The Manic Mechanic

After Jeff and I performed our civic duty by voting and had a nice dinner at the local pub, we settled in at home watching the election unfold, hoping for the best. We weren't disappointed.

Maryland voters not only reelected Obama, but they put two very progressive feet forward with the state version of the DREAM Act which allows "illegal" immigrants and others to pay tuition and receive other educational benefits if they meet certain conditions regarding positive efforts towards education, employment and such towards attaining citizenship, and, most amazingly, voting FOR the referred law recognizing same-sex marriage. Finally, the old saw trotted out by anti-gay groups such as NOM, smarmy political groups with "family" in their names, and religious groups where they boast of "Victories" at the ballot box defining marriage as one man and one woman no longer will apply. It was close, but decisively on favor of equality. The legislature had passed marriage equality a while ago, but the usual petition drives poured from church groups and hate orgs to put a referendum to the voters. It backfired. As I write this, it appears that Maine will also enjoy marriage equality thanks to voters as well, and Minnesota and Washington, while not final yet, are tending positive. Regardless, this marks a solid turning point for gay rights, equality and social progress for the US. The current progress overturning DOMA as well as smaller local initiatives present and future will be able to gain a lot of momentum in the next four years.

Maryland finally ousted our version of Jesse Helms, a MD house member Roscoe Bartlett, a 10 term Republican that has been a constant thorn in the side of progress in this state, replaced by a Democrat. There is a lot of social and economic progress to be made in the years ahead, and it should be a lot easier now. I just wish I could say the same for politics on a national level. There is still a framework of gridlock in place, but now that the people have spoken, and it's clear that they are also demanding some serious progress.

I can also live free of the constant bombardment of political ads, signs, robocalls and stumping. What a shite-tonne of audio-visual pollution. It should be quet going into the holiday season ahead.

Despite the setbacks I have experienced recently, I can live a bit happier now, a bit more proud, and more open than ever.

Now, to start making wedding plans...

You know I could not resist doing this...

I'm sitting here watching the various scenes play out on the way to the Inauguration. It's a sea of people, all standing in below-freezing weather. And they are all beaming. I've never seen anything like this. Looking at all of this, I can't help but get a bit choked up. It's history in the making.

When I think of Mom, and how immensely proud and happy she would be to see this, I lose it.

And, as I write this, the television reporters are interviewing random spectators. They are talking to a mother and daughter who came to D.C. from California. They are asking where people are from, and why they decided to attend. The mother said she had recently recovered from cancer treatments and wanted more than anything to see this happen, that it was so important to be there. And I totally lose it.

Here's to the future. Let it be a good one. For everyone.

Having been almost a week since the election, the giddiness of the populace (unless you are an incurable far-righter, in that case, stiff biccies) and the unfortunate shock as the passage of Prop. 8 and other anti-gay referendum seems to be morphing into a real force of change. Yeah, I know it's an over-used word by now, but it fits. The shock and anger at the passage of Proposition 8 has motivated people in a way not seen in decades. Protests against religious involvements in public policy sure does my old heart good, and it's about time. Another wonderful sign of change to come is the involvement of young people. The youth of this country finally feel they have a say in how it is run. There is going to be more of "us" in U.S., and I could not be happier.

The recent events also seem to have run their course through LJ land. The shock turned into complaints, which turned into blaming, which resulted in unfriendings and deleted journals and is now turning into focus and determination. I really like what I see. Let's keep channeling that anger into motivation. I have a feeling a lot of good will come of this.

We voted. No line, no hassles, in and out in less than ten minutes. I'm sure the Diebold machines recorded our votes fair and square. Yeah, right. I had to cram the smart card into the machine twice before it was recognized.



Our polling place is located in the middle of Schooley Mill Park, just up the road from us about two miles away. To get to the park we drive past several large ego houses. All but one were sporting McCain/Palin yard signs. I sure hope these people are in for a lot of disappointment. So much for our part of the state being all open minded and progressive.

It seems that it rains here every time there is an election. This was no different. It was a light rain, but not even a category five hurricane was going to keep us from our civic duty. And that's exactly what it is. If one does not vote, then I should not have to hear one bit of complaining about policy, politicians or anything related. Be a part of the process if you want to benefit by it. Otherwise, quit your fucking bitching.

Now, we wait.

I watched the debate. Or, the question and answer session, as the case may be. Obama did well, but did not always get to the root of some of the questions. I can live with that, especially since McCain was even more evasive. The format sucked IMO, it was not a debate in the classic sense, more of a simple Q&A with predetermined questions.

McCain looked more like a crotchety old man than ever. While he was trying to be engaging, it came off as stiff, contrived and aggravated. The feeling of anger was palpable as usual.

But what really lowered my opinion of McCain considerably (and I was really, really trying to keep an open mind during all of this) was at the end when he flat-out refused to shake Obama's hand. This proved without a doubt that the man is is a spoiled, poor sport and in no way presidential material. He'd be better off retired, sitting in a park and scaring off the pigeons.

And I figured some on my friends list would comment on the that retired CPO. ;)

That was one HELL of a speech, I dont care who ya are.

Can I get a fist-bump on that?