To be honest, I think it was the right thing to do. He could have dragged it out, but I think the chances of the ballots coming out in his favor was so small that it would have wasted a hell of a lot of time.
This time Bush actually won, much as I hate it. But he did win, and I think conceding was the right thing to do in the interests of, you know, sanity.
Of course, I also think everyone who voted based on "moral issues" needs to take a long look at why s/h/it decided gay marriage was a bigger moral issue than, say, killing civilians and torturing prisoners.
Agreed. It would have taken hundreds, possibly thousands, of man-hours to sort, in the courts, the polls, and so on. Most of the work is done by people who need to be paid. While it's good to have work these days, in the end it would have been written up as government spending. If it all came to nothing, it would have made a serious black mark on Kerry's record.
I've looked at the numbers from the election, btw, including those on issues that lost (including the same-sex marriage issues). While things didn't change in the obvious political arena, the country is starting to move toward the middle. Margins were narrower than they "should" have been. Even Oklahoma (my state), which is traditionally as conservative as they come, had a 35% turnout for Kerry rather than the more usual 25%.
Change is slow, but it's a-comin'. Every thirty years or so, the winds change, and this move toward ultra-conservatism started around 1980. We're due.
Ooh, Oxford. I married a Brit from the Norfolk/Cambs border, and got to spend two months there. I'm drooling to go back someday.
I can see that. Kinda going the other route myself. The political tide is fascinating, and I've always wanted to rule help the world, so I think I'm going to work to get involved in that. I might never move higher than a senatorial aide or a city councillor, but if I'm lucky... :)
Or I might just go to work for CNN and be a professional smartass. ;)
no subject
Date: Nov. 4th, 2004 12:10 am (UTC)This time Bush actually won, much as I hate it. But he did win, and I think conceding was the right thing to do in the interests of, you know, sanity.
Of course, I also think everyone who voted based on "moral issues" needs to take a long look at why s/h/it decided gay marriage was a bigger moral issue than, say, killing civilians and torturing prisoners.
no subject
Date: Nov. 4th, 2004 01:12 am (UTC)I've looked at the numbers from the election, btw, including those on issues that lost (including the same-sex marriage issues). While things didn't change in the obvious political arena, the country is starting to move toward the middle. Margins were narrower than they "should" have been. Even Oklahoma (my state), which is traditionally as conservative as they come, had a 35% turnout for Kerry rather than the more usual 25%.
Change is slow, but it's a-comin'. Every thirty years or so, the winds change, and this move toward ultra-conservatism started around 1980. We're due.
no subject
Date: Nov. 4th, 2004 01:39 am (UTC)I don't want to run out on my country, but I wouldn't mind watching it from afar for a couple years.
no subject
Date: Nov. 4th, 2004 02:24 am (UTC)I can see that. Kinda going the other route myself. The political tide is fascinating, and I've always wanted to
rulehelp the world, so I think I'm going to work to get involved in that. I might never move higher than a senatorial aide or a city councillor, but if I'm lucky... :)Or I might just go to work for CNN and be a professional smartass. ;)