November is Really THAT Important

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I'm sure you watched at least a little coverage of Pennsylvania yesterday, and while it seems this primary is destined to extend into June, that does not mean that there is not work to be done here and now. We have a June election, and we seemed to have dodged the major bullet with only one putrid initiative on the ballot. Prop 98 is truly bad, but we could have seen a wave of bad propositions. But the Dirty Trick is dead, and we only have the one stinker.

But, November is really, really important. Already, the Humane Society's initiative for humane treatment of food animals will be on the ballot.  The anti-marriage gangs at "ProtectMarriage" have turned in their signatures, according to Equality For All. Signature gatherers are getting big bucks for several measures, particularly the Schwarzenegger redistricting measure. Parental notification will likely be on the ballot.

Toss in what might be one of those "turning point" elections for the presidency, and you'll see a very large turnout.  And to those concerned that supporters of the losing Democrat will stay home, I say, "Supreme Court."  Really, those people want John McCain to replace at least Stevens and Ginsburg? I doubt it.

But more important, hopefully, this will be one of the most progressive turnouts in our history. We'll need every last bit of it to win, to save marriage equality that we will, hopefully, have won by that point.  To save the safety of California's teens. To end the war in Iraq, to end torture, and to restore the tarnished "America" brand.

So, yup, Nov. 4, 2008. It's really THAT important.