commentaries

From the article: "[I]n the final weeks of the fall campaign, a lot of Minnesotans behaved the way conscientious voters should. They paid attention to the arguments for and against the amendment.... Then they did what good citizenship occasionally requires: They changed their minds." Rational behavior of the type evidenced in this week's election restores one's faith in democracy. Moreover, it makes one proud to be a Minnesotan!

This is a bunch of baloney. The Strib made a concerted effort (daily articles) and politicians (Dayton, Ritchie, etc) used their positions as a bully pulpit through mis information. We missed an opportunity to improve the voting process. This is common sense that the libs turned into some kind of conspiracy..

Any time 100% of our elective officials' particular party supports an initiative, and doesn't get any support from any other political party, be suspicious. Yes, I'm against the amendment and lean liberal, but if there was a 100% Democratic-supportive initiatives, I'd wonder about it too. Perhaps there can be improvements with voting, but guess what? There have been improvements. I've been an election judge since 2004 and have seen changes, improvements made yearly. If you REALLY care, I mean actually and genuinely care, become an election judge and suggest practical, realistic suggestions. Our election judges will listen. I made a couple of suggestions after being a registration judge on Tuesday that I hope are improved upon.

One has to wonder how many people changed their mind in the voting booth. Thankfully, their rationality won out over ideology. It became obvious in the final days of the campaign to anyone with an open mind that this was not about preventing voter fraud but limiting access to those who were not on the side of the GOP, with the seniors who normally vote with them merely collateral damage. The people have spoken!

We were asked to vote for a law that statistically wasn't needed. The legislature was incapable of agreeing on how to do it so they kicked it to the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment which for some insane reason only requires a 50% vote...yet they couldn't even get that because the majority saw that this was a politically motivated act to disenfranchise those who would oppose the GOP. Thankfully the public saw through it.

I am sure all the county auditors in Greater Minnesota who did the math on this gave a sigh of relief after this didn't pass. Expensive and not well thought through, potentially endangering vote-by-mail and same day registration, the crown jewel of Minnesota elections. I am so glad it didn't pass.

I am not surprised that most Republican arguments as to why they lost, whether it regards the presidential election, the Minnesota House and Senate, or the two amendments, consist of the following "facts:" 1. It was the liberal media. 2. Romney was a bad candidate. 3. People aren't smart enough (or are looking for a handout), so they don't vote our way. 4. The increasing diversity in America doesn't matter, our message is still perfect. 5. One of the best I heard today was from the author of the so-called "Mariage Amendment," who claimed that the Vote No campaign was all about demonizing those who would vote Yes as homophobic bigots. Really? I saw many ads, and I don't recall even one that stated or even that implied that this was the case. All I can say, is keep it up, GOP! Remember the Whigs?

I was certain both the Constitutional Amendments would pass. I'm proud of my fellow Minnesotans today.

I guess that we will never know how much actual voter fraud there actually is...

I think conservatives should feel good that the people of Minnesota, when faced with a choice betweem more liberty or less liberty, chose more. This truly IS at the heart of their core beliefs.