Monday morning, Al Franken made a point heard muttered frequently around The Thinking Woman since Wednesday. (Context: Rush Limbaugh -- who as we know is a saint -- claims that the Democrats want to eliminate any morality whatsoever from the world.)
Just about every issue in the election was a moral issue. The war in Iraq, Social Security security, etc., are all moral issues. In fact, we at the Thinking Woman think that everyone who voted voted on moral values, because our moral compass influences our attitude toward many issues addressed by the government.
So the question is not one of morality, but of how much the government has a right, constitutionally, to impose one set of moral values on a whole nation.
In an article in The Slate, Paul Freedman, associate professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, argues that that what really drove people to vote for Bush was terrorism, not "moral values" (defined primarily as attitudes toward gay marriage and abortion). We think he has a point. Read it for yourself, and see if you agree:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2109275/
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Four More Years
After a divisive election campaign, the cessation of all the passion, intensity and hard work is a bit of a let down. For the Kerry supporters, it is more than that. But even the feeling for Bush supporters has to be more one of relief than of euphoria.
One thing the 2004 presidential election map made clear: America is blue around the edges, which is an apt description of how some of us have felt this week. But before 48 percent of our readers give in to depression, let’s review some facts.
In spite of President Bush’s claims of a mandate, he was only elected by a three percent majority of voters. This is a very small margin, much too small, we think, to be claiming that America wants to dwell permanently on the right.
Overlooked here is how the choice of Democratic candidate may have affected voters. Was John Kerry a man Americans could easily identify with and believe in? In spite of his many positive attributes, we don’t think so.
However, given Kerry’s sometimes aloof and aristocratic bearing, a huge percentage of the population still voted for him. Some of this may have been the ABB (anyone but Bush) vote but it does showcase the anger many Americans feel. And when you come right down to it, Americans chose their candidate on Tuesday based on whether they were angry or afraid.
Kerry’s supporters were angry. Angry at discrimination, diminishing personal rights, rising unemployment and health care costs, escalating war and terrorism, and forced conservative values.
Bush’s supporters were afraid. Afraid of terrorism, liberal values, homosexuals and taxes.
As Jon Stewart pointed out on The Daily Show on November 3, it’s ironic that the people who live closest to two of the latter fears aren’t afraid at all. New Yorkers, who count gay neighbors among their friends and associates, and experienced the full brutality of September 11 firsthand, voted overwhelmingly for Kerry.
Still, we are now faced with a new order of things. The Republicans will control the House and Senate, making it very hard to push anything construed as a liberal agenda. It also means that the remaining Democrats could make things impossible for Bush. The Senate needs 60 votes to pass a bill and only 55 belong to Republicans. If the Dems dig in their heels, we could be looking at four years of gridlock.
However, we hope that won’t happen. We hope that Americans will come together to find common ground and start the healing process. We hope that Bush will make true his campaign promise in 2000 and finally prove to the American people that he’s a uniter, not a divider.
As Abraham Lincoln once observed, “a house divided against itself will not stand.” If President Bush wants to make good his promise of a stronger America, he would do well to remember that
One thing the 2004 presidential election map made clear: America is blue around the edges, which is an apt description of how some of us have felt this week. But before 48 percent of our readers give in to depression, let’s review some facts.
In spite of President Bush’s claims of a mandate, he was only elected by a three percent majority of voters. This is a very small margin, much too small, we think, to be claiming that America wants to dwell permanently on the right.
Overlooked here is how the choice of Democratic candidate may have affected voters. Was John Kerry a man Americans could easily identify with and believe in? In spite of his many positive attributes, we don’t think so.
However, given Kerry’s sometimes aloof and aristocratic bearing, a huge percentage of the population still voted for him. Some of this may have been the ABB (anyone but Bush) vote but it does showcase the anger many Americans feel. And when you come right down to it, Americans chose their candidate on Tuesday based on whether they were angry or afraid.
Kerry’s supporters were angry. Angry at discrimination, diminishing personal rights, rising unemployment and health care costs, escalating war and terrorism, and forced conservative values.
Bush’s supporters were afraid. Afraid of terrorism, liberal values, homosexuals and taxes.
As Jon Stewart pointed out on The Daily Show on November 3, it’s ironic that the people who live closest to two of the latter fears aren’t afraid at all. New Yorkers, who count gay neighbors among their friends and associates, and experienced the full brutality of September 11 firsthand, voted overwhelmingly for Kerry.
Still, we are now faced with a new order of things. The Republicans will control the House and Senate, making it very hard to push anything construed as a liberal agenda. It also means that the remaining Democrats could make things impossible for Bush. The Senate needs 60 votes to pass a bill and only 55 belong to Republicans. If the Dems dig in their heels, we could be looking at four years of gridlock.
However, we hope that won’t happen. We hope that Americans will come together to find common ground and start the healing process. We hope that Bush will make true his campaign promise in 2000 and finally prove to the American people that he’s a uniter, not a divider.
As Abraham Lincoln once observed, “a house divided against itself will not stand.” If President Bush wants to make good his promise of a stronger America, he would do well to remember that
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Election Day -- Have you voted yet?
Today is Election Day.
It's time to vote, if you haven't already!
But if you are still undecided about who to vote for, there is still some time to do research. An excellent source for cutting through the spin and exaggeration is www.factcheck.org , the site Vice President Cheney mistakenly referred to in his debate with John Edwards as factcheck.com.
Factcheck.org strives to be nonpartisan, and focuses on the exaggerations and misrepresentations, presenting raw facts to put them into perspective. You can also go back and read the party platforms, links for which are found on this blog.
Finally, regardless of where you vote, there are a few things that are true everywhere:
You are entitled to the time to vote. Most states have liberal voting hours. But employers are required to allow you the time to go vote.
If you are in line when the closing time is reached, you are still entitled to vote. Stay in line as long as it takes to cast your ballot.
Poll workers are there to help you -- you can ask questions and get help if you need it. Do not feel awkward about asking for assistance in understanding and completing your ballot.
If you live in west, don't let the earlier returns from the East Coast discourage you from voting. This year is a very close race, and the last vote cast in Hawaii is as important as the first vote cast in Maine. And remember, you are voting for more than a president, you are voting for state and local offices and issues, as well.
If for some reason there is a question about your eligibility to vote, you can cast a provisional ballot.
And most important, have fun!
It's time to vote, if you haven't already!
But if you are still undecided about who to vote for, there is still some time to do research. An excellent source for cutting through the spin and exaggeration is www.factcheck.org , the site Vice President Cheney mistakenly referred to in his debate with John Edwards as factcheck.com.
Factcheck.org strives to be nonpartisan, and focuses on the exaggerations and misrepresentations, presenting raw facts to put them into perspective. You can also go back and read the party platforms, links for which are found on this blog.
Finally, regardless of where you vote, there are a few things that are true everywhere:
You are entitled to the time to vote. Most states have liberal voting hours. But employers are required to allow you the time to go vote.
If you are in line when the closing time is reached, you are still entitled to vote. Stay in line as long as it takes to cast your ballot.
Poll workers are there to help you -- you can ask questions and get help if you need it. Do not feel awkward about asking for assistance in understanding and completing your ballot.
If you live in west, don't let the earlier returns from the East Coast discourage you from voting. This year is a very close race, and the last vote cast in Hawaii is as important as the first vote cast in Maine. And remember, you are voting for more than a president, you are voting for state and local offices and issues, as well.
If for some reason there is a question about your eligibility to vote, you can cast a provisional ballot.
And most important, have fun!
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