Election Day Aftermath

[NUPE4LIFE]

Well the election is over, and now the Republicans have control of both the House and Senate. How does this make you feel?



This upsets me big time. There's no balance of power in Washington right now. Now, the Republican agenda is gonna get pushed through. I mean I know this is the political process in America, so I guess this is what the American people wanted. I think that this whole post 9/11 America we live in had a lot to do with it. But c'mon we have tons of issues domestically that we need to deal with. I have to hand it to the Republicans though, they used this War on Terror to campaign and win. Now they will be able to push their domestic policy in on the backside, which they were really hoping for. I'm feeled with such dissapointed right now. I did my part by voting, that's all I could do I guess. It's just worst for me, cause I live in Florida where Jeb will be serving consecutive terms as our "illustrious" Govenor. Sorry for ranting.

[gamma_girl52]

Originally posted by 12dn94dst
results of the two "big" races in GA:

Sonny Perdue (R) defeated Roy Barnes (D) in the Govenor's race.
Saxby Chambliss (R) now holds the Senate seat Max Cleland (D) had.

It's been reported that on Sonny's list of things to is a referrendum to return the GA state flag to was it was (see top of: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5201/georgia.htm).

I'm also a little hot that Barnes did not win another term, however more than a few people were definitely NOT happy with Barnes, especially teachers and state workers from what I'm hearing. It's all good. Perdue still has to deal with Democrats at the Capital (Mark Taylor as Lt. Govenor as well as a Democratic Legislature). But it still sucks. Of course I voted for the guy who helped me get into college!

[Eclipse]

I feel ya Nupe. I worked extra late last night, and when I got home hubby was on the couch watching an old AMC movies. When I tried to turn it to election coverage he said "no, I just can bear to watch it anymore." He was extra sad because after flying in from a trip he broke all kinds of traffic laws to get to the polling place in time and when he got there at 7:06 they told him it was too late. Of course his one vote would not swing things, but still. Georgia elected it's first Republican governor since Reconstruction (when Republican was a good thing) and defeated an incumbent Democratic senator. Even the Georgia Speaker of the house, a good ol' boy who's been in office for 40 something years lost to his Republican challenger. It will definately be interesting. Folks tell me and my husband that we should be Republicans based on our demographics (professional, DINKS, Christian, etc. ) but I just can't sell my folks out for a few extra dollars.

Oh...and one of the first things Governor elect Purdue (his first name is Sonny ) wants to do is have a referendum (sp?) on the GA flag that soon to be former governor Barnes changed from the confederate battle flag to a more inclusive flag last year. He wants to let the "people" decide.

Call me cynical, but if we waited to let the "people" decided my family would probably still be living on Masta Strickland's place in Newnan, GA.

[Exquisite5]

I am sad, but that much more ready to go to law school so I can start affecting change. The countdown to next fall continues.

The republicans controlling the house, sentte, white house and supreme court sucks, but maybe in two years OUR folk will be inspired to VOTE b/c of this and we will TAKE back the White House (which is rightfully ours anyway).

[CrimsonTide4]

Black turnout examined after Democrat losses in South
11/06/2002 11:02 PM EDT

(AP) - Low black voter turnout helped Republicans take surprisingly easy victories in key Southern states, say political observers, who suggest Democratic overtures to blacks may have been too little, too late.

Black voter drives by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and former President Clinton on the final weekend before Florida's gubernatorial election failed to keep Gov. Jeb Bush from winning another term.

In Georgia, where the county with the most blacks saw 13,000 fewer voters than four years earlier, Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes and Sen. Max Cleland both lost to lesser-known Republican challengers.

The GOP also wrested control of the governor's offices in South Carolina and Alabama. And the Republicans held on to four open Southern seats in the Senate.

"How can this happen?" asked University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock. "One of two ways: Either, one, blacks didn't turn out. Or, two, blacks were voting Republican. I think blacks not turning out is more likely."

Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who was defeated in this year's Democratic primary in Georgia, said Tuesday's "stunning general election debacle" shows that the Democrats failed to value their traditional black base.

"While the national pundits postulate on the reasons why minority voters didn't turn out, minority voters themselves know the truth," she said. "For generations, the Democratic Party has taken the minority vote for granted."

McKinney said black voters delivered victories for both Barnes and Cleland in their last elections, "but these two stunning victories failed to see sufficient returns for blacks in Georgia."

As she shopped outside a suburban Atlanta grocery store Wednesday, 41-year-old Beverly Lee said she didn't vote because she never believed Democrats were in serious trouble.

"Now I wish I had voted," she said. "I had no idea it would turn out like this."

Because of the lack of exit poll data, it is not yet clear exactly how big a factor the black vote was. But there was anecdotal evidence in several states.

Henry Crespo, president of the Miami-Dade Democratic Black Caucus, said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride failed to connect with black voters in South Florida, despite the backing of some key local leaders.

"Clearly, what he did was go to a couple of chiefs to get their approval and expect us to come out and vote for him with a promise for a pie when historically we only get crumbs," Crespo said. "The black electorate is smarter than that."

In South Carolina, Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges' campaign estimated it fell several percentage points below the 30 percent black vote it needed for victory. In a quick survey of the five most heavily black counties in South Carolina, the activist group Palmetto Project estimated that Hodges lost 11 percent of the black vote he had in 1998, executive director Steve Skardon said.

Combined with white "aginners" - those who are against whoever happens to be in office at the time - that was enough to cost Hodges the election, Skardon said.

While the Democrats won a Senate seat in Arkansas and the Tennessee governor's mansion, the rest of the South was a Republican romp. The Republicans held on to open Republican Senate seats in Tennessee, Texas and the Carolinas. In North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole won Jesse Helms' seat by a 9-point margin.

A recent poll by the Washington-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that younger black adults are increasingly more politically independent and less likely to identify themselves as members of the Democratic Party. But without detailed voter data, center pollster David Bositis was not ready to read much into Tuesday's election.

"OK, Georgia, it's true the Democrats lost the governor and Senate, but they won lieutenant governor," he said. "Two black candidates running statewide - attorney general and commissioner of labor - won. The Democrats picked up two seats in the (U.S.) House. That points to things being ambiguous."

Bob Holmes, director of the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy at Clark Atlanta University, said it was premature to lay the Democratic losses at the feet of the black voter.

"The biggest difference was the continued trend and defection of white Democrats to the Republican Party, and also the growth of Republicans," said Holmes, who is black. "We did our thing."

Even though I am furious that the Republicans have taken over, I am not mad at them. They did what they had to do, and they came out on top. Those who are supportive of the Democratic party, but still chose not to vote, have nobody to blame, but themselves. It angers me, because everyday, I hear people (especially black people) still saying that their vote won't make a difference. I know so many people who did not go vote, but they're the ones who are now complaining that the Republicans are in control. It just really angers me.

[12dn94dst]

from www.wsbtv.com:

Perdue Tries to Get Democrats to Switch, Not Fight

Channel 2 has learned that at least four Democrats are being courted by Republican Gov.-Elect Sonny Perdue to switch parties to shift the balance of power and swing partisan politics.

In a stunning GOP takeover of Georgia politics, Perdue unseated Democractic Gov. Roy Barnes. Saxby Chambliss overpowered Senator Max Cleland. Kathy Cox took the office vacated by Linda Schrenko. And Republican Bill Heath unseated the longest running Speaker of the House, Tom Murphy. Murphy became a member of the State House the year Bill Heath was born.

[Love_Spell_6]

Bush has won re-relection: White House


Wednesday, 03 November , 2004, 17:10

Washington: George W Bush today appeared all set for a second term as US President after remaining locked in a bitterly-fought close elections with his Democratic rival John Kerry. But the final verdict hinges on the state of Ohio where the Democrats were planning a legal challenge.

George W Bush Republican 254 57,220,248 51.0
John Kerry Democrat 252 53,582,115 48.0
Ralph Nader Independent 0 376,728 0

The official result may not be out for another 10 days because of a delayed counting procedure in Ohio where Democrats want every vote to be counted.

Both sides are considering sending legal teams to the state, already the scene of lawsuits over provisional ballots.

With Kerry refusing to concede defeat, Bush, who won 28 of the 50 states for 254 electoral votes and was leading in three states, laid claim to the 20 votes of Ohio, which has emerged as this elections Florida, delaying the verdict because of provisional ballots.

Claiming victory in the elections, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card said the President has "statistically insurmountable" number of votes in Ohio and has won the re-election by a "decisive margin."

"We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at least 286 electoral college votes, and he also had a margin of a three-and-a-half million popular votes," he said.

http://sify.com/news_info/fullstory.php?id=13603923

[DIVA1177]

I hope BUsh is not relying on that popular vote margin. HE should know pretty damn well that you don't HAVE to win the popular vote to be President.

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by DIVA1177
I hope BUsh is not relying on that popular vote margin. HE should know pretty damn well that you don't HAVE to win the popular vote to be President.

It will be interesting to see all those people that stood so firm by the popular vote in 2000 for Gore..how they react to Bush's historic win.

FYI..even Clinton never got a majority of a vote..only a plurality..this is history in the making.

[kiml122]

Bush got the highest popular vote in history, and you know who got the 2nd highest.....Kerry...how crazy is that.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6
It will be interesting to see all those people that stood so firm by the popular vote in 2000 for Gore..how they react to Bush's historic win.

FYI..even Clinton never got a majority of a vote..only a plurality..this is history in the making.

According to Carlos Watson it has only been four elections since the presidential candidate got a majority vote. (Because of strong third parties.) Before then it was the norm so it isn't that historical.

Its not like he won with 75 percent of the vote. Now that would be historical. And he is the incumbent. So this should be more like a "whew" we survived this challenge.

ETA: I still believe that whoever wins the popular vote should win the presidency and if that person is W, then so be it.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by kiml122
Bush got the highest popular vote in history, and you know who got the 2nd highest.....Kerry...how crazy is that.

I assume you mean in raw numbers, not percentages. I suspect it is because of the turnout.

[Steeltrap]

Associated Press reports that Kerry conceded to Gorgie Boosh.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Associated Press reports that Kerry conceded to Gorgie Boosh.

I'm moving out of the country, seriously.