Election Day Thread

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

There is none of the excitement or unbridled joy I felt in 2008, but it is almost better this time around. Without tons of flash or drama or Sarah Palin, we still got it right. That is a whole different kind of hope.

Got it right? So almost half of the country was wrong? I can accept that your candidate won, but I don't think that makes the other side wrong.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I can accept that our President won, but I don't think that makes the other side wrong.

FYP

I'll be happy when this hype dies down.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

Thank you GeorgiaGreek. I keep banging that drum, and no one seems to get it. We're in a republic, people.

My then-14-year-old from the back of the car one night last spring: "You know, nobody understands how our government works. They think we have a democracy, and that's just wrong. If we had a democracy, everybody would get a vote on everything."

"So what kind of government do we have?," I asked.

"A republic," he answered. "A federal, democratic republic. A constitutional, federal, democratic republic."

My = very proud.


On a different topic, I highly recommend listening to this past weekend's This American Life: Red State Blue State. The blurb:

Everyone knows that politics is now so divided in our country that not only do the 2 sides disagree on the solutions to the country’s problems, they don’t even agree on what the problems are. It’s 2 versions of the world in collision. This week we hear from people who’ve seen this infect their personal lives. They’ve lost friends. They’ve become estranged from family members.

There's also an interesting story on polarization and the squeeze on the middle (as much between Republicans as between Republicans and Democrats) in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

[adpimiz]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Got it right? So almost half of the country was wrong? I can accept that your candidate won, but I don't think that makes the other side wrong.

Agreed.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

What exactly was the marijuna resolution? Was it just that it wasn't illegal according to the state of Washington anymore? Because the federal laws are still on the books.

Washington and Colorado legalized the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Lawsuits from the DoJ to block the laws should start heading west in 3...2...1....

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

FYP

Not surprising that freedom of expression is suppressed here.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Washington and Colorado legalized the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Lawsuits from the DoJ to block the laws should start heading west in 3...2...1....

That was what I said last night. "I wonder how long till they block it?"
Also, how did Colorado legalize marijuana before Oregon?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Not surprising that freedom of expression is suppressed here.

Yep. That's exactly what I did.

[Shellfish]

Was there really rioting at Ole Miss last night?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Got it right? So almost half of the country was wrong? I can accept that your candidate won, but I don't think that makes the other side wrong.

Wow, touchy much? I don't know where I said anything about Obama. I didn't even vote for him, and as I said upthread, I don't perceive that much difference in how their administrations would play out (especially because the dems held the senate and the GOP held the house).

When it comes to voting for marriage equality, voting for the women's rights, voting for rape apologists, etc., there is a right and a wrong. For the most part, the American people got it right:

[cheerfulgreek]

I don't agree with all of Obama's decisions, but I'm glad he won because I just didn't trust Romney enough to lead this country.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Washington and Colorado legalized the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Lawsuits from the DoJ to block the laws should start heading west in 3...2...1....

Really? Doesn't the administration have the power to tell the DoJ to stand down? There's a lot of speculation that Obama may do this, now that he is a second-termer.

[DubaiSis]

There are an unending list of law-breakers out there. The feds have to choose their priorities every day. And all of the states that allow it for medical use are in conflict with federal law, but the DOJ was ordered to stand down on that issue. How about focusing on illegal immigration, drug smuggling, drunk driving, and jaywalkers and quit worrying about recreational pot use.

For my part, I'm happy has a clam about the outcome, although I wish Steve King and Michele Bachmann had been ousted, and I hope the president uses the next few months to kick ass and take names and cram some changes down the throats of the obstructionists. It won't be pretty, but it's probably the only way the things both sides want done (but won't agree to because of politics) can happen. And if it's done now some of it will be forgotten by the next election day.

And I hope to get involved with www.nolabels.org and want to really start pushing for these brilliant ideas to get enacted.

But to those of you who feel like the end of the world is nigh, trust me, you'll be fine. After Bush was elected the first time I made it my life's mission to make sure he wasn't re-elected. And then he won again. And the sun came up the next day and life went on. My suggestion is start kicking and screaming to get religion out of your party so you can focus on the economic issues that have always been the backbone of Republicanism. I'm convinced I'd have been on the losing end of this election but for the (my favorite phrase from last night) whackadoodle caucus of the Republican party. I am confident that the majority of Republicans are not crazy, but sane will lose if crazy is allowed to keep controlling the conversation.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Really? Doesn't the administration have the power to tell the DoJ to stand down? There's a lot of speculation that Obama may do this, now that he is a second-termer.

Obama has a history of backing Holder big time and Holder has stated before that his DoJ is not ok with the legalization of marijuana and will go after states that do legalize it for recreational purposes. From a law enforcement prospective, these laws will create some major problems since MJ is still considered an illegal substance by the Fed Gov and in all of the other states.

How will law enforcement stop someone from obtaining 20lbs of MJ in Vancouver, WA and just driving south to Portland, OR and selling it on the streets? Or better yet, someone who's from CO drives down for a weekend in Santa Fe and gets pulled over by NM state trooper with a bag of MJ?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

What exactly was the marijuna resolution? Was it just that it wasn't illegal according to the state of Washington anymore? Because the federal laws are still on the books.

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Washington and Colorado legalized the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Lawsuits from the DoJ to block the laws should start heading west in 3...2...1....

Full text of the law here: https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/e...plete_text.pdf

Or, to read the summary from the voters pamphlet, here (it's Initiative Measure 502 on the left): https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/e...ers-Guide.aspx

Washington voted to legalize, regulate and tax the sale of marijuana for adults 21+ just as we do alcohol. Stores will be able to apply for licenses to sell it, citizens and companies can apply to grow and produce it, the product itself will be tested for quality standards (no joke), and sales will be taxed. No use in public allowed, no DUI allowed, and the law permits blood testing if pulled over for suspicion of DUI.

Our state already has marijuana as the least priority of law enforcement, and even though marijuana is illegal to the feds, we've had medical marijuana here for a couple of years. Not a single law enforcement agency came out against this Initiative, and in fact TWO former U.S. Attorneys based in Seattle were key supporters, among many other people. Last night on TV, Rick Steves - he of globetrotting fame - was interviewed by TV news from the Pro party. It has a ton of support here, from suburban families to politicians to lawyers to law enforcement.

The Justice Department may decide to sue. Many would say that was one of the intentions of passing this bill - baiting the feds into changing the classification of marijuana. But without suing, the feds will have a hard time forcing their hand - it's not like the FBI is going to be pulling people over and busting into homes with 5 plants. If that starts happening, they'll have a PR crisis on their hands.