An Aid To Memory

Thanks to Brandi for the idea.

Bahrain recently held elections, and Islamists were swept into power, while more liberal and western candidates did poorly. And this is in a country that is our ally!

Does anybody notice a trend in the Middle East? Those countries that have had more open elections, thanks in part to Bush Administration pressure, have elected Islamist and/or hardline candidates? Remember how poorly the secular Iraqi Prime minister the US installed did in Iraq’s election? What about Hamas’ sweeping victory in the Palestinian territories? Has anybody thought that a “democratic Middle East” isn’t necessarily in the interest of the United States, and that what we mean by “democracy” only works after a culture has liberalized to a degree?

Ohio State is currently playing Michigan, so why I am blogging about it during the game? Because I don’t have cable, but do have a radio. I can’t pick up the ABC channel that it is carrying it on TV. And since I have a bit of a short attention span, I am surfing the net while I listen.

At the end of the year, the 500-600 dollars I will save by not getting cable is worth it. The 360 dollars I will save by not getting a local phone (and using my cell) will be worth it too. However, the lack of cable makes things a little inconvenient on days like this!

And it’s about time. Just imagine this scenario: In July, Bush removes Rumsfeld, gives a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq (even a tentative one), and starts quietly (or openly) removing the neocons from his administration.

Had this happened, I suspect the Republicans would still be in charge of Congress, or at least close. However, instead of some humility regarding Iraq, we have Cheney, a chief neocon in the administration, proclaiming that no matter what happens in the midterm elections, the policy on Iraq will remain the same. I am glad to know the people’s voice still counts these days Dick! Of course, the new Secretary of Defense replacing Rumsfeld was chosen despite opposition by Cheney. It seems as if some Republicans have learned their lesson, but some have not.

I have been staying up to see what happens tonight. Ever since I was in high school, I have always been interested in the election, even staying up way too late to catch the results. The first election I followed fairly closely was when the Republicans swept into Congress in 1994. Here are a few election night thoughts based on early reports.

This year, I think the Republicans are in trouble, at least in the House, but maybe the Senate. As a person who often votes Republican, I will save detailed comments for later, when I comment on what a mess the party has made of itself in the last few years, and the problems start from the very top.

This election seems to be about two things mainly: the war in Iraq and the economy. I notice that minimum wage increases are passing by huge majorities in the states that have them on the ballot, and exit polls indicate a deep dissatisfaction with president Bush and the War in Iraq. Perhaps the message to Republicans is that the middle class feels left out of this “strong economy” and is growing weary of fighting an expensive war of “liberation” for people that don’t want us there anyway. Also, associated with the economy are high gas prices and the rising cost of health care and college, and Republicans aren’t exactly seen as “with the common people” on these issues, but rather too snuggly to Big Oil and Big Pharma.

While the voters are sweeping the Democrats into power, this doesn’t necessarily seem to be an endorsement of liberal causes per se. Despite the fact that Ned Lamont beat Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary (thanks mostly to the far-left in the Democratic party), Lieberman has easily won his senate seat as an independent. Most of the state issues banning same-sex marriage are passing, an anti-affirmative action issue passed in Michigan, and an “English as official language” issue in Arizona was declared as passed by CNN before the voting was even over. Maybe all of the goings-on in this election do not constitute a “mixed message,” but rather indicate that both parties are basically out-of-touch with middle America.

Finally, in Ohio, the broad smoking ban (Issue 5) has passed and Issue 4, which would have allowed smoking in public places, failed. This is a pretty strong message that people do not want to breathe other people’s smoke in public. I think I will celebrate by getting some wings at BW3, and breathing in deeply, something I have been unable to do there in the past.

The newest edition of Firefox is out, and the spell check feature is great. Whenever you are editing a blog entry, commenting on a forum, or whenever you are typing in a field period, it will underline misspelled words in red. It has saved me a lot of time. Yet one more reason to try Firefox (link below)

I was reading the Columbus Dispatch today, and they have come out in favor of the smoking ban, Issue 5, and against Issue 4. Apparently Issue 4, sponsored by the Tobacco Industry, allows smoking in “any privately owned facility not open to the public.” In theory, this means smoking could be permitted in restaurant kitchens, fireworks factories, or around hazardous materials. And guess what? There is nothing the Ohio legislature can do about it if Issue 4 passes. And those anti-smoking regulations your town voted in? Issue 4 would nullify these. So much for freedom of choice. I am not much into heavy regulation, but taking a plant, rolling it in paper, lighting it on fire, and then smoking it in public isn’t exactly quite as “inalienable” a right as is freedom of speech in my book. I know, I know, thousands of college students will look less cool in public if this happens. Thousands of our most prized partiers will head to Kentucky, especially those who “only smoke when they drink.” Yes, I am heartless, but at least I will retain my lung function.

My suggestion is still vote no on 4, yes on 5.