Decision 2006

Nhlanhla-South Africa
November 8 2006, 4:41AM

First, although obviously biased towards democrats, it is refreshing to see a gay website steeped into US politics. Without a doubt the world is watching these mid-term election developments with vested interest. It was disappointing to see GB elected in 2000. It was devastating to see him win AGAIN in 2004. Many people in the developing world would have thought the win had a lot to do with the American psyche in general. But it would seem though that here is an awakening. Second best outcomes would still better the GOP nightmare.

cmoney
November 8 2006, 7:10AM

This was a stern rebuke to the evil, divisive, authoritarian, arrogant and bigoted politics and tactics of George Bush and Karl Rove. People want their government to listen to them, not tell them what to think. People stood inline for three hours in some places to vote and did not leave because they are so pissed off at this Republican oligarchy. Let's see if dumb ass Bush finally gets the message.

jared
November 8 2006, 7:37AM

It would appear that some common sense has come back into the equation with some Americans at the ballot box. The two trick party known as the GOP failed with its two issues, gay marriage and that insipid war to defend Bush's "daddy's" honor after the first Iraq war. The intolerance and hatred that is their platform will hopefully be sent to whence it came, but, as was shown, they still have a firm lock on the deep South. I for one was not at all surprised that Ford lost, and even less surprised that Allen still has a chance in Virginia, after being outed as a racist, his core still voted for him. The country will still be divided by regions with the South still being as backwards and intolerant as ever and some of the swing voters in the large states that actually count crossed over to the Democrats, but, thank goodness voters in large states like Ohio and Pennsylvania got a clue and got rid of DeWine and Ricky Sanatorium!

WTG Democrats, and lets get ready to rumble Nancy Pelosi!!

Paul
November 8 2006, 8:06AM

God Bless America !!!

Seahawk
November 8 2006, 8:48AM

Did anyone see Nancy Pelosi on CNN election night?
She literally called Bush "incompetant and arrogant." She ain't joking.
Things are about to change.
I hope this election is a message to the world (like our friend ^ in South Africa) that Bush is a mistake.
We realize it, and this is the beginning of the end of his road. The world can't wait.

Stuffed Animal
November 8 2006, 9:09AM

Last night, a majority of Americans put a boot in the ass of George W. Bush. Whether or not the Democrats will be much of an improvement I can't say, but the symbolism of the election is delicious. Except for one thing: I was the only Black person I saw at my polling station, aside from the pollwatchers. In my community, African-Americans seem to have boycotted the election. I spoke to a Black woman on my way to the polls, and she cursed both Democrats and Republicans. Then she swore, "I'll never vote again!" At least in my district, it was strictly Whites and Latinos formed the wave that pushed Claire McCaskill over the top in her Senate race. They turned out in droves. Black voters stayed home. I hope Democrats are paying attention; they are fast losing an important part of their base.

Ty
November 8 2006, 9:38AM

Stuffed Animal, any proof that black voters stayed home? Not that i doubt it, we have become the most uninformed, non-voting group in the country, and it makes me so angry. All the blood that was shed for the right to vote, and blacks still won't get to the polls, especially in the south, just a shame. But, had it been some silly rapper calling them the n-word or telling them to live the "gangsta" life, oo Flava Flav in town looking for rump shakers with bad weaves, they would have been out in droves next to a polling station and still wouldn't go in. Yep, bitter would be me when blacks don't vote, even in the dog catcher race, I for one vote in every election, no matter how dull it may be.

deejay
November 8 2006, 10:59AM

ty:

I feel your frustration. Neither of my siblings voted and the sad fact is that each has a child whose future is being shaped by current policies.

My niece is a college freshman struggling to pay tuition and my nephew who, at 13 years of age, could conceivable spend his 18th year drafted into the military and being shot at in the Middle East.

That's ok. Everybody ain't asleep at the switch. Auntie Dee - yours truly- voted based on INFORMED CHOICES for their future as did their "Uncle" - my best friend who is a gay man, living with HIV.

cmoney
November 8 2006, 11:41AM

It was Black voters that carried the day for Dems in Maryland and VA. Blacks turned out in record numbers and rejected Steele 3 to 1 according to Wash. Post exit polls. There was a clean sweep in Maryland for the Dems who took every statewide office. This could only have happened with a heavy Black turnout in the Washington suburbs and Baltimore. In VA, Webb edged ahead only after precincts from Richmond and Northern Va turned in their ballots. Richmond is majority Black and his lead is now less than 8000 votes. Bros. and sisters made the difference because they are the voting block that hates Bush more than any other.

jared
November 8 2006, 12:10PM

ty and deejay, i hear you both. my grandmother use to tell us why she voted every election, becuase she and her brothers and sisters and parents were told that they had to pay a "poll tax" to vote in texas in the 30's40's and 50's and into the 60's, g bush's hometown, midland, texas no less, and she was so mad because even with her 6th grade eduaction, she knew it was her right and that she didn't have to pay a poll tax. so, for my big-mama,and all the others who were insulted, mocked and not allowed to vote i have never missed one election since i turned 18 and as long as i can, never will.

Luddite
November 8 2006, 12:16PM

cmoney: you are telling the truth. Without the Black community in Maryland the Dems would have lost the governor and senate races. By the way Erlich (gov) and Steele (senate) still have NOT conceeded. As my mother used to say "denial is not just a river in Egypt"

Montgomery County Maryland, a wealthy majority white county, has elected Ike Leggett. As the Washington Post notes: "Leggett, a former council member, will become the county's first African American executive and one of the few black politicians elected to lead a large, majority-white suburban county. With all precincts reporting early today, Leggett had captured 68 percent of the vote".

Many thanks to the Black voters in Maryland, especially in PG County for ensuring the Dems victory. Despite Mike Tyson's endorsement for his former brother in law Mike Steele :-)

Deacon
November 8 2006, 12:20PM

It's good to that Deomcrats gained control of the House and hopefully the Senate, but when you look at the number of states that passed amendments banning same sex marriage the Democrats victories looks like they were referendums against Bush.....

Stuffed Animal
November 8 2006, 1:17PM

The citywide voter demographics haven't come out yet, but in my inner-city neighborhood, Blacks definitely did not turn out. Traditionally, there's very low turnout among African-Americans in all but the Presidential elections, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that number is shrinking, too. Do you really need me to prove to you that large numbers of African-Americans don't vote? I think everyone here must have anecdotal information about urban Black people's disdain for the political process. This has been a problem for at least 20 years now. Keith himself has written that "since the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, Black voter turnout has never exceeded 44% in any midterm election" (see his archives for November 2002).

Joaquin
November 8 2006, 1:23PM

Yes!!!! What a wonderful day for the democratic party...in many ways....and Stuffed Animal, lots of black folk were out yesterday...My registration got deleted from the system here in Georgia and I had to go to the polls five times so that I could vote...We are pressing on and still highly political in so many ways...

saint james
November 8 2006, 1:52PM

Last night I shed real tears. My deceased ancestors who resided in Massachusetts, a city known for its bigotry and divisive politics could not see the day that a Black man (my great-grand parents would've said "colored man")was elected Govenor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its a great day here for many decendants of African people in Beantown. There appears to be change in the wind. I hope its a lasting one.

Terrence
November 8 2006, 4:33PM

Congratulations to Deval Patrick.

To me, he seems to be less of a kiss-ass/Safe Negro than Barack Obama, whose political track record is less impressive. I hope Patrick serves Massachusetts very well then eventually runs for President.

While I believe his and Ellison's victories are indicative of an ever-changing America, I am still not happy with the fact that only two blacks have been elected to U.S. governorships since Reconstruction.

Ty
November 8 2006, 7:56PM

Stuffed Animal, not questioning your credibility, just curious about your neck of the woods as the turnout as a whole was something like 40%, still one of the worst in the world. Its a shame that so many people of color don't vote, although I did read somewhere that Hispanics helped pull out a win in Missouri. One, of these days blacks are going to realize, every election counts.

And props to the posters who acknowledged our fore fathers and thier struggles to vote, that is why voting is fundmental.

Chris
November 8 2006, 8:24PM

Yeah, a few black girls talked in chemistry today about the lack of black voters, that very few minorities voted in the elections, blah blah blah. Then my chem teacher said that that was sad because they could have helped the Democratic vote so much here in South Carolina, and then the girl got angry because she thought the teacher insinuated all blacks had to be Democratic or some nonsense like that.

I've never much understood conservative black people. Maybe socially, maybe, but elsewhere?

Terrence
November 9 2006, 9:55PM

Ty, I would like to know which win "Hispanics" pulled out in Missouri? Although growing, Missouri has a very low population of Latinos.

The African-American vote in St. Louis and Kansas City was critical on various issues (stem cell, senate) and both parties poured tons of money into getting out the vote in urban Missouri. The African-American turnout in Missouri was very respectable.