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Health & Fitness

Regretting My Early Ballot

I've already voted. I'll regret that choice is David Wiggins comes out as a "born again" evangelical, and if Romney and Obama are transposed like character from a lousy Disney movie.

My ballot for November's election went in the mail last week, one day after I received it from the Johnson County Auditor's office.  I will let folks decide, based on what I've posted here on The Patch, how I voted.

I'm not at all ashamed at casting a vote ahead of the first presidential debate, scheduled for Wednesday, October 3.  I contend I have seen enough of Barack Obama's performance as president, and heard enough from Mitt Romney during the GOP primaries and ensuing general election campaign, to have made an informed decision.  Dave Loebsack made me hold my nose while casting my vote for representative: his anti-Washington campaign ad is incomprehensible, given that he is the incumbent.  However, John Archer helped me reconcile myself with my choice during the GOP primary, when he had to appear holding his pocket constitution while taking a cheap shot at Obama's status as a graduate of Harvard Law.

There is a growing backlash among some Republicans against Bob Vander Plaats and his vendetta against the seven Iowa Supreme Court justices who, horror of horrors, based their Varnum v. Brien decision on the law and constitutional principles.  Vander Plaats needs a refresher course on the separation of powers, since he was the one who campaigned for governor promising to abrogate the decision with an executive order.  I appreciated Todd Dorman's column in today's Cedar Rapids Gazette.  Dorman cited an editorial piece from arch-Republican legislator Chris Rants: it seems Chuck Hurley, a defeated GOP solon who has made a career out of political gay-bashing, approached Rants before the Varnum decision was issued to push for a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage.  Even then, Rants and Hurley knew the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act would be struck by the Iowa court.  Rants concluded his piece by stating his unequivocal support for Justice Wiggins.  Rants is voting "yes" to retain.

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So what will it take for me to regret mailing my ballot early?  In Wiggins' case, I will regret my affirmative vote for his retention if, in the days before the election, he announces he has been "born again" as an evangelical christian, and now regrets his role in deciding Varnum v. Brien.

What about Barack Obama and Mitt Romney?  That regret will take a series of possible (if highly unlikely) events.  Obama will need to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Iran, after US Navy units have already engaged Iranian warships in the Persian Gulf (that DID happen in Operation Preying Mantis during the elder Bush's presidency!).  Obama will then need to follow that little coup with his request that all Muslims be interned.  Next, Obama would need to state his intention to name only those appointees to the US Supreme Court who have been previously vetted by the GOP.  Finally, Obama would need to embrace Romney's fiscal and tax policies, and announce he has changed his mind about the Affordable Care Act.

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In turn, Romney would need to release ten years of his federal tax returns, as well as pay the difference between his actual paid tax rate and 15%.  Romney would need to return to the social issue positions he held as governor of Massuchusetts: support of abortion and same-sex marriage rights.  Romney would have to embrace the health insurance reform he pushed through as Massachusetts governor.  Finally, he would have to announce, as the top GOP officeholder in the country, his intention to broaden the base of the GOP by explicitly renouncing the support of the TEA faction and conservative christian evangelicals.

Like I said, I don't regret my decision to cast an early ballot one bit.

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