Fortunately, good triumphed in Alabama

From the Seattle Times:

Americans of all political stripes should be overjoyed that Roy Moore will not join the U.S. Senate.

This country already faces an uphill battle to regain its moral authority and maintain global leadership after electing an offensive, uninformed boor to the presidency. It would be harder to view the election of President Donald Trump as an aberration and temporary stumble in the nation’s progress if Moore had won.

Instead, this election may be a signal that our moral compass is working again. From afar, it truly appeared to be a battle of good versus evil, and on Tuesday the good side prevailed.

Moore lost to Doug Jones, a former prosecutor who pledged bipartisanship and is most known for finally bringing justice to terrorists — two Ku Klux Klansmen who bombed a Birmingham church in 1963.

Enthusiasm about Moore’s loss is tempered, though, by the fact that 48 per cent of Alabama voters wanted this twisted relic and culture warrior to represent them. Nearly half of that state supported Moore despite gaping holes in his facade of morality and a judicial career marred by suspensions and an ethics violation.

Hyperpartisans who supported Moore despite cascading allegations of morally repugnant behaviour permanently stained their credibility.

For the moment, Alabama’s progress and wise choice is much appreciated. It will truly be worth celebrating if it marks a turning point and voters continue choosing decency and character over divisiveness and blind party loyalty.