poetgrl

From a political standpoint really the problem for Obama becomes the fact that he could not get his man elected....not because it is a referendum on HIM, per se, but because he can no longer say, "Vote for this and I will campaign for you and MAKE sure you are re-elected." His coalition doesn't transfer if he is not on the ballot and he is not on the ballot in 10 and every member of the house is. Obama loses his clout to the extent that he cannot protect his allies when his actual policies are unpopular with the voters. So, I do think there's an effect. The politicians will see this and think, hmmmmmm.

zoosermom

As I said, I think it's only a referendum on Obama, personally, because he invested so much of his time and effort in New Jersey and created the connection. Ultimately, Corzine lost because (unlike Mr. Obama), he is not likeable and his policies are seen as harmful to his state. The problem for President Obama is that those policies are one and the same. The citizens of New Jersey are showing how unpopular they are. The numbers in places like Bergen county are quite striking. As well, Fairfax county, VA and Westchester County, NY. Those wealthy-ish suburban voters going republican should be a concern to the democratic party.

Consolation

Thank you, Zoos. You are a prince[ss].

Cuse0507

Discrimination is alive and well in this country, and most people don't have a problem with it. We have driving ages, drinking ages, voting ages, forced retirement ages for some careers, affirmative action quotas, admissions guidelines to colleges, minority scholarships, and the like. If you are thinking about ending discrimination, you might want to address all of the other discriminatory practices that most people don't have a problem with as well.

zoosermom

There's an article in today's local newspaper about a gay couple kicked out of a cab for hugging. That's just disgusting.

lockn

On civil unions - there are only 14 states that both (a) do not constitutionally prohibit all same-sex unions (b) and do not already recognize same-sex unions. RI could legalize gay marriage now, and some of those states are conservative and wouldn't go for civil unions. So there are really less than 10 more states that might legislate the partial rights that civil unions grant.

rds248

Democrats are trying to spin the NJ result away from Obama. I don't buy it. He invested himself heavily in this race, and was very visible. I personally believe that this was a big factor in the independents voting for Christie. Christie was not a strong candidate. If Obama had been a positive influence on the independents, many of whom voted for him, Corzine would have won. My wife told me she was on the fence until she saw the race saturated toward the end with 3 Obama visits. That nailed it for her. People in NJ do not want more taxes, more spending, and more entitlement programs. That's what is destroying our state. And that's what Obama has devoted the first year of his Presidency to. It's not that difficult to figure out that Corzine might have had a better chance in this state if Obama had stayed away. And this vote is a harbinger of the future. Suburban voters are very unhappy with this administration. I stand by my statement. Obama was a factor in this loss by the Democrats, and it was a rebuke of his policies and his administration.

LogicWarrior

no, it was minorities who are solid democratic voters

Consolation

Cuse, it isn't a zero-sum game.

By the way, while you are urging that we drop everything and address the existence of "discrimination" that requires one to be 18 to vote or 16 to drive, I'm assuming that you would also be hot to do away with those notoriously discriminatory statute that prevent one from "consenting" to have sex at age 9 or drinking at age 5.

LogicWarrior

that's his point, you have to be 18 to vote and have sex and 16 to drive and you have to be heterosexual to marry

romanigypsyeyes

40 years ago we had to be heterosexual and of the same color. Before that it was heterosexual, the same color, and, in many places, of the same religion. Even stricter, one could only marry people with their same heritage, although this was not a law in most places.

I think we should go back to that. How many of us would be here if that were still the case? I know I wouldn't be.

LogicWarrior, give me a logical reason why two consenting adults should not be allowed to marry, regardless of their anatomical sex.

lockn

The legal standard for discrimination is a rational basis. I think you would have a hard time making a rational argument for marriage to be opposite-sex exclusively when it is legal for elderly couples to marry. I don't even know where you would start if you wanted to make a distinction between civil marriages and civil unions.

Hondu

No surprises in NJ and VA. It was expected. What is really surprising is NY 23rd district where a DEM has not been elected in over 100 years. That's the real story of this election.

zoosermom

The only reason NY23 is a story at all is the ineptitude of the republican party in choosing Scozzafava in the first place. Which is quite a big thing. But it says nothing about the electorate.

geeps20

too funny, spin in full force. NJ was a HUGE hit to the dems..No surprise..really?..LOL