to you.
But: Your soul still says you're married. Nothing the state or hateful voters can do can change that. Your family, I hope, will still say you're married. Your minister, your church, your photographs still say you're married. The State has a great deal of power indeed, but it can't dictate to your soul or your deity.
-Oak, married in our souls, in the eyes of both our families, and before our "higher power," but (by choice in solidarity with those who cannot choose) not in the eyes of our State.
It was. That was the stated agenda. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrea
Karen
I was in Prince William County VA the night befor the election, to see what now is the last speech made by SENATOR Barack Obama. Rumor has it there were 90-100,000 of us there.
I am proud that now the notion that 'yes you can grow up to be the president' seems a lot more reachable to a large portion of our population. I'm glad I could be a part of it.
I thought both candidates made wonderful speeches last night, and I hope the spirit of that continues for President-elect Obama's term.
And I'm sorry to hear of so many initiatives that passed that just legalize hate and discrimination, and I'm especially sorry for those of you that are personally affected, though one could argue that it affects us all. Maybe this administration can do something to change some attitudes. I'm sure hoping!
We have prop 8 banning gay marriage. I think it is going to pass as well. they are counting every vote. It makes me sad because I have very dear friends who just want to be happy and they are sooo ment to be together and I can see why being married would be important to them.Sigh!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuckervill
As a watcher from across the pond, I think there is little reason to be afraid, just as there is little reason to believe this equals the second coming and everything will be just peachy.Quote:
Originally Posted by fastdogs
It would not have been much different the other way round.
There's no complete control of congress for the dems, there are obligations and loose ends.
I am very sorry about the individual decision that cut into people's lives.
I am truely sorry things did not work out in your favor. For some of us we were in that boat for 8 years. But I always give a chance to whoever is in office and soemtimes it works and other's it doesn't. MCcain ran a really hard race and a race that will never be forgotten. They are both very good men. But we need change. I hope your fears don't happen. Sincerly.Quote:
Originally Posted by fastdogs
I had my radio on last night, bit old fashioned yes but thats the next bet thing when you don't have a TV.
I listened to Sen. McCain's concession speech. I thought it was wonderful. He sounded like a real statesman. Grand, honorable, respectful. Had he run his campaign like his speech last night, I think Sen. McCain could have won.
We voted against hate, we voted against divisiveness. Just as Sen. McCain said in concession speech, let the healing begin.
Yes I cried when Sen. Obama was declared the winner, not because Sen. McCain lost, but rather Sen. Obama won, the nation won and hopefully we will have less hate... Yes I voted for Sen. Obama. And I cried when I heard Sen. McCain's grateful honest speech. There was no hate. I wish Sen. McCain well in his twilight years and his battle ahead with his cancer.
----------------
The joy of "yes we can" is tempered with passage of prop 8 here in California. I am very very disappointed with its passage. But there will come a time when prop 8 will be overturned. Time marches forward and I hope our social values really do move toward all men are created equal.
Smilingcat
Someone had posted:
"I was hoping not to see anything like this on my safe haven, TE.
Just so you know we are not all celebrating. I hope I am wrong, but I am terrified. Probably I wouldn't care so much except for Andy. The first steps will be to suppress any opposition, then the civilian security force, then who knows.
I couldn't even read this whole thread. I hope I am wrong."
People, this is precisely why I have objected so strenuously to political and religious discussions on this forum
Believe it or not, there are people on this forum who do not happen to share the political and/or religious beliefs of (what appears to be) the vocal majority of posters on this forum.
I think everyone's beliefs and convictions should be respected here.
And when people who don't believe as the apparent vocal majority encounter threads like this, they must be very intimidated and might even feel that they do not "belong" on TE.
Which is sad and unnecessary.
This, people, is why I stand firmly on my opinion that politics and religion do not belong here.
I would normally agree except for the fact that this is an exceptional election for both sides And being calm rational adults i don't see any harm in celebrating. But I am sorry if this hurts anyone feelings. There are a lot of hurt people out there right now and I feel for them. Sorry again if this upsets anyone. We can stop now if that would make people feel better.Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
YES. I think this is exactly right. There are other places for political discussions. I would really like EVERYONE on TE to feel welcome here.Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
Oh, and thank you to those who have posted here and on various other threads the little snarks about whether or not it's "allowed" to discuss politics on this forum - you know who you are. :rolleyes:
Listen gang, I'm just trying to respect the views of everyone here. And to keep the intimidation factor down as much as possible.
And I do want to applaud you all for keeping it very civil and respectful throughout this long and sometimes nasty campaign (snarkly little asides and avatars and sig lines notwithstanding). Some forums have not been so understanding.
So cheers, everyone ! :)