One step forward, three steps back?

I have internet back, so I'm able to respond to comments again - which I'll get round to later. Here's a quick belated post regarding last week.

James at Two Doctors posted on this topic previously, but I wanted to highlight something about the US Election.

On the same night that the US elected an African American as their 44th President:

• Nebraska voted to Ban Affirmative Action
• California voted to Ban Gay Marriage
• Florida voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman, as did Arizona
• Arkansas voted to Ban Gay Adoption

So maybe Obama's election did not herald the end of "conservative America" as some would have it. (PS - I know that article is from 2006, but it makes the same point).

Interestingly however, the "Governorator" of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger - a Republican - called the passage of California's ban "unfortunate" and "disappointing". Which shows there are liberal Republicans out there - just as there are conservative Democrats. And while there might not be a red and blue America, it is not "purple" - as this article, and indeed, President-Elect Obama, have argued.

America remains divided, arguably no longer by partisan notions but by definitions of conservative and liberal areas. Though this piece offers a good counter-view.

So what is my point? Well, just this. Conservative America did not die last Tuesday, just as liberal America did not disappear under the Bush years. Expect to see changes for the right - the removal of swathes of neo-cons for a start - and the left as President-elect Obama takes office. The days of Reaganite economics are long gone, but the conservatives will be back. They always come back.