More of the same

Here's Noam Scheiber's breakdown of who voted for whom via The New Republic:

from this morning and my previous post, here's an extremely telling piece of exit polling data from yesterday: Not only did Kerry win by an 86-13 margin among self-described liberals, he also won by a 55-45 margin among self-described moderates. So how'd Bush pull it off? He won 84-15 among self-described conservatives, and, more importantly, he made sure conservatives comprised a much bigger chunk of the electorate than they did in 2000. (Conservatives comprised about 34 percent of the electorate yesterday, versus 29 percent in 2000--a huge shift, raw numbers-wise.) Anyone anticipating a conciliatory second Bush term should stop and consider how much Bush owes his base.

Reaching out? One America? It proved so damn hollow four years ago, and I have to believe it's just as hollow this time around. Bush won this election by getting more of his believers to come out and vote. That was done so by putting anti-gay constitutional amendments on eleven state ballots. I knew this was happening back in the spring when we fought against our own. Had that been on Minnesota's ballot yesterday, we'd have gone scarlet. But Bush does owe his base. Four more years of the same? Yeah, by a factor of four, or six:

Fresh from a string of Election Day triumphs on Tuesday, Republicans eyed a number of targets. They range from putting more anti-abortion judges on the bench and finally winning approval of a comprehensive energy bill to expanded tax cuts and medical liability reform.

Republicans also plan another crack at winning approval of a proposed White House-backed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

"With a bigger majority, we can do even more exciting things," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican, told a local television station in his home state.

Sure, it's depressing. One can only hope that the Democratic Party bleeds quickly and in the right places.

But I think the depression will only last so long. Kerry was no silver bullet. Voting for him was voting in the direction of my ideals, and if he had won, the work would have just begun. I don't think the rest of my twenties will be subsumed under this administration--there's a lot of wiggle room. I am fully aware however that I'll be thirty by the time we vote for another president. Now THAT'S sad.

On election day, Twin Cities music lovers were dealt another blow; the closing of First Avenue and its now uncertain future. Somehow, I have to believe that music worth listening to finds outlets, whether or not its First Avenue. That's how things go...if its worth it, it finds a way to be heard.

Soon, dear readers, soon...we'll return to the REAL issues at stake for me: gay sex, anorexia, celebrities, and making fun of people! I PROMISE.

Posted by jason at November 4, 2024 06:02 PM