Election day results discussion thread

[strandinthewind]

Looks like the oil companies spent only 133 million on 87.

Also,

As for the other stuss, stripping judges from immunity is assinine to say the least. The standard should be specific intent al la fraud. I mean if a jusde makes a close call and it turns out bad, they should not go to jail for doing their job

I like the random million dollars for some lucky voter proposition.

I also like the no consideration of race or gender in college applications. I think any special consideration should be based on poverty alone and this whole "we need to correct past mistakes by giving people a free ride" is for th birds. Why should some son of a black millionaire get any special treatment because some anscestor he probably never knew was treated poorly as many in this country were back then - just ask the Irish or the Chinese?

Anyway - food for thought

___________________________________________________

(AP) -- South Dakotans rejected a toughest-in-the-nation law that would have banned virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest -- defeating one of the most high-profile state measures facing voters Tuesday.

The outcome was a blow to conservatives, although they prevailed in five other states where voters approved constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage. Among them was Wisconsin, where gay-rights activists had nursed hopes of engineering the first defeat of such a ban.

Five states approved increases in their minimum wage, while Arizona passed four measures targeting illegal immigrants, including one making English the state's official language. (View real-time results for key ballot measures)

Voters weren't keen about another, more quirky Arizona measure: They defeated a proposal that would have awarded $1 million to a randomly selected voter in each general election.

Nationwide, a total of 205 measures were on the ballots in 37 states, but none had riveted political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. Passed overwhelmingly by the legislature earlier this year, it would have allowed abortion only to save a pregnant woman's life.

Lawmakers had hoped the ban would be challenged in court, provoking litigation that might eventually lead to a U.S. Supreme Court reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

"This is a wake-up call to lawmakers in other states that America's pro-choice majority will not allow an assault on Roe v. Wade to go unanswered," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.(Watch how initiatives indicate a 'frustration with government' -- 1:22)

Eight states had ban-same-sex-marriage amendments on their ballots. Idaho, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia joined Wisconsin in approving them, according to projections. Results were pending in Arizona, Colorado and South Dakota.

Similar amendments have passed previously in all 20 states to consider them.

Colorado voters had an extra option -- a measure that would grant domestic-partnership rights to same-sex couples.

Conservatives hoped the same-sex marriage bans might increase turnout for Republicans. Democrats looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states.

The wage hike passed in Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio, according to CNN projections. Results were pending in Colorado. (Watch talk of minimum wage and pregnant pigs -- 2:20)

In Missouri, a proposed amendment allowing stem cell research was a factor in the crucial Senate race there; incumbent Republican Jim Talent opposed the measure, while Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill supported it.

Missouri -- along with Arizona, South Dakota and California -- had a sharp increase in tobacco taxes on its ballot. In California alone, big tobacco companies spent more than $56 million fighting a tax increase that would boost the average price of a pack of cigarettes to $6.55.

In Ohio, anti-smoking activists won a showdown with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Voters approved a tough ban on smoking in public places and rejected a Reynolds-backed measure that would have exempted bars, bowling alleys and racetracks.

The costliest ballot campaign -- a state record of $133 million -- was raised in the fight over California's Proposition 87, which would tax companies drilling for oil in the state. The proposal sought to raise $4 billion to promote alternative fuels and energy-efficient vehicles.

Nevada and Colorado both offered measures -- trailing badly in the pre-Election Day polls -- that would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by anyone 21 and older. A measure in Rhode Island would restore voting rights to felons on probation and parole.

In Michigan, CNN projects that voters will approve a proposition to bar the state government from using race and gender to determine who gets into college, who gets hired and who receives contracts.

Elsewhere, land use was a hot issue, part of a backlash against a 2005 Supreme Court ruling allowing the city of New London, Connecticut, to buy up homes to make way for a private commercial development.

Eleven states considered eminent-domain measures barring the government from taking private property for a private use; Florida, Georgia and South Carolina approved them overwhelmingly. In four states -- Arizona, California, Idaho and Washington -- voters could require state and local authorities to compensate property owners if land-use regulations lowered the value of their property.

South Dakota voters could make their state the first to strip immunity from judges, exposing them to the possibility of lawsuits, fines and even jail for their actions on the bench. Opponents, including leaders of both major parties, said it would create chaos in the judicial system.

In Maine, Nebraska and Oregon, voters considered measures that would cap increases in state spending -- similar to a controversial measure approved in Colorado in 1992.

Pennsylvania voters gave the state the go-ahead to borrow $20 million so that nearly 33,000 veterans in the state who participated in the Persian Gulf War could collect one-time payments up to $525.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

That is such a cock o shiitte.

As with any child, 12 year old girls should not be able to get any medical prodedure without parental consent I cannot believe you support this. In the end though, it is a mountain out of a mole hill because how is that 12 year old girl gonna pay for it? Of course, you'd vote for free abortions for all, unless they are rich, which in that case, the rich should tithe to the abortion clinics and send their cars for the 12 year olds

Moreover, what happens if she goes to some horrid free clinic across the tracks and gets septicemia and dies from it. All because she was not required to let an adult help her.

Note - I would have voted against a parental consent law that did not have a judicial or other adult authorization provision.

I voted against it because.....follow me here:
any girl who didnt already go to her parents and discuss the issue, didnt do so for A REASON. Girl children are often abused by their fathers and not believed by their mothers and there are so many dysfunctional families out there that I am convinced that if a girl feels she cant go to her parents on her own about something like that, there is a very good reason.

The state has NO BUSINESS legislating ANY personal medical decision. NONE.
and all the fundies need to get their morality out of everyone's lives. Period.

Clinics arent horrid and septicemia is not an issue really. This bill was NOT about adults "helping" a child, this bill was about nosybodies trying to whittle away a woman's/girl's right to do what she wants with her own body. But I wouldnt expect you to understand. An apple has no idea what an orange is all about anyway..................

[strandinthewind]

Most girls do not go to their parents because they are scared shiitteless about the stigma, etc. While I get that the abuse occurs, I still think that does not excuse allowing a 12 year old to get a medical procedure willy nilly when they have to have consent for every other procedure. I also think the abuse is not nearly as common as you assert, but you love to play that card.

The state has NO BUSINESS legislating ANY personal medical decision. NONE.
and all the fundies need to get their morality out of everyone's lives. Period.

Good -then that 12 year old ought to just be able to waltz down to the lippo center and pay for her own lipposuction and nose job. After all, it is her body and her decision and the state has no right to interfer. That is just such a load of crap.



But, I would never expect you to get that because you would condone a live birth abortion as a woman's right.

[strandinthewind]

To further my argument - let me ask all who read this this question:

If your 12 year old daughter went to get an abortion without telling you, would you be okay with that?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by amber

I just freaked out looking at a map of which states were red and blue as far as Governors go. Everything is askew, it's bizarro governor red/blue world. All results aren't in, but still. VT and CA, red?! gar.

But seriously, I'm soo pissed 87 isn't passing. f*cknuts.

Um, yeah, great, CA is now a repub state. mmm.

We were red for a long time! But now we've made history with our first black governor. Sorry you got the governator again.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

a sad day for GOPers like myself.. my wine is right beside me! . . . .

It just amazes me how you can align yourself with a party that:

1. wants to put you in jail for a felony for the type of sex you have

and

2. the R's have been in complete control and this is the most fiscally irresponsible thing I have ever seen.

Have you looked at the spending in the last six years. Compare that to the Clinton years. I am no fan of Clinton, but come on -- at least under him the national debt did not tiple and every Amercian's share of that debt was not $30,000. How are we ever going to pay that?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think it is so funny that people actually vote for tax increases as if they are really gonna do anything but pad the already felonious pockets of the politicians and corps. The Federal Govt. makes WAY too much money as it is. If they would stop the RIDICULOUS spending by both sides on crap like $100 hammers, $45 six packs of Coke in Iraq, no bid contracts, funding of art when we can't feed and care for everyone, a welfare system out of control, no price haggled meds, etc. We would have more than enough money, esp. considering we pay on average something like 25% or more to the Feds alone in income tax alone and then pay another 15% or so via phone taxes, Social Security, Medicare, excise taxes, etc. That is not even counting the Federal taxes like port taxes that are passed on to us via the price of goods. It also does not count the 25% or more paid in the various state and local taxes. So, I say FUKC any new taxes until the ridiculous spending is brought under control, which will never happen because both sides are beholden to the big corps (and I mean all of them)

I always use the phone bill as an example. Take a look at what you pay as a "tax." 911 emergency services is a seemingly good idea. Yet, when examined, it is a pork barrell. If Georgia has 10 million phones (and I submit it has at least twice as many as that as 5 million live in Atlanta alone and most people have a land line and then a cell for each family member over 12) and each phone pays $1.50 to fund 911 -- that is $180 million a year to fund and run 911 if there are just 10 million phones (I submit the figure is likely 20 million phones for $360 million a year) -- Give me fukcing break.

Then, the other taxes like the tax to ensure people in rural areas have phones (like $3.99 + a month or almost 1/2 a billion a year in Georgia alone using that 10 million phone low estimate) are just a result of Bellsouth's lobbying. Wouldn't you love to own your own business and have the governement pay for FREE most or a significant portion of your labor costs, which is what this "tax" does. FUKC THAT!

Then, the 9/11 fees for the airports. Who was paying this before? Why the airlines were. But, they aren't anymore and they are charging the same or more for tickets even adjusting for the more expensive fuel. Wouldn't you love for the govt. to pay for the security costs of your business FOR FREE. FUKC THAT!

So, I conclude that until BOTH the R's and D's stop acting like a silly woman with a credit card who can't balance her checkbook, I say FUKC THEM and their new taxes.

Oh don't say "silly woman"! I otherwise agree with you. I think the government has plenty of money if it managed it properly. Although I did vote for a small local increase here but I am not sure if it passed.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Oh don't say "silly woman"! . . . .

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Put it this way, it cost Rhode Island only $7 million to run 911 emergency services. I get that Rhode Island is a small state, but even if that number is multiplied by 20, that is only $140 million - - so where does the other $220 million of the very conservatively estimated $360 million go? if you have to think about that one too long, then this argument likely has gone over your head

Meth? Male prostitutes?

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Meth? Male prostitutes?

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!

and it was smack, not meth

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Most girls do not go to their parents because they are scared shiitteless about the stigma, etc. While I get that the abuse occurs, I still think that does not excuse allowing a 12 year old to get a medical procedure willy nilly when they have to have consent for every other procedure. I also think the abuse is not nearly as common as you assert, but you love to play that card.



Good -then that 12 year old ought to just be able to waltz down to the lippo center and pay for her own lipposuction and nose job. After all, it is her body and her decision and the state has no right to interfer. That is just such a load of crap.



But, I would never expect you to get that because you would condone a live birth abortion as a woman's right.

Jason, you forget, I have researched extensively the issue of parental sexual abuse. I do not make those statements lightly. And I am more than willing to trot out the stats again and show you AGAIN how wrong you are on this issue and always have been.

[SuzeQuze]

Looks like we're going to get Tesser in Montana, after 99% of precincts counted he is leading by 1,500. We've taken the senate.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

To further my argument - let me ask all who read this this question:

If your 12 year old daughter went to get an abortion without telling you, would you be okay with that?

yes. the alternative is a 13 year old raising a child she is not equipped to raise. an education will be postponed at best. family will end up helping her raise a baby she isnt able to raise (nor can she afford to)

personally, I think the best approach is prevention, and I would hope she would get birth control to avoid this scenario. but yes, in the long run, abortion would be better for all concerned.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Yea - but your concept of abuse is likely not most peoples. At least that is what I have gathered from past conversations.

So, define abuse when you haul out those stats.

Please note - I am not talking about the obvious stuff, like rape, etc.

God, you really don't want to know if you don't believe her. It's just so much more prevalent than people realize.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Yea - but your concept of abuse is likely not most peoples. At least that is what I have gathered from past conversations.

So, define abuse when you haul out those stats.

Please note - I am not talking about the obvious stuff, like rape, etc.

the abuse I am talking about is sexual abuse by a parent of his/her child or step child (or some other familial tie). you know that.