# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=755 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 756 --- ## [So, who won the freaking election already?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-won-the-freaking-election-already/379443)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 379\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-won-the-freaking-election-already/379443 "2006-11-09T15:07:06Z")
I’m sitting here and it’s after 11 am on Tuesday Nov. 7, and apparently NONE of the major news media have declared winners in any Senate or House races! What’s wrong with these guys? Used to do, all you had to do was hav… --- ## [Will the Decider show any contrition today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562 "2006-11-09T04:16:57Z")
Bush is supposed to give a speech this afternoon (1:00 ET) to comment on the election results. The results were largely a referendum on him and Iraq. He got his ass handed to him last night but will he get it? I can’t re… --- ## [Defense of Marriage in Virginia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-of-marriage-in-virginia/378024)
**Author:** [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-of-marriage-in-virginia/378024 "2006-11-09T00:16:49Z")
The following question will appear on the ballot when Virginians go to vote on the 7th: \[QUOTE=Virginia Ballot\] Shall Article I (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to state: “That only a un… --- ## [Should the PUSA be spending his time campaigning for senators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-pusa-be-spending-his-time-campaigning-for-senators/378993)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-pusa-be-spending-his-time-campaigning-for-senators/378993 "2006-11-08T21:44:21Z")
Aren’t there more presidential things he can be doing? I would expect him to go on record as supporting reps that he agrees with, but it appears he’s taking time off from being president to get his buddies re-elected. Do… --- ## [Does Karl Rove have election tricks up his sleeve?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-karl-rove-have-election-tricks-up-his-sleeve/379113)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-karl-rove-have-election-tricks-up-his-sleeve/379113 "2006-11-08T20:25:55Z")
People are saying watch out for Rove stealing the elections. Republicans have been seriously hammered in the polls for over a month now–but Rove and Bush still seem oddly confident, even complacent, that they won’t lose … --- ## [Missouri Voters: Tell Me About Amendment 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missouri-voters-tell-me-about-amendment-2/376472)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missouri-voters-tell-me-about-amendment-2/376472 "2006-11-08T19:19:02Z")
I drove through parts of Missouri this weekend, and I noticed some billboards and bumper stickers advocating different positions on Amendment 2 (namely: vote YES or vote NO). What is this all about? --- ## [Smug Voters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smug-voters/379458)
**Author:** [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smug-voters/379458 "2006-11-08T19:16:13Z")
I voted before I went to work this morning; it was either that or miss voting comepletely, as I get off work after 7. Several co-workers approached me when I got in, and asked, archly, “So – voted yet?” Not even a good m… --- ## [President can now establish martial law with the military anytime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-can-now-establish-martial-law-with-the-military-anytime/378290)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-can-now-establish-martial-law-with-the-military-anytime/378290 "2006-11-08T18:29:34Z")
That’s what the headline on this Slashdot article implies about a bill signed by the President on the 17th. As Slashdot tends to be rather reactionary, with a tendency for most posters to jump to conclusions without req… --- ## [The cost of health care for prison populations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cost-of-health-care-for-prison-populations/379277)
**Author:** [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cost-of-health-care-for-prison-populations/379277 "2006-11-08T18:14:05Z")
I didn’t want to hijack this thread about the cost of an aging prison population, so I started this one. In that thread, Lissa says: \[QUOTE=Lissa\] With over 40K prisoners, and 1,000’s over the age of 50 in the state, h… --- ## [Among the political opposition, whose opinion do you respect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-the-political-opposition-whose-opinion-do-you-respect/379459)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-the-political-opposition-whose-opinion-do-you-respect/379459 "2006-11-08T18:04:23Z")
The election rhetoric is already hot and heavy and sure to get hotter. Can we perhaps agree that we can look to a few talking heads to get the straight dope on the election aftermath? As a conservative Pub I nominate P… --- ## [Is Ann Coulter going to jail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ann-coulter-going-to-jail/379030)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ann-coulter-going-to-jail/379030 "2006-11-08T16:55:26Z")
Did Ann Coulter Vote Illegally? If it was an honest error, why won’t she cooperate with investigators and put this to bed? If there is a goddess in heaven, the Coultergeist will be put away until after the '08 electio… --- ## [The EU and Turkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eu-and-turkey/379132)
**Author:** [@Jeffr062](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffr062)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eu-and-turkey/379132 "2006-11-08T16:10:33Z")
I have not heard anything on this for quite some time now. Is the EU still planning in bringing Turkey into the fold? Also, has Turkey made all the consesions demanded? --- ## [overnight shelling by the Israeli army in Gaza kills 18 civilians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overnight-shelling-by-the-israeli-army-in-gaza-kills-18-civilians/379552)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overnight-shelling-by-the-israeli-army-in-gaza-kills-18-civilians/379552 "2006-11-08T16:06:45Z")
BBC Had this attack anything to do with the American election? - in the sense that such an outrageous act would stay in the Shadow of the US election? --- ## [Saddam Sentenced To Die](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174 "2006-11-08T16:06:19Z")
As per MSNBC article here. I suppose it should come as no shock, but still, kind of shocking anyway. How will this effect Iraq? Can things get worse? Will this appease the Iraqi masses? Will the US be blamed/credite… --- ## [The last primary is over! Let's handicap the Congressional elections!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-last-primary-is-over-lets-handicap-the-congressional-elections/374004)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-last-primary-is-over-lets-handicap-the-congressional-elections/374004 "2006-11-08T15:29:43Z")
Hawaii has just had its primary election, \[So all the candidates for the Congressional election are chosen. Predictions? Will the Dems win control of either house? \[url=http://www.electoral-vote.com/\]Here’s\](\]the last… --- ## [How would we end the War on Drugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-we-end-the-war-on-drugs/378579)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-we-end-the-war-on-drugs/378579 "2006-11-08T12:33:26Z")
It seems to me the War on Drugs has certainly not been won, and it’s questionable whether it’s even winnable. So for the purpose of this thread, let’s assume there arises a national consensus to end this particular war… --- ## [Daniel Ortega likely to win presidency of Nicaragua -- implications?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-ortega-likely-to-win-presidency-of-nicaragua-implications/377218)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-ortega-likely-to-win-presidency-of-nicaragua-implications/377218 "2006-11-08T11:47:55Z")
Daniel Ortega, president of Nicaragua during the Sandinista regime from 1985 to 1990, appears favored to win Nicaragua’s presidential election in November. He is an ally of Hugo Chavez. What does this portend for Nicar… --- ## [The Klu Klux Klan - Wrong or the right to free speech?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-klu-klux-klan-wrong-or-the-right-to-free-speech/378637)
**Author:** [@brignull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brignull)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-klu-klux-klan-wrong-or-the-right-to-free-speech/378637 "2006-11-08T08:29:47Z")
Being from England, London, we never got a group as extreme as the Klu Klux Klan because we invited many Africans over here to do little jobs that no whites wanted to do, so there is no real hatred between the two. Howe… --- ## [GOP Dirty Tricks: Harassing "False-flag" Robo-calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-dirty-tricks-harassing-false-flag-robo-calling/379369)
**Author:** [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-dirty-tricks-harassing-false-flag-robo-calling/379369 "2006-11-08T05:37:03Z")
The Republican election committees are apparently engaging in a multitude of vote supression tactics involving robo-calling that starts out purporting to be giving information about the Democratic candidate(s) in a given… --- ## [Does the Daily Show discourage voting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-daily-show-discourage-voting/378951)
**Author:** [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-daily-show-discourage-voting/378951 "2006-11-08T04:03:54Z")
Reading these boards, I came accross the theory that negative ads work by convincing moderates to not vote, by advancing the idea that all politicians are liars/crooks/etc. While watching the Daily Show the other day, I … --- ## [Pedophilia: the unforgivable sin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedophilia-the-unforgivable-sin/378938)
**Author:** [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedophilia-the-unforgivable-sin/378938 "2006-11-08T00:52:04Z")
I’ve done a search on previous threads and know this is a pretty incendiary topic (hence the post in GD). I’m a father of two 4 year old boys and I’d be incensed to the point of violence if they’d been molested. However… --- ## [Subsidies Part 2: They only benefit big agrobusinesses who buy elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subsidies-part-2-they-only-benefit-big-agrobusinesses-who-buy-elections/379262)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subsidies-part-2-they-only-benefit-big-agrobusinesses-who-buy-elections/379262 "2006-11-07T21:38:30Z")
So I started this thread last week about subsidies. I was asking why, after years of controlling all branches of gov’t, subsidies weren’t an issue, since it seems to go against conservative fiscal ideology, not to menti… --- ## [Are we witnessing a form of coup from within the American government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-witnessing-a-form-of-coup-from-within-the-american-government/378808)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-witnessing-a-form-of-coup-from-within-the-american-government/378808 "2006-11-07T19:50:03Z")
I suggest to you that the there has been a relentless series of leaked official goverment documents and analyses that directly contradict White House’s public proclamations. So many, in fact, that it virtually constitut… --- ## [Should landlords be punished for renting to illegal aliens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-landlords-be-punished-for-renting-to-illegal-aliens/379133)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-landlords-be-punished-for-renting-to-illegal-aliens/379133 "2006-11-07T17:29:19Z")
Hazleton, PA has passed a law making it illegal for landlords to rent to illegal aliens and allowing for convicted landlords to be fined up to $1000. Prospective renters would have to register at City Hall and pay for … --- ## [Master Shakespeare a foul Papist? Possible!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/master-shakespeare-a-foul-papist-possible/379128)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/master-shakespeare-a-foul-papist-possible/379128 "2006-11-07T16:28:37Z")
In another thread in cafe society, here someone brings up an interesting idea that Shakespeare may have been of the Old Religion (i.e. Roman Catholic). While we may never settle the question, here is some interesting ev… --- ## [outsourcing health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outsourcing-health-care/378872)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outsourcing-health-care/378872 "2006-11-07T16:27:22Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061102/ap\_on\_he\_me/outsourcing\_health\_2 Companies are starting to consider shipping operations overseas to save health costs. The cost of medical care has been skyrocketing in the USA but is … --- ## [New York changes gender-I.D. rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-changes-gender-i-d-rules/379400)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-changes-gender-i-d-rules/379400 "2006-11-07T15:45:52Z")
Starting in December, New York City will allow citizens to change the gender listed on their birth certificates even if they haven’t had sex reassignment surgery. \[Provided they have lived as the ‘new’ gender for at lea… --- ## [When are animals \> humans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-animals-humans/379169)
**Author:** [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-animals-humans/379169 "2006-11-07T13:47:56Z")
Reading and watching a doc on Nat’l Geo or Disc about a giant killer croc affectionately named Gustave and Patrice’s efforts to capture it for study makes me wonder, if they really believed it may have killed 300+ people… --- ## [A Neo-Con Repents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-neo-con-repents/379112)
**Author:** [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-neo-con-repents/379112 "2006-11-07T07:57:46Z")
According to a brief item in today’s local paper, Richard N. Perle, “the intellectual godfather of the Iraq war” will say in the January issue of Vanity Fair that he now thinks he shouldn’t have backed the U.S. invasion … --- ## [On Election Night, which are the Senate seats to watch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-election-night-which-are-the-senate-seats-to-watch/378700)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-election-night-which-are-the-senate-seats-to-watch/378700 "2006-11-07T06:32:08Z")
Sounds sorta like a GQ question, but since it’s politics, I’m putting it here. Of the 33 Senate seats up for grabs, which ones are considered toss-ups that are worth watching? For example, in the thread about the Virgi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=754) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=756)