A New Day, A New Blog

Why would I start a new blog? Why does anyone start a blog? A grandiose sense of self-importance and a feeling that others should want to know what I have to say, of course.
Well, as you can tell by the title, I am a). Mormon, and b). am a lefty--politically, not a southpaw. I am ridiculously fascinated by politics. Most people would say it's boring, but I get a kick out of watching the political process in the United States. I think that having a forum where I can share my opinions is a chance to let others see that not all people of my faith aren't all exactly the same.
You see, I am more or less a paradox in Mormonism. Whereas the vast majority of members of my faith are predominantly Republican, I am a Democrat. It's one of the first things people find out about me. I am unabashedly liberal in my views of most things political. I graduated from the University of Utah; I would guess from my own experience that a majority in my church look negatively on that fact. They, often times (and errantly), suggest that the private, church-funded Brigham Young University is the "Lord's University," and assume that those who don't go there don't want to live His standards. I didn't marry young, I don't want a house teaming with children (a couple will suffice), I swear more than I should, and I left the "Zion" of Utah three years ago, heading to the east coast, because I just couldn't take it there anymore.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a good kid. I was married in the temple last spring, I go to church each week--I'm a cub scout den leader even. However, I'm just not in the same mold of what most people would think of a Mormon.
I am beginning this blog as a way to express my opinions of politics, religion and whatever else really suits my fancy. I have made a more fluffy blog previously that doesn't really do much other than let me feel like others care about my life. But, with this, I hope to argue something more substantive.
As it has been exactly one year since the historic election of our president, and as my state, Virginia, held elections yesterday, I imagine this is as good a time as any to launch a new blog.
On the election:
I knew a wallop was coming for the Democrats in Virginia. I knew it was going to be bad, not because there is some hatred for the Obama administration, but that the Democrats did not campaign well. The Republicans ran a moderate, mostly positive campaign. They offered ideas--ideas I find questionable, but ideas nonethess--they tapped in on the feel of the state on the economy, and they projected a plan. The Democrats only seemed to run negative adds and never really showed that they had ideas. They had plans, I heard them. I read them on their websites, but they didn't project that onto the public. It was a disappointing campaign season, but the results from last night were not surprising.
I believe, however, that this blog will offer me a forum (who knows if anyone else will read) to express criticisms towards the McDonnell administrations. I will give him a chance. However, it will be much like that given by Republicans to Obama. McDonnell promised he would fix traffic issues in Virginia. If traffic is not fixed by next November, I think it is only fair that he be criticized for not correcting it.
As for the rest of the election, I am not well informed about Corzine in New Jersey, but understand that he personally was not well-liked, and that overall the election was not a referrendum on the Obama presidency. In the New York 23 race. I am glad that the Democrat won. However, it would have been interesting, had the Conservative party candidate won, thus bolstering the nutter wing of the GOP and emboldening them to chase out moderates. That would have been a dream come true for any Democrat.
Lastly, the gay marriage initiative in Maine: I don't feel strongly one way or the other on this one. It's seeming more and more obvious that the American public is not in favor of allowing gays to marry. I, personally, don't know why. The argument, which is really the only one that I've ever heard, that it somehow weakens traditional marriage doesn't hold much water for me. If we honestly wanted to strenghthen traditional marriage, we should enact laws to make divorce more difficult. We should ensure people know the seriousness of marriage, and should help couples to understand how give and take works in a relationship.
It doesn't seem to me that excluding people from an institution really makes it stronger, or letting others in would make it weaker. I understand my church's teachings on the purpose of marriage, and it makes sense why so many in my faith have the stance on gay marriage that they do. However, in all fairness, Mormons don't really believe that any marriage performed outside of the temple is valid after this life anyway, so, I have a hard time taking some arguments against gay civil marriages seriously.
I could write on about this topic, and probably will later, but, were this is merely an introductory post to this blog, I'll keep it somewhat short.
So that's it for now. Come back, add comments, participate in this forum with me, a Northern Virginia (NOVA) Mormon Lefty.