Yes We KECHONK!
In lieu of the regular Vine, a few words of advice: remember when this happened, and how awesome it felt. Remember that you, the Nation, have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people. Community action works; just ask that guy up top there.
Tough day for American progressives, but don’t give up. Thank reader Greg for the photo hilarity, donate to the Fall Classic, and try not to freak out. Or freak out in the comments. We’re here for you.
November 3, 2010
We ran upstairs right before eleven so we wouldn’t miss the West Coast returns, but instead of telling us who won what state, CNN just blurted it out: Obama is our next president. It took a second, but then, bedlam.
Right now, two hours later, I can still hear intermittent honking and cheering outside. Total strangers gave me thumbs-ups and congrats as I walked home. I can’t describe the feeling; I can’t believe it’s true. I barely remember what it’s like to feel like the country’s leadership cares about me or anything I believe in, or to think the guy I voted for isn’t just the lesser of two evils.
And President-Elect Obama immediately repaid my faith by 1) beginning his speech precisely on time, 2) thanking his supporters and giving the voters the credit without sounding obsequious or fake, and 3) immediately saying that this is just the first of many steps we all need to take together…”this is not over,” in effect. That speech, like so many of his speeches, is rhetorically a lot harder to do than it might seem, never mind convincingly, and he did it.
Also awesome: the crowds totally bugging out at the White House, Frank Lautenberg running for Senate in Jersey and winning despite being old enough to remember when the Senate had an outhouse, and Joe Biden’s mom. And Joe Biden. And Prop 8 going down (fingers crossed!). And, when it really counted, America. Good job, guys.
Tags: city living Obamawesome our friend English politix
@Sars: Here in Essex County, NJ, we are wondering as well, “Why didn’t NJ take the lead on gay marriage?” “Why hasn’t NJ stepped up to support our brothers and sisters?” I think the answer, as you said, lies currently in our fight with other problems. My county is home to the 5th highest per-person property taxes and THE highest car insurance rates in the country. And if we could find a way to diminish those two big, big problems, we would all gladly put our heads down and get the job done on gay marriage. If we could find solutions to alleviate the money crunch, we could relax and work on other stuff.
Yep, yep, yep…just after we finish further solving our financial problems with the Applebee’s-Edison National Historic Site, and the new Petsmart-Giants Stadium, and the Kraft-Foods Turtleback Zoo, we’ll get to the really important stuff. (Is it possible to ignore that pain in my soul?)
P.S. The revolving gubernatorial door looks like it might swing around again. Future-former Governor Codey looks poised for another turn if Corzine becomes Treasury Secretary.
The irony is that the increased amount African American and Latino voters in Florida and California is what allowed 2 and 8 to pass, according to exit polls. I’m trying really hard not to take it personally and just enjoy the big blue win. I hope Obama’s rhetoric on gays was sincere and perhaps he can influence minorities on this issue.
Seattle had a happy-riot last night too. One video here.
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2008/11/obama_wins_people_go_nuts_in_t.php
“Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”
My state turned blue last night. I can’t stop welling up tears & goosebumps, grinning like a fool, feeling the rise of that unyeilding hope. I can’t wait for the future!
I…don’t know how to feel about this statistic I just read on Prop 8:
“Spending for and against the amendment reached $74 million, making it the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House.”
Really? On the one hand, no one would throw that much money at an issue that was a sure thing either way. On the other hand…the most expensive social-issues campaign in history for something that seems pretty damned obvious?
And, BTW, just wondered…since I’m only a second class citiizen in this country, can I pay less taxes than everybody else?
I prefer to think that TINO went out to buy beer
Aww…Angela dance!
I was surprised by my own emotional reaction when I realized I could get my hopes up and then when it was actually announced (so quickly!) that Obama won.
As a lesbian in SoCal, it’s disheartening (again) to see what most people think of as a blue state be so callously discriminatory against gays. I live in this crazy area where there’s a huge gay male population surrounded by these wealthy retirees who are as conservative as the day is long. I married in 2004 and saw it declared null and void. I couldn’t do it this time. I knew it would break my heart.
I just keep reminding myself how long it took us to get to where we are today, with a President Elect who was chosen for his abilities, not “despite” his skin color. Maybe before I die, I’ll see gays treated with equality…I figure I have another 50 years left on this planet.
camalama, thanks for posting! My husband pooped out on me last night and I could only drag him as far as the street corner so I missed the whole thing! Nice to see screen shots of the happiness.
And Emerson, I will give you a big ol’ “Yes! Happy! Obama Hug!” any old time!
And Prop 8 and Amendment 2 can FUCKING BITE ME. Still hoping against hope that the mail in ballots will turn it around in Cali–because there’s nothing false about hope, and you have that from The Man Himself.
How about props for Chicago, the new center of the political universe?? Chicago looked (and was) awesome last night, things were peaceful, some tears of joy may have been a little fake-looking (cough) Jesse Jackson (cough) but overall it was all good.
I spared a thought this morning about those two adorable little girls. Who will be moving away from all their friends…maybe two puppies to take with them? Life is about to change in a big way.
And now it looks as though Rahn Emanuel will be the new chief of staff!! Another Chicago guy, very tough, very smart–he’ll be the combination Hill expert/Gatekeeper. He was one of the people that Josh Lyman in West Wing was based on. Y’all will like him.
@Tempest:
Corzine was on CNBC this a.m. and didn’t seem overly enthused. In fact he said Obama would be well served to pick Volcker for Treasury.
@ Laura:
Huh, a coworker was mentioning she’d recently rode in a cab driving by a Romanian immigrant who was very pro-McCain because he feared Obama was going to take all his money. I wonder if that was a coincidence, or a common misconception in that community.
Anyway, I like to think that four years from now, when they HAVEN’T lost all their money, they will have a different opinion of President Obama. (That was my first time typing it out! Fun!)
Did I just hear right??? A convicted felon is going to keep his Senate seat in Alaska??? Someone please explain to me how that’s possible….see, now my forehead veins are throbbing again and I thought I was done with that…
@ferretrick: Ha! Awesome.
I’m thinking a letter writing campaign might be in order, delivered to Oprah. I don’t know enough about her to know where she stands on gay rights, but she’s a) incredibly influential and b) black. Maybe she’d speak up? I know Ellen Degeneres has, and I hope she keeps doing it.
My heart is still smiling.
@Jen M: I’m feeling you with the parental units. My mother – who once stated in the not so distant past… “You can have the house BUT *your black friend* and his friends cannot go over. You are not to have him (or them) anywhere near there. We don’t need the neighbors thinking it’s a drug house.” – voted for OBAMA.
The winds of change are ablowin’
As a Californian, I too am mortified by Prop. 8, and only hope there is some sort of miracle that will strike this down… somehow, some way. I have no words to explain it. I’m an educator, and marriage is NOT taught in my schools, nor in the schools my 3 children have gone to (elem-high). I’m beyond thrilled about Obama, and just wish I could be proud of my state too. :::sigh::: Ah well, who ever said there would be NO battles to fight?
While Gavin’s speech in the commercial didn’t help the No on 8 folks, his landmark decision to allow same-sex couples to get married in SF helped spur the movement that closed the gap from 4 years ago. I am not a huge Gav fan (and I live in SF and am affected daily by the decision he & the board of stupidvisors make), but the blame doesn’t squarely lie on his shoulders.
The Yes on 8 folks ran a very affective ad campaign, using scare tactics and goofy imagery. The No on 8’s commercials were terrible, until the most recent one that took the focus off of gay marriage and put it onto what should be the real issue: ELIMINATION OF RIGHTS. That is what the amendment said.
So color me a sad Californian today. I never thought I would be ashamed of this place I love so much, but I am. I forget that so much bigotry is alive and well outside of our bubble here, and it really saddens me. The elation I felt when I CNN called it was quickly marred when I saw the returns coming in for prop 8. Farm animals now have more rights than a large part of our very high TAX PAYING friends.
On a good note, prop 4 got shot down, again, and young women can now make their decisions safely.
Early yesterday morning, in an “awww” moment, my middle-aged, little-c conservative, registered Republican fiance confessed to choking up with pride and emotion upon casting his ballot for Obama. That’s why I keep him around, despite the aforementioned adjectives. (heh)
We watched the election night results from a No on 8 rally in our beloved liberal, gay-friendly Sonoma County CA. When the election was called, the entire bar erupted in cheers, hugs, and joyful tears. You could have heard a pin drop as Obama spoke. Everyone kept looking at each other with wide eyes and huge grins, saying “Can you believe it? This is so amazing!”.
And then the Prop 8 returns started. Getting down to election time, I was startled by the number of pro-8 yard signs and bumper stickers around here – but I still just couldn’t imagine that it would pass. I couldn’t imagine amending our freakin’ state constitution to enforce inequality. We all left the bar late last night both elated and disappointed, resigned to waiting out the final results.
This morning, California voters officially decided that there are those in my circle of family and friends who do not deserve equality under the California Constitution. That these people, who are loving brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and parents, are somehow less deserving than I am of rights.
I am blindingly proud to be an American today. I am full of sorrow, and more than a little ashamed to be a Californian.
Maybe the whole gay marriage thing *should* be turned into an economic issue:
One has to pay a fee for the marriage license, and then there’s the whole throw a big party with flowers and food and open bar, and hotel rooms and honeymoon suites- all that spending is good for the economy.
And then, should the marriage break apart (as more than 50% of marriages do), there are the legal fees, filing paper fees, and then moving costs- again, that spending is also good for the economy (although very hard on the heart).
I’m still very unhappy about the discrimination that exists in the 21st century. If two people love each other, why can’t they be “allowed” to legally wed?
Wow, for the first time ever, the sight of “Proud to be American” bumper stickers doesn’t make me want to spit nails. I’m getting teared up all over again this morning, reading all the news! ¡Obamanos! Woohoo!!
Long-time TN fan, and I think I’m the site’s only conservative reader, but that’s ok. I’m happy for Obama and Obama fans. He wasn’t my candidate, but I’m glad that come January, you all can do what you’ve been trying to do for 8 years and switch things up. It’s your turn now.
In discussion of Prop 8: While I’m fairly conservative, I do believe in civil unions and I’m leaning towards gay marriage. I think it’s the natural progression of things. But is it possible that people really don’t want judges deciding an issue like gay marriage? That they shove back with something unfortunate like Prop 8 because they don’t like judicial activism? I think it should be on the ballot for people to vote on, but I get that when it is a ballot measure, it’s voted down (like the multiple states in 2004). But I think with time (and a new generation), this won’t always be the case. You have to crawl before you can walk. I’m not a homophobe, but I want the choice. I don’t want a judge deciding it for me. Just a thought.
Anyway, congrats to all of you, and good luck. Your enthusiasm is nice to see (and I worked yesterday in a primarily black precinct, and I was happy to see their joy as well–I understand how important and historic this election is). I wish Obama a smooth transition, and I’m curious to see what the man can do!
Isn’t it great? I’m a little worried about Prop 8 though…
Stupid DMV – I just moved and when I signed up to have them change my address, they offered to change my voter registration, and I let them. I showed up at the polls yesterday to find they totally HADN’T, and I had to do a provisional ballot, and I won’t know for 45 days whether they counted my vote or not. I should’ve just driven to my old polling place to vote and be sure…
@laura re: Obama being a “Communist”… yah, well, a U Texas poll Oct. 29 showed that 23% of Texans still believe Obama is a Muslim, never MIND that he’s belonged to a Christian church all his life. :P More than any other candidate in history, I believe Obama had to fight *against* stubborn ignorance and bigotry as much as he had to fight *for* his platform.
Nor do I think that particular struggle is over (I pray his Secret Service guys are really on their toes)… but at least I know Obama will do far more to combat ignorance than did his predecessor. :D
Did anyone else notice… the state containing the former capital of the Confederacy *also* turned blue last night? If that’s not Change, I don’t know what is.
Forget July 4th… Election Day is when *I* feel the most patriotic!
WOOOOOHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! *waves her little flag*
@F. McGee: When I was at the gym a really sweet older gentleman and I were talking about this, and he said, “Well, remember, there’s never anything false about hope.” I cried. At the gym.
Well, I just got all teary-eyed at the office, so he may be on to something there.
*SNIF*
@ Hester:
The courts are there to legislate on issues just like this, where the populous violates the rights of others. We have come a long way in this battle (this vote was much closer than the one 4 years ago), but this proposition was different, in that it made a change to the constitution that ELIMINATES THE RIGHTS (which is how it reads) of a certain group of people.
Eliminates the rights. That is a hard pill to swallow.
The thing that really gets me is a large amount of money on the Pro side came from out-of-state contributions. I believe the proposition was introduced by an out-of-state party. I do not like that this can change my once lovely state’s constitution. People didn’t vote Yes because they were upset at the courts, they voted yes because they ran an effective, scare-laden campaign.
As a Canadian citizen, all I can say is: *grin*
After falling asleep early last night, I woke up this morning at 3am, rolled over in bed and checked CNN.com on my phone to make sure Obama had cleaned up.
I’ve teared up a few times today, reading bits and pieces of coverage from all over the world. I never would have dared dream I’d get to see this happen in my lifetime — if Americans can come together to make the dream of President Obama a reality, I’d have to say darn near anything is possible.
Nice job, neighbours.
@Hester:
Judges decide all kinds of things; (that favor conservative ideals as often as they favor liberal ones) that’s their job. It’s set up so the majority can’t rule over the minority. Just as Judges decided that segregating schools was unconstitutional in 1954, judges decided denying gay people rights is unconstitutional now. If in 1954 the people were left to decide, then it probably would’ve taken another generation or so before segregation ended in the South. And we almost certainly wouldn’t be electing a black President right now.
I’m sure you don’t realize it, but it’s unbelievably offensive to say wait another *generation* and maybe it’ll work out for ya.
@ Hester, as Annie F. said so well, judicial review is part of the court’s powers precisely to protect the rights of a minority from the views of the majority. What the California Supreme Court did four and a half months ago was to recognize that gay folks deserve equal rights and that domestic partnerships are not the same as marriage. It’s the same thing that the US Supreme Court did for black folks in 1954 when they struck down segregated schools and declared that separate is never equal. To steal an analogy from one of the lawyers fighting against Prop 8, if the voters of California approved an initiative that took away the rights of free speech from women, we would expect the courts to overturn that law because it violates the equal rights provisions in the constitution.
I do think that the country is moving, ever so slowly, to recognizing the rights of gays to marry under the law (religious marriage is up to the religions/churches themselves to determine). But today I’m disappointed in my state because a slim majority of voters decided, for whatever reason, to take away a civil right and put bigotry into our constitution. They didn’t vote to take away the power of judicial review–California courts can still strike down laws that are unconstitutional–they just voted to rewrite the constitution make it legal that some people are treated differently by the state just because of the way they were born.
“She became very adamant that she would pull her children out of any school that taught gay marriage.”
Just curious, how exactly do schools teach gay marriage, anyway? Do they teach straight marriage in schools? By teach do they mean “acknowledge the existence of” or do some people seriously think that some teacher kids how to be gay?
“But is it possible that people really don’t want judges deciding an issue like gay marriage? That they shove back with something unfortunate like Prop 8 because they don’t like judicial activism?”
[cracks knuckles
[though not at you]
That may be, but that ain’t the way the constitution works. The California courts determined that California’s existing marriage laws were unconstitutional. The judges don’t have the option of saying, “We think it’s unconstitutional, but if you want to democratically decide to violate the constitution, it’s up to you.” “Judges shouldn’t decide” amounts to “majority rule with no exceptions,” which is a perfectly reasonable position to take, but if that’s the rule, then really, the constitution is just a set of guidelines. It’s *a* way to run the government, but it’s not the way our government is arranged.
The irony is that this, while I agree it is a popular justification because it doesn’t require anyone to provide substantive reasons to deny other people their happiness that stretch beyond sheer prejudice — is actually the WORST argument against the court decisions that have legalized gay marriage. It’s convenient, but literally, it’s legally indefensible. There’s nothing else the court can do under the constitution if it finds that a law is unconstitutional. Law versus constitution is a conflict we resolved a couple of hundred years ago, and the law bends to the constitution.
If the people of a state believe that a court has misinterpreted the state constitution, they are free to pass a constitutional amendment under whatever the appropriate process is — which is what they did here. Proposition 8, while discriminatory and odious, was constitutionally authorized and procedurally legitimate, just like the judges’ decision to invalidate the existing marriage law.
But it makes no sense to make a substantive amendment to your constitution by whipping up sentiment that a court has acted illegitimately when it hasn’t. It’s fine to disagree that denying gay people equal rights is unconstitutional, but that’s the basis on which the point should be argued. Not “the court shouldn’t decide matters like these,” because “matters like these” are “what rights are guaranteed to individuals under the irrespective of majorities’ attempts to crush them,” and it’s not only a court’s right, but its obligation, to decide those issues.
Sars,
I’m intrigued by your comment, “That speech, like so many of his speeches, is rhetorically a lot harder to do than it might seem, never mind convincingly, and he did it.” Why is it harder?
“I don’t want a judge deciding it for me.”
When a law that was approved by the majority of voters, or the majority of the legislature, violates the constitution, there’s nobody but the courts to step in and strike that law down. That’s what the courts are for – to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Just a quick thank you to all of you on this site for expressing your feelings about prop 8. Believe me…it feels good to be supported by complete strangers. There are times I believe no one gets it. And a bunch of you clearly do.
@Ryan:
I can empathize with your point of view (and of course this is tempered with the fact that as a straight woman, this issue does not affect me personally, so I can’t truly understand it), and I get that a judicial decision “works” faster than the votes of the people whose minds are resistant to change (think Civil Rights Act). But when something is as unpopular as gay marriage is in this country, people shouldn’t be surprised when there’s voter backlash over bold judicial decisions that create new law. Like I said, I don’t understand the extremism of it because I don’t have an issue with gay marriage, but I understand the psychology of it. People resent a decision they didn’t get a choice to make through legislative (not judicial) means and they shove back–hard. And they’re also still oddly tied to traditional ideas of marriage (even though we straight people have treated the institution like trash). But of course that’s MY main issue with it–I’m sure the majority of CA pro-Prop 8 voters don’t care about that and are either homophobic, or just extremely traditional.
And yes, I do think it’s interesting the very high percentage of black voters that supported Prop 8 70-30. @KW–I don’t understand that either. You’d think they would have more empathy for the cause, but obviously they don’t see it that way.
I wonder if it would have failed had it been about civil unions and not marriage? Would people feel as strongly if was just about equal legal rights for gays and not the institution of marriage?
I live in the San Francisco area and of course I voted no on Prop 8 and am very disappointed. Mean people suck! But I’m from rural CA and I can tell you a little about some of the viewpoints in that area
1) “I don’t care what gay people do, I just don’t want to see it.” (translation: I’m afraid it might turn me on and turn me gay, and then what would I do with my pickup truck?)
2) “I think marriage should be as written in the bible.” (translation: I don’t believe in the separation of church and state.)
3) “Why can’t they just call it something else and leave marriage to straight people?”
4) “I don’t want my children learning about gay marriage.” (so who put the issue front and center on every TV and radio in the state? The Yes on 8 campaign, that’s who.)
I think the No on 8 campaign should have focused more on the historical construct of separation of church and state, with Palinesque lingo about that being what this great nation was founded on. It might have played to a broader audience.
This morning, I got a $200+ speeding ticket on my way to work. My fiance got his last unemployment check today because he hasn’t been able to find full-time work at a living wage in the past 6 months. His job moved to Brazil, and my company is investigating ways to move my job to the Philippines. We’re living in different states right now and trying to get our money and job situations sorted out so we can get married and be together. Yesterday, all this stuff would have seemed overwhelming and insurmountable.
Today, it’s still a little overwhelming, but I have hope that things can and will get better for all of us. I have hope that, despite amendment 2 here in Florida and prop 8 in California, all couples who love each other and want to be married will have that right upheld by law one day soon. I have hope that our economy will improve, that peace will be achieved, and that our reputation will be restored on the world stage. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we can do it. (Yes, we can.) And today, for the first time in a long time, I have hope.
@Robin: I’ll try to explain…
He manages to walk these very fine lines tonally and rhetorically. It’s hard to include everyone and do the whole “young and old, black and white” list of inclusive adjectives without sounding either rote, or naively “I’d Like To Buy The World A Coke.” Obama is actually intelligent and sincere, which helps, but to make everyone feel included without coming off as patronizing or pandering is really quite hard.
It’s also tough to “give” the victory to the voters without sounding like you feel like you have to say that. The victory IS ours, and he DOES have to say that, but to find a way to put it that sounds like it’s news is not easy.
And then to go into this: “I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead.”
To say in an ACCEPTANCE speech, basically, “I probably won because I am Not That Other Fucking Guy, and I’m okay with that. Also, this is actually just the end of the beginning so buckle up”? You don’t usually hear that. You hear a laundry list of thank-yous, and you hear platitudes about our great country and return to glory working together blah blah see you in January I need to lie down. For the WINNER to be like, “Check yourselves, we have a lot of work to do,” AND to make it sound APPEALING…it’s ballsy. AND he threw in A PUPPY. You mention baby animals in front of the entire world, you’d better know what you’re doing up there.
It’s like an egg. It’s a very simple, elegantly functional thing, an egg; not a lot of parts, no tiny gears, no advanced math. But good luck evolving one at home.
Obama is an excellent speaker; Bush or Howard Dean could not put that speech over, so that’s part of it. He means what he says; that’s another big part of it. But think about everything that speech is *doing* — gratitude, inspiration, administration, warning — and then try to write something that does those same things in three pages. THEN try to make it sound direct and not bombastic, and make sure it doesn’t sound copied or like a parody of itself, and don’t forget to thank anyone, and at the end of it, whoever you read it to is either in tears or halfway out the door to volunteer for something…but it has to sound like you’re just talking at the kitchen table. If you can do it, congratulations and go get your ass on a ballot somewhere.
The easier and more natural it sounds, the harder it probably was to get just right, and Obama does that shit ALL the TIME. As an American, I’m inspired, and as a writer, I’m awed.
I want to thank everyone who has posted such thoughtful (so far) responses to my original post, and I appreciate Sars for giving us a forum to discuss this as well. I’m an educated woman, and to be frank, a lot of this is confusing, especially when it’s so loaded and people scream from both sides with emotional language. This has been eye-opening for hearing a dissenting view (and I’m still flexible on the topic) in a respectful way. I don’t like the idea of the Federal Marriage Amendment that Bush supported, and I think the language and tenor of these state Propositions/Amendments is unpleasant at the very least–it does little to further the discussion on the topic in a reasonable way.
@ Ryan–my point (which was not to offend) was that I think young people’s attitudes are improving, and resistance is lessening, it just takes a little time. My generation is more understanding the cause, and we’re the future lawmakers. But I understand the urgency. I’m just trying to figure out in my head whether marriage truly is a legal right, or are civil unions enough to satisfy that legal right for all people.
Again, I appreciate everyone’s clarification of my questions and willingness to engage in a civil debate on the topic. Truly, I do! Thanks again.
@Hester, a few points:
“I get that a judicial decision “works” faster than the votes of the people whose minds are resistant to change (think Civil Rights Act).”
People aren’t pressing the issue in the courts because it’s faster. They’re pressing the issue in the courts because they genuinely believe that their constitutional rights are being violated. And several courts have fully agreed with them.
“But when something is as unpopular as gay marriage is in this country, people shouldn’t be surprised when there’s voter backlash over bold judicial decisions that create new law.”
Gay marriage isn’t particularly unpopular in California, considering that the split was nearly 50-50.
“People resent a decision they didn’t get a choice to make through legislative (not judicial) means and they shove back–hard.”
If people really resent courts making unpopular decisions, then they don’t understand their own government. I could just as easily say I resent not being allowed to vote to ban a book I don’t like.
“Would people feel as strongly if was just about equal legal rights for gays and not the institution of marriage?”
Gay people don’t have equal legal rights if they are denied the institution of marriage. I understand your basic question, but there’s not “equal legal rights” over here and “equal legal rights plus marriage” over there. The right to marry is a legal right; the courts have frequently characterized it that way.
I’m going away now, I promise.
I just want to share this photo with everyone. THIS is what teared me up – the photo is from a gathering in Athens, Greece, watching the election returns come in. The rest of the world is SO HAPPY for us, you guys. We finally did it!
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/599/slide_599_12411_large.jpg
Thank you, Linda. How do people still not get that part of the courts’ job is to protect the minority from the majority? And that when something is RIGHT, people shouldn’t get to vote on whether or not they’re comfortable with it?
Some many thoughts, so little time.
First of all, from one happy Canadian to all of you : “CONGRATS”!!
Second, listening to all the comments about the amendants and proposals re: marriage, I say “Come to Canada and get married”. It may not be exactly what you wanted, to get married in your home state, but we’d be glad to have you. And you can have your reception in my back yard. I have nice neighbours :)
Third, it warms my little heart to see people of all backgrounds cheering in the streets. I bet a year ago, the Republicans were thinking they had it in the bag, because they never thought non-minorites would vote for Obama regardless of his policies or smarts. To see the coming together of like- minded, smart, GOOD people, the sheer joy in the celebrations, it makes me cry. In a good way.
Last night, we sat and watched as the polls closed and as Obama was declared the winner. At midnight, as Obama came on and gave his speech, we toasted and did blue shots(some sort of mixed drink that came out blue, not sure what was in it, but yummy). I cried in happy disbelief as I watched history being made. I will never forget that feeling.
On the way home, I felt like a double cheeseburger, so I swung through a 24 hour McD’s drive thru, high-fived the girl working the window, and drove home happy.
And it wasn’t a dream! It really happened. I’m still amazed. Yes we can. Yes we can, indeed.
@Whitney: I think part of the Romanian opinion of anyone even slightly left-of-center is due to living under CeauÅŸescu, and his insane communist regine. My coworker says that everyone at his (Romanian Orthodox) church voted McCain as well, so conservative views are probably endemic to the community.
regime, I mean. Insane communist regime.
“For the WINNER to be like, ‘Check yourselves, we have a lot of work to do,’ AND to make it sound APPEALING…it’s ballsy. AND he threw in A PUPPY. You mention baby animals in front of the entire world, you’d better know what you’re doing up there.”
And this, boys and girls, is why I love reading TN so much. (Well, that and y’all make me laugh and cry, and then laugh some more.)
Can I be selfish for a minute and say I hope Linda doesn’t go away, nor LTG? At least not for long. I always learn from you guys. Linda’s comments are the best counter-argument to so-called “judicial activism” I’ve seen.
Good job, neighbours. Here’s to unyielding hope. And now I need to lie down.
Aww well done America. It was fab to wake up in Blighty to some good news. I watched his acceptance speech and felt postive & optimistic about world politics for the first time in…well a long time. Like it or not the USA affects what happens in the rest of the world. I hope that our politicians now take note!!
One more piece of Prop. 8-related news that I did not know myself. Apparently, Connecticut had a vote on Tuesday as to whether to call a constitutional convention. (In some states in the northeast, there is a mandatory statewide vote every ten or twenty years as to whether to call a convention that is empowered to rewrite the state constitution). It was pitched by marriage opponents as a chance to undo the Connecticut court’s decision on same-sex marriage — and it failed by a huge margin.
This is a fight we are going to win, in the long run.
Just a little update on how our expat party went last night. We ordered pizza and when the restaurant owner found out we were celebrating Obama’s win he gave us a free bottle of expensive red wine. Also, one of the party attendees got pulled over by a cop on the way there but he let her off when he saw her Obama/Biden ’08 shirt he let her go without giving her a ticket (he gave her two thumbs up instead).
@ Hester
“But when something is as unpopular as gay marriage is in this country, people shouldn’t be surprised when there’s voter backlash over bold judicial decisions that create new law.”
It wasn’t a new law. The law as it was written was deemed unconstitutional.
I have asked people who voted yes this question: “Aside from your religious beliefs, why did you vote yes.” None of them can answer. I have also asked if they have been adversely affected over the last 4.5 months, and none have.
I am also a straight woman, but I disagree that taking away civil rights in my state doesn’t affect me. It does. It affects every single one of us, because who is to say, one day, that they won’t introduce an amendment telling me to cover my face whenever I am in public? Or, an amendment that says that SF residents shouldn’t get to vote. These may sound ridiculous, but it is a slippery slope that we have started. It is crap that it only takes 50% to amend the constitution, and TAKE AWAY PEOPLE’S RIGHTS.
And, I wouldn’t blame my gay friends one bit if they stopped paying taxes. They are not afforded the rights their taxes should guarantee them, so why should they pay ’em.
@Sandman – are you aware of Linda’s own fabulous blog? Just wanted to be sure. http://thingswhatthings.com/
Sars,
Thanks for the explanation. I was amazed that it didn’t feel cheesy for him to mention the 106-year old woman. And, you’re so right about the puppy. While I’ve not loved all of his speeches, this one was special and I agree with Stephen King about how President-elect Obama has learned how to give a speech on television. McCain has never figured out how to be still, it seems.