I want to try to draw some cohesive analysis from the election results, but it’s so difficult. I’m just going to post some things that come across my radar that I responded to.
Folks talking about voting for McKinney/Clemente made me think long and hard about third party candidates. I was so sick of hearing people talk about how Green Party voters were spoilers in the 2000 election, and am glad that I felt good about a major party candidate this time around. Still, it leaves me asking, would it be better to have a presdent whose ideas I feel better about, or a president whose ideas I can largely identify with (though strongly disagree with also) and lots of other people can feel secure and energized by, thus creating a different context to the work I want to do to see the world change towards a more just place?
Lots of people who aren’t in the U.S. seem stoked about the Obama victory. Chiara’s mom stayed up late across time zones to follow the election and was excited at the end. I saw this message on a community informatics mailing list that I subscribe to:
I want to try to draw some cohesive analysis from the election results, but it’s so difficult. I’m just going to post some things that come across my radar that I responded to.
Folks talking about voting for McKinney/Clemente made me think long and hard about third party candidates. I was so sick of hearing people talk about how Green Party voters were spoilers in the 2000 election, and am glad that I felt good about a major party candidate this time around. Still, it leaves me asking, would it be better to have a presdent whose ideas I feel better about, or a president whose ideas I can largely identify with (though strongly disagree with also) and lots of other people can feel secure and energized by, thus creating a different context to the work I want to do to see the world change towards a more just place?
Lots of people who aren’t in the U.S. seem stoked about the Obama victory. Chiara’s mom stayed up late across time zones to follow the election and was excited at the end. I saw this message on a community informatics mailing list that I subscribe to:
Dear Global colleagues
This is an excellent idea. Obama is no more just the President of America. He is the nucleus of hopes for the global citizens. I feel he can give a very nice shape to the whole world – a place for living for everybody. Technology has has brought the globe on his palm and he
will surely utilize his knowledge, wisedom, talents, expertise, experience and skills for the people of the world (who love him)
irrespetive of sex, race and color.We also enjoyed the election from here in-Bangladesh in south Asia. We expect that Obama will create a better and peaceful world forcus.
Lutfor
Bangladesh
I too am excited that a U.S. leader is talking about global cooperation and collaboration and support instead of just confrontation. We’ve seen capital become globalized, maybe there’s hope for globalized accountability.
Finally, the local elections have implications too. Lauren Taylor wrote this about the implications of the county government races for the proposed new jail:
So in case y’all didn’t hear or see it already, the Democrats swept
the local elections, with more than a little help from Obama
supporters who turned out in record numbers. In relation to the jail
and juvenile facility issues, that means that:County Commissioners (the three person triumvirate that serves as the
executive branch of the county, implements policy)
Two of the three commissioner seats were up for election, the third
seat stays with Republican Pat Stoffers (R).
– Iris Kiesling (D) is a big supporter of a new jail and juvenile
facility. She was re-elected with 61.4% of the vote.
– and Mark Stoops (D) opposes the expansion of the jail though
supports a juvenile treatment facility. Won with 62% of the vote.County Council (holds the purse, decides whether or not to fund things)
Three at large seats were up for grabs. There are seven total council
members at any given time.
– Julie Thomas (D) got the most votes, and will join the council. She
opposes the jail and supports a juvenile treatment facility.
– Warren Henegar (D) was second, and was re-elected to the county
council. He supports both the jail and juvenile facility.
– Geoff McKim (D) was third, and will also join the council. He
conditionally supports the jail – wants only more space for
programming and improved conditions, NOT for more beds. Also supports
a juvenile facility.so yeah, best possible results from local elections, i believe.
~lauren