And God do I hope it turns out to be one that lands in our favor. Sent my ballot in the mail a few weeks ago so that part was long ago done. Now that you have a taste, join me below the twisted orange angel hair for more.
I'm what I'll describe as nervously, cautiously optimistic about tonight. I believe the polls that for the most part show Obama ahead in the swing states, and don't believe there will be any surprises in any states assumed up to now to be safe for one candidate or another.
What makes me really anxious is the unknown. How much will Republican voter suppression efforts impact not just the Presidential ticket, but down-ballot races and state referendums? All the shenanigans Republicans have pulled are well-documented here and elsewhere. Turnout is the key. There is no excuse for not participating. I still ask how much of our turnout is necessary to stave off the Republican dirty tricks?
I plan on using this site as the way to get together tonight with those of like mind. I love my family, but tonight right-wing Republicans are the last people I want to be around, no matter what the outcome. So I'll hang out with people on here, even if it's just electronic. Tuesday night is normally appointment internet for me - since it's the night that poligirl gives her weekly music diary. I'll understand if she preempts her weekly series tonight but if not, I'll find a way to participate in that too.
Hopefully the next Drinking Liberally get-together will be a joyous occasion, where we celebrate a win. Hopefully we'll be able to rejoice that Amendment 64 in Colorado passed, that Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis held on to their seats, that Joe Miklosi ousted Mike Coffman, and that Democrats made gains in the state legislature.
Assuming an Obama win and us holding the Senate, the first item that should be introduced in January 2013 after Obama is sworn in is a new Voting Rights Act. Introduce it even if we don't make any net gains in the U.S. House, and even if Harry Reid doesn't get filibuster reform through and Republicans in the Senate try to shoot it down. Make it a more prominent part of our national conversation, if nothing else.
I'm not sure that every election law should be uniform across all 50 states down to the most minute detail. But I'm certain that only at the federal level can we solve the problem of 50 states with 50 disparate standards for voting in federal elections (even though just about all of the voter suppression laws passed were hatched by ALEC). This election cycle should once and for all make it clear how deficient our election laws are in dealing with attempts to subvert democracy. With easily hackable electronic voting machines (paper ballots should be mandatory everywhere) - a 21st Century law must be put on the books as soon as possible.
If any of you can point me to efforts or organizations dedicated to strengthening the Voting Rights Act or bringing about a new and improved version altogether, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated. I want to make this one of my main causes.
I'll conclude by posting (randomly) one of my favorite tunes: