November 04, 2008

Unofficial Official America 2008 Election Wrap-Up. In a few hours, this interminable election will be over, and we can all go back to our regular lives, with late-nite talk show hosts joking only about Paris Hilton, SNL returning to its natural state of suck, and peace restored to the land. Or, in the alternative, whitey’s gonna steal the election and there’ll be all these race riots and stuff. Either way. Whatever. We need a place to discuss our last-minute wild predictions and baseless paranoid accusations, and this might as well be it. Happy Election Day, everybody! What a long, strange trip it's been, so far.
posted by Capt. Renault 15 years ago
  • *pulled the trigger* *feels relieved* *waits*
  • I put on my Dem boxers from Banana, donkeys on the outside, jackass on the inside. Mind you, they didn't work eight years ago, so who knows? But it's something.
  • I don't drive. There's a polling place within walking distance of my house. The Board of Elections has assigned me to a different polling place, out at the county airport, to which I have to find a ride. Electoral FAIL.
  • I can be in Canada in less than 30 minutes... although, if things go wrong, I suspect there will be a long line at that bridge! My agency leases a building from the local school district, we're also used as a polling. In the years that I've watched elections here, I have NEVER seen this kind of turnout.... pretty amazing... and the nice thing is, 90% of the people voting here are voting Obama... just makes me smile!
  • PALIN FTW!!!!!!11!!!! w00t! Yeah! This is gonna be GRRRRrrrRRRRrrrrreat!!! *dances*
  • Can't you call one of the campaigns for a ride, TUM? Prentend that you're a little old lady?
  • "Prentend" was on my Word a Day Calendar this morning.
  • HAW HAW! *runs*
  • I'm voting a straight quidnunc ticket.
  • If things go awry, I'm headed for Camp Ralph. That is all. What I have found surprising in the past few days, is the large number of comments that I've heard from various people saying that they're headed out of the US if things go wrong... as in, they've had enough - and this election could be the last straw (if it goes bad).
  • Are we nearly there yet?
  • They make me vote in a church. :(
  • I had to vote in a synagogue. Which is better than the First Baptist Church down the road, also a polling place. Saw several very young voters there, even at 7:40 am, which I hope is a good sign. They always talk about the Youth Voters being able to sway things if they come out in force, but in the last few elections apparently they've been distracted by their Xboxes and Rock n' Roll and what have you. Also, free Starbucks! Woot!
  • I bought some champagne in expectation of an Obama win, but since I'm still not convinced that McCain isn't gonna snatch it, it's only a bottle of cheap Asti.
  • I like cheap. What time do you want me there?
  • Excerpts from Mrs. TheDog's journal (she's live blogging today): "I’m in Westmoreland County, Virginia, as the Democratic Party designated representative. In Obama campaign terms, I’m the “inside lawyer” for this voting precinct. I have no inside Republican counterpart....There was a huge line at 6:00 a.m. (when the polls opened)..."
  • It's going to be really hard to steal this election. But they've had at least eight years of practice. So it should be interesting to see how they do it.
  • Indeed. That there'll be a Bradley Effect, I've no doubt. But how big it is is another matter. My paranoid guess is that the GOP will use the Bradley Effect as cover for their shenanigannery.
  • If you've a "I voted" sticker, head down to SoundFix in Williamsburg for free and cheap beer. In true hipster-poser fashion, it's PBR. But even PBR is beer.
  • *fondles Perrier-Jouët bottle* I had to stand in line for 30 minutes. Not bad. Lots of co-workers are reporting 2 + hours an upwards. With such a turnout, the usual last-minute problems and glitches are only amplified. The lines were very disorganized. I would guess that about 25% of the people in my Election District line were in the wrong one. Add to that, confusion with the archaic voting booths here in NYC - - for some reason there were lots of problems with the voting lever that needs to be yanked from left to right, and then right to left after your votes are marked... *yanks kits lever*
  • *hangs chad*
  • Either way, we're screwed:(O)
  • Just talked to a feller in Germany who wished me a good Election Day. I said, "Thanks; we're very excited about it," and he said, "Oh, so are we!"
  • Hope these folks don't have to wait too long for their ride to voting stations...
  • I just voted at the nearby senior citizen complex. I love voting there! And man, did it feel good to darken that oval next to Obama's name. My ballot was so dreamy! I just stood and stared adoringly at it for a little while.
  • It always astounds me the problems the US has with voting machinery and the fact that every state is different . . . Canada manages nicely using the same format paper ballot nationwide and a pencil to fill in the boxes. All that voting-machine technology seems so unnessecary. For some reason wherever I have lived my polling station has always been in the local Catholic elementary school, even though there is always a public school right next to it. If all you Obamites really do flee to Canada if the election is stolen (can it really happen any other way???), please do us a favour and help us get rid of our stinky right-wing nutter government once you get citizenship papers.
  • I had to stand in line for 30 minutes. Well on the way toward passing your Canadian citizenship exam, smt!
  • Home from work today. May have to have some surgery for a hand injury later (hence my lack of posting lately-been typing with 1 finger), then sweet, vicodin-laden voting. Captain, obviously those boxers are a jinx. Get them off now! You know what, either way get them off. Just, you know, to be safe. Truly, I have a giddier hope for today than I know is wise.
  • Canada manages nicely using the same format paper ballot nationwide and a pencil to fill in the boxes. That would threaten each states individual and unique snowflake status. Getting tis to change in America, which was born from a rebellion of "federal" government, just wouldn't go over well. State's rights and all that.
  • Go go go AmeriMonkeys! Vote! Make history! *sends lots of over-excited love from the other side of the pond*
  • Hi ya, fish tick! Thanks for the vote of confidence. *goes to the cafeteria to practice standing in line some more* MonkeyFilter: sweet, vicodin-laden voting
  • They make me vote in a church. :( Then vote for the godless heathen ticket, and while you're there, fuck someone. That there'll be a Bradley Effect, I've no doubt. But how big it is is another matter. 538 made a good call on this one, I think. Essentially they said we need to be watching two states as the returns come in. First is Virginia, for the reason everyone's saying. If McCain loses VA, it's likely over for him -- he can still win it, but it's a long shot. But the other state, the one that has direct bearing on the Bradley Effect, is New Hampshire, and here's why: NH is hugely polling pro-Obama. The latest poll at electoral-vote.com has him at a 13% lead, and the other polls aren't far off from that. He's going to win this state, barring shenanigans. However, Obama was also supposed to take NH in the primaries, and Clinton pulled a major upset there. No one is sure why. It could have been Jeremiah Wright, it could have been bad polling data, it could have been that Clinton's campaigning outclassed him there. However, it could also be because NH is one of the whitest states in the Union. No one knows for sure. So, says 538, watch how hard NH goes for Obama. If they turn in, say a 5% or 6% win for Obama, hold on to your shit, because there's literally nothing that could account for that other than racism. That's your litmus state, right there. If they go less than strong for Obama (or do the unthinkable and go red), then Obama's in for the fight of his life. Also, I'm saving my 750th Twitter to celebrate a historic victory tonight. America, don't fuck up my Twitter.
  • I also want to give a shoutout to a friend who's not a monkey and who I think only one of you have met. He's a largely conservative (on personal moral issues) evangelical Christian who underwent a real re-evaluation a few years back and realized that those of his faith should be embracing more compassionate social policy. In effect, he switched parties. He became a youth pastor at his church this year, and his is the lone voice in church leadership that isn't just parroting the republican line. He's challenging the other pastors, and on at least one occasion has loudly fought the inclusion of political messages into sermons. He takes joking-in-earnest horseshit from all sides. He's been called a socialist and a baby-killer, despite being both in favor of a free market and opposed to the practice of abortion. He's challenged the church's leadership time and again, and most of that time he's hit his head against a wall. But he ain't giving up, and he shows no sign of slacking off. He's trying to make that church be a more open and tolerant and inclusive place, and he's throwing out the heretical idea that maybe we can worry about who everyone else is fucking once we get that whole poverty thing taken care of. Few of these good works go unpunished, but it occurred to me this morning as I was thinking about him, about how proud I am to have a better man than I as a friend, that what he's going through at his church is an amplified microcosm of what it's been like to be an American for the last eight years. I joked very much in earnest about fleeing to Canada when Bush was re-elected, and when I think of my friend and what he deals with six days a week, I'm ashamed of such jokes. His name is Stuart Stokes, and he's just pretty goddamn fucking awesome.
  • "Canada manages nicely using the same format paper ballot nationwide and a pencil to fill in the boxes." Yes, but Canadians basically vote for one MP. Today, Americans are electing: A president Senators Representatives Governors Various state officials Various local officials Judges Propositions ...and so on. It varies widely not only from state to state but county to county, city to city. I once voted between three candidates that were running for county weed control commissioner. There are usually dozens of judicial candidates. It is a fairly complex process, and to have any chance at getting timely results, voting machines (computers) are required. And yes, it is a shame that people fuck with them.
  • Giant shoutout to Stuart Stokes. The world needs more people like him. Thanks for sharing his story mct. A friend of mine's husband is similar: he's a worship pastor in their very evangelical church - and is the biggest Obama supporter you'll ever meet. He is horrified by what McCain stands for, and deeply insulted by the very idea that Palin would appeal to his 'core values'. Reading his blog over the past few months has been heart-warming and inspirational. Also, it's not just the US! Get Out The Vote Palau! Everyone go do that democratic thing and make the rest of us proud!
  • The Republican worked in a tannery; The Democrat worked in a cannery. They cast a vote each. Results were in reach, But it failed due to shenannigannery.
  • Yes, but Canadians basically vote for one MP. Not always. Sometimes there are other things to vote for, too, like the referendum last time in Ontario, or for a whole whack of things at the municipal level. That's where paper ballots in different colours come in. Easy enough to keep separate. All this machine business seems like unnecessary complication and expense to me... As for 'getting timely results', I've never found the Canadian process to be longer than the American one, overall, though sometimes some funky things happen on the margins after you go to bed.
  • Today, we are all "Canadians".
  • And another thing. If Obama wins this, we've got to get the crazy Palin woman as far away from politics as possible so we don't have to go through this kind of terror ever again.
  • According to this AP article, Karl Rove has predicted an Obama win, with 338 electoral votes, in his email titled "The End".
  • Pretty much everyone, across the board, feels the same way about Palin. It's just that until tomorrow the republicans can't say what they're thinking. If they lose, she will be vanished like they vanished Carly Fiorina.
  • Gotta love the ballots here in Ohio, where McCain is at the top of the list and Obama is the 5th one down. Ah well, at least this time we used a paper fill-in-the-bubble ballot instead of a Diebold touchscreen.
  • Voting Feels Good: Babeland Rewards Voters with a Silver Bullet or a Maverick. [possibly NSFW, depending on how cool your boss is]
  • Hmm, it has been a while since I've ventured into Babeland...
  • >>Then vote for the godless heathen ticket, and while you're there, fuck someone. Such an amazing coincidence, the pro-marriage brochure that lay prominently on a table the voting line had to walk past, given the nature of one of our ballot issues. Seriously, this shit should be illegal and prosecuted.
  • Thanks for that, h-dogg! And the numbers start to roll in... here we go!
  • Got a ride to and from the airport; only had to wait a minute. From what I've been hearing around town, the early-morning crowds were the biggest. I guess EVERYBODY's eager to get it over with.
  • I'm scared.
  • Me too. I can hardly bare to watch the numbers coming in after the previous two elections...
  • This is killing me. It's looking closer than I like. I know it's early but still...McCain can't win, right? Right?
  • Florida is looking good so far... *holds Lara's hand*
  • *holds breath*
  • If you're watching CNN, that hologram was cool, though.
  • husband of a friend of mine was denied the opportunity to vote today and forced to do a provisional ballot despite being registered. main theory right now is evil forces attempting to ensure the passage of proph8te by tampering with voter access in the bay area. argh!!!!!!!!
  • grrrr Make sure he reports to board of elections. May not do anything, but if nobody reports... A friend in TX who's a Democrat wasn't allowed to vote. They couldn't find his registration, didn't tell him he could do a provisional ballot. I was prepared to have to do one, because I changed my address at the last minute, but I was fine.
  • Medusa - when I had to do a provisional ballot last time (because I never got my absentee ballot), it reset my voting status. So, if your husband's friend was normally an absentee voter, he may have to register for it again. And of course, they say nothing about this at the polling sites.
  • How big a landslide will it need to be before McCain cedes? The last 8 years, we've started a new tradition of refusing to cede before a recount. Should be interesting.
  • Depending on who you pay attention to, Obama is either leading or tied in Texas. In TEXAS!!! Sorry for yelling, but I'm excited. :) They don't expect him to take Texas, but the fact that he's holding his own is amazing!
  • Breathing a little easier. BBC has Jesse Jackson. What the heck?
  • thanks for the info folks, luckily I know a bunch of people who are very politically/legally active and informed. they are getting the info out there for people on where to go if these voting issues happen (ie calling 866 OUR VOTE to report problems) good luck all I am off to the drinkfest election party. I hope we meet on the far side in a happy new world of hope and excitement!!!!!!!
  • Apparently it happened to Tim Robbins, too. "I have the time and luxury to do this," Robbins said of the four hours it required him to cast his vote. "If this is a systemic thing, what does that mean for the country?"
  • Come talk in IRC! #mofirc on irc.slashnet.org
  • I'm hanging with the nice folks at PoliticalFilter. They're a good bunch, once they're away from the Blue...
  • Christ, this is nerve-racking.
  • I NEED TO KNOW IF I CAN POP OPEN THE CHAMPERS ASTI
  • POP THE DAMN ASTI ALREADY!! CNN just called Ohio for Obama... I'm saying McCain can kiss is goodbye...
  • ack, kiss it goodbye!
  • *is already half-way down the champers prosecco*
  • *wishes that it was Friday night*
  • I wish I'd gotten some likker in.
  • My understanding is that without Virginia, McCain has no hope. And VA is neck and neck....
  • Obama doesn't need VA at this point. He doesn't need another swing state. He just needs to hold on to where he's been polling moderately to strongly, and he's done. California, Washington, and Oregon together push him over the top. The rest of the country can go red, and McCain still eats crow before midnight.
  • Captain, BBC called it for Obama. You can drink it. Can I also say I'm having fun in #mofirc? (Sorry, there isn't time...)
  • Jesus God, America. Yes we can. Pretty much predicting I tear up several times before the end of tomorrow.
  • Oh, there will definitely be tears chez Lara.
  • *kisses Lara* *kisses mothy* *kisses medusa* *kisses TUM* Hell... *kisses Capt* *kisses mct* *kisses kit* GROUP HUG!!!!!!!!
  • *kisses GramMa* *kisses Ralph* I'm feeling it... I just can't help myself.
  • That's ok, I feel myself all the time. Wait --
  • Oh my God, I've been an emotional, hormonal wreck all this week - crying almost every damn day. A friend was working an Obama office in Ohio, went to the rally the other night, shook his hand (said that he actually took the time to look into her eyes as he went by, and did this with everyone). She's been relaying all sorts of amazing stories from people she's met along the way, working to support him. This is just an astounding moment in time for us. I'm thrilled to hear so many people are coming out of the woodwork to vote. Maybe we can revamp this ridiculous voting system and get even more next time. As tired as I am - I cannot even imagine how weary the candidates must be.
  • umm... I don't understand #mofirc I understand its a chat room, and it's on slashnet, but I don't see where to register etc... Plus, hugs?
  • *kisses Darshon* *adds a hug since you're not around so much*
  • My ex Grandmother-in-law (who lives in Indiana) said last week that she hoped she didn't live to see a n***** become president of the U.S. What do you suppose I should wear to her funeral?
  • annasbrew, I'm just using mibbit. No need to register. http://www.mibbit.com/ *group hugs everyone* This really does feel like Christmas eve.
  • Capt., you are a pervert. Wait, am I the last person to figure that out?
  • fairywench, yes. Yes you are.
  • Well, I'm surrounded by perverts, so it seems normal to me. :)
  • annasbrew: if mibbit doesn't work for you, try downloading firefox, and chatzilla, then just hit the 'Mofi IRC channel' link on the frontpage sidebar
  • also, GROUP HUG!!!!
  • President Barack Obama.
  • HUGGY HUGGY
  • Sounds good. Also, hi Hank!
  • Wait, do his friends get to call him President B.O.?
  • No, President Hussein.
  • President Barack and Joe (biden, VP) PB&J.
  • Lol, annabrew. If Obama wins, it messes up the whole "Pick Your Blues Name" theory. You know... An ailment, a fruit, and a president's name. i.e., Blind Lemon Jefferson.
  • Oprah AND David Brooks have called it for Hopey -- that's good enough for me!
  • WE HAVE PRESIDENT OBAMA
  • Great job, America. Thank you. *tears up a little*
  • Geez, I'm crying like a baby, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best day EVAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Congratulations USA!
  • Ladies and gentlemen -- your more perfect Union.
  • YES!! Damn!! President Obama... finally this country has a damn chance...
  • *kisses Hank* Never thought I would say that... *feels like running to Times Square and screaming*
  • YES WE DID
  • Been away from a computer and any news since early-dark 'o thirty this morning. Have gotten really really excited reading your posts--have been afraid to tune into/look at any news. I want to hear a State of the Union Address delivered by President Barack Obama. Then, please, please, please, let the man live up to and justify the faith we have placed in him. It's going to take a heck of a guy to turn around what's happened in the last years, but maybe we can get started. *holds breath and turns into a BluerHorse*
  • you missed the group hug Gramma? *orders another round!*
  • *throws GramMa down and gives her a big 'ol smooch*
  • My first hope isn't let the man live up, but just let the man live. I hate to even write those words, but I swear I am going to be praying for him and his family every damn night. Please, please keep him safe, for his sake, his family's sake and for OUR sake!!!
  • Huh. Wow. Who knew. McCain has given the most gracious and honourable concesion speach imaginable. I really respect him for that.
  • I'll second that - even through the boos.
  • Sara looks so incredibly disappointed - so does her husband.
  • I'll second that - even through the boos. Especially in the face of that. His crowd is being tacky. He's telling them to stop it.
  • That was actually a lovely speech. Despite the booing.
  • Wow. That was a complete first class concesion speech. I am floored. Too bad the crowd acted like a bunch of idiots, but there you go.
  • I wish we saw more of this John McCain over the past few years. Pure class.
  • I am proud that this country finally found it's compass... To those of you in the rest of the world, my apologies for who we've been.. for those of you here...be vigilant, do not let down the pressure to make things better...
  • Amen to that, HuronBob.
  • No kidding. This is the first time I heard him speak in this race that I didn't find myself cringing, but actually opened up to listen to him. Where has this person been hiding?
  • I agree, McCain has some class..I've always known that... I hope his supporters heard what he said...
  • McCain always had class. He lost it during the campaign, but now that it's over, he can go back to having class.
  • Nothing became his campaign so much as the leaving of it. Nice job, Johnny Mac.
  • Massive crowds surrounding the White House, screaming. I wonder if Bush Jr. is actually in there right now.
  • To be fair, the '96 campaign reduced Bob Dole, too.
  • Heartfelt congratulations and thanks, you lovely Merkin Monkeys!
  • No booing when Obama mentioned McCain . . . they cheered instead.
  • I didn't think I had any more tears of utter joy left - apparently I do. The man can speak so damn well.
  • NEW PUPPEH IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!
  • Yes, my kids heard that and looked at me with GIANT eyes - as if THEY had sacrificed something and deserved a new puppy, too. Sheesh - silly kids.
  • And the most gracious acceptance speech too.
  • Brilliant speech. Amazing.
  • What a change to have a real orator in charge for a change. won't be as unintentionally funny tho
  • A proud moment for everyone. No celebration, but a very solemn moment. Got a little weepy towards the end there, but not as much as Jesse Jackson.
  • Night everyone - I will be waking up to a brand new, beautiful America.
  • I've been lurking on a forum on Etsy.com, and it seems to be the non-Americans who are the most weepy. How horrible does a president of the US have to be, to make people in other countries cry tears of happiness that he is gone?
  • Thanks, America. I know you've got a long way to go, on a difficult road, but you're living up to the promise of your country and your people. Pat yourselves on the back tonight, but tomorrow, the work begins.
  • Well, actually, I think the work begins on Thursday. I don't think too much work is going to get done tomorrow after all the celebrating going on tonight.
  • to the rest of the world, from the bottom of my husband and our other streets-of-oakland streaking friends (yes, followed closely by very curious cops...) I am so very glad we could accommodate you!!! I've never felt like this about an election before...I dont think I ever felt "proud to be an american" but both mccains incredibly graceful concession speech and obama's really heartfelt and spontaneous acceptance speech made me feel that pride...
  • Damn, I watched Obama's speech and cried tears. Thank Mothra for telecommuting. McCain was very gracious in his concession. This is the America I believed in as a child.
  • Lovely party in the firc last night. mothninja made drinks, and we played Pin the 'Stache on John Bolton. The best part was when Joe Lieberman didn't stop by to cheer us up with one of his old-timey zombie ballads. (Oh, and Lara was there.)
  • You bastards didn't stay long enough to clean up the mess though!
  • >>I agree, McCain has some class..I've always known that... Which makes it all the more contemptible how he sold out his principles, decency and reputation in his desperation to win.
  • Well done America. I honestly didn't think you had it in you. You proved me wrong.
  • Gore Vidal was just beautiful on the BBC last night
  • Why do the anti-equal-marriage-rights crowd hate the economy?
  • Ooooh, Oregon has gotten so progressive.
  • Oregon strikes me as a pretty awesome state, politically, from what little I've read about it. Were it not for the cold and being half a continent away from my family, it'd be high on my list of desirable places to live.
  • Indeed. That there'll be a Bradley Effect, I've no doubt. But how big it is is another matter. Goodbye, Bradley Effect; Hello, Huxtable Effect
  • *has fond memories of the Cosby Show* For all his faults, I am glad the Bill Cosby created that series.
  • I like the Bill Cosby and the Jell-o pudding and the jazz music.