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Subscribe to RSSThe outcomes Tuesday in balloting from Maine to Mississippi included enough wins for Democrats, abortion rights advocates, and labor unions to give a bit of a lift to President Obama and his allies as they look toward the 2012 elections, 12 months from tonight.
In Ohio, voters overwhelmingly rejected the law enacted last spring by Gov. John Kasich and the Republican-controlled legislature that limited the ability of public employee unions to collectively bargain.
The law also would have required performance-based pay for most public employees and required them to pay 15 percent of the cost of their health care benefits.
Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz cheered the outcome in Ohio calling the law “a blatantly partisan attempt to lay the blame for our economy on middle-class Americans, while letting the wealthiest and special interests off the hook and not asking them to pay their fair share. Voters in Ohio know that targeting public employees for political reasons will do nothing to create jobs or boost Ohio’s economy.”
Yet at the same time that Ohio voters were boosting labor unions, they also delivered at least a symbolic rebuff to Obama’s health care reform law by overwhelmingly approving a ballot measure saying that no federal, state, or local law or rule could compel any person or employer to participate in a health care system. The practical effect of that Ohio measure hinges on the outcome of legal challenges in federal courts to Obama’s health care law.
In Mississippi, abortion rights advocates scored a somewhat surprising victory as voters defeated Initiative 26, a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would have defined the word “person” to include every human being “from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof.”
More than 55 percent of voters were voted “no” on the ballot measure, The Associated Press reported, falling far short of the threshold needed for it to be enacted.
A statement from Planned Parenthood cheered the victory, saying “Mississippi voters rejected the so-called ‘personhood’ amendment because they understood it is government gone too far, and would have allowed government to have control over personal decisions that should be left up to a woman, her family, her doctor and her faith….”
Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor had backed the measure.
Proponents of Initiative 26 said its passage would be a historic triumph for anti-abortion forces, but Republican Gov. Haley Barbour indicated he had misgivings about its effect on in vitro fertilization and ectopic pregnancies, even as he said he had voted for it.
Veteran conservative lawyer and anti-abortion activist James Bopp had criticized the ballot measure, saying it might open the way to a new Supreme Court ruling strengthening abortion rights.
Meanwhile, Mississippi voters also gave overwhelming approval to a ballot initiative that will create a photo identification requirement for voters. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, Mississippi will now be the 31st state with a voter ID requirement and the eighth with a strict photo ID requirement.
In Arizona, Republican state Sen. Russell Pearce, architect of the tough immigration law cracking down on illegal immigrantst that thrust the issue into the national political debate, was ousted from office in a recall election. The moderate Republican who defeated him had made immigration a constant theme, saying Pearce's hard-line policies harmed Arizona's image.
In another victory for Democrats, Maine voters were headed toward a rejection of an attempt by the Republican-controlled state legislature to put an end to Election Day voter registration in the state.
Maine has had Election Day voter registration since 1973.
In two governors’ races, the parties each picked up a win:
In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, as expected, won a second term, defeating Republican state Senate President David Williams.
In Mississippi, also very much as expected, Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant defeated underfunded Democrat Johnny DuPree, the mayor of Hattiesburg and the state’s first African-American gubernatorial nominee.
Barbour could not run due to Mississippi’s term limit.
With Bryant’s victory, Republicans have now won five of the last six gubernatorial elections in Mississippi. No Democrat has carried the Magnolia State in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
In Virginia Republicans appeared headed toward a major victory -- gaining control of the state Senate. As Election Day started, the Democrats controlled the 40-member Senate with 22 members.
Democrat Roscoe Reynolds lost his bid for a fourth term to freshman GOP Sen. Bill Stanley in the state Senate's marquee race, bringing the GOP to within one seat of a 20-20 split.
In the deciding race, Democratic Sen. Edd Houck trailed Republican Bryce Reeves by 86 votes out of nearly 45,000 cast with all precincts reporting in a race too close to call, according to The Associated Press. The narrow margin is likely subject to a recount.
An evenly divided Senate gives Republicans an upper hand, since Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling would have the power to break a 20-20 tie, but will likely yield equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans on Senate committees, the AP reported.
Political strategists were carefully watching the Virginia elections to see glimmers of insight into how Obama and Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine might fare in 2012.
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And now Virginia's state government is ran by Republicans...and Mississippi voted for Photo Voter ID. Way to go MS.
I think you meant "...is run by Republicans...".
Spread enough poison in the minds of voters and your country suffers.
Spread enough TP propaganda and the GOP suffers.
guy if you live in Ohio, you lose either way, higher taxes decreased services, and your states bond rating is going to fall again. That means your state has to pay higher taxes on the billions it borrowed. Expect to see in the next few days another decrease in its ratings. That means more of the states taxes have to be spent on paying its debts and less on salaries and services. And remember you voted for it!
A sad day for the private sector employees that have to pay for the public sector suck-offs. We pay for your joy. You do know it's my taxes tha pay for your lazy ass right? Save your money - the lay-offs will be coming.
Hey, it's my taxes that also pay for my lazy ass, did you know that?
You do realize that public union workers pay taxes just like the rest of us, right?
That's really good news! I had started losing hope for both of those states - thinking they had been overcome with stupidity - I'm glad to see the voters have taken control and tossed the ideas out - as they should have been.
This gives me hope! Thanks voters of Mississippi and Ohio - and congrats!
On to 2012...
The pro-union folks did a good job of getting the word out and ensuring that their interests were protected while the apathetic private sector voters stayed home. Now they will pay for their apathy. Private sector employee's pay and job security will continue to erode as companies continue their exodus from a heavily pro-union state. The private sector folks of Ohio will eventually be taxed out of their homes in order to keep paying for the public sector benefits and retirement plans. But the public employees will suffer as well, as it will definitely become necessary to fire large swaths of public sector employees and shut down many services. You stupid pro-union people are applauding now but I guarantee you that up to a quarter of you won't be applauding within the next couple of years. You idiots shot yourselves in the foot and don't even realize it.
YOu idiots act as though no public sector employee pays taxes. It's always the "poor private sector" for you. Well guess what, I probably pay more in taxes than you earn, and I am a public sector employee. Instead of blaming public sector employees for states' budget woes, blame the wingnuts who gave tax breaks to people that don't need them.
if you live in Ohio, you lose either way, higher taxes decreased services, and your states bond rating is going to fall again. That means your state has to pay higher taxes on the billions it borrowed. Expect to see in the next few days another decrease in its ratings. That means more of the states taxes have to be spent on paying its debts and less on salaries and services. And remember you voted for it!
Obama/Biden 2012!!!! biiiiooottchh!
Thorndawg
Lot's of public employees were laid off BECAUSE OF senate bill 5.
I was one of them.
AA- That's right they did, and your point? I don't agree with the mandate either. I believe in single payer health care reform. The mandate is one part of health care reform. So I ask again your point?
As mentioned in my post Bird.. How can this be a victory for Obama when the voters voted down the Obama Care Mandate.
How clearer can I be?
AA- You are the one trying to say this is a victory for Obama, nobody else! WHO are you saying said, this is a victory for Obama? This is a victory for the voters, the American people. Too much FOX NEWS?
Bird, see post #36 and the Head line for this Article. Since the President is the Leader of the Party, by saying this is a Big Win for the Democrats, this article is saying this is a Big win for Obama.
Reading is fundamental.
And the vote on the mandate is meaningless. It holds no authority to actually stop the mandate.
If the OH unions are anything like WI, they have already taken the pay cuts & pay for benefits now, This was not about money, It was not about money in WI either. IT IS ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF ALL OF US! And of course about busting unions...I would say the GOP has woken the American sleeping giant! The people! BREAK OUT THE COFFEE so we keep this going!
THANK YOU OHIO!!!
You mortgaged your future by not keeping an eye on the politicians and their spending. Now you have to pay the piper. You really don't know and understand economics and how governments are run do you?
It is great to see that voters still have common sense in this country. The GOP is a party of brainwashers with no solutions to anything other than making the rich even richer. Todays voting will be only a start of what will happen in 2012 elections. The GOP has got to go, and I mean GO! Our leaders are so divided that they don't even argue on TV anymore. They are so afraid of what is going on in this country, that it is just much easier to hide. Sorry GOP, the hiding is over. The Wall Street movement will soon be shared with another movement in this country. It should be called the movement to replace the GOP and the teabaggers who have no real answers. I'll call it Move On Over GOP, your train has left the station!
JoAnn - so how can you possibly suck off the poor suffering private sector? You think the RICH pay you? No - that private sector mom with 2 kids and no vacation time is paying for you. Makes me freaking sick. You cut the wrong throat idiot.
Like I said above hoser, Public sector employees also pay taxes. And your hatred to fellow Americans is sickening.
Joann a lot of mouth and no solutions to the 10 billion budget deficit. The rich pay the taxes and they can move and so can their companies. You do know that there are states which have no state income taxes or corporation taxes? And just like that "SNAP" a person can change his address and corporate home and they pay no Ohio taxes. Now what are you going to do? GOP=Grand Olde Party.
Now out of the ten riches congressmen 8 are democrats! Now how did they get so rich being politicians?
And poor olde little you jealous because you never learned to make money! TSK TSK TSK why don't you ask the rich democrats to teach you how. I learned and I am an independent.
Mississippi, Maine, Arizona, and the big winner of the night-O-H-I-O, have told the GOP/TP two things:
1. They have went too far.
2. The American People are going to make make them pay for their ignorance and greed in 2012 and the next forseeable elections.
Kevin, in MS, the voters voted for Photo ID to vote. I thought initiative is a Republican plot to "suppress the vote"..and BTW they also voted for a Republican Gov. AGAIN !!
OHIO voted against the one initiative that is suppose to be Obama's claim to fame..his Health Care Mandate.
So exactly how is tonight a Big push back against the GOP?
AA-Republican,
In Arizona moderate Repub unseated a extreme TP office holder. In Maine the voters repealed the voter suppression law and went back to same day registration.Plus the Ohio vote for workers rights and MS vote for women rights.
Yes, MS passed a photo id voter law and Ohio voted against the individual mandate for health insurance. those two are the only successes. If I were you I take them and quietly rethink the extreme views the GOP have been spouting. I think at least your presidential candidates might rethink what they will be saying at their debates tomorrow night.
Kevin my man your state spent and mortgaged your future. And what did you win? You still have your 10 billion dollar budget deficit and one less way to reduce it. There are only two ways to reduce cut spending or increase taxes. And that $10 billion is going to reduce your states bond rating meaning your state has to pay more in interest and less on salaries and services. You sure did win! The booby prize!
NorthStar, voting for a Moderate Republican is voting for a Republican, Voter Photo ID Laws, Voting against the Obama health care. VA state Government will be all Republican, MS Gov is and will continue to be Republican.
How was this a bad night for the Republicans?
AA-Republican
It was, in my view ,a bad night for extremism that has overtaken the GOP. And I think that is a good thing.
Of course MS is always going to be Republican state at least in our lifetimes. Virginia is more of a swing state. I heard that there will be a recount in the state senate election. Only a 80 vote lead. Maybe it is larger now...
My hope is that this will maybe give Congress a pause to stop their gridlock and pass a jobs bill instead of reaffirming our country's motto.
but then again I am a Democrat and I believe change is possible...
Let's see how quickly can Republicans ditch the tea party. 10, 9, 8, ... You know what they say. If you lie down with dogs...
Betcha Mitchy and Orange Peel will be sipping Starbucks first thing tomorrow morning. Liptonites have been officially flushed down the toilet. Jim NoMint must be crossing the Potomac (via DC's water treatment facility) by now?
I voted for Issue 2 today (YEs) and knowing it would most likely be defeated, I voted no on the fire levy. I will never vote for another fire or police levy again. Wait until I get a call asking for a donation from the FOP and the State Troopers assoc., they're going to get an ear full. I pay over 12k a year for health ins. for my family, I bust may a$$ and there is no one at the table watching out for the taxpayer. I will never vote for a Dem. or another levy that will go too pay for any union benifit. They can start laying them off as far as I'm concern.
Good for you NavyVet. and thank you for your service to this great country !!
Next on to Walker and kick him out
The reason they have to lay off workers because Kasich gave tax cuts to the Rich and Big Business
He has to pay for the tax cut some way so the Middle Class get to pay for the Rich and Big Business Tax cuts
Wake up Republicans are only out for one thing protect the Rich and Big Business and to hell with the Middle Class and Workers
Prove it and show it. And if you live in Ohio and decide to tax the rich more and the corporations more, they just move. There are six states that have no income tax and no corporation tax. They move and the tax falls more on you. Did you think that out?
The A.P. is reporting that the Koch brothers are going to kidnap Mitt Romney and try to "reprogram" him. All of their other robots are short circuiting and this is their last hope. Unless of course Chas Koch jumps into the race and takes Herman as his VP. Koch-Cain 2012 !!!! This never gets old.
Clap all you want....Just remember. Always ask yourself, Who's going to pay for it? You won't be Clapping for Long.
Frankly Rhett,I don't give a damn!!
Who's going to pay for it? The Koch sucking brothers. That's who. Thank you for bringing it up.
It is not surprising that voters are largely rejecting the right wing social agenda. It is not a popular agenda. On the issues, most Americans oppose the stances of the Republican party.
The 2012 presidential election, however, is not likely to be decided on issues, which both sides know. It will likely be a situational election instead, because the independant swing voters tend to vote on situations rather than issues.
Intelligent people - 2
Not so intelligent (and angry about it) people - 0
The BORG (GOP) are probably totally confused now. All I see here coming from them is scare tactics. It's apparent that the people don't scare that easily any more. They are waiting for Koch and limpballz to sent the radio waves to their heads with new instructions.
Ok!! Here is where I stoop to the same level as a Liberal because I am sick and tired of the BS!! All you liberals smell bad, are to fat, drink to much koolaid, are brainwashed, haven't had an intelligent thought of your own at least since 2004, have no idea how much you are going to hate socialism once it is forced upon you, have such closed minds that if Obama wins in 2012 you wont even see what is coming next as Soros has him declared King and we go from a FREE country to a socialistic monarchy, and as the economy crashes under the weight of the monarchy you will all be crying and whining because you have lost everything you ever had and will still be stupid enough to blame it on George Bush and the Republicans. You liberals are about the dumbest bunch of idiots I have ever seen.
Can't defend your view so resort to insults and name calling,,,,,typical.
be weally weally quiet cuz I think patwick is gonna start cwying !!! Waaaaa!!
Wisten vewy vewy carefully, can you hear the qwickets?
The only thing that could make this day complete would be if Clarence Thomas would go hunting with Dick Cheney.
Best post of the entire thread! LOL!
Inequality, unfairness and discrimination strike at the heart of core American values. The votes in Ohio and Mississippi are a testament to that, and that is why the teagulpers and their Republican friends will be rejected at the polls next year. In spite of the bad economy and Mr. Obama's lackluster performance, Americans will reject attempts to divide, marginalize and suppress the voters by Republicans. We can live with Obama and, under the circumstances, his performance hasn't been that bad. We can't live with any of the current Republican candidates and the crap they have been throwing at us.
Said perfectly.
Lots of sour grapes in these comments from a lot of dim bulbs...
sure paul,,,i'm a firefighter in ohio and my ass is in the fire...you're wrong...first listening to kasick who's intent was to get rid of the number one funder of democrats....labor union if you're are so out of touch that you think kasick would piss on police and fire that are 90% republican voter's because he was concerned about the budget which 350 million dollars in cuts he gave 100 million to corps...his rich friends and bonus to his staff like big bonuses when i haven't got a raise in 6 years....but i'm rich like the ads say duh....or about layoffs of police or fire....(i'm sure that kasick neighborhood is still protected).....again duh....issue 2 had nothing to do with us...he already cut funds to the cities and my next in engine....so i have 3 minutes of water when i'm inside a house and my next water is 7 minutes away....do the math @!$%#....you know nothing but you're lack of smarts endangerous me my crew and the citizens i'm sworn to protect.....save lives and property @!$%#.... politicians don't know @!$%# about our job and in this case none of this was about us...it was about money labor's money...screw the citizens...right john....
I'm going for a long Walker,sitting here is making my Kasich. Night all.....