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November 04, 2009
Angry
I woke up angry and depressed this morning. That's because I went to bed with No on 1 in Maine trailing by a few thousand votes with 60% reporting; I woke up to find it had lost. With yesterday's vote, Maine has repealed a law passed earlier this year allowing same-sex marriage. Goddammit. It's a deep disappointment.
Here's me and Shep this morning:
Shep (11:04:10 AM): too many bummers
Shep (11:04:42 AM): like, what is going on?
Shep (11:04:47 AM): these people are so terrified of obama
Shep (11:04:54 AM): and shifting culture
Shep (11:04:59 AM): but do they outnumber us?
caps (11:05:49 AM): it's not obama
caps (11:06:04 AM): exit polls in NJ, VA show it's not obama
caps (11:06:08 AM): it's a couple of things:
caps (11:06:17 AM): (1) the economy
caps (11:06:34 AM): in VA & NJ, unemployment ruled the day
caps (11:06:41 AM): it will have a political cost for all incumbents
caps (11:06:46 AM): see Bloomberg, even
caps (11:06:58 AM): when the economy's bad, people want to throw the bums out, whomever they are
caps (11:07:03 AM): that should be Obama's #1 worry
caps (11:07:16 AM): and as far as Maine is concerned, well, that's the true bummer
caps (11:07:27 AM): it's old folks, religious folks, and voter turnout
caps (11:07:32 AM): I am shocked by it, frankly
Shep (11:08:53 AM): i know
Shep (11:08:58 AM): maine i mean
Shep (11:09:13 AM): god it's all just so disappointing
Shep (11:09:21 AM): i thought we were moving forward
Shep (11:09:38 AM): delusional i guess
Shep (11:09:40 AM): too much hope
caps (11:09:54 AM): no, it will happen
caps (11:10:01 AM): it just doesn't happen easily, or all at once
caps (11:10:18 AM): if you had put desegregation up to a popular referendum in 1957 Alabama, it would have been a landslide
caps (11:10:33 AM): you can lead the fuckers to water, but with referendums, you can't make them drink
For a really compelling take on last night in Maine, check out my friend Mara's reaction after having to cover the "Yes On 1" victory party.
Ta-Nehisi Coates' response is also characteristically thoughtful and necessary, and I encourage you to check it out in full.
Posted by caps at November 4, 2009 11:34 AM