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by Paul Tullis
November 6
Well, whaddaya know. Clinton won by the same margin he would've won by had the election been held thirteen months ago. I voted for Nader, but I wasn't especially proud to. I didn't feel courted by him—like most voters, I love a good dose of sycophancy from my candidates—but since I hadn't paid any attention to the campaign, I couldn't be sure if it was him or me. I don't believe my vote was a waste. I felt pretty secure that Clinton was gonna win California, since he was so far ahead when I tuned out and he hadn't bombed the state since, so a vote for Nader was a vote for the Greens—at least they believe in something. Plus, if Nader got a certain percentage, the Greens would qualify for federal funding, and in fifty years when our grandchildren are taking civics and wondering just what the fuck we fin-de-sieclers were thinking with the rampant corruption inherent in campaign funding, we Greenies and Perotistas will look like quite the avant garde.
I managed to avoid the returns by watching a basketball game and then going out to dinner with my mom. In the car on the way home I was flipping through radio stations and heard "Clinton re-elected," and felt a certain sinking feeling. I was glad when he won in '92; I felt I was a part of something new and invigorating. This time, though, I know it's all the same old shit.
 I went out and bought a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle—fishwrap known here as the "Comical"—because the New York Times, which I read daily instead, didn't have the California stuff. What a surprise that I was on the winning side for many local and state propositions! Jails for teens lost and medical marijuana passed. It's nice to agree with people once in a while, like that feeling when a band you love finally tops the charts.
So now what happens? Clinton reprises his "mistakes" of the past by pushing a liberal agenda for the first two years, or goes on along like he's been doing since November '94, co-opting the Republicans' issues? I have no idea; I'm through with predictions; I'm glad it's over. </end>
Paul Tullis is senior editor of Might magazine. He lives in San Francisco.
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