The 2018 US Mid-Term Elections Thread
- Thread starter Sanji Himura
- 277 comments
- 11,379 views
- 2,359
- Ventura, California
- 5,490
- Alabamistan
Republicans have a firm hold on just about everything here in Alabama which unfortunately probably means Doug Jones's (defeated Roy Moore) term will be a short one.
Governor: R 60% D 40%
Lt. Governor: R 61% D 39%
US Rep for my district (Mo Brooks who is just awful): R 61% D 39%
You go all down the results Sec. of State, Attorney General, State Supreme Court races, etc. there are none where the margin is in the single digits. The only bright spot was in my local State Senate race where the incumbent was expected to walk away with at least a 20-25% margin but only beat Democrat Amy Wasyluka by 8% or right around 5000 votes. She ran a really good campaign and I hope she decides to run again if this state ever starts moving away from the far right to a more moderate position.
As far as our amendments went:
#1 To allow the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and government buildings YES 72% NO 28%
#2 Declares that it's public policy to protect the rights of the unborn and does not protect the right to abortion YES 59% NO 41%
Governor: R 60% D 40%
Lt. Governor: R 61% D 39%
US Rep for my district (Mo Brooks who is just awful): R 61% D 39%
You go all down the results Sec. of State, Attorney General, State Supreme Court races, etc. there are none where the margin is in the single digits. The only bright spot was in my local State Senate race where the incumbent was expected to walk away with at least a 20-25% margin but only beat Democrat Amy Wasyluka by 8% or right around 5000 votes. She ran a really good campaign and I hope she decides to run again if this state ever starts moving away from the far right to a more moderate position.
As far as our amendments went:
#1 To allow the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and government buildings YES 72% NO 28%
#2 Declares that it's public policy to protect the rights of the unborn and does not protect the right to abortion YES 59% NO 41%
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
Folks have really lost their minds down there. I was raised a Christian but I'm a practicing atheist. Despite this, there are true merits in commandments 5-10 that I believe are a good basis for a stable community and a "good" philosophy to live by (good Christian or not). But that's not the point. There is a separation of church and state for a reason. And no matter how you look at it, commandments 1-4 (in particular) don't belong on or in a public building.
I respect the democratic power of a public referendum and the right to self determination through majority. But unless they want to stomp on the constitution, they truly got it wrong. I can see this ending up in the supreme court. I can only hope that the majority there get it right. Otherwise we're taking slow, baby-steps into becoming a theocracy.
- 28,470
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Johnnypenso
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
I admit, I haven't read the full wording myself, but how can it comply with constitutional requirements when by nature, it's presence violates the law? I don't see that clause as anything other than hedging on their part.
I've grown increasingly cynical about these things. But having grown up during the cold war, I also came to see the addition of the "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance as nothing but a bunch of political brainwashing of the youth against "godless communists". And I see this as yet another wedge trying to stymie political progression by bringing in a religious element.
- 5,490
- Alabamistan
They really have lost their minds. Some of the things they come up with down here just make me shake my head with disbelief.
Yeah let's see how far they can stretch that one.
- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
I live in a pretty rural section of a very blue state, where many people in my community tend to vote (and bleed) by (traditional) Republican ideals. I'm a registered independent myself but I find I'm generally between a little to more than a little "left" of most of my neighbors on most social issues. And increasingly so over the last 10 years. The worst thing our town did, IMO, was to change to a partisan form of government. Over the last decade, I've been dismayed to see who the people of my town have voted for, for council seats in local elections simply by the color of their ballet.
That said, from time to time, I'm down in the Carolinas or Virginia or West Virginia on business. And compared to some of the attitudes I see down there, even the reddest of my neighbors would probably come across as "liberals". It really is another world.
- 28,470
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Johnnypenso
Turbo
(Banned)
- 3,824
- Elizabeth, New Jersey
I see. Didn't know that, whoops.
- 28,470
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Johnnypenso
- 6,060
- Simcoeace
A bit off the topic given everything that's happened in the last 24 hours. but ... I'm not suggesting you, and especially YOU, should vote for anything you don't believe in. I was asking Joey ( a somewhat more moderate believer) where he might consider casting a vote strategically in order to help head off a "greater evil".
I think the example pertinent to HRC would be this: a left wing Democrat refuses to vote for Hillary because she doesn't represent their political beliefs adequately/is disgusted with the DNC's treatment of Bernie & sits out the election, possibly contributing to the election of Donald Trump. That person's political beliefs are now further than ever from realization ... but possibly they feel as if they "said" something. Ultimately, is that a good trade-off?
I know the residents of the Ramapo mountains are big fans of classical dance ... but I'm still have a hard time making sense of this statement.
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- 2,980
- The Ramapo Mountains
- jjaisli
Come on @Turbo. This is important NJ history.
A. It was more like 14-15 years ago and
B. The man was married, twice, and both times to women. He had a child with his 2nd wife, former first lady Dina Matos, who adamantly claims she had no idea he was homosexual. And he lead the ultimate "secret closeted gay life". I still remember his shell-shocked wife (since divorced) during a press conference where it became known that he had promoted his gay lover to a high paying position of power in NJ government, a position for which he was woefully unqualified, ultimately forcing McGreevey to resign. This was a HUGE scandal that angered and outraged so many people in NJ that it paved the way for Chris Christie to be elected. (Sort of the ultimate expression of biting off your nose to spite your face--actually more like a guillotine level event.)
I know the residents of the Ramapo mountains are big fans of classical dance ... but I'm still have a hard time making sense of this statement.
Very funny @Biggles. I know you're familiar with the area. Dancing aside, in all seriousness, I can remember the move to partisan government in this town being widely praised by so many, the reason being the affiliation, either Democrat or Republican, allowed access to both ears and funds on both a county and more importantly, on a state level. This town was hurt financially over the handling of taxes levied (and lost) over the Newark owned reservoir. And many people felt those political alliances, had they existed at the time, wouldn't have allowed the city of Newark and it's lawyers to steam roller this town. And it IS clear, in road projects, new bridges, school improvements, even the new library, how those political alliances HAVE paid off in state and county funds that this town was always lacking.It should be a clear and unfortunate sign, how independents, even at a local town level, have a tough time being elected in the United States, and even if they are, they often lack the ability to get things done due to lack of 'tribal connections'.
On the flip side, (and to elaborate on my poorly constructed sentence from the post above) I remember two town council members in particular who ran and were elected both before and again, after partisan affiliations. And the change in attitudes toward them and the complete flip-flop in how people voted for each and the number of people who voted for one or the other was astonishing--simply because one now had a (D) and the other an (R) after their name.
Of course it should be said that this was also shortly after the afore-mentioned McGreevey scandal.
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- 9,262
- Corsham
- lipming
All this talk about women and minorities (but little of their policies) being elected in record numbers, it's almost as if the only things that matter when going for public office are what you look like, who you sleep with and what deity you pray to at night...
Danoff
Premium
- 34,005
- Mile High City
I'd say that is to each individual to determine. It's ultimately about what they want to "say". Do they want to say that they will vote for someone like Hillary to prevent someone like trump from taking office? Or do they want to say that they will not vote for someone like Hillary after what happened to Bernie? They have to decide what signal to send and then send it. Too often I feel as though people forget that they have the choice to send this signal, and that's what I'm really getting at. It's not a wasted vote when casting it for Bernie, it tells the DNC something very important. Maybe the individual decides that it's not a statement worth making, but I want them to at least think about the statement. How far did you stray from your beliefs to try to manipulate a bad system? (rhetorical question in case there was any doubt)
- 5,051
- Netherlands
I coincidently know you can. I meant presidential candidates that actually have a chance of winning. I really thought Bernie could have disrupted the election if he ran as an independent.
Are there any powerfull moderate republicans and democrats that have the influence to set up a new major party that is moderate?
The problem is without a proper 3rd option, your vote will get lost in obscurity.
Danoff
Premium
- 34,005
- Mile High City
What do you mean by "lost in obscurity"? And how is your vote not "lost in obscurity" when you cast it for one of the main two parties?
- 5,051
- Netherlands
It was directed at @Joey D who said he voted libertarian in most elections. The libertarian party isnt large enough to get a foothold in politics. In my logic a vote for one of the 2 larger parties would have more impact then your single vote for a party that barely can get 1%. It would be much better if it werent that way and it definately should not deter someone from voting what he/she wants. It is just a fact of the current reality.
- 28,470
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Johnnypenso
If everyone thought like that there would be no Abraham Lincoln. The Republican Party was only formed 5 or 6 years before Lincoln was elected and it went on to dominate the presidency for 6 or 7 decades.
- 24,614
- Anoka, MN
How is that supposed to change though unless people vote for those other parties? Yes, in the short term it may seem pointless, but if enough people do it in one election it may make people think it's a worthwhile use of their vote when the next election comes along
Joey D
Premium
- 47,365
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
Thing is it comes down to neither the Democrats or Republicans make an impact, at least for me. If anything both parties are responsible for ruining the country - at least when it comes to their establishment candidates. In 2016, I could've voted for Clinton to help prevent Trump. But if she would've won, then I would've been stuck with Clinton - someone that I don't think was worthy of the presidency either.
- 2,359
- Ventura, California
- 390
- United States
You’re (not you as in YOU, just a general thing) picking someone mainly for their race or what sexes they like, and not for their actual quality of character - something that actually matters when it comes to their role. You don’t pick somebody because they’re not a specific race or sexual orientation. (Again, maybe not YOU specifically.)
Sounds like the textbook definition of discrimination to me.
- 29,726
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
One can be proud they did something or that something occurred without having done it or it having been done for the reason that they specifically indicate being proud of.
"I voted for the candidate I believed had the best chance at making life closer to the way I want to live it, and they got elected. Now we have the first elected official of their kind."
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