i reimagined and restructured a few parts to my recent column and i like it a lot more now:

The Politics of NO
or
How I Learned to Sing thru the
‘Special’ Election Bug-A-Boo
What is there left to do when you’re forced against a wall? When you don’t want something and you don’t ask for something and it’s forced upon you, what are you left with? Arnold has forced us to have a ‘Special’ Election no one wants and no one likes, except for the right-wing special interests of his, and so we have to get out and mobilize and vote, and VOTE NO.

It ain’t pretty and it ain’t nice, but that’s the reality of this ‘Special’ Election. All there is to say to this ‘special’ election is “No, No, No, No, No, No.” “Six times No.” “No on 73; No on 74; No on 75; No on 76; No on 77; No on 78.” “No on 73-78.” “Nix the first Six” statewide propositions. However you want to say it, it’s a lot of ‘NO.’

And tell me, who among us likes to say ‘No’ anyway. I mean, when one goes to vote, one generally likes to vote ‘For’ something rather than against. We like to vote ‘for’ politicians that support our rights and our beliefs. We like to vote ‘for’ policies in which we believe. We like to support our ideals.

But when the right-wing governor shows his true right-wing nature and puts on the ballot his right-wing proposals right out of the right-wing Rove/Bush playbook, we have to do what we can to tell him ‘No.’ And while this may not be that appealing, it’s vital that we fight this right-wing play. We know what’s at stake. Not only is this ‘Special’ Election all about seeing what they can get away with, but it’s a precursor to more ‘special’ right-wing ploys to determine our lives and our voices next year and the year after.

Take Prop. 73. It’s a stealth anti-choice measure that pretends to be a simple ‘family values’ measure that no one could disagree with. But we know the truth, we know the hidden agenda, we know the right-wing language and the deceptive anti-choice play, and we know we must vote ‘No.’ The point is that this is part of the larger anti-choice, religious right action by which we know they’ll be swooping in with bolder and badder initiatives in the next year or two should this one pass.

And we know that they’re waiting and watching to see how well it does, and the rest of these right-wing proposals, so that they can get the ball rolling on their anti-marriage equality ballot initiatives and other anti-people initiatives that they’re ready to put on the ballot next year. The better they do this November 8th, the more prepared and excited they’ll be to work against our rights next year and the year after on many an issue.

So while we don’t like to go to the polls and vote ‘against’ anything, we must use this ‘special’ opportunity and vote NO as much as possible on the statewide measures. Just think like our strong Independent Women Destiny’s Child and sing along with me as you vote:

We'll be Voting No, No, No, No, No (NO)
While we’re Singing No, No, No, No, No (NO)

I don’t think Arnold’s ready for this Nelly.

All the Voters, Democratic, Throw them hands up at me!

Cuz Arnold’s just a big bug-a-boo.

‘Nuff said.