From FDR to LBJ, the thirty-three percent hung out on the Left. Starting with Nixon and running through the 2006 mid-terms, the middle-33 hung out with the right (yes, even during the Clinton and Carter administrations). However, starting with the 2006 mid-terms, we saw an ever subtle shift towards the Left and Tuesday’s results confirmed that the pendulum has indeed swung to the Left.

Additionally, we saw the widening schism between rural and urban America.  The Dallas Morning News’ Troy Oxford provided the following graphics in today’s paper:

Geography of the popular vote

Texas results

The Good

• Texas not so red anymore- As you can tell from the images above, changing demographics in the urban centers in Texas have led to a party shift in those areas. Travis County and Dallas County led the way. On Tuesday night, Harris County took a sharp turn to the Left and even in the conservative strong hold of Tarrant County, Democrat Wendy Davis was able to unseat long time Republican District 10 Senator, Kim Brimer. Watch for this trend to spread across the state in the years to come. Nobody deserves a one party state. A growing Democratic base in Texas is a good thing.

• Huge victories for personal liberties- Voters dealt a serious blow to the Puritan agenda of the Right on several ballot intiatives across the nation. In Washington state, voters passed an euthanasia bill similar Oregon’s, by an overwhelming majority, which will allow terminal patients the right to end their suffering in a dignified manner. In South Dakota, voters rejected an effort by anti-choice radicals to ban abortion.  Colorado voters rejected an attempt by religious radicals to apply Biblical literalism to the scientific definitions of “life.” Residents of the Peoples’ Republic of Massachusetts took a stand against one of the most fascist of all state governments and passed a measure decriminializing marijuana possesion. Yes, civil libertarians all across this great nation can rest easy knowing that after eight years of social repression, freedom is one again chic.

• We all got a little bit greener – California has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental issues. Therefore, it was no great surprise that California voters approved a high-speed rail system to run from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Hopefully, if all works well there, this trend will spread across our nation–it would be great to have Texas connected via high speed rail. On the other end of the spectrum, Missouri is not a place that comes to mind when it comes to environmental initiatives. However, Missouri residents approved a very impressive renewable energy bill. And while it may not make us any “greener”, I do think it’s worth pointing out that Massachusetts residents approved a measure that will ban the cruel sport of dog racing.

• True progress was achieved – Barack Obama became the first African-American elected President of the United States of America. How awesome is that? The Europeans can’t call us “backwards” anymore. I may have problems with some of Obama’s policies, but I am excited nonetheless. Change is good! Hopefully, Obama will have the opportunity to bring some change to the Supreme Court by making some progressive appointments.

The Bad

• Marriage Amendments – California, Florida and Arizona all passed “marriage amendments.” All three represent huge steps back in the attempt to bring some equality into this world, but without a doubt the passage of Proposition 8 in California is far more damaging than the others.

• People want to be taxed? – I don’t understand people from Massachusetts. They talk funny, eat bland food and they like the Patriots. I especially don’t understand their politics. Massachusetts residents voted against an intiative that would have eliminated the state income tax.

• Affirmative action lives on – Colorado voters rejected the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, which would have ended affirmative action in the state.

The Ugly

• Arkansas adoption law- Not since the Jim Crow South has the United States seen such a blatant attempt to legislate discrimination against a particular set of people. The measure effectively bans unmarried couples from adopting children or serving as foster parents and is specifically aimed at the GLBT community. Sadly, homophobia is still alive and well.

• Rhetoric of some McCain supporters -I guess I was naive to think that an African-American could be elected president and everyone would accept it. Already, people are turning to hate to try and cope with defeat. Today, I heard the story of a Univeristy of Texas football played being kicked off the team because of racist post on his Facebook page. Also, I read the story of racist graffiti showing up in an East Texas town where I lived during my college years. Even worse, is the subtle racism. Today, I heard a conservative radio talk show host mention that the winning numbers in the Illinois lottery game, Pick 3, the night after the election were 6-6-6. Since Obama is from Illinois, the radio host toyed with the idea that this could be further proof that Obama was the anti-Christ. The radio show host was really just sugar coating the bitter racism that lies inside him.