Mid-Term Blues, Unless You're in a Blue State

Sometimes it's easy for me to forget that most of the rest of the country is nothing like Massachusetts. Last night, like many people all across the nation, I sat and watched as the election results came trickling in. And, lo and behold, everyone I voted for got in. We reelected Governor Deval Patrick and Representative Barney Frank, among others. We shot down a foolhardy ballot question suggesting that we roll back our sales tax by 3%. And everything is hunky-dory here, as usual (not always, but usually).

But throughout the country, the news was not as rosy. Voters elected politicians who would like to scrap health care, extend tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, fight Obama on everything he proposes just because he proposed it, and tell courageous and loyal soldiers that they can no longer risk their lives for our country's security because they happen to have been born gay. And more.

I think it's perfectly OK to have debates and even arguments about policy issues. That's the whole point. But filibustering does not constitute debate, and the increasing influence of the right-wing Christians ("Tea Party" my ass) scares the heck out of me.

In many ways I think this mid-term election will end up being a good thing for the Democrats' chances in 2012; as Twitter pal @ascottwhite quipped last night, "We're tired of change. We want something else now." Obama et al. will be right there to deliver it in two years, when everyone's grown weary of this latest nonsense.

P.S. For further reading, from an economic standpoint, I recommend "How Obama Saved Capitalism and Lost the Midterms."

Comments

[Seth Lipkin]

I read your linked article just before you posted it. Exactly. If GM and all the banks had just *failed*? Carnage. Heck, as a Toyota shareholder, I wouldn't have hated to see GM go away, but as an American, I knew the costs of such a thing.

[Elena]

We need to look for silver linings where we can. I, for one, shouted for joy when I learned that Sharron Angle had been defeated. And as a Connecticut voter, I was particularly glad that my state rejected Linda McMahon and her nasty, overbearing campaign. But it is pretty disheartening that the "party of no" got rewarded for standing in the way of making any progress on the economy or anything else over the past two years.

[Margaret]

I THOUGHT I lived in a blue state or at least in a blue half(western part) but that isn't demonstrated by the crazy people and initiatives that people voted for. Maybe I need to move.

[Susan]

I'm with Elena. SO happy Sharron Angle will not be representing my state. Whew.

[Tonya Watkins]

I really do believe the idiocy of this election will bode well for Obama in 2012. OK, I HOPE it will.

[Margaret]

Here's the nutcase that my district just elected. Even my Libertarian husband didn't vote for him!
http://zeigerzingers.com/index.html

Read what he's written at the peril of possible high blood pressure or anger attacks.

[Sharon]

I found myself wishing I did live in Massachusetts on Tuesday night. But I think you are right, let the current situation play itself out. 2012 will be a different story.

[Steve]

Thank you for your rational voice. I needed it today. Ugh.

[Kate]

Love it! I'm pretty proud of my state - we elected a democratic governor (John Hickenlooper, who ran the cleanest campaign I've ever seen and is an incredibly interesting guy - can't wait to see what he does) and re-elected our democratic senator Michael Bennett (appointed 2 years ago to fill Ken Salazar's spot). It was a tough battle, but we prevailed! Also happy for Nevada and Delaware.

[Gena @ A Bluebonnet in Beantown]

Yep. I think it's one of the many benefits of moving here from Texas. The fall colors. The public transportation. (And those of you who just snorted in derison, you haven't experienced Texas public transportation). And election results that make one feel buoyed, not in a deep funk. My friends still in Texas were feeling mighty frustrated (although not surprised).

[Supra Shoes]

On the other hand, if you cannot tell, or are not certain, what the writer wants to say, then you will never say this article is good.