Yesterday’s elections included three measures that received national attention do to Republican attempts to cram their agenda down voters throats. They hoodwinked their way into office by promising jobs, and far too many Americans believed their lies. In Ohio, Republicans tried to destroy the power of unions. In Maine, Republicans tried to limit voter registration. In Mississippi, Republicans tried to give a fertilized egg all the rights of a person, making it murder for a doctor to end a pregnancy to save the life of a woman. Thankfully, it was a bad day for Republican Tyranny.
In Ohio, the day started with Republican crimes to confuse voters. Many Democratic voters received Republican robocalls telling them Wednesday, not Tuesday was election day. But Republican crimes did not pay off.
Unions won a major victory Tuesday night when Ohio voters repealed a Republican-backed law that limited collective bargaining for public sector unions.
With one third of precincts reporting, the pro-repeal votes were leading anti-repeal votes by 62 percent to 38 percent, a large margin.
The law had been the biggest achievement of Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), whose poll numbers have plummeted since he focused in on the issue. Democrats and unions invested heavily to repeal the law, spending millions on the election and pitting police and firefighters against the governor. Shortly after the Associated Press called the race, they celebrated the results.
"One message rang loud and clear tonight in Ohio and across the country: those who spend their time scapegoating workers and pushing a partisan agenda will only strengthen the resolve of working people," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a release. "From the very beginning, it’s been clear that Gov. Kasich, and indeed many politicians, were pushing an agenda that was about politics, not about solving our nation’s problems or creating jobs."…
Inserted from <The Hill>
Maine has enjoyed same day voter registration for years, until Republicans took it away. But Maine Democrats fought back and put the measure on the ballot. Republicans spread the lie that restoring same day registration was a “gay conspiracy”. But Republican lies did not pay off.
Maine voters have repealed a law requiring voters to enroll at least two days before an election, restoring a four-decade policy of allowing registrations as late as Election Day.
With 30 percent of Maine’s precincts reporting, the proposal to repeal the newly enacted two-day requirement was passed with 59 percent of the vote.
The referendum was put on Tuesday’s ballot through a "people’s veto” initiative after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed a law in June requiring voters to register at least two business days before an election is held. Maine’s tradition of allowing "same day” voter registrations began with a law passed in 1973…
Inserted from <MPBN>
And in Mississippi the Republican assault on Women’s rights did not pay off!
Mississippi voters Tuesday defeated a ballot initiative that would’ve declared life begins at conception, a proposal that supporters sought in the Bible Belt state as a way to prompt a legal challenge to abortion rights nationwide.
The so-called "personhood" initiative was rejected by more than 55 percent of voters, falling far short of the threshold needed for it to be enacted. If it had passed, it was virtually assured of drawing legal challenges because it conflicts with the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a legal right to abortion. Supporters of the initiative wanted to provoke a lawsuit to challenge the landmark ruling.
The measure divided the medical and religious communities and caused some of the most ardent abortion opponents, including Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, to waver with their support.
Opponents said the measure would have made birth control, such as the morning-after pill or the intrauterine device, illegal — and that it would have deterred physicians from performing in vitro fertilization because they would fear criminal charges if an embryo doesn’t survive.
Supporters were trying to impose their religious beliefs on others by forcing women to carry unwanted pregnancies…
Inserted from <USA Today>
Rachel Maddow reports on these and more.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
We didn’t win everything, but I’ll take want we did! Kudos to all who voted!
18 Responses to “A Bad Day for Republican Tyranny”
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I’m thrilled with the election results for the most part. The ones that were lost were either not that significant or were expected, such as the GOP guv’s win in MS. VA’s outcome was a disappointment because it signals that Cantor may very well be re-elected. But Wake County, NC voters rejected a segregation plan. And AZ’s Pearce was toppled. So, all in all, it was a good day for Democrats and for the country.
I agree that VA was a sad loss, but it was expected.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I learned that Mississippi’s personhood measure did not pass.
Ditto that!
All things taken into consideration ; A good day indeed , the big battles won – some skirmishes lost– – We must not relax tho– war proceeds–
The 1% have only 1% of the vote—they are outnumbered- money doesn’t buy everything The 99% , Us, do have control- if we take it.
Very well said, Phyllis. Isn’t it sad that so many of the 99% are too stupid and/or brainwashed to know it?
We didn’t do so well in Virginia, but then that’s Virginia – I’m amazed that Mississippi actually voted in what appeared to be a rather educated way! What happened? Over all it wasn’t devastating! Ohio rose above the usual Ohio shenanigans – and actually voted! How bout that!
I figured we were going down in VA, so the MI vote was the one worrying me.
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. I agree, battles won but the war continues.
…until the Republican Party has gone the way of the Whigs.
These three aren’t particularly “blue” states either, and are pretty diverse, which bodes well for the general trend of the country.
Ohio had an unusually high turn-out for an off-year election, and the unions were strongly engaged. Those are conditions we need to replicate across the country next year.
I agree with that analysis, Infidel. It’s hard to get redder than MI.
Just a taste of things to come. If they keep this crap up 2012 will be a rout.
I agree, if enough of us vote.
I am pleased with the three that I noted — Mississippi, Ohio and Maine. In Arizona, isn’t Pearce the Sheriff who tried to dilute the vote with a woman candidate who was really a shill, and got caught? And Wake County NC rejecting segregation — finally a bit of sanity there! I’ll bet that has the Kochs annoyed since they were behind it. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2012. The ball is rolling, but the work is really just beginning. If the Democrats are to keep the White House and take back the House and bring the Senate to a clear Democratic majority (60+) then there is still a lot of work that has to be done. The Republican/Teabaggers are going to take this as a wake up call and throw everything at 2012, legal, questionable, and maybe even illegal.
Lynn, Pearce was the state Senator who ran the fake candidate to dilute the vote. You may have learned that here. The Infamous Sheriff in AZ is Joe Arpaio. I’m glad to learn about Wake County from you, as I had written an article about that too.
“We the People” have spoken!
And lets not lose our voice!