Openly political - important vote against discrimination

[doctork]

We usually stay away from partisan politics here, but as sometimes happens, I cannot always keep my mouth shut or keyboard untyped.

There is a very important race in Alabama for the only open US Senate seat this year, a special election on December 12 for the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he was appointed as AG by President Trump. Because it is an off-season election in the midst of the busy holiday season, there is a real chance that Doug Jones, the Democratic candidate, could upset the Republican candidate Roy Moore.

Roy Moore is so bad that most Alabamans don't like him, and even Trump campaigned for his opponent Luther Strange in the primary. Moore believes that same sex marriage is worse than slavery. He was twice kicked off the Alabama Supreme Court for defying the SCOTUS - once for refusing to remove a stone monument to the Ten Commandments from the public courthouse, and once for refusing to issue marriage licenses for same sex marriages, also in defiance of the US Supreme Court. [Please note, I think we would all be better off if people paid more attention to those 10 commandments (especially maybe that "love your neighbor" part), but law enforcement authorities should enforce what the court says is the law.]

Doug Jones is a civil rights champion who, among other achievements, successfully prosecuted the KKK members who bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing 4 little girls. He is currently in a statistical tie in his campaign against Moore, and the winner will be determined by who gets out the most votes, since the timing means overall turnout is likely to be low.

I committed to a weekly donation from now until December 12th.  Any amount you donate will mean a lot. Share with friends!  Here's the website:

dougjonesforsenate.com/

[gailkate]

I think the "love thy neighbor" part was one of Jesus's 2 greatest commandments. The 10 are pretty important, too, although more time is spent on not coveting than on being loving. After all, property was primary, be it a neighbor's wife or donkey. In fact, they're mostly nots and people mostly ignore the inconvenient ones. I'll bet Judge Moore shops, drinks beer and plays golf on Sundays and lies seven days a week. He's got meanness written all over him.

So I sent some money to Jones.  Is it pure meanness of me to wish he didn't look like a late-night used car huckster?

[doctork]

Yep, you're right about "love thy neighbor" but I think if Moore is so enthusiastic about melding (Christian) religious beliefs and public property, he also endorses the concept of "love thy neighbor." He seems to have some difficulty with walking that walk though.

I don't care what Jones looks like (though I wouldn't disagree with you), I just think of those numerous important senate votes that come out 50 - 50 and Pence comes in to break the tie so it goes in favor of the Republicans in search of a theocracy for the US, and the perpetuation of extreme right wing views. If Jones were to replace Sessions, outcomes could be very different. We have critical issues pending such as tax reform, health insurance, immigration, national debt, Russian influence on our elections, and others. I would like to see moderate bipartisan solutions, not RWN extreme legislation (or crazy left wing proposals either, though likelihood of such seems very slim).

[doctork]

This special election has really blown up!! Judge Moore has suddenly grabbed all the headlines. Seems has had an unhealthy interest in young girls. What is it with these "family values conservatives" whose private and personal values are a little ... different.

The talking heads and the "mainstream Republicans," and even some Democrats are worried that they just might possibly lost this seat to a Democrat! Where are the independents and Democrats who should be saying "Hey, that's not a bad thing! Doug Jones is experienced, well-qualified, and a civil rights hero to boot."

And Roy Moore believes homosexuality should be illegal and the First Amendment applies only to Christians. Also, he thinks states should not have to obey the US Supreme Court.

[joew]

As a (rather disillusioned) Republican (who may be about to switch to American Solidarity) I find myself hoping that Moore gets elected and gets expelled, and then a decent Republican gets elected to fill the seat.

[doctork]

Somehow it seems unlikely that Moore would ever be expelled, as that would require that a 2/3 majority of Republicans and Democrats would vote to do so. The ripple effect of that would be large, as there has been notable silence from the White House, the Clintons, etc. Not to mention Al Franken, who is being castigated for apologizing for his bad behavior, in comparison to those who say "It's all lies, all fake news."

There are no good guys, or good women, inside the Beltway any more (maybe with a very few exceptions - such as John Lewis and Doug Jones if he is elected). Maybe a few in state capitols or on city councils. Maybe not. Very discouraging.

[BoatBabe]

Oh, I disagree! There are Good Guys out there. They are the ones who are quietly working for the common good, without fanfare or grand-standing, making sure we have the systems we've decided we need: roads, lights, water, sewers, safe communities, etc., etc.

It's just that those stories are boring: quietly effective, and boring governance.

[doctork]

You are right BoatBabe - but most of those good guys are not inside the beltway, probably not even in the state capitols. But maybe some are, just not the ones getting the attention. Anyway, I hope you are right.

[BoatBabe]

Nov 20, 2017 14:59:05 GMT -5 doctork said:

You are right BoatBabe - but most of those good guys are not inside the beltway, probably not even in the state capitols. But maybe some are, just not the ones getting the attention. Anyway, I hope you are right.

Some may call me a Polly Anna, but I can't focus only on the plethora of crap floating around. It's too debilitating for me. I search out the Feel Good Stories, and isn't it interesting that all of the news programs we watch are seeking out the Feel Good Stories, too.

[Jane]

I've sent a bit of money to Jones as well. And I will continue to immerse myself in escapism (with the occasional foray out for activism until the scourge passes from the land).

[BoatBabe]

Scourge, indeed, Jane!!

[gailkate]

That's a very good way to look at it. Like locusts, devouring everything in their path.

[doctork]

As Thomas said earlier "We'll get through this."

The film "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940) has always been one of my favorites, and two scenes are always in my mind in times of trouble.

First is the scene where Tom Joad tells Ma that he is leaving; she is upset:

Tom: Then it don't matter. I'll be all around in the dark. I'll be ever'-where - wherever you can look. Wherever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad - I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise, and livin' in the houses they build - I'll be there, too.

And then the final scene, where Ma and Pa are talking; he is feeling like giving up but Ma is confident that they can go on - because "We're the people."

Pa: Well, maybe, but we sure taken a beatin'.
Ma: I know. That's what makes us tough. Rich fellas come up an' they die an' their kids ain't no good, an' they die out. But we keep a-comin'. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out. They can't lick us. And we'll go on forever, Pa... 'cause... we're the people.


Sometimes in a horror movie, I am so scared that I just can't bear to look so I cover up my eyes. But in the end, I know it will be OK. Ma Joad is right. Times are bad now but the founding fathers and the Constitution and Bill of Rights signified the start of something new and good, and it will continue. The Union has survived the Civil War, two World Wars, and we didn't have a constitutional crisis over the controversial results of the 2000 election. We'll go on, because most of us are good people and "They can't wipe us out."

Hang in there.

[BoatBabe]

Good pep talk, Doc! Thanks for that. It's just what I needed to hear this morning, and I'm glad you said it so well.

[Jane]

It's going to take a long time to restore democracy. I have great hope for the 2018 elections. That's the only thing that keeps me from taking to my bed with the covers over my head.

[doctork]

VICTORY!!!

I am shedding a few tears of joy. The Democratic civil rights hero has beaten the bigoted racist Republican in Alabama!

Even here on the ship, with lots of non-Americans aboard, so many are thrilled.

[gailkate]

Oh, my, I didn't know you'd be able to watch on the ship. I'm so technologically challenged.
Yes, it's a mighty win - not nearly enough, but a start. As my mother often warned us, "Don't get cocky." Especially since white voters - and white women! - were willing to vote for him in spite of everything. Facebook is full of the perfect justice of Selma bringing in the winning votes.

[Jane]

Selma confirming the win sounds like a great scene in a movie!

[BoatBabe]

Dec 13, 2017 9:12:00 GMT -5 Jane said:

Selma confirming the win sounds like a great scene in a movie!

Indeedy.


Whew! I promise not to get cocky, but it feels like the first deep breath in about 13 months.

[doctork]

I am not at all cocky, just ecstatic to have a positive result, and there couldn't be a better or more meaningful victory than Jones over Moore. I didn't see the part about Selma, but that is icing on the cake.

I'll dwell on the positive - it is incredible that Doug Jones, the Democratic candidate, won a victory over the Republican in a deeply red state like Alabama. His victory is as surprising as the fact that Trump won. And Moore almost won for many of the same reasons as Trump - his base is convinced he can do no wrong, they don't care what he has done. Or they don't believe the accusations. Anyway, it's a good sign that politics are evolving such that finally an honest guy, a civil rights hero, can defeat an ignorant racist.

On this ship we have a number of channels on the ship TV - MSNBC, Fox, BBC and CNBC. Also several versions of ESPN, a channel that repeats popular performances, a Princess promotion channel with information about their cruises, and a movie channel.