We Smart Bitches are sad to see that Theresa Spry did not pull off a win over Bill Napoli in the South Dakota State Legislative race in District 35. It was very close though – 3648 to 3274 votes.
So congrats to Theresa Spry for a good run at her seat, and we Smart Bitches were proud to support you. Thank you to every person who donated to help her campaign.
Meanwhile, I am pleased to say that South Dakota’s Referendum 6, which would ban abortions in all cases, lost by more than ten points.
Thanks for sharing this info, and thanks to Theresa Spry for running.
My 19 year old called me yesterday to tell me he voted.
“It took me two minutes. Two minutes! And I was prepared to wait. I don’t understand these [deleted] [deleted some more] who don’t vote!”
The boy’s vocabulary could use some work, but his heart and mind are in the right place.[g]
Last year, Hubby voted and then came to the hospital where I was being induced – today is Freebird’s first birthday.
This year, Freebird went into the voting booth in his Dad’s arms to watch him vote. He was fascinated by the whole thing. Especially the curtain that closes the booth. I hope he’s an eager participant in 17 more years!
Pleased indeed. Maybe next time Ms Spry.
And Fred Head lost… which is, pleasantly, no surprise.
She was in some tough territory. That the results were so close shows how well she actually did.
As proof of what an uptight state it is, South Dakota residents also voted against an initiative to allow residents with a medical need to grow and possess marijuana. In the history of the United States, no medical marijuana voter initiative has come close to failing.
I say we ban South Dakota.
Sarah—Happy birthday to Freebird! Based on my experience, if you raise your children in a household where politics are discussed, and voting is considered a right and an obligation, they’re much more likely to vote.
I do nag both my boys before each election, the one who votes absentee and the “forgetful” one, but they understand why I feel so strongly about it.
I raised a glass of champagne when it was announced that the abortion measure was destroyed. It’s a real shame that they couldn’t destroy Napoli as well. Still, it’s a good day!
And happy belated birthday to Freebird!
Happy Birthday to Freebird! Wow, it’s already been a year. Doesn’t seem that way.
YAY that the abortion initiative in SD was defeated and YAY that FredHead went down in flames.
I know – I cannot believe it’s been a year. But I have a lot to celebrate today!
As previously noted Susan Combs won and beat Fred Head, thanks to the SBs. Sorry that Kinky lost.
Happy Birthday Freebird! And yay to the defeat of the abortion ban. Thanks for posting this link.
Maybe Spry will run again. I think it’s remarkable that the gay marriage ban passed so narrowly in SD. Hooray to Arizona for being the sole resister of bigotry. Eventually the GOP will run out of states to ban gay marriage in, and their base will have no reason to come to the polls.
Well, don’t paint all us Arizonans with the same broad strokes. My understanding is that the final count is not yet in on the marriage amendment. What I don’t believe the people who voted for it understood is that it not only says that marriage is only between a man and a woman, but it also says that if you are in a hetrosexual live-in situation and you are sharing benefits such as health care with your partner, that will be taken away if those benefits come from the state. Some people may have shot themselves in the foot without realizing it. Plus, there is already a law on the book that defines marriage as a man and a woman, so the amendment was window dressing for the conservatives. AZ is a heavily Republican state, Tucson is the most Democratic area. We did elect a female Democrat to Congress yesterday to replace a retiring gay Republican (Kolbe). He was actually at the Democrat victory party hugging the winners. He’d been to his own party’s HDQ earlier and left as soon as he could without seeming rude.
I think I may be reporting old news, but in regards to So. Dakota’s Referendum, my understanding is that Planned Parenthood essentially outmaneuvered the conservative politicos on that one.
I heard on the radio this morning that the law banning abortions was passed in So. Dakota with the intent that Planned Parenthood would challenge the law in the courts. This would then eventually bring the issue up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Instead of challenging in the courts, a referendum was put to the voters, who overturned the original law in yesterday’s election. I think it was quite wise of the opponents of that law to change tactics and stay out of the courts. Hee.
And in California, we still have the guvernator, but now he needs to serve with a democratic assembly and a democratic lieutenant governor.
I was rooting for Ms. Spry, sorry to see that she lost. We took Beaux and Bella with us to vote and although Bella was more interested in trying to vote FOR me, I thought it was fun to get them involved, even if they don’t know what it means yet. Beaux was especially proud of his “I voted” sticker.
There were so many close races yesterday. We here in VA will likely have a recount.
As for the abortion issue in SD< I have been disgusted with it since the beginning. It amazes me that people would make victims of crimes suffer the trauma of having their abuser’s baby. that’s just sick and cruel.
The amendment to the AZ constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman was defeated.
Deceased Democrat wins over live Republican in South Dakota
Really.
I heard the SD was in more of an uproar over having their cigarettes raised a dollar than the abortion bill. v.v;
I was also upset to hear Wisconsin and North Carolina approved either bans on same-sex marriage or amendments to their state constitutions that proclaims marriage as between a man and a woman. ;_;
Well, we’re gearing up for State elections here in NSW. What with one Minister lying to Parliament and resigning, one caught three times speeding and one yesterday arrested for child sex and drug offences, we’re looking at the collapse of the sitting government. Not that the alternative is much better. It’s hard to exercise choice when the choices are all so appalling.
Colorado also passed a marriage act defining it as between a man and a woman. And this is AFTER Brokeback Mountain.
Happy Birthday Freebird! How nice that he’s already involved in the political process. 🙂
We’re jazzed over here in CA because we defeated Prop 85. They put it on the ballot last year too. Maybe they’ll finally give up now.
A while back I read an article that someone were trying to open a Planned Parenthood on one of the Indian Reservations in SD. I’m glad they don’t have to now, though it’s still a good idea.
Actually Kim, that was a very good idea to avoid the law that might have passed. After all, the reservation legally is not part of the state…
Jackie, as I recall the Colorado amendment was weirdly worded on the ballot. I was listening to Broadminded on XM radio and they were saying for the marriage amendment you should vote no everywhere but CO, where you vote yes to have the same effect of defeating the amendment.
A day late and a dollar short, Happy Birthday Freebird!
Man, Theresa Spry got “hella raped” in the polls.
I am in Colorado. I voted. There were 2 items about gays. One was an amendment and the other a referendum.
I voted no for all the amendments…they all seemed so trivial for a constitution. I just feel the constitution should be a general guide/plan…the amendments seemed too narrow.
The referendum was more difficult to decide…it was a ‘give the gays rights to a partnership (but not marriage)’. I was conflicted. I think anyone that wants to should be able to be married. Hell, if you won’t beat, cheat or abuse your partner/kids, you are fine (IMO).
Heteros that beat/abuse and cheat are the ones that should be banned from marriage.
I ended up saying ‘yes’ thinking it is a stop-gap measure and someday they will have marriage, but until then, I wanted them to have more rights/some acceptance.
Don’t know if it was the best way to vote, but it was the best compromise I could think of, given the nature of the amendment/referendum.
Sam
I live and voted in Denver County, Colorado. I voted no on the marriage admendment (that defined marriage as between one woman and one man) and yes on Referandum I (that would have granted rights to civil partnerships—whether heterosexual or homosexual). Interestingly enough, Boulder and Denver Counties both struck down the marriage admendment and voted yes on Ref. I, but that wasn’t enough to push through Ref. I statewide. Boulder and Denver Counties are largly liberal while the rest of the state is conservative.
I’m really glad we have a Democratic governor now. However, it’s too bad Marilyn Musgrave got re-elected to Congress; she is way to chummy with Bush for my tastes.