US Election 2012

To all my American friends,

Congratulations on voting for sanity and rationality over religious fundamentalism and the utter craziness that was being sold by some (definitely not all) members of the Republican Party.

After a "legitimate election" it was refreshing to see that in Missouri, the electorate came out and found a way to shut that whole (Republican misogyny and bigotry) thing down.  Yes, Todd Akin was thrown out and replaced by... wait for it... a WOMAN!  Yes, Claire McCaskill took the seat once occupied by the person so biologically illiterate he thinks there's a fairy living in a woman's uterus that will be invoked after a "legitimate rape" to deny possibility of implantation of a fertilized egg.  (OK, so he doesn't quite think that, but come on - what he *does* think isn't that far removed from that scenario, now, is it?)

Richard Mourdock was vying for election as a Republican Indiana Senator.  This is the man who when asked about his thoughts on whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest, said "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God.  And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."  Somehow he didn't get enough votes to represent Indiana.

In Wisconsin, Republican Roger "some girls rape easy" Rivard lost his seat to the Democrat, Stephen Smith.  To make it even more interesting, Wisconsin elected Tammy Baldwin to be the nation's first ex-mormon, bisexual atheist in the Senate.  She is also Wisconsin's first female Senator.

In Illinois, Republican Joe Walsh lost his bid for re-election as Democrat Tammy Duckworth was elected to that seat.  Joe Walsh replied to a question about whether a woman should be allowed an abortion if her life was at risk with "There is no such exception. With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance."  At least Illinois women now stand a chance.

New Hampshire elected the nation’s first all-female delegation.

Mark Takano became the first Asian-American, openly gay member of Congress.

Maine and Maryland held a referendum during this election and both voted to legalize gay marriage.

Colorado and Washington voted to legalize recreational marijuana usage.  Massachusetts voted to eliminate State civil and criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana.  Montana voted to impose tighter restrictions on the use, cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana.

After this election, there are now at least 19 female US Senators and at least 6 LGBT members of Congress.

It seems that the tide is turning - women are starting to get fairer representation in the US government.  They do, after all, make up around 50% of the population.  The LGBT community is getting representation, too, which is good to see.  Equality, after all, should apply to all people... equally.

The ridiculous statements from the Tea Party and Republican members about rape, homosexuality and women have been dealt much of the death blow they deserved.  There's still some way to go to have the influence that the fundamentalist far right brought into the cold light of rationality, but some quite large steps have been taken.

It also looks like the Republican members of Congress have now realised that Obama's first term wasn't given to him by the voters as a simple backlash against the lunacy of the "Dubya Gov'ment" but because Americans truly wanted to see some change.  The first term of the Obama was stifled, stopped and subverted by the actions of the Republicans at ever possible point.  Still the people voted for the Democrats as they saw through what had happened.  The US Congress should now be allowed to do what it was voted in for - to govern the people of America, not to have the opposition play silly political power games which stifle the recovery and growth of the country.

Mitt Romney stood under a banner that read "Believe In America" when he publicly conceded defeat in Boston.  I think his wish was answered - the American people showed how much they believe in America by re-electing Obama and showing Romney that despite his money, he was not wanted.

You can't tell 47% of your population to go and fuck themselves and then expect them to vote your party in.  Romney now sees this truth.

So, with that I congratulate the Obama government on being given a second term and I truly hope that the Republicans let the Democrats govern the country properly this time.  It can only get better from here if reforms are put in place to ensure the banking industry is not left to run things on their own and people are started to be treated equally.  Secular policies and politics is the only fair way to govern and to ensure everyone has the right to their personal religious freedom.  Freedom of religion should not ever be able to force one's religious beliefs (or lack thereof) on another person.  Fair government should be able to govern without religious influence over their policies.



Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie