What the hell. Post your comments here if you got 'em. I'm not liveblogging the stupid thing, but if friends of wmtc want to watch election returns together, the least I can do is give them a clean sandbox to play in. Enjoy. Fingers crossed, breath held.
But I'm holding my breath until January 20.
507 comments:
1 – 200 of 507 Newer› Newest»On election night here in Canada, I took moderation off for a few hours. No way I can do that tonight! But I'll keep my laptop around and will try to put comments through asap.
A big part of the Red Sox game threads is to post ignorant and moronic statements from the TV/radio coverage.
... so who are we going to assign to Fox?
OMG, I didn't even think of what coverage we'll watch! I haven't watched one minute of a US news broadcast since the day we moved here.
A Thought That Strangely Has Not Going Around In My Head All That Much
A black man could be elected president of the US tonight.
That may seem like an odd, but it has been almost an afterthought amid the near-constant coverage of bullshit non-issues and knowing what I do about voter fraud.
And knowing how meh Obama actually is (and will be) as a Democrat.
But I was pretty sure I'd see a non-white president in my lifetime, though I did not know when. So that is kind of cool.
John Ibbitson wrote the following on the front page of today's Globe & Mail:
"Mr. Obama personified the change that was upon America, that the ossified power structures of both the Democratic and Republican parties tried to ignore or couldn't comphrend."
That surreal sentence presents as fact that Obama exists outside America's two party-system and has crashed that party and dragged them kicking and screaming into some enlighted age.
A lot of Ibbitson's column goes on in this vein -- painting Obama as not quite the US Messiah, but you can just about see the golden sun beams coming out of the clouds and shining on him.
Wow, an election game thread! I am watching CNN at the moment, but will likely be switching around through the night and checking on line as well. One place I will not be, however, is Fox. Not sure you will find any Fox volunteers here!
Among one of the moving moments today: an African American woman I work with told me that her 18 year old son was voting for his first time today. Imagine being a young African American male and having your first vote cast for an African American male! I never thought that day would come. Unlike Allan, I just never thought it would happen, not in my lifetime.
Perhaps that is the first time I was more cynical than Allan.
But I was pretty sure I'd see a non-white president in my lifetime, though I did not know when. So that is kind of cool.
Yeah, that really is cool, even if I don't agree with his politics.
The other thing that's cool is that even though the Democrats are the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned, even the lesser of two evils would be a vast improvement at this point.
I'm still at the office and can't seem to concentrate thinking about the election and I've never cared about American elections before. I pride myself on not caring what happens in the states but I must admit this election has hooked me. But let me add I'm not hooked enough to watch FOX! I'll be watching the Ceeb or CNN when I get home.
Of course if this is an Obama landslide it might be fun to watch Fox try to spin it.
Right wing Drudge says "EXIT POLLS SHOW OBAMA BIG".
Vermont for Obama, Ky for McCain. No surprise there.
Wow, an election game thread!
I hosted one for the recent Canadian election (here), while you all were watching a playoff game. It was fun - and it helped me cope with the results.
Hopefully we won't need coping tonight, but we don't know yet.
Allan, I was always sure I'd see a person of colour in the WH in my lifetime, and a woman, too. Still hoping.
Perhaps that is the first time I was more cynical than Allan.
Gotta be! Mark it down!
Unlike Allan, I just never thought it would happen, not in my lifetime.
Well, since I am so much younger ... :>)
I also assume I'll see a female president and a female major leaguer ... and re the baseball player: no matter what she looks like, I'll have a serious crush on her!
***
Funny stuff: We go (in what 24 hours) from L saying "a game thread on election night - whateryou nuts???" to both of us having our laptops in the living room like the Red Sox and Royals are playing tonight!!!
Yeah, that really is cool, even if I don't agree with his politics.
The other thing that's cool is that even though the Democrats are the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned, even the lesser of two evils would be a vast improvement at this point.
I agree with both of these points.
I remember talking to my niece a while back, during the primaries, and she said, no matter what we think of their politics, the Democrat candidate for president will either be an African American or a woman. We both kind of marvelled at that for a while.
and re the baseball player: no matter what she looks like, I'll have a serious crush on her!
Me too!!
Obama is the 13th (at least) African-American to run for president of the United States.
An article quoted here mentions Blanche Kelso Bruce, a Mississippi senator who was nominated for president from the floor of the Republican national convention in 1880:
"Bruce, who was born a slave in Virginia in 1841, was the second African-American in the U.S. Senate, pushing civil rights for blacks, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants and former Confederates.
The Almanac of Women and Minorities in American Politics and other sources place him as first among African-American candidates, with a nomination at the Republican convention in 1880 in Chicago.
But other sources say he was nominated for vice president in 1880 and again in 1888. (The first African-American nominated for vice president was Frederick Douglass. That was in 1872 on the ticket of the Equal Rights Party, with suffragist Victoria Claflin Woodhull running as president.)
Bruce made history in other ways as well. U.S. Senate historical minutes note that on Feb. 14, 1879, he was the first African-American to preside over the Senate. He later became the first African-American to have his name on U.S. currency when he was appointed registrar of the treasury by President James Garfield in 1881."
*********
I knew about Woodhull/Douglass (a VERY cool ticket) but I don't think I have ever heard of Bruce.
Well, since I am so much younger ... :>)
I also assume I'll see a female president and a female major leaguer ... and re the baseball player: no matter what she looks like, I'll have a serious crush on her!
Who knew you were such a dreamer?
I thought a female President was more likely than an African American President. But maybe that LARGE age gap between us is part of the reason. My early years were before the civil rights movement when Jim Crow laws still existed---not where I lived, but they existed in many places in the US. I never thought we would be able to reduce racism enough to get to this point in just 50 years. After all, it took almost 100 years to get from the Emancipation Proclamation to Brown v Board of Ed.
Female baseball player in the majors? Hmm. I think that is even less likely!
Female baseball player in the majors? Hmm. I think that is even less likely!
It's quite likely! She'll be a pitcher. It will happen.
And about that African American president, we haven't seen it yet. I'll believe it after January 20.
I am also hoping that the Red Sox, who were shamefully the last team to call up a black player, will be the first to have a woman on the roster.
sigh - looks like we'll be checking out msnbc
poll closings
7 states closed at 7 and 3 more at 7:30, including ohio. 16 more close at 8 pm.
msnbc linescore:
mccain 8-3
These talking heads are making me dizzy. And nauseated.
Amy, I know. I can't watch. We're going to watch comedy and whatever until later.
I knew about Woodhull/Douglass (a VERY cool ticket)
My second favourite after Eugene V Debs.
Watch? Okay.
Listen? Perhaps not.
OH NOES!!!!!!
McCain - 16
Obama - 3 (VT!)
I cannot believe I am watching US election returns.
Yet I am.
Big resister campaign night at Grossman's. I just couldn't get into the public jubilation.
Black President: Before this day is over
Female president: Before I retire (I'm 47)
Female MLB player: In my lifetime. Probably a pitcher.
Female NHL player: Before I retire. Almost certainly will be goalie. Kim St. Pierre practiced with the Habs last month and did very well http://tinyurl.com/5jpgfj
Sounds good to me!
msnbc showing palm beach ballot. unlike the rest of the state, people had to create and color in a box between two bigger boxes -- not a check or anything -- sounds like it was something they made up just to fuck with voters.
So far no surprises that McCain has KY and WV. The big question marks are ahead. If Obama stays ahead in Florida, that could seal it.
I don't get why ballot design is so controversial. Our ballot was a clear as could be, like taking an SAT but without tricky questions. Just fill in the right circles, then put the ballot in the scanner. Easy as pie. Can Massachusetts be that much smarter than other places? Oh, yeah, yes. Remember 1972.
Mississippi:
***
Numerous complaints allege that voters who have changed their name or address are being required to show a photo identification card.
"That is absolutely improper ..." said Ymeka Rushing, director of Protect the Vote 2008.
Rushing said complaints of machines "switching votes" have been received from a precinct in Jackson County, another in Madison County and multiple complaints from Simpson County.
About 14,000 people fall in the category of those who made a voter registration change, such as a new name or address, but find they're not listed as being registered to vote at their designated poll ...
****
We recently looked up what happened to Ila Borders, who pitched for the St Paul Saints and had a try out with the Twins. She's out of the game now, but I'm waiting for the next...
Can Massachusetts be that much smarter than other places? Oh, yeah, yes. Remember 1972.
Excellent answer. :)
I would say the ballot design depends on whether or not you want people to vote. In Massachusetts, they do. In other states...
Big resister campaign night at Grossman's. I just couldn't get into the public jubilation.
I'm heading out to the, err, Democrats Abroad shindig on College.
I can't help it!! This could be historic, and..and..
yes, an Obama win will not turn the country around and definitely this administration has simply been more brazen in their imperialist adventures, but I've just HATED the last eight years of the US gov't soo much. And the first African-American prez is pretty huge. I can't help it..I'm excited!
And I'm hoping some Americans can walk me through the US electoral process....!
Lots of shit from the LA Times:
Heavy voter turnout overwhelmed polling places in the key battleground states of Florida, Ohio and Virginia, prompting tens of thousands of complaints about long waits, missing ballots and malfunctioning voting machines. ...
Voters in Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio faced waits of up to four hours ...
Widespread breakdowns of electronic voting machines and jamming of optical scanners for paper ballots were reported throughout Florida. ...
Misprinted ballots in Broward County caused delay at some polling places, and election workers in Tampa, Tallahassee, Palm Beach and Miami were having trouble calling in to the state supervisor of elections to verify eligibility of voters ...
In addition to machine problems in Philadelphia, election monitors across Pennsylvania reported at midday that students at Penn State University and elsewhere were being forced to vote on provisional ballots [which] may not get counted because they are not tabulated until days after election day.
***
Have fun Lisa!
Democrats Abroad?! *shudder*
The electoral balance will shift now that MA and NY will come in.
KDKA TV:
"Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's right to vote in Penn Hills has been challenged -- and election officials will not count his absentee ballot (or that of his wife) until the matter is resolved, Allegheny County Elections Department director Mark Wolosik confirmed.
Erin Vecchio, chairman of the Penn Hills School Board and chair of the Penn Hills Democratic Party, says she challenged the Santorums' right to vote in Pennsylvania this morning because they really live in Virginia. ...
Vecchio, who has had a long-running dispute with Santorum over his residency, says the former senator and his family live in "an undisclosed location" in northern Virginia and that his attempt to vote here is "voter fraud."
****
HAHAHAHAHAH!
Count is now 77 to 34 in electoral college votes.
We're watching some Canadian comedy show on the election. A guy is talking to Americans, like a low-budget Michael Moore style show. Funny so far.
Still no surprises though.
Evening, chaps.
Very interesting watching the numbers spew in. How's everyone? Yay game thread!
Oh the Santorum residency thing, how great!!! A great blogger team on that issue used to read and comment on wmtc. IIRC, they were transplanted Canadians, great people.
Democrats Abroad?! *shudder*
I thought you'de say that!
I'm partly going because a good friend of mine is determined to go there...wouldn't have been my first choice. But I do want to be "publicly" jubilant tonight..I hope.
Have a good game thread!
Obama leading in FL 55% to 45% with 15% in. Hard to believe that will hold, but still...wow.
Fuckin' A, it's Ish!
Ish, I know you were undecided about how to vote. Unlike JoS game threads, this one's not open to all. It's Democrat or left of Democrat only.
If you voted for Obama, you are VERY welcome here. If not, see you 'round.
Sorry, my friend, I gotta do what I gotta do.
John King and his map are amazing. He can bring out more data more clearly than anyone.
Data shows that McCain is pulling far fewer votes in areas where Bush prevailed than Bush did in 04.
MSNBC projects that Obama "won Pennsylvania ... NBC projected that Obama had also won Massachusetts, New Jersey and his home state of Illinois ... He also won Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and Vermont ...
Obama was also leading in Ohio ..."
Obama: 103-34
No worries, L. I voted for Obama and ironically, I have to go now! My sister made me anadama bread! But I'll be back in a little while.
"We recently looked up what happened to Ila Borders, who pitched for the St Paul Saints and had a try out with the Twins. She's out of the game now, but I'm waiting for the next..."
I was thinking about her when I read this thread earlier. A big shout-out for the St. Paul Saints! Woo-hoo! 7YO did baseball camp with them last year; blocks from our old house...
CNN hasn't yet projected PA, but other networks have. CNN playing it safe.
Hi, Ish! Glad to hear you helped bring Maine over to the Democrats...at least 3 of their 4 electoral votes. Weird Maine splits their votes.
Reuters says "The networks aren't going to hold back calling the election for Barack Obama or John McCain if either gathers the magic number of 270 electoral votes.
That means it's possible, if not altogether likely, that the presidential election could be called before polls close in the West. That happened once before, in 1980, when the election was famously called -- and conceded -- by 9 p.m. ET. But it'll be the Internet, cable and the speed of news that will be the driving factor this time. ...
"There's no way to get around it," CBS News senior vp Paul Friedman said. "If one man gets 270 electoral votes before the West Coast polls are closed, we're not going to pretend (he doesn't)."
*********
I drove Kim to vote (I'm not registered. It's laziness.) and her polling place was...a botanical garden! She said it was her best voting experience ever, surrounded by the sights and smells of exotic plants.
I always like switching between Fox and the others to see the differences. They have McCain winning some mystery state that no one else knows about.
Maine and Nebraska, the "split 'em up" states. Seems like something every U.S. state should do instead of 1/25th of them.
Jere, you didn't register? Tsk, tsk. At least you are living in a blue state where your missing vote won't make a difference, but...
"At least you are living in a blue state where your missing vote won't make a difference, but..."
I've lived in 4 states in 4 years--and never registered anytime I moved. But am always in a solid blue state, so... obviously I'm missing out on some other stuff.... I usually just vote for the Green Party anyway and get yelled at by people who refuse to vote their conscience.
Wow - an ABC station has the results crawl running during commercials.
No worries, L. I voted for Obama
Yeah Ish!
A big shout-out for the St. Paul Saints! Woo-hoo! 7YO did baseball camp with them last year; blocks from our old house...
Yeah St Paul Saints, Ila Borders and 7YO!
I usually just vote for the Green Party anyway and get yelled at by people who refuse to vote their conscience.
Yeah Jere!
Yeah voting your conscience! I will soon post an update on our citizenship apps, so we are one step closer to voting our conscience without being accused of throwing our votes away.
Pennslyvania Senate has a Republican named "Zimmer".
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Radio Canada (the only coverage I follow is incidental, while in the car ferrying the kids) reports record high voter turn-outs in a number of places. So my question (to demonstrate my near-total ignorance of U.S. electoral politics) is, does high turn-out necessarily favour either side, or does it depend entirely on where it occurs?
I would like to believe that record high participation correlates with support for the lesser-of-two evils candidate (cf. L-girls comment about states that actually want people to vote) but I have to admit that I really don't understand a country where anyone has to vote on a provisional ballot in a national election. Why, because they were not sure what names to put on the ballot until too late??
I think it would be great if the Dems won HUGE tonight, won the WH, won majorities in both houses. Then everyone can see what they do and don't do - who they really are. No more excuses, whadda ya got?
Heavy turnout favours Dems. The more people who vote, the more people vote Democrat.
CBC: Obama 103-39.
Everyone has pretty much the same #s. After a blue New England, the South and Midwest should be rolling in for McPalin.
That's why liberal organizations do voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote campaigns, and right-wing orgs do voter suppression.
I think it would be great if the Dems won HUGE tonight, won the WH, won majorities in both houses. Then everyone can see what they do and don't do - who they really are. No more excuses, whadda ya got?
Well, Dems are expected to get 58 Senate seats, 2 short of a filibuster majority.
In which case, they will have the GOP minority in the Senate to blame.
If they do happen to pick up 60 or more, there will still be excuses. More creative ones.
" Pennslyvania Senate has a Republican named "Zimmer".
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
That's so funny, earlier I saw a race between a Chambliss and a Martin. Didn't know who to root against!
Fox has projected McCain winning 250-31!!!
....
No, just kidding, they have Obama 103-39 too.
oops 103-45.
CNN: 81-34.
Laggin' behind....
CNN is really holding back on making their calls. But the NYT site must be waiting till they get 100% or something, because it's still only 10-8 over there.
I really don't understand a country where anyone has to vote on a provisional ballot in a national election. Why, because they were not sure what names to put on the ballot until too late??
David, the provisional ballots are just counted later after verification of the voter's eligibility. At least they are SUPPOSED to be counted... It's not that the names of the candidates weren't ready to be on the ballot. If I understood your question...
David Cho in da thread! Welcome.
Did you do it? Did you vote Democrat?
GDGD showing an injury delay. What's going on???
Speaking of the Senate:
"Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he fears that America will be hurt if Democrats achieve a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate as a result of the elections. ...
Lieberman was asked on the Glenn Beck radio show whether he agreed with GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) that “if we don’t at least have the firewall of the filibuster in the Senate, that in many ways America will not survive."
***
LOL, Jere! Feeling some baseball withdrawal?? Me, too.
Amy, I fear you are unwittingly walking into a trap. (Is that a redundancy?)
When a Canadian says, "I don't understand why the US..." or "Will someone explain to me how the US...", they're usually not really asking a question.
Heh, Jere.
Let's not see any dongs tonight, m'kay?
The NYT is always well behind the rest of society.
They had a big feature on the fad of CD players today.
ha.
I wonder if Catiglione sits at home and does the play-by-play of this stuff.
I just got a small boost of confidence in my southern state. We have now sent Libby Dole packing back to Kansas where she actually lives.
Kay Hagan didn't even want to run a year ago because Dole's seat was considered untouchable. No Dem has won that seat in over 30 years.
Woo woo!
Determined Texas Woman, 92, Votes in Ambulance
SAN ANTONIO – Betty Owen is 92 and after a stroke four years ago, needs a feeding tube and can't walk. But she was determined not to miss Tuesday's election. She arrived at her polling place on a gurney in an ambulance, where an election judge and support worker climbed aboard with an electronic voting machine and let her cast her ballot. ...
Owen, a Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, cast her first ballot for Wendell Willkie, a Republican running against Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.
She became a Democrat after voting for John Kennedy in 1960. She cast a straight Democratic ballot Tuesday.
****
Me walking into a trap? Not the first time. :) I actually didn't understand his question, even if it was just rhetorical.
CNN finally says PA goes to Obama.
My 91 year old mother in law took her walker and went to vote for Obama today. I am SO proud of her.
Hey, SoSock. What's it looking like down there in NC?
"Nervous" is shifting to "hopeful."
Hi SoSock! We have a lot of JoSers here tonight, very cool.
NBC: Obama 103-58 as some southern states go for mcshithead.
When a Canadian says, "I don't understand why the US..." or "Will someone explain to me how the US...", they're usually not really asking a question.
So call me unusual, I can take it: I was really looking for an answer.* Now I understand that a "provisional ballot" is I might have called a "sequestered ballot", and you've confirmed that a high turnout is a good thing (whew!), for which thanks to all. There is so much not to understand about the U.S. (esp. when I usually try to ignore it) and so few reliable sources of info like you folks.
(*Then again, I have been known to wittingly walk into traps too).
I'm watching for the latest.
There it is. With 15% reporting, Obama leads 55% - 45%. Hard to believe. Here, in white bread NC.
I'm still not convinced he'll win after all the rural areas come in, but the fact he's doing this well is an incredible testament to just how unpopular Bush is right now. And maybe, hopefully, a sign that old prejudices are starting to crumble.
Based on the projections for the states that were heavily leaning towards Obama and those leaning heavily towards McCain before the election, Obama now leads 259 to 163, now that NH and PA have gone for Obama. If FL or OH or NC or IN go for Obama, it's over. Amazing.
NBC showed a shot of the outside of Rockefeller Center. There are red and blue bar graphs going up the front of the building for elctroral votes. Neat.
Thanks, David, for making me feel less foolish and more useful!! :)
SoSOck, I hope NC is the one that pushes Obama over the 270!
Unusual is good :)
CNN projecting Hagan, SoSock! Good for her. Dole and her godless ad deserve what they got.
If FL or OH or NC or IN go for Obama, it's over. Amazing.
Cat jst said "if he wins here, it's all over"
Great minds, etc. etc.
Amy, I put up a comment a few minutes back when our local station announced the projection for Hagan. Dole had an "untouchable" seat.
So much for that :)
Yup, I see your comment, SoSock. Very cool. Hard to believe Jesse Helms once held that seat. Hope he is rolling over in his grave.
174-49 according to CNN
msnbc
175-70
(i think, small font)
Wonder what that one point discrepancy means between MSNBC and CNN.
the skating rink at rockefeller center has a us map on it and people are walking on it painting states red or blue. there is a smallish crowd watching.
Wow
McCain's home state - TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
according to NBC anyway. We're watching them because our home town tation is an NBC afiliate and we're watching the loal stuff too.
At the moment - no surprise - the Arkansas initiative to ban adoption by unmarried couples (mistakenly described by CNN as a ban on gay couples) is passing 60/40 and Florida's ban on same-sex marriage is passing 62/38. Sigh...
I just texted one of my nieces, who voted for the 1st time today. She is excited that she helped PA go to Obama.
She's not a very political person, so it's extra cool to hear.
mseh - sad
how small our species can be
Even William Bennett seems moved by the idea of electing an African American to the Presidency. Although he also made some assholish remarks about how the world should now take us seriously. WTF??
AZ too close to call.
Uch, that's awful, MSEH. I guess we still have lots of barriers to overcome. But I am hopeful that those attitudes will change before too long. People I knew in MA who once were skeptical about same sex marriage now realize that it is not only NOT a threat to them but overall a good thing for everyone.
At the moment - no surprise - the Arkansas initiative to ban adoption by unmarried couples (mistakenly described by CNN as a ban on gay couples) is passing 60/40 and Florida's ban on same-sex marriage is passing 62/38. Sigh...
But Melissa, once Obama is elected, everything will be perfect, America will be renewed! Don't you know that?!
Bah.
Gotta flip stations.
Rudy 9ui11ani is on with Brian Williams. Barf.
"Bah" is right.
But I am hopeful that those attitudes will change before too long.
I guess that's the biggest reason I've been so excited about this possibility of Obama being elected. I've been preaching to all my good-old-boy associates for weeks that the world won't end, or even change all that much by his election. It will still be Washington with all it's BS. But it IS a sign that maybe attitudes are starting to change.
Slowly as a glacier moves, for certain, but hopefully just as surely.
I do think same-sex marriage and full rights for lesbian and gay couples will be won in the US. But man, I know if I were in a same-sex relationship, I'd do just what MSEH and our many other friends have done: I'd get the hell out. Why wait as a second class citizen when real equality is available just over the border?
We have The Simpsons on. Bart: "The dead have risen and they're voting Republican!"
MSNBC has called Ohio for Obama. That's a biggie. Assuming CA, OR and WA go for Obama as predicted, that may be enough right there.
4 of our closest friends are lesbians, 2 couples, and 1 of them (1 couple that is) went to Mass. recently and got married. Apparently their marriage there has to be recognized here in good 'ol NC just a hetero marriage would be. Tickles the shit outta me, altho I'm not proud that they had to leave our state to do that.
We've told our other friends about the 1st couple's decision but they say they will keep fighting to get that right here.
And now Ohio has been projected to Obama, which probably will seal the deal. Looks like we don't get the honor of being the "one".
Ohio is at big as it gets. It's the state with the most fraud, as far as I can tell.
Well, since the polls don't close out there for another hour or more, NC can still be the one.
Marriages being recognized in other states will be a key piece of the puzzle, I think.
So many of our friends here are attending each other's weddings, same-sex couples, and they're all so excited and proud. It's very cool.
Even for an anti-legal-marriage person like me. :)
Faux sez Ohio/Obama.
I hope Mr. Obama wins Florida. Poetic justice. Looks tight, though.
Okay! I'm back, with delicious bread. And it's getting close!
CNN calls Ohio for Sen. Obama
"Apparently their marriage there has to be recognized here in good 'ol NC just a hetero marriage would be."
Not so, according to HRC:
Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions? No.
North Carolina law states: “Marriages, whether created by common law, contracted, or performed of North Carolina, between individuals of the same gender are not valid in North Carolina.”
Citation: N.C. GEN. STAT. §51-1.2.
Then of course, there's the federal DOMA...
Back to the election results... ;-)
So NBC shows 200-...what is that - 65 for McCain? That is some tiny text.
mmmmm, breeeeeaaaadd.....
MSEH, that's interesting - and strange, since Sosock's friends believe their marriage is recognized in their home state. I wonder what the deal is.
Anadama Bread is a dark, sweet bread... two notable ingredients are molasses and cornmeal.
Molasses and bread is a Newfoundland treat.
That's your Newfie non-sequitur of the day.
I wonder what it must be like to be voting on the west coast in the evening. Seeing all of these results roll in while you haven't even voted yet.
I think there are only a handful of states that recognize the legitimacy of a same sex marriage performed in MA or CA (and soon CT), including NY. Maybe RI? But I didn't think NC was one of them.
"MSEH, that's interesting - and strange, since Sosock's friends believe their marriage is recognized in their home state. I wonder what the deal is."
Yes, I wonder, too. And, no offense to anyone, but I'm repeatedly surprised at how little even GLBT people know about the law(s) and their impact.
I teach this stuff (though not for a year), and I can barely keep up. I didn't even remember that my former (that's former former) state of Arizona had an anti-same-sex marriage ballot measure up again.
I thought the same thing, and one of those 2 is a federal attorney. Perhaps she has deemed that the "important" stuff has to be recognized. I don't know, but I'll be asking her next time I see her.
Which I hope is very soon as she has incredible taste in wine, and her partner is a veritable gourmet in Italian cooking.
mmmmmmmmmmm......
She actually brought 2 great bottles up the room while Cat was in the hospital back in August and we just had a grand old evening one night drinking and listening to Cathy babble on as a result of all the drugs.
Small pleasurable moments during a not-so-pleasant time.
A big part of the Red Sox game threads is to post ignorant and moronic statements from the TV/radio coverage.
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Ish, yes, that's always a big thing, whether or not the early reporting discourages voting in the west.
In Canada there's a news embargo until a certain hour, but the internet makes it kind of silly.
I wonder how the abortion measure is doing in South Dakota.
Damn, we have to hear Libby Dole's concession. I've heard all of her witchy voice I can stand over the last 10 weeks or so. It's been UN-FREAKING-BEARABLE here in NC. I assume the same is true most other places.
this is wonnnnnnnderful
There's hockey on TSN. I had completely forgotten about that. A much closer contest than the electoral one.
"I wonder how the abortion measure is doing in South Dakota."
Early returns show it failing 55/45.
There's hockey on TSN. I had completely forgotten about that. A much closer contest than the electoral one.
Scheduling is kind here. No hockey until Thursday. Frees up the evening.
What does "failing" mean in this case? What's the question?
Does anyone understand how this map arrived at calling Michigan/Minnisota/Wisconsin for Obama even though McCain was leading when they did so?
(And yes, I am really asking a question)
2 sides of the Empire State Building are red, 2 are blue. Building will become all of the winning color later.
Hi, Joe. How you doing? I hope better than the last time we were posting on a "game" thread.
Re South Dakota: "This measure would prohibit all abortions in the state except in cases where mother's life or health is at risk or in cases of rape or incest for pregnancies of less than 20 weeks. A similar measure that did not include exceptions for rape or the health of the mother was on the ballot in 2006, but was rejected by voters 44 to 56 percent."
L-girl - What's your record for number of comments on a post?
Impudent Strumpet, at the risk of once again answering a Canadian's question...the networks will call a state if the exit polls showed a wide lead for one candidate. What the early returns show are not considered at all predictive of the final tally if the exit polls show otherwise. If the exit polls are close, they don't make a projection until more votes are in.
Ha, Imp Strump, you're all caught up. Now let me see if I know the answer to your question.
Hey Joe!
Phew -- I'm not used to your fast-moving game threads! I'm still not caught up.
For the first time in months, I'm mentally exhaling about all this. It looks good. It looks so fucking good. All the stories today about provisional ballots and malfunctioning ballot scanners truly had me worried.
A little anecdote: one of those stupid asteroid movies that came out in the late 90s had Morgan Freeman cast as the president. At the time I joked that the reason for that is that the world would have to end before a black person could become president of the USA.
Well, I was wrong. Suck it, rednecks!
Btw, Allan, thanks for that info on Blanche Kelso Bruce. Gonna look that up. The guy sounds fascinating.
NBC is calling TX and UT for McCain, Iowa for Obama.
Does Amy's comment answer the q? I don't think so.
MSEH, good question, Allan is checking. And his computer is slow.
I know there were 230+ on the night of the Canadian election.
Does anyone have a count? We're watching a re-run of American Dad.
I switched to CNN just now and everyone was laughing. Bad timing. I wonder what was so funny.
CNN has 206-89
That makes better sense, thanks Amy!
Heh, what was wrong with my answer? :)
CTV news just reported "only minor glitches here and there" with the voting system... then Lloyd Robertson's animatronic wiring shorted out...
They're the most conservative as I can see on calling states.
NBC showing 207-129, as well as Faux.
Laura, CNN has 207 to 89. They called Iowa for Obama a few minutes ago.
"Does anyone understand how this map arrived at calling Michigan/Minnisota/Wisconsin for Obama even though McCain was leading when they did so?"
CNN has been doing that all night. All I've heard is something obscure about "the data." I think they're combining analyses of 2004 as compared to exit polls and early returns, etc. So, even where, e.g, McCain is ahead with 1% of the results in, they use the "big picture" to conclude the final result will be otherwise. But, right, they've not been really clear on the process.
The Onion predicted Joe the Plumber in 1993.
I'm hearing a concession in the air...
Jeez, what's changed on the national scene? Our local station just broadcast Dole's ENTIRE cocession speech, and my god she ran on and on and on. Looks like now we're gonna get the acceptance by Hagan.
Enough's enough already.
Everyone turn to the comedy network and place bets on when Colbert is going to get pooed on.
I can't watch this political team on CNN without the picture of one of them watching GDGD on a primary night.
M@, it's amazing, but I'm beginning to exhale a bit too.
I will renew breath-holding tomorrow, then not exhale until January 20. But still. It looks good. As you said.
I hope we're not all going to end up heartbroken.
I can't help but think that, after 2004.
"I hope we're not all going to end up heartbroken.
I can't help but think that, after 2004."
Agreed. But it is surely looking lopsided... [hee,hee]
Laura, if we are heartbroken, I think we won't know until Obama disappoints us once in office. Even I am starting to exhale, and I have refused to be optimistic all along. (I read WMTC too much to be optimistic about US elections.)
I've said this all along - it will be interesting to see what happens. A simple statement, but how many of us can say we know what's going to happen?
My last comment wasn't clear---I meant we won't have our hearts broken until Obama disappoints us. I think he will win, but he will disappoint us. Just as Clinton did. But for now, I am determined to be happy.
How do you all feel about the Senate seats up for grabs? Would you like to see a dominate democratic Senate? Or do you like to have a majority but still some semblance of balance?
wmtc comments
several over 100, but last month's canadian election (oct 14, 2008) looks like the most = 218
Jen: LOL :)
Amy: Nothing, I think I didn't understand ImpStrump's question!
Ish and Amy: thanks for the numbers.
We put election returns back on, but of course on mute.
Cdns, did anyone watch that election comedy special, Nathan Somebody? We started it, but turned it off.
"How do you all feel about the Senate seats up for grabs? Would you like to see a dominate democratic Senate? Or do you like to have a majority but still some semblance of balance?"
Just me being snarky - but... I'm fine with domination! -)
Have any of the networks called FL, VA, NC or IN? CNN and MSNBC have not.
MSNBC saying IN, VA and NC still too close to call.
50/50 with 75% in for NC
can't watch this political team on CNN without the picture of one of them watching GDGD on a primary night.
I thought that too. Maybe the NHL has a GDGD!
***
Balance. Heh hehheh
Amy - I was curious about those samestates. We've been stuck with the Dole/Hagan speeches for about 20 or 30 minutes now.
Hagan does sound good, but I guess that's easy when you win.
CNN just said that with 34% of the precincts in the country reporting, the popular vote is 50/49, for Obama.
Looks like none of those states have been called yet.
As far as popular vote goes... Drudge has as its top headline, simply the number of votes for each in total so far.
Obama 19,713,637
McCain 19,416,839
"Would you like to see the Red Sox dominate the Yankees? Or do you like to have Boston win a majority of the games but still have some semblance of balance?"
It is so odd to think that the popular vote is so close, given the electoral vote. But then we have seen that before.
"Would you like to see the Red Sox dominate the Yankees? Or do you like to have Boston win a majority of the games but still have some semblance of balance?"
Score!
"Would you like to see the Red Sox dominate the Yankees? Or do you like to have Boston win a majority of the games but still have some semblance of balance?"
Not what I was expecting but that's a great answer.
Ish, I know you're serious, but I think you must be joking. Why would anyone here not want a Democratic majority?
I want it so everyone can be very clear on how much the Dems suck. But the Republicans suck worse, so why would we want them?
Can anyone explain why some states have more presidential candidates than others? (At least that's what I'm assuming all these names are when I mouse over the states on the map.)
"Can anyone explain why some states have more presidential candidates than others?"
I don't have the details, but each state has a different set of rules for getting on the ballot so, in brief, in some states the candidates don't "qualify."
On my ballot there were four choices for President: Obama, McCain, Nader, and Cynthia McKinney, who represents the Green party.
Yay for McKinney!
Follow-up re ballots and candidates: http://ask.yahoo.com/20030704.html
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