Other significant results

[rollhead]

Elizabeth Dole defeated, Democrat takes Jesse Helm's old seat.

Al Franken holds onto tiny lead.

Prop 8 leading...

locally ...

New York State Senate goes Democratic, after controlling upper house for nearly 70 years

What else is going on?

[Brian Olewnick]

Thought Franken was down about 600 votes; recount territory.

re: Dole--a triumph for godlessness!!! sweet.

Goody's neighbors screwing up the Prop 8 thing.

[tippy]

WSJ shows Prop 8 is a done deal.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Yeah, looks like Prop 8 will pass, and all my married gay dancers are anxious about their standing. It's an insane system that allows the state constitution to be amended by a simple majority of the voters.

San Francisco turned down its two most interesting proposals -- to legalize prostitution and to name a new sewage treatment center after George Bush(!).

Sonoma County gave the necessary 2/3 approval to a north bay commuter train, but Marin voters didn't so the measure was defeated.

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

to name a new sewage treatment center after George Bush(!).

Awesome!

Here in Mass. we passed (65%-35%) an intiative to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Now you are subject to confiscation and a $100 fine, with no criminal record entry. If you're under 18 I believe you can waive the fines by taking a class about how marijuana is bad. I think Mr. Mackey is the instructor:

[Gary Sisco]

Good one!

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Thought Franken was down about 600 votes; recount territory.

re: Dole--a triumph for godlessness!!! sweet.

Goody's neighbors screwing up the Prop 8 thing.

Coleman is currently up 694 votes.

Black voters were 69-31 for Prop 8 in the exit poll cited by Andy Sullivan. Non-elderly white voters were solidly opposed.

[tippy]

If drugs are bad then why are so many Americans taking them? (Congrats to jmj - do you want us to send you c-notes?)

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally Posted by tippy

If drugs are bad then why are so many Americans taking them? (Congrats to jmj - do you want us to send you c-notes?)

Dude, what ever are you talking about?

[rollhead]

Michele Bachmann declares victory.

[rollhead]

According to God Silver:

It appears that the late ballots did, after all, bring incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss under 50% in his race against Jim Martin, and so a special election will be held December 2, four weeks after the yesterday's election day.

In special elections, turnout is generally way down from general elections. It becomes much more about base motivation, organization, and GOTV. So, although Jim Martin appears to have been behind by a handful of points last night, don't assume he can't win a special election, even if the polls show him behind in every release.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Black voters were 69-31 for Prop 8 in the exit poll cited by Andy Sullivan. Non-elderly white voters were solidly opposed.

Several of us at the dance last night had received "Yes on 8" promotional calls
yesterday which used a tape of Obama saying he believed marriage was between and man and woman. Probably very effective, especially among black voters, and too late to counter.

Yes on 8 had several powerful ads -- one quoting Gavin Newsome, in his raspiest voice, yelling that people will have to accept gay marriages "whether they like it or not" and another exploiting a news story, just weeks before the election, that a class of second graders had been brought by their substitute teacher to their regular teacher's lesbian wedding ceremony.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by tippy

WSJ shows Prop 8 is a done deal.

Californians should be ashamed of themselves. Its hard for me to look my gay co-workers in the eye this morning. Progessive state? hahaha what a joke we are.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Former Cal and Phoenix Suns basketball star Kevin Johnson has beaten Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo in the race for mayor of the state's capital.

[Al in NYC]

Medical marijuana passed in Michigan, as did a loosening of restrictions on stem cell research. 2 incumbent Republican Representatives lost in Michigan, giving the state a majority Democratic congressional delegation.

In NYC, what had been the only Republican congressional seat in the city went to the Democrats, as McMahon won Fossella's old seat on Staten Island. 2 other Republican seats in N.Y. state went Democratic, leaving the state's delegation now at 26 Democrats and 3 Republicans.

The self-destruction of the Republicans in the northeast continued, as 10 term House member Chris Shays lost his CT seat. This was the last Republican seat left in New England.

Obama won NYC with 79% of the vote, in what appears to be one of the biggest presidential voter turnouts in the city's history.

[Gary Sisco]

He won every county in VT -- and there are counties that are way conservative.

He won this county of KY, as well, though lost the state.

[Valerie]

in july of this year, i hosted a beautiful reception in honor of my son's marriage to his partner of 10 years. this is a very sad turn of events for many including us. for this State to take away this right is mind-boggling.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Al in NYC

Obama won NYC with 79% of the vote, in what appears to be one of the biggest presidential voter turnouts in the city's history.

85% is San Francisco, ditto on the turnout. 74% in Sonoma County (which did disappoint, though, by giving Prop 8 66%.)

[tippy]

Right on. I am moving to MA or MI. Actually, I am really very sorry for Prop 8. That is totally devastating. You have something, your right, in the grasp of your hands thinking it's a better day, you can breathe and now this - going completely backwards. It will need to be contested.

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

He won every county in VT -- and there are counties that are way conservative.

I was surprised over the summer when I was in New Hampshire at how many Obama placards were in the yards of houses that were far off the beaten track, in areas not known as anything other than conservative, politically speaking. Apparently they're genuine conservatives, not neocons. John Sununu deserved to lose if only for his ads in which he attempted to look "average", but actually looked "goofy".

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Valerie

in july of this year, i hosted a beautiful reception in honor of my son's marriage to his partner of 10 years. this is a very sad turn of events for many including us. for this State to take away this right is mind-boggling.

First state in the union to write an amendment into the state constitution that actually takes away minority rights, so pat yourself on the back for that one Cali.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by tippy

Actually, I am really very sorry for Prop 8. That is totally devastating. You have something, your right, in the grasp of your hands thinking it's a better day, you can breathe and now this - going completely backwards. It will need to be contested.

I actually heard something on the radio that they (lawyers, judges, legislators?, I dont know who) think it may not be legal to allow the tyranny of the majority to legislate civil rights from the ballot box, this certainly never happened during the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. Courts can and traditionally have actually protect minorities from the tyranny and oppression of the majority, and reassert their rights. So we'll see, this may be due for a lot of legal battles. Maybe the courts can overturn the voters' will.

[sonic1]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I actually heard something on the radio that they (lawyers, judges, legislators?, I dont know who) think it may not be legal to allow the tyranny of the majority to legislate civil rights from the ballot box, this certainly never happened during the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. Courts can actually protect minorities from the tyranny and oppression of the majority, and reassert their rights. So we'll see, this may be due for a lot of legal battles. Maybe the courts can overturn the voters' will.

We have a similar prop here in AZ that passed. But I have a feeling it all won't mean much soon. As pointed out by John Stewart, it is ironic that the Mormons were pushing the whole "one man and one woman" thing. I mean, the language is ironic considering their history.

[tippy]

Originally Posted by sonic1

We have a similar prop here in AZ that passed. But I have a feeling it all won't mean much soon. As pointed out by John Stewart, it is ironic that the Mormons were pushing the whole "one man and one woman" thing. I mean, the language is ironic considering their history.

The Mormons baffle me too and that’s after having been devout for two full decades. Their doctrine is, and I was repeatedly told, over and over (and over and over), that while polygamy was illegal and “we” follow the laws of the land, in the afterlife it would be fully reinstated. They prepared the women for accepting this afterlife polygamous existence, yet in public people like Romney and others decry and act like they consider it an abomination. Fully confused by this. I guess, having left the church, I didn’t get the memo.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I actually heard something on the radio that they (lawyers, judges, legislators?, I dont know who) think it may not be legal to allow the tyranny of the majority to legislate civil rights from the ballot box, this certainly never happened during the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. Courts can and traditionally have actually protect minorities from the tyranny and oppression of the majority, and reassert their rights. So we'll see, this may be due for a lot of legal battles. Maybe the courts can overturn the voters' will.

I don't know Cali law but it certainly seems strange that the constitution can be "amended" by simple majority vote.

[tippy]

Let us vote on whether we want certain of our government leadership tried for certain crimes.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Uli

I don't know Cali law but it certainly seems strange that the constitution can be "amended" by simple majority vote.

Unlike the fed constitution, our state constitution is easily maleable. I dont know whether that is by design, or the way its become, but it that's the way it is.

[Surfer]

I forgot to mention that the Fremont mayor was re-elected, which is basically a big thumbs up to the A's / Cisco / Lew Wolff to go ahead with the new stadium once the Environmental Impact Report is issued in Dec/Jan.

So that's good news.

[stonemonkts]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Awesome!

Here in Mass. we passed (65%-35%) an intiative to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Now you are subject to confiscation and a $100 fine, with no criminal record entry. QUOTE]

Dumb question, but would this apply to out of staters too?

[Pete C]

WASHINGTON – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is talking to Connecticut independent Sen. Joe Lieberman about the possibility of Lieberman caucusing with the GOP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/...an_republicans

Maybe next time he finally will be booted by the voters.