Whew. I just got off my long shift as an election judge — I was filling in for Horton Township, a small, very rural precinct south of Morris, with a registered voting population of 114 people. The good news: 110 votes! The bad news: these guys broke 103:7 for McCain. Ewww. Now that I'm home, though, I see the news is saying Minnesota's electoral votes are going for Obama.
So what else is new? What excitement/dismay/horror are you experiencing as you watch the returns?
I am vastly relieved to see that Obama has won a landslide victory, but I'm not going to say that I'm overjoyed. He's got a lot of work ahead of him, and I'm definitely not an uncritical supporter.
We're still waiting on the Franken/Coleman senate race here — it's horribly close.
Proposition 8 in California may pass. That is bad news to balance the good in the presidential race.
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Obama has 200 electoral college votes. Add 55 for California, and then another 15 (which can come from anywhere, I'm not picky), and then he wins. Victory for the elitists!
I'm pulling the overnight shift Here overseas, staying up to watch the results with bated breath. This would have been my first election, but NYS apparently lost my registration. At least I can rest easy knowing that I live in a blue state. How are You guys holding up over there?
Dole lost! Great news.
Florida here, it seems like it's still too close to call the Sunshine state but Obama ahead by a whisker.
What I'm really, really glad about: This is looking very decisive in Obama's favor. No need for a tiebreaker.
Hope that sends a message to the Republicans to kick out their nastiest elements.
It's 3 in the morning, Dole got battered and the Hitch was great on BBC, sticking the knife into Palin whenever he could.
With a bottle of red I'm having a great time.
Damn it, sorry for the capitalization mistakes, although I'm certain most of you couldn't care last. Part-time grammar nazi here :)
Elizabeth Dole is gone, Kay Hagen is in.
According to Google News, Obama has won in Ohio and Pennsylvania. With 56% of the precincts reporting, he has a 2% (~50,000 vote) margin over McCain in North Carolina.
Nate Silver just called it, and that is good enough for me.
A Pittsburgher here. I'm damn proud of my blue state.
Now we just need to hope that nothing stupid happens in the next couple months with the lamest of lame ducks, Dubya.
I can only hope that this causes some changes within the Republican party. Conservatism I can handle; the recent neocon craziness I cannot.
Also staying up well into the night here inn the UK to see the outcome. It's looking good. Kerry lost by a single state (Ohio), which has just been declared for Obama. New Mexico has changed to Obama too. So assuming the West coast states go to Obama as well, he's got 6 votes margin now. he could lose Hawaii and still win.
So no all-conservative Supreme bench for the next 20 years and no Republicans cheating their way into extra seats when some electoral district boundaries are redrawn in 2010. Even is Obama can't fix the economy and is voted out in 4 years, he'll have served Democrat interests in the long term.
According to the channel my family and I are watching, Obama's ahead by 199:78. There is currently good hope that Palin will be denied the opportunity to undermine American civilization.
Just been watching the bbc coverage here in the UK. Its been very pleasant, lots of good natured chatter between panelists and nobody has seemed to want to speak in McCains favour all night. It was perhaps a little much with how open they all were with criticism of Palin but I guess she does seem to deserve it. Well since they are all saying its basically all done save for the crying, I'm going to bed.
Ohio goes to Obama, Florida is close, but here in Orange County (I'm in Orlando) the Dems have been having a blazing night, toppling two reliable Republican Congressmen (Feeney and Keller).
I call Florida for Obama, and give him 316 - 340 electoral votes by the end of the night.
Yay!
I'm an ex-Pittsburgher, and I'm damn proud of Pennsylvania.
And damn it, as I just commented on another thread, I'm feeling hopeful. And that's very, very unusual for me.
Hmm. . . Does this mean Alaska is going to have to take one for the team and take Palin back?
Comment posted on FreeRepublic a short while ago:
"Over? Was it over when the Germans bombed pearl harbor?"
I need to go and buy some celebratory beer for tonight!
It's 03:07 here in the UK. I have work in the morning and I can't take my eyes off the screen. Looks like obama but maybe I should wait till florida and Virginia are decided.
I aint doing any worki on the morrow.
In California no one is allowed to wear campaign buttons or T-shirts or anything indicating one's position for or against a candidate or proposition within 100 feet of a polling place. (Seems like a violation of freedom of speech, but there it is.) Therefore it's not particularly easy to tell the inclinations of the other folks in line for ballot. How is it in Minnesota? Could you tell that you were working a McCain precinct? I'm guessing virtually all of the voters were registered Republicans. Do you think, PZ, that anyone recognized you as a minion of evil?
I am so proud of my beloved Texas, it will be red in the morning, but CNN hasn't called it yet.
Looks like Bachmann is winning.
Abortion prop's are going down.
DRINK!
Wow! I'm happy for you guys, and proud to be your northern neighbor, for the first time in many agonizing years!
Cheers to everyone!
Unfortunately prop 1 in Arkansas seems to be passing (anti-gay adoption measure).
I have to say, I'm definitely rethinking my disdain for the concept of the electoral college (in our modern age, anyway) - the popular vote is insanely close; the electoral vote is beautifully distant.
As a voter from Kentucky, I'm a little dismayed that McConnell May win, and prevent the precious 60, but I'm glad that my state voting red may not prevent Obama from taking the white house! Huzzah!
Ha! A few minutes ago I heard a Fox reporter ask a McCain campaign guy if he had seen the candidate that evening. The McCain man said, "No, the senator is resting. He's not human. I'll see him later."
I must have misheard. Or someone misspoke. (I think.)
Crosspost from the civic duty thread:
Yeah,Texas is gone,but who cares anymore....
538 has Obama at 353 electoral votes,and they have been scarily accurate all night.
Hell,even Al Franken is ahead...
2pm and Im drunk,what am I going to do the rest of the day?
I wonder if this it what it felt like for the East Germans when the wall fell.
FL, VA and NC all seem to be going blue! YES!
OT: Rev. BigDumbChimp, I'm gunning for your crown.
Since this is an open thread, here's something else to consider:
It seems that you'll be rubbing it in to us other Aussies who can't get drunk until 6...
it's pretty obvious the trend tonight. If the projections hold up he really only needs to win CA and WA and he's in.
Lets hope he carries NC and VA at least and hopefully FLA just for the "in your face" moment considering the last two elections.
Plus, popular vote is important.
My home state of Kansas let me down. Still hopeful for NC, 51% to 49% Obama last I heard!
Everyone over here in the UK is pulling for Obama (and staying up until the results are definitive!)
LINK PLZ DAVE
Sadly, my state (Tx) is leaning toward McCain. Some consolation is that my county (Bexar) is going for Obama.
jbs
Listening to the results here in Canada. The Canadian media is saturated with election coverage. The amount of international interest in this election is remarkable. It is a relief how the results are shaping up. Looks like we Canucks can look forward to a very short visit from Palin .... as Americans send her back to a cold corner of Alaska.
So, when do we start - if you haven't already - hitting the right-wing blogs and engaging in some good, old-fashioned schadenfreude? I suspect there are going to be a few KKK hoods with exploded heads beneath them after this is over.
Sorry, it doesn't really show, but the blockquote in #33 is a link taking you to a newspaper article.
Animal house people. Don't get all fired up.
I have never been so distracted at work. I spent the entire shift checking election results.
Thanks for the thread, btw
I'm happy that Obama looks like he is sweeping this thing but my favorite moment so far, was the CNN hologram reporter. That was freaking awesome! It would have only been better if they had let her say "help me, Wolf Blitzer, you're my only hope."
Oh and I'm hearing Kay Hagan won as well! Dole is out!
Beauty moment from earlier on FauxNews:
Calling Ohio for Obama as Rove and Brit Hume look on with long faces, Rove noting no Republican has won without Ohio.
No kings,
Robert
Over on FOX News, Bill Kristol is laying the groundwork for 2012 by trying to make the case that Palin was not a drag on McCain.
Well McCain has nearly the entire American South and has surged. I'm nervous and trying not to profile.
I asked my wife when they got a Jedi as a reporter.
CNN shows NC closer than 5,000 votes, so far Dem.
Geeze, are you sure you weren't somewhere in South Carolina? I'll bet you saw a few mullets and NASCAR t-shirts today.
Glenn Greenwald at Salon is noting, "Surveying down-ballot races involving some of the worst super-villains, Michelle Bachmann's race looks very close with roughly 15 percent of the vote in" as of 10:15 Eastern Time.
Here's the CNN link to that race:
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHMN/H/06
No kings,
Robert
Totally expected.
If any of the projections ring true, Obama wins. now it's just by how much.
Hagan in Dole out
DRINK!
Obama will win Florida and Virginia.
Indiana and NC less than 5000 votes apart with 88% counted.
Saw this posted on Gregs blog,very funny :
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/4/213412/858/705/653220
Posted by: Sven DiMIlo:
"And damn it, as I just commented on another thread, I'm feeling hopeful . And that's very, very unusual for me."
Sven, you read my mind. Hopeful. I'm going off to play the theme from "Blazing Saddles" now.
Still, I figure I'll be over it by tomorrow.
With any luck we'll have a black Muslim socialist revolutionary president coming into office ready to undermine the Constitution and destroy the fabric of American civilization. (I was listening to Mike Savage yesterday)
Being a North Carolina native I really hope that it flips this election. My current state (SC) is a ways off.
If You Vote, You Have No Right to Complain. After all, if your guy wins, you're not entitled to complain because you voted for them and its your fault when they fuck everything up. You put him in office and gave him the mandate that he's misusing. That's right, it is time for voters to accept some personal responsibility for their mistakes.
And if your guy loses, you're not entitled to complain because you have agreed to accept the will of the people, which is a crucial component of the democratic system, by voting. Plus, nobody likes a sore loser.
Yeah, voting doesn't sound so cool when this spin is put on it.
Osky at #47:
And still this guy gets booked for media commentary. *sigh*
No kings,
Robert
I think Obama has it.
I wish I could have voted in this election, but at least I'll be able to four years from now.
-- I'm proud to be a member of the state that pretty much made it a done deal for Obama... I never doubted New Mexico.
-- Good to see Dole go down... I was pretty worried over that race, even though its not MY state.
-- and if we can get those extra seats in the house, we can make the republicans totally impotent in congress. I look forward to seeing how those races turn out.
Tonight I'm filled with hope again. My kids are engaged and excited about the results... and considering they'll be voting in the next presidential election, I figure that's pretty important.
Obama already has 207 electoral votes. The west coast and Hawaii will put him over the top. The result is clear, the question is how bad of a spanking will this be for McCain. If Obama's slim leads in FL, VA, and NC hold, it's going to be pretty striking.
There's already apologetic and conceding noises coming out of the McCain camp. Maybe I'll indulge in some schadenfreude and click over to Fox to see if anyone cries. But first, I think I'll head to the store a grab a bottle of champagne. Huzzah!
Dole is out, no big loss.
How is Bachmann doing? Hard to get local info out of state. Or Al Franken? One report very early said he was doing better than expected.
Obama is winning in Florida partly thanks to my one vote.
These guys give Obama a 99.3% chance of winning the election.
It looks like it's going to be a very close race in North Carolina, both McCain and Obama have 50% of vote with 82% of precincts reporting, according to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Obama won in Ohio, a state McCain couldn't afford to lose.
The Republican party was destroyed by Christian theocrats. Good riddance.
#31
No. The feeling in Germany and Berlin in 1989 was a great deal more intense. I was there, and it was seriously crazy. There were 100mile long traffic jams, massive public demonstrations (people chopping the old wall down).
This election is major, and very very important, but it isn't quite as big a deal as the fall of the USSR.
I was quite surprised North Carolina was that close! I didn't realise it flirted with blueness that much... I have newfound respect for it.
I like the fact that, so far, all states that have flipped have flipped in Obama's favour.
Best schadenfreude opportunity...
I'm watching the McSame campaign rally live on Fox. Sweet, sweet shameful joy.
Unfortunately for those of us in Arizona, even if Obama wins by a landslide, McCain will still be our senator :(
NC is drawing away for the Republicans, 10,000 ahead now with 84% acc. to CNN.
IN is even further red, about 22,000.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/
With you all the way Allt. I'm only two months shy of eighteen, and all my classmates are walking around with "I voted" stickers. Makes me sad.
Spin which is total and complete bullshit.
Unfortunately, it looks like Florida's anti-gay marriage Amendment 2 is voted in favor of, 62 to 38 percent, 70 percent of the precincts reporting (CNN, 10:35 EST).
Franken ahead 43:41 with 14% reporting.
Bachmann ahead 47:42 with 20% reporting.
(From CNN)
Rev. BigDumbChimp @ 35,
I hope you are right it has been a long long wait.
Fox just called Virginia for Obama.
I'm watching from the UK - suffice to say it's looking encouraging at the moment, but this is too big a thing to treat as in the bag, however good the signs!
Since, according to my mother, we may not even be able to celebrate Christmas anymore with Obama in office, I wish everyone many Merry Barackmases and Happy Obamaweens!
With you both Laila and Allt - turned 18 in late october, which seems to have somehow invalidated my voter registration in NY. :\ stupid bureaucracy.
The CNN hologram reporter is hilarious.
I've been watching on BBC, and John Bolton was on the panel. He was so obnoxious and overbearing and rude it was startling. He was calling for the BBC to fire a correspondent, berating the other panelists and the anchor, and spouting out all kinds of BS.
Calling for BBC reporters to be fired for bias, this regular guest on Fox. What a total dick. It's only because he was so clearly repudiated by current events and reality that he was less insulting and more comical because he was making such an obvious ass of himself.
I voted for Nader.
I cannot wait for the coronation of President Obama. Then, he will finally be scrutinized relentlessly as any man in power should be, and all of the hero worship will just end!
And I hope that Gov. Palin recedes to Alaska quietly and forever.
#73
It's Florida. We can only vote for one thing correctly at a time and it was either that or the presidential race.
For once i'm happy to live here though. It's a squeaker. Not as close as Virginia but close. So i'm glad i voted.
I'd think this was a ludicrous thing to say, but considering some of the interviews with people in the US about the election I'm not actually all that surprised. Even if he was a Muslim, what makes them think he'd have the power - or more importantly, the inclination - to do anything about Xmas?
Maybe it's my ignorance of the US political structure - the president doesn't have unlimited powers, does he? He can't just go and do whatever the heck it is he wants once he gets into office?
Re Kristol, Jon Stewart had it so spot on when he asked:
"Have you ever been right?"
Just a hack ideologue.
I had a family member tell me she was embarrassed of her country with Obama being in the lead right now. I responded I was proud. 40+ years ago an African American man would have never dreamed of this possibility. The fact that one is so close to winning the presidential election makes me damn proud. I refuse to live in the deep south (unless I get a damn good job offer in the future). So happy I got out of Louisiana when I did. The east coast suits me much better.
Thankfully, the president doesn't have unlimited powers--but not for lack of trying by Bush et al.
Allt@61: Ditto that, except I'll have to wait until 2016. I missed by two months and a day.
207 for Obama.
California (55): Obama 60% to McCain's 36
Washington (11): Obama 55 (or 56, depending on who you ask)% to McCain 40%
It's not hero worship. Obama has definite feet of clay. It's more relief that neocon/Christian fundamentalist power has been repudiated by the country.
Dude, what the hell is up with these CNN holograms? I thought I heard something obviously imaginary out in the kitchen - when I came back in I was amused. Now after Will.I.Am(?) I'm just confused
Fivethirtyeight.com has declared Obama the winner. Democracy Now! is also now discussing an Obama led America.
Any news on Prop 8 yet?
Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM at #49:
[cybernetic bronchitis]"Impressive. But the reporter is not a jedi . . . yet."[/cybernetic bronchitis]
No kings,
Robert
CA polls close in five minutes, I assume there'll be some prop 8 returns at that point.
screw that.
Obama's got 220. Plus California. Things are looking up.
Forgot to mention...I'm a Philadelphian--damn proud of PA too.
Nothing on Prop 8 so far according to sfgate.com
Well, we pulled off Ohio for the good guys.
You cats in Florida better step it up.
I really want Indiana, just because it would be funny.
Gobama go!!
G.W. Bush often behaved almost as if he had unlimited powers. He got away with it an awful lot.
I am so elated right now. Just waiting on news on Prop 8 and 4 here in California and I can go to bed a happy person.
How is Hal Bidlack doing in Colorado?
Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM
Sorry dude, but people need to accept responsibility for the actions of their leaders. They select them. If I hire someone at my job, I have to own up when the fuck up. The same is true of the American voter. I am not allowed to complain that he didn't work out or went off the reservation and wash my hands of the matter.
Also voting is like gambling, if you're betting that your guy will win. Just as I little sympathy for the gambler who loses and then whines, I have even less for people who vote and then whine like little children when their guy loses. Sorry, you played the game and lost. Nobody likes a Sore Loserman right?
Or we could just drop the bullshit group think "If you don't vote, you can't complain" which was the main thrust behind my post.
"I've been watching on BBC, and John Bolton was on the panel. He was so obnoxious and overbearing and rude it was startling. He was calling for the BBC to fire a correspondent, berating the other panelists and the anchor, and spouting out all kinds of BS."
I watched that - I just laughed at the poor fool. But I do have an inkling he could be right on the broader point that Omaha will be more left-leaning than people expect. Obviously, for a right-wing ideologue like Bolton this is a disaster - for a lefty liberal like me it is (or so I thought) an impossible dream.
CNN has the Dems ahead by 8,000 in IN
Wait...seriously.
Holograms?
CNN saying Obama takes Virginia
Yay Virginia!
MSNBC just called Obama for president!
MSNBC just called for Obama!
WE WIN!
NBC just called it, Obama wins
DRINK! DRINK!
Called by CNN. Obama wins!
A huge weight is lifted.
The West Coast polls just closed, and the moment they did, ABC News projected Obama as the 44th President of the United States.
Sorry to say this but it changes very little. The Religious Right is resilient specifically because they take these sorts of situations as evidence of *their* persecution by the evil secular conspiracy. Not that anyone here knows anything about an evil conspiracy.
But at least tonight I can relax knowing Sarah Palin's political career is over.
Realistically, a Barack Obama presidency isn't going to be some magic fix.
@99 No clue, but hopefully well. Having Hal Bidlack in congress would be fantastic.
MSNBC just called it for Obama!
CNN has 297 electoral votes for Obama.
That's good news.
ABC HAS CALLED IT FOR OBAMA! 284 ELECTORAL VOTES
I'm in tears--happy tears...
It's about frickin time!
w00t!
Palin/Jindal 2012
Holy cow, CNN just called it: Obama FTW!!!
You could say that.. He won!!! Now I'd like Florida to go blue and see an electoral landslide
Obama wins...no America wins!
WOW
History in the making,what a moment !
Another Philadelphian here.
Sorry to say this but it changes very little. The Religious Right is resilient specifically because they take these sorts of situations as evidence of *their* persecution by the evil secular conspiracy. Not that anyone here knows anything about an evil conspiracy.
But at least tonight I can relax knowing Sarah Palin's political career is over.
Realistically, a Barack Obama presidency isn't going to be some magic fix.
I don't know about the rest of you, but here in Arizona, YUK!
We're swinging for McSame, looks like we're gonna enshrine bigotry into our Constitution and Sheriff ShitHead looks like he'll get another couple of years to torture people, not even sent to trial.
Great.
So, PZ, what are housing prices like in your neck of the woods? I need to get the hell out of conservative central.
WE GO PLAY HOOP!!!!!
YES! YES! YES! OBAMA WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kel @ 118, thats not fucking funny man.
Wow! Waita do it for Canada, America! This is amazing... and such a relief.
Hooray for Obama!
Weeeeee! Weeeee! Although I'm not an US citizen I do feel better than my country favorite president was elected :)
I'm at up 4:00am watching this in the UK, drinking a bottle of Californian Pinot Noir in celebration. Congratulations America!
I'm in tears with pleasure at the result.
You've made the rest of the world proud.
Great to see Elizabeth Dole out too!
Shoot. Looks like Bidlack is trailing by about 20 %
Phew.
Congratulations on a splendid choice of president, dear Americans! It seems as Obama has won! Wiiieeee!!!
Is it really over
I think I'm in shock
Ok NC and FLA pull through
Fernando Magyar,
Obama will win Florida and Indiana,and is only trailing by 3000 or so in NC at the moment.
Great how the spinsters on CNN are speechless...
Thank you America!!! This is the best birthday present ever!
VICTORY!
If all the projections so far are accurate...the Repugnicans will no longer be able to ruin America.
Wow... Obama won... maybe not everything's lost yet
The Religious Right is resilient specifically because they take these sorts of situations as evidence of *their* persecution by the evil secular conspiracy.
But didn't they pray? This must be God's will.
HOORAY!
Interestingly, Obama's victory speech is going to be delivered in Grant Park in Chicago -- the scene of the police riot during the Democratic convention 40 years ago.
I am crying like a big girl.
There's a lot of damage to undo but in my 8 years living in the US I can finally feel a little better about being here. For the first time since being here I am proud to say I live in America. Electing a black man to the presidency this is fracken' ground breaking and history making.
jon,
Pidgin, eh?
Been so busy lately I haven't really been commenting but........WOOOOPPPPP!!!!!! Absolutely brilliant.
Xmas comes early for the world. Well done USA. Now, let us never speak the name 'George W. Bush' again - unless it's followed by the words 'has been indicted...'
Dobson was right. Already, as I write this, all over America, MEN ARE HOLDING HANDS!
Another one from across the pond. Glückwünsche and Congratulations!
@ 123 -
Way to bring it down, man. Seriously, though - I doubt anyone here believes it will be a magic fix. But at least there'll be someone in the White House who supports an avenue for a real fix. That's why we should be excited. Sure, there's room for cynicism, but there's also room for hope.
I wonder if Palin agrees with Jesus' decision? Remember she said God was going to do the right thing.
ROFL (rather grimly) along with Wowbagger.
Concession from McCain just reported.
DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!
Going for a drink at the local bar, later.
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
Outstanding, ladies and gentlemen! Outstanding!
By the way, to E.V., from earlier today, the champagne is officially open here in Austin, and the drinking has begun. Here's a toast to you in Dallas.
And here's a toast to the United States, and it's new President.
And here's one to all of us here on Planet Earth. The science goes on. Back to the environmental issues - this is the only spaceship we have. Time to start taking better care of it.
No kings,
Robert
Okay, McCain is toast.
Happy BBC people struggling with a very delayed link to Kenya; happy Kenyans :)
Much win.
Nice one, America!
John Bolton's perma-exasperation on the BBC at being surrounded by the "liberal, biased media" all night has been great value for money. I was chuckling away to myself when he said one of their correspondents should be fired for *daring* to argue with his republican interviewee.
ABC News: Ohio! Pennsylvania! Virginia! Florida!
BBC: Obama 'is elected US president'
I know the Electoral College numbers will be huge, but still ... the actual voting margins in several of these races are so slim.
Much as I love evolution, God, it's tough growing up among monkeys.
Even Fox News is calling it: Obama wins.
Now don't fuck it up.
Matt A
Gotcha
There is some of that here at my house for sure.
Fox News declared Obama's victory in Virginia, and one of the senior conservatives in Sweden just said that "it's now only a question of how many electorates over 300 Obama will get".
Is this the apocalypse?
If so, I don't care. I'm just happy for your sake and ours :)
Former Pennsylvanian, current North Carolinian.
Glad to see the home state go blue, hoping that NC goes blue for the pres. At least got rid of Dole and Robin Hayes and went blue for gov.
I'm so proud to be a part of this moment, not because I idolize Obama, but simply because of the historical significance and potent symbolism behind this beautiful example of democracy in action. Long live the US!
Florida just went blue!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I am EXTRA-PERKY tonight!
no, it really is.
#155:
I'm already drunk buddy! insane Comparative Vertebrate anatomy exam + historic election = drinking in celebration and to drown sorrows.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!
WOOOOO!
I am elated by Sen. Obama's victory. I am hopeful that we are embarked on a new era of sensible politics and governance.
CBS just reported that Obama carried the Catholic vote (which Kerry, a Catholic, was unable to win four years ago). Amazing. I'm afraid that I will not be able to resist the impulse to listen to Catholic Radio tomorrow to wallow in the schadenfreude. EWTN is a hard-right broadcasting network that thinks it represents true Catholicism. They will be beyond pissed.
And I may be the only person smiling at Thanksgiving dinner at Mom & Dad's this year. But I will be nice and as gracious as possible.
FL to Obama
DRINK!
There was a political cartoon like that during the Australian election.
[Rudd supporter]
3 days until the election: "Please don't screw it up"
1 day before the election: "Please don't screw it up"
1 day after the election: "Please don't screw it up"
Yes We Did!
YES. You remembered how to pick the best candidate again. I'm really really happy right now. :)
NBC: McCain Calls to Concede!!!!
Bopped over to check on the Freeptards. Lots of exploding heads over there.
Best thread . . . the one lambasting McCain and promoting Palin for 2012.
Let's just keep quiet and hope that they stay with this strategy. Finally the unholy alliance of the religious right and the country club will die an ignominious death as a stake is driven into the heart of the Republican party.
Remarkable images of Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face...
McCain to concede shortly... heh heh. Nothing in his candidacy will become him so well as the leaving of it.
He's on now.
Palin will attempt to take Alaska out of the union.
Simply amazing. Way to go Barack Obama, next president of the USA.
Obama wins!!!! Though that means that 98% of my family will now disown me. Christmas should be interesting.
Looking at the joy of people and listening to the analysis alternating between CNN, Fox News and BBC America, and looking at the graphic currently on display at the New York Times front page...
I can't help wondering - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE in the South and the Midwest that have voted Republican? Do nothing beyond their parochial religion and blind conservatism matter to them? Do they not care a fig about the issues besetting contemporary America?
Fucken eh America. Way to go!
Election judge? Since when are our elections decided by "Judges"! Oh wait. That has happened.
Apologize for the language, but FUCK YEAH AMERICANS!!!!!111!!1
Congrats to Obama, all you americans and the rest of the world!
You guys came through!!!11
Happy tears :D
Well done America- You just made real, meaningful history. Keep it up guys!
Oh and Bolton was hilarious, you could tell Simon Schma was loving the show!
I would like to see the popular vote lead extended a little more. It should, when hard numbers start coming in from CA, OR, and WA, but it's only 51-48 right now. An 8 point or so lead would look really good.
We are the chaaaampions...
My frieeends...
Glad Obama won, but I was put off when someone said on the news that the US is still the best country in the world... that kind of mentality is exactly what really annoys me about the US.
Freaking D-bags booing at the mccain concession...
Very,very good speech by McCain now.Respect for the man.He does feel embarrassed for the boooers in his own camp.
Actually this is a good concession speech. Talking about race, progress and reconciliation. Well done, sir.#
(Now go away)
Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM
My view on the matter is one held by Osama, so it might be reasonable to consider it or be aware of that line of thought particularly when the United States media concurred with him in regard to Serbia in 1999. Hell, even Bill O and the New York Times seemed to be on the same page.
http://iamsowise.blogspot.com/2008/11/bin-laden-statement-on-american.h…
I feel fantastic!!
I feel real hope, and I know it won't be easy.
The whole point here is that I think Obama can inspire others to want to fix things.
He has already made many people feel like they actually play a part in this and that's been a long time coming.
I feel like I can breath again, and I feel like I'm ready to do my part.
Forward kids. Let's get to work.
Great speech by McCain - whether he means it or not.
Wow, just heard some joker shout "Sarah 2012!" in McCain's concession speech.
It's over, McCain has conceded. I'm still trying to wipe tears of joy away.
Yeah. not Bad.
hopefully Palin won't speak.
McCain is giving a classy and dignified concession speech...like jon said, I wish some of the audience would be quiet.
palin/jindal 2012: The great republican schism
McCain speech ain't bad, too bad the people participating there boooed in the beginning.
A drink for Obama and US again! Cling cling!
Is it just me or was McCain's concession speech (at least the first part) better and more positive than everything else he had said during the campaign?
I can't wait to hear Obama speak. . . . . .
McCain's concession was, I felt, well-delivered and gracious.
I hereby retract a significant percentage of the things I have said about him.
Heh. McCain just described his campaign as "possibly the most challenged in modern history."
Well, yes...
McCain just as good as endorsed Palin for '12. Way to tarnish the moment, McCain.
You know, I get the feeling that McCain has been working on this speech for quite a while.
I've never been convinced that Obama is a "good" choice. I have, however, always been convinced that Obama is "better than McCain".
The next four years are going to be very interesting. And, as macabre as it seems, I wonder how long it'll be before some racist redneck tries to shoot him.
New Mexico could be going all blue- house, senate and president. Hooray for us!
WE DID IT, WE DID IT WE DID IT!
W00T TO ALL THAT VOTED FOR CHANGE!
WE DID IT!
Fucking meat heads in the crowd.
McCain is being classy, its a shame not all of his supporters can follow suit.
(unofficial) reports of Singing in the streets and fireworks in NYC
YYAAYY!!!!
Now I don't have to bother with looking into EU citizenship...like #210, I find it poignant that McCain is shining brighter in his concession speech than ever before. Holy crap!! Horray! Clink clink indeed!!!
(um, I hope 8 fails here in California...)
What a wonderful time to be alive.
I voted with all of my hopeful tentacles for Obama and bit them all nervously right up to the end.
I am so proud of my country right now.
A gracious speech from McCain, he seems relieved to finally take the gloves off.
And thankfully, his parrot didn't speak.
Is that the sad version of the STAR WARS theme playing at the end of the McCain concession speech?
If so...kudos
McCain made it all the way through the speech very respectfully. I really do appreciate him sending that message to his dumbass religiobase. WHO ARE THESE FUCKWADS IN THE CROWD?? I almost feel sympathy and embarrassment for him (almost, since he did encourage it himself). His supporters really do make him look awful. I'm so glad he lost. Sorry for the choppy paragraph. Watching BamaHQ.
"Glad Obama won, but I was put off when someone said on the news that the US is still the best country in the world... that kind of mentality is exactly what really annoys me about the US."
Truth hurts. The Europeans are nowhere near emulating the American election of a minority candidate.
Congratulations America. Sanity has prevailed on the large scale, at least for the next four years. We'll have to see about some of the more small scale issues later.
Just please don't screw it up.
@205: can you imagine anything McCain can do for Obama that's more constructive than encouraging Palin to be the 2012 candidate?
I think a ticket of Obama/Clinton versus Palin/Plumber will be the funniest thing since that clip of the reporter walking into a lamppost.
I live in a blue state, too! Finally, Virginia is blue! First time! Woo, woo, woo! Virginia is blue! Goodness me, Virginia is blue! Thank you, thank you to the hard working Obama campaign! Virginia, capitol of the confederacy, Virginia helped elect our very first African-American president! Virginia is blue!
That's it! We've won! McCain is congratulating Obama alredy!
America just made Baby Jesus cry.
Classy speech by McCain. No surprise there, actually. Like somebody said, he's probably been working on it for a while.
Congratulations to all the Americans here...you've impressed this particular Canadian immensely.
I'm incredibly happy for you guys. Job very well done.
OMG YES YES YES!!!
Ooh, this makes me so happy. Yeah it won't make all the problems disappear just like that but still. It's a start. Not to mention the imminent spectacle of Repug weeping & gnashing of teeth. Schadenfreude ftw. (Btw, my money's on the fundie crazies pushing whatever's left of the non-fundies out. The religionuts are a vicious bunch, like their mascot the lipstick'd pitbull.)
Prop 8 in California is winning 57% to 43%. Disgusting. I hope that turns around.
On the bright side amendment 48 got shot down in Colorado. Awesome.
Is it me, or was the crowd at the concession speech the whitest group of people possible?
It's like McCain lost the election to some post in Scandinavia.
A very gracious speech by John McCain - good job.
I must say, this is the third election in a row that has ended in tears for me, but this time they are tears of joy. I'm so happy to see the end of the Bush administration, and so proud of the US for being able to move past our long history of racism to elect a member of a minority for president.
I'm not blind to the fact that there are still many, many people who are horrified at the thought of a black president, but we're making progress!
To stephen wells at #218:
It adds to the evidence for my theory that John McCain is a secret double agent for the Obama ticket. He's succeeded in giving Obama the first term, Palin/Jindal '12 is an ongoing operation.
Congratulations USians. Well done.
Maybe I'm being naive, but I think this rather turns a page for you & for the rest of us.
Boo for national prayer! Can I get an amen?
@195
Someone really shouted "Palin 2012"? Apparently, eight years of Bush is not enough for these people!
Congratulations America!
It's 6:33 am in Eastern Europe, and it was certainly worth staying up all night to witness this great event.
Watching history happening, from a distance but no less excited... it's 5 AM here in Stockholm, Sweden, I'm spending the night in front of the TV, am glad that this election campaign finally is over, a campaign I've been watching closely for months - and sending best wishes to you Americans! I' sure you've elected a great future President!
Yes!!!!!!
Thank you, American voters, for electing someone actually literate, and apparently sane! You've made the world a better place.
Just listened to McCain's concessions speech. Credit where credit is due ... I thought he was gracious, and showed real class. Sad to see a number of his supporters in the crowd did not exhibit these traits, but I'm not surprised ... there are few in every crowd.
Awesome. America rules tonight.
The best part is, Sarah Palin won't be our next VP.
LAME. Was that introduction to Obama's speech necesary??
@225 - that blows.
@226 - I know!
@216 - now, now.
my biggest question is what is McCain going to say about Palin in all the follow up interviews? Is he going to praise her or talk about how big of a mistake it was to select her?
did you guys see the CNN Hologram?
its pretty sweet. i want one already!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ2L74fplos
Our long national nightmare is over! (just hope it's not the start of a new and different one...)
chris, that part is great, but for me the greatest part is that we won't have an extreme right-wing Supreme Court for a generation.
Was Palin crying during McCain's speech?
It must be harsh to know that your future career is not going to be as VP, it's going to be making soft pr0n videos with Joe the Plumber.
Sorry, but the idea popped up in my head so I thought I'd inflict it on you all.
Way-hey! Well done USofA!
To quote 'Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade'...
"You have chosen...wisely"
Holy shit! I figured this would last til at least tomorrow! I can't believe we actually won! I still just can't get past the trepidation and let myself be excited, even though I know it's over.
If you're on CNN TV, why has Family Guy been playing above the map all night?
no I'm serious, look above the map. Center screen.
I think we've all just become a little less cynical.
BBC shows the popular vote to be:
McCain 48%
Obama 51%
It is slightly distressing to me that the support for the better candidate was not greater. But still... he won.
CNN.com is showing Florida flipping to the blue side, continuing the trend of all flips going blue, none to red. Very worth staying up for!
Can't wait for the Southpark episode tomorrow
Quoth Brandon P.:
True. That privelege will have passed back to the Democrats.
(If you think both parties don't contain the seeds of a meltdown, you're not paying attention.)
Quoth Leigh Williams:
Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.
NB: I speak as someone who's been calling for the impeachment of Bush since 2005.
also I want to say that I really liked McCain's concession speech, not for the reason that it means he's not going to be president, but because it was the first thing in the entire campaign that he said that I felt was actually genuine.
I'm sure that he had practiced it several times, but in 2k when he spoke in the primaries he seemed genuine, I connected with him, I would have voted for him. In 2k8 nearly everything he said gave me the feeling he was repeating everything he had been told to say, but didn't actually believe any of it. It seemed like a part rather than himself.
@239 - I was wondering the same thing. I think the race would have been much closer had McCain not been such an ass and, you know,selected pretty much anyone but her. Now that my wine is in a glass garfield mug, I must replenish it and quit sitting here.
Woot!!! Good night and horray everyone!
(can't wait to talk to my New World Order -believing bandmates tomorrow for the latest, uh, predictions)
Stephen @ 243:
Dude, not cool...
Gergen on cnn said the popular vote is going to be the biggest margin since Johnson.
That's pretty damned impressive.
heh heh heh Meet your worst nightmare, deep south. A black president...I voted for Obama. I think his experience base is a little thin, but based on what I observed, he'll be OK.
btw, I voted "NO" on Prop 8 here in California. I don't think it's going to pass. I sure hope not. Based on being pretty much a Dem state, it'll prolly fail.
excellent election
Congratulations, USA!
No geriatric, and - no Moose Queen!
Prop 8 Map
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-2008election-californ…
at Liberal Athiest at #248
America has a well known retard contingent.
So Obama won... Interesting. I wonder what will happen with research dollars.
Congratulations America!!!!
A historical event...
Finally enough Americans see reason.
Go Obama! Whoohoo
Forgetting for a moment about the race issue; Obama has just shown his country and the world how popular politics is done in the internet age. This is going to go down in history as the point when all the promise of mass interactive communication, decentralisation, small donors... is finally realised. Open Source campaigning?
Oh my FSM, he WON
wow
Wow, McCain just delivered a speech that was actually heartfelt, eloquent and gracious. No jumpy nervousness, no robotic, jitteryness, he actually seemed more human and real than I've ever seen him.
Too bad for him (and those very grim rednecks in the audience heh, heh) that he didn't run his campaign that way.
So, we're in the White House . . . now what?
As long as he doesn't go too extreme like dubya did, Obama should do fine.
The national nightmare is over. Bushco will be creeping under their rocks for a while, at least.
Where is Palin? Not that I care really, but that is one twisted cookie that needs to crawl back under a snow bank in some cold, dark place. Alaska will work well.
According to msnbc.com, yes on prop 8 is winning 55% to 45% in California.
And now, hopefully, all the main players in the Bush 'administration' will get a well deserved holiday in Gitmo!
Southern (and central) states calling for secession in 3,2,1...
I remember when the Berlin Wall came down and my parents saying they never thought they would see that in their lifetime. I have to say I never thought I would see an African-American elected as President inmy lifetime. A truly historical moment that makes me proud and excited about this country again.
Now let's get to work.
So now that Florida has gone to Obama, I have to point out the dark side with a silver lining; it appears that our Amendment 2, describing marriage as between a man and a woman, passed overwhelmingly. The silver lining is that Amendment 2 also disallows any sort of partnership granting marriage-like rights, so the elderly population who often have legal domestic partnerships will quickly challenge this, and I can't imagine even the present SC will find the amendment constitutional.
I can't begin to express how I feel that Obama has been elected president. The first black president.
I live in the Deep South. I remember as a child seeing "colored" water fountains. I remember wanting to drink from it because I knew it must taste different. After all, why have a separate fountain if they both tasted the same? I remember "colored" waiting rooms, and separated "colored" seating at soda fountains.
I remember segregation of schools, desegregation of schools. I remember the Civil Rights marches. To think that in my life time we have elected a black president is overwhelming!!
And to top it off, I never even thought about his ethnicity until the night he won the democratic nomination and the news anchors spoke of how historic it was. It was only at that point that I said "Hey, he's black!" I was so focused on his message I never noticed his color. All of that from a girl raised in the deep Deep South.
Good job, America!!!!!!
RamblinDude said:
The spotlight is now on the democrats not to fuck up.
@247: Indeed, right now I feel less cynical (might be the booze tho)
Glad he's president and i'm ready to start criticizing his mistakes.
Wow, first the Phillies, now this.
Beautiful sight seeing the banner on CNN when the polls closed on the west coast. I will sleep a little easier tonight.
The downside of this election is our beleaguered governor (a democrat) gets to appoint Obama's replacement to the senate. Since the governor is a bit of a wild card, we could get a wackaloon appointed. Still, it will be a democrat wackaloon.
I'm hoping someone will be kind enough to point out these speeches online soon. We don't turn on the TV around here, and have been watching the polls via web.
Bidlack's race has been called. He did not win.
CA prop 8: It's early, but 'yes' is winning 55/45 according to CNN.
194 House Seats right now.
I didn't think it was possible, but I think that this election cycle qualifies as a mandate, especially since we're about 7 seats from taking the House.
Wonder if the Repubs will comprehend that?
I noticed a couple times in the past week that the pundits were starting to make statements that an Obama presidency would only be successful if he could be cooperative with them.
I expect to hear a lot of that as they take a way, way back seat for the first time since the '70s, although those disillusioned McCain supporters chanting his name at the concession speech lead me to think they won't reciprocate...
I'm so happy I'm periodically bouncing up and down and giggling, is that healthy? Yes, I think it is.
Thank you America! Now Canada can take a breather...
I think that the popular vote margin if he hadn't had to beat the race barrier would have been 5 to 10 per cent bigger. It's astonishing that he's been able to overcome the huge swathes of the population that simply wouldn't vote for a black guy.
Oh, apparently Kenya just declared a national holiday. This is weird.
Well crap. Congratulations to the Democrat Party and our new President elect Obama.
I hope I was wrong about Obama.
We'll see.
@Stephen (248)
So that would mean her future is less VP than DP?
California is a crazy quilt of disparate voting blocs. The Central Valley is very conservative and its rural counties frequently report their votes very quickly. San Francisco is the opposite in all respects: it takes a long time to report and it's reliably liberal. I expect the tally to tighten, but I don't know enough about where the currently counted votes came from. Bay Area counties will vote No. Los Angeles will vote No. San Diego will probably go Yes. It's a coin flip.
I also don't know if votes banked by Obama's vigorous early-vote campaign is in the tally already or will be added in later. We've had ads on TV reporting Obama's opposition to 8 and robocalls reiterating the same. Will it be enough?
That electoral map looks familiar. Like 1860.
Shout out to Virginia (and maybe NC) for moving on. And way to go PA!!
I see Florida (my current home) is blue but it is too close. We have work to do.
Yahooooooooo!
Historic! Fantastic! Congratulations!
Obama has a hard road ahead repairing the reputation of the US on the World stage, but now, at least, it is possible.
And, Nick, I saw your comment on the Fox forums. Couldn't resist, eh?
I'll drink to this!
Here goes: proost!
Did I say 194? I meant 211. 7 away. 92 open.
Ah! Prop 11 here in California is leading. That's the redistricting reform to puy an end to gerrymandering. That one was more important than ANYTHING for this state. Gerrymandering is the root cause for why this state is so broken. The legislature is nothing but extremists.
He didn't say "religious or atheist". I'm being oppressed! :)
Man, those two little Obama girls are a hoot. It's going to be fun watching them grow up in the White House.
I'm disappointed in California. I guess there's a more powerful Bradley effect with homophobes. Didn't the same happen with homophobes in the 2004 election, where republicans started with the teh gayz campaign?
Kay Hagan beat the atheiphobe Dole.
The difference:
When McCain was delivering his speech, he said that earlier in the evening, he called Obama to congratulate him, and the audience booed and hissed.
When Obama was delivering his speech, he said that earlier in the evening he received a call from McCain congratulating him, and the audience cheered.
Although... I had always imagined that the first black American president would look more like Morgan Freeman...
@Rat
Once again, people need to think outside the Party boxes here. Prop 8 support will not correlate to Rep or Dem. Both the Black and Hispanic communities tracked overwhelmingly pro-8 because of the religious aspects, especially the heavy Catholicism of the Hispanic community.
I voted NO, but I felt it could go either way. It may still be beatable at the federal level if a conflict between Prop 8 and equal treatment can be successfully argued at the SCOTUS level.
Al Franken is behind in the Minnesota senate race - any chance he'll come back later in the count?
He's quoting Lincoln.
I guess he gets to do that.
'grats for that emancipation thing, Abe. Look what happened :)
Nancy,
I too remember the separate bathrooms and drinking fountains. I remember the the marches and the hoses, the bombs, the guns, the hate.
This is truly a great day for America.
But now I look at California's Prop 8 and there is more to do.
But for now: celebration!
I'm going to be SO glad when the election season is finally over. If they ever push the start back much farther I'm going to have to start protesting.
I am so proud and thankful that I was able to vote in this election, put my hand on the wheel of change and add my own effort to the collective victory. I have lived abroad for 35 years, but today I feel the bond to my birthland more than I have in many, many years.
Noni
Eric, it's the Democratic party. You can't even leave that pathetic childishness behind for a congratulations?
I'm glad he won but I'd hardly call winning the popular vote by 4-5% a 'landslide'
Sorry. The 2012 campaign started five minutes ago. I suggest really good noise canceling headphones. I loves my Bose.
A Christian theocrat's reaction to Obama's victory from msnbc.com:
I find it disgraceful, that this country, that was FOUNDED on Godly principals has turned its back on the Lord.
OOO Robin Hayes in N.C. was also defeated. I'd like to hope that this statement of his had a little effect.
"He yielded the microphone to Representative Robin Hayes, who prefaced his comments by saying it was important to 'make sure we don't say something stupid, make sure we don't say something we don't mean.' Republicans, he reminded the crowd, were kind people. Plus, he added, the liberal media had shown itself eager to distort such remarks. With the crowd duly chastened and put on best behavior, he accused Obama of 'inciting class warfare' and said that 'liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God.'"
Source: http://www.observer.com/2008/politics/damn-polls-mccains-irreducibles-b…
Damn he gives good speech. Nice riff about that 106-year-old and how much change can happen in a century, and how much could happen from now.
And a puppy.
Puppies! you can't go wrong with that!
good job :-)
now let's hope that the next 4-8 years will give the world an opportunity to start fixing the ginormous mess we've maneuvered ourselves into.
i don't care who you are. If that wasn't uplifting, then I don't know what was.
@bobC
Could you link that article I was looking around and couldn't find it.
Awesome news, and an incredible speech from President-elect Barack Obama.
I have but one criticism of his speech though: he used the word "enormity" to mean "size" or "magnitude", when the word really means "extreme wickedness".
Craig. Maybe I should have. It's just I've heard the term Rethuglican one time two many today.
Amazing! Amazing the bond between humans during such events. It probably goes back to the times when the alpha male of the wolf pack was howling his victory cry.
Congratulations America!
You know what I'd like to sit in on?
Obama's first national security meeting.
Hoo boy! Welcome to the dark and dirty real world, buddy. Best of luck.
Damn - that man can orate!
Liked the puppy and the old lady story :)
I'm sitting at my desk in Melbourne, watching the streaming video from a French channel, saying 'Yes we can!' along with the rest of you. Small world.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
e⋅nor⋅mi⋅ty
-noun, plural -ties
1. outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness: the enormity of war crimes.
2. something outrageous or heinous, as an offense: The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.
3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity: The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.
Well done America.
I finally feel like there's a chance the world can turn its face into the wind and begin dealing with a few problems.
(Must resist Schadenfreude. Must resist Schadenfreude.)
A teenage lurker from Singapore here. Congratulations to you guys! I'm feeling pretty elated right now. I know Obama isn't a magician, but I'm optimistic he'll be quite a bit of good for the US and the world. Great job! :D
@ k9_kaos
http://windowsxp-privacy.net/?id=198760161
See defs #3 and #4
I wonder if when i'm 106 i'll be voting for the first openly atheist president.
http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/f/f4/ComboBarack.jpg
YIPPEE!!!
!
This made my year! Go OBAMA!
What the hell????
I have no idea where that link came from.
Try this:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enormity
I'm kinda proud of us.
MCCAIN'S CALL TO OBAMA
Here's one of the comments:
I find it disgraceful, that this country, that was FOUNDED on Godly principals has turned its back on the Lord. We will all reap what you have sewn. It is ashame that people neglect to do thier homework and see the lack of integrity in mr. OBAMA-NATION... I am discouraged and outraged at the lack of intelligence shown by the american people. They chose a man with no history of ever accomplishing ANYTHING for this nation, in fact until now, he and his wife have " never been proud of america" ... (their words, not mine).. UNBELIEVABLE!! He in one term will destroy, all that america was founded on.. dont believe me??? read Revelations (its in your bible).. thats that little black book thats covered in dust, stuffed in a box somewhere in your house... or attic... Try reading it... then maybe you will be ashamed of who you picked as the leader of the free world.. oh and by the way.. welcome to the new russia.. cuz communist we will now become.
Must resist Schadenfreude.)
Didn't Obama just tell you to be nice and uniting and inclusive?
I just wanted to give a little tip for everyone watching Prop 8 - the polls showed a lead for the NO campaign up until election day. The percentage according to the reported results right now (map link above) give 54.5% for YES, and 45.5% for NO, but if you hover over the counties, many of those in favor of the ban have 0% to 30% of precincts reporting. What is going on? California is a big state in a late time zone, these are almost all absentee votes! Old folks like to vote absentee and old folks were for the ban, for example. I've got a little more faith in my home state, besides. To top it off, some places haven't even reported any results yet, like San Francisco!
Give California a chance!
From an Australian, Thank You to all those who those who voted for Obama. To those who didn't, you have 4 years to think about it.
I am so ecstatic! And since I don't get to do it on my own message board (since I have to remain neutral, and I'm drunk) OBAMA! My president! I can't believe it! I can't believe I saw the day! FSM bless America! I love my country!
Just after I submitted my last comment, I now see that California has just moved by .3% with only 2.5% more precincts reporting! At that rate it could move by 10 percentage points before the night is over!
I went and bought some american beer to celebrate. Good ol' Samuel Adams.
Someone asked for the McCain concession speech a way, way back there:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/mccain.transcript/index.html
from the link in #330:
It is just a shame on how Obama fed on the uneducated americans to win the presidency.
it's opposite-world!!! weird people...
Posted by: Charlie Foxtrot | November 5, 2008 12:06 AM
... I had always imagined that the first black American president would look more like Morgan Freeman...
I just came from the Obama headquarters in Santa Monica CA at Morgan Freeman's production offices.
When MSNBC announced that Ohio went to Obama the room exploded with applause because we knew that McCain could no longer get the electoral college votes. Tears flowed freely and smiles filled the room.
We had our country back!
Dr Myers, since you say that you are "definitely not an uncritical supporter" of President elect Obama, perhaps in the next few days you could inform us of some of your criticisms of our new president.
Could be, we might hear some from the news media as well.
I'm so proud that so many people pulled together, and voted for Obama.
Erick Atkinson,
PZ has made several posts (and I am being conservative in my estimate, here) criticizing Obama. If you spent more time reading the blog and less time trolling, you'd have seen them.
Your none too subtle dig at the supposed liberal bias in the media has not gone unnoticed either. Do you ever plan on joining us in reality?
i don't care who you are. If that wasn't uplifting, then I don't know what was.
Nope. Sorry. I was diagraming the speech in my head and reverse engineering the intent of the speechwriter. Anything else is sill emotionalism for a politician. One side effect I hope for the end of the election is a return to SKEPTICISM. Anyone remember that? That thing where you don't let your emotions rule reason? Where hope is not a strategy?
Is Jon Favreau still cranking speeches out for Obama?
Eric Atkinson wrote:
Er, shouldn't he wait 'til Obama actually makes some decisions? Technically, he doesn't take office until January; not much is going to happen between now and then - except a lot of partying on one side and a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth on the other.
I know I'm happy. There's little I enjoy more than seeing hateful, ignorant, racist, faux-god-loving (and faux god-loving) scumbags denied their desires.
"supposed liberal bias"
That's a good one.
He has, asshole.
Oh, I'm sorry. I meant Rethuglican.
No go whine to some others about your mistreatment.
There's little I enjoy more than seeing hateful, ignorant, racist, faux-god-loving (and faux god-loving) scumbags denied their desires.
So you are breaking away from Obama already in the whole bringing everyone together thing? I wondered how long that would last. Oh well.
Charlie Foxtrot,
Melbourne here as well....
Could have come over to watch it on CNN !
Coleman up 43:41 with 68% counted....
""""You know what I'd like to sit in on?
Obama's first national security meeting.
Hoo boy! Welcome to the dark and dirty real world, buddy. Best of luck."""
I'm wondering just how much "openness" we'll see when it comes to the DOD and the CIA? And of course, the Federal Reserve?
What ya wanna guess that no time at all will elapse before the promise of "transparency" is shut out of those dark corners, for "national security reasons" (and the banksters who don't want anyone thinking about the scam they've been running for a long time now)?
As the US comes to terms with being flat broke and in debt up to our eyeballs, it'll be interesting to see how many "new deal" programs will be implemented and how fast hyper-inflation will set in?
Weeee...
As I just posted on Dana's blog - The dream has not been fully realized, but this time, a man was judged on the content of his character, not the colour of his skin.
I remember white and "colored" drinking fountains, waiting rooms, bus seats. I wish Rosa and Martin and others were here to see - and Emmet Till and James Meredith and James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andy Goodman.
I loved the speech, too wired to sleep.
Ciao
Congratulations to all USAians, and some relief and hope for the rest of us.
And Eric A, why don't you just fuck off now?
Oh, I'm sorry. I meant Rethuglican.
Can you feel the uniting in the air?
Karl Rove is on Fox News right now with "Barack Obama 44th President" floating in the air behind him.
Prop 8 is going to pass?
Oh well, California. Have fun in court.
Also Dr Myers, I would like to thank you for the work you performed tonight as an election judge.
How much will Canadian rents and real estate prices drop on Wednesday?
I'm wondering just how much "openness" we'll see when it comes to the DOD and the CIA?
How much do you want? I work in an industry where I get briefed on... interesting things. There's really no need for Joe The Plumber to have similar information. National security isn't a myth just because some politicians have abused the concept.
Yes, Eric. Obviously massive corporate owned media outlets that spend huge amounts of time discussing non-issues like Wright, Ayers, and Acorn are really working for a progressive platform.
Quiet_Desperation at #343:
I think it depends on the context. In my relationship with my girlfriend I have some moments where I really enjoy the emotional part. When it comes to figuring some things out for the country? Absolutely we're going to need some skepticism. But it seems to me that we can also have some positive feeling. At least, I've found when I've tried to approach a task from positive affect, as opposed to negative affect, I've been more successful (but that's anecdotal, and an N of 1, of course).
Further, watching Obama's face at the speech, I didn't get the sense of someone who felt like "Wheeeee!" He looked like he had his "game face" on, more like "Ok, this is a good start, and we have work to do, so let's get ready to do that." I think the guy's got a good brain, isn't afraid to use it, and that said brain will be instrumental in the work ahead.
Again, N of 1, and purely anecdotal. Could've been shock, for all I know. But sometimes it's nice to feel uplifted. I don't expect things to get better overnight. I don't think that's what this campaign means when it talks about hope.
But, again, all my opinion.
Gotta turn in, happy about the election results for President.
No kings,
Robert
I am enthused in the extreme, but still cautious. Much of what will actually come out of this administration will begin to come clear with the selection of staff and appointments... will it be Bush-style cronyism with one token post, or Lincoln-style appoint intelligent adversaries?
Quiet_Desperation wrote:
If you think there's ever going to be a time when the particular group people to whom I referred are content to be 'brought together' by someone who isn't a white man who claims to believe in god then you're a fool. They won't ever acknowledge Obama as rightful president; I don't see why I should respect them if that's the case.
Quiet_Desperation snarked,
No, but I can hear your whining like a foghorn.
Personally, I'm not interested with uniting with you or Eric A, especially if you're trying to defend that jerk.
Why do you think I or anybody else should?
On Fox Ralph Nader just said Obama can become the Uncle Sam of the US....
or.... get this... the Uncle Tom.
Unbelievable. He just blew what credibility he had left.
@Desert Son
OK.
It's just that I have found the most depressing thing about this past election is seeing many, many fellow skeptics fall into a pseudo-religious adulation of just a man. A smart guy, yes, but just a guy at the end of the day.
I'm also a strident misanthrope, so there's that. ;-)
Congratulations!
Just found this thread--couldn't be happier. Of course, I allowed myself to be happy in 1992, and you remember what happened two years later! The battle isn't over. But congratulations--you all did good!
@ QUIET_DESPERATION
I think we still understand that Obama is just a person, but when compared to the past 8 years of blatantly anti-intellectual policy, I can see how you could see our adulation as something less than skeptical. I just think we're happy that our country is going in a more intellectual direction. We're still skeptical, we're waiting to see how Obama will act when given the presidency, but we're very much more hopeful than a McCain/Palin presidency would have made us.
In short...STFU & GBTW (kidding)
Ryan: No, but I can hear your whining like a foghorn.
Foghorns whine? And you can hear text? Do you suffer from synesthesia of some sort?
Lighten up, you ridiculous little thing. I'm just teasing.
QD @ 363,
QD,
being able to admire someone's effort to pull off a historic victory against all odds does not equal what you call pseudo-religious adulation.it just means you are able to emotionally engage and show empathy for the achievement.
Maybe that is one of the things is wrong with your country,that you have lost the ability to do that.
Yup..Prop. 8 with 25% of the precincts reporting is currently winning at 53% to 47%. Still have work to do in this country.
PZ...
Here is a great way to bring everyone on this thread together:
Send Quiet Desperation, Eric Atkinson and Scott O to the moron dungeon.
Their repetitive boring tripe needs to be devoweled and flushed.
Maybe that is one of the things is wrong with your country,that you have lost the ability to do that.
*shrug* Maybe. I'm the first to admit I have a cold, black heart through which pumps a thick, supercooled fluid that closely resembles crude oil.
Hot Damn!
Now, next thing, I'd like to see Hillary on the Supreme Court. That would of course take a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, but man, wouldn't that make just all the right(-wing) heads explode! Oh, the very thought . . .
Guys, don't feed the trolls..
I hope he really will make changes for the better. I'm not expecting such things as universal healthcare or other things that are entirely natural to some of us, but hopefully there will be improvements. Maybe even improved science education, or more affordable healthcare, or a sensible foreign policy. You know, things of which some people seem so utterly terrified. You know who you are.
Not only that, but numbers have different textures for me.
I'm sooper special.
Well, okee, then. All's fair in love and politics.
"It's just that I have found the most depressing thing about this past election is seeing many, many fellow skeptics fall into a pseudo-religious adulation of just a man."
Errr ... we have a two-party system, for all intents and purposes. People got excited because one party is currently a whole lot better than the other, at least to someone with a scientific and/or skeptical outlook. Accusing skeptics of worshiping Obama is ridiculous, and is a pretty clear indicator of some highly un-skeptical bias on your part ...
i,m here in arkansas lookinf forlornly at the gaint blood red sopt of stupidity over the South and cant figure out who keeps voting rethuglican. i work @ wal-mart and i didn't here any of my customers rooting for McSame. We had hi fives all around when we heard that Obama won.
P.s. please tell me that the prop. 1 failed
P.P.s born in TX raised in AR "the red shame: it burns"
This is a great time to be alive.
@mayhempix
I was just teasing, and for just a couple short posts. I voted for Obama. Why all the anger? Our guy won.
Geez. The intertoobs get less jolly every year. :-(
But that's ideology for you. *Anyone* who exhibits *any* dissent is just lumped together into the same "dungeon" as you say.
Yeah...so I'm in Indiana, and they still haven't called it, as far as I know. It's ridiculously close - less than 24,000 votes separating them at last count, and a big blue county holding everything up - and that's pretty exciting, since we're usually pretty solidly red. It gives me some hope, although fucking Steve Buyer's victory hurts me.
But still, yawn...I'm exhausted and my throat hurts from shouting in joy. I think I may have to wait until tomorrow to catch the last of the results.
Congratulations Americans!
An excellent choice of President! Far better than for many years, far better than would have been imaginable a few years ago.
I have often been critical of the US, (who could not be with George Bush?), but tonight the American people have proved they are mature in a way most countries are not, in that they are capable of putting a history of racism in the past and elect a non-white president.
Here in Australia I am quite sure that we would not be mature enough to do this.
Obama made a great victory speech, spoilt only be one thing.
Why did he have to say,
"God bless you, and God bless America?
Why does even Obama have to put in that God stuff?
Not only that, but numbers have different textures for me.
I had something like that as a kid. The numbers 2, 4, 5 and 7 seemed to... radiate something for me. I grew out of it, of course, but I remember it to this day. Decades later I read that it might have been a mild form of OCD which is common at that age (6 or 7 years old). Fortunately it didn't manifest in me needing to do things 2, 4, 5 or 7 times. :-)
Feel kinda sad being a Californian tonight, we are supposed to be one of the leaders of progress, not a hall of bigotry.
Otherwise, gonna be happy to tell my family "told you so" in 4 years after stuff has improved.
A disappointing night for me, obviously. But McCain made a great concession speech.
It's 6.30 in the morning here and I've been up all night (at the Union at my university) so I don't have the energy for any extensive comments right now.
And as proof of my exhaustion, I misread something...OBAMA is leading by a little under 24,000 votes in Indiana. That blows my ever-loving mind, y'all.
I wish Al Franken and you (on behalf of Minnesota) the best of luck, PZ.
Feel kinda sad being a Californian tonight, we are supposed to be one of the leaders of progress, not a hall of bigotry.
Yeah, the stain on our state constitution will suck, but there is still a chance to beat it at the federal level. I don't think the internal conflict in the state document will help because Prop 8 was an real amendment.
But Prop 11 appears to be passing, and we have needed redistricting reform for a LONG time. And the bond measures are failing. I guess the voters finally realized that's just more debt. For every $1 of bond you eventually pay $2.
Franken/Coleman tied at 42% each as of 12:30 CST, with 81% of the votes counted (per NBC).
Coleman-Franken still 42:42 %...
Geeze, are you sure you weren't somewhere in South Carolina?
Hey, SC was a lot closer than a bunch of other southern states - 9%. That's a hell of a moral victory in this state.
We're no LA, TN, MS, or AL.
If you want a chuckle,drop over to the Georgia outdoor news forum at http://forum.gon.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9 I love the smell of paranoia in the morning.
What's going on with Bachmann? Did that shrew lose to whatever his name is?
I am still waiting to hear how the Coleman/Franken race comes out. Last time I looked Coleman was up with most precints in. Is there any hope?
Glad to see Dole gone. Sorry to see that that Bachmann survived. In my state of Kansas, we regressed. My nice democratic rep has apparently lost to her challenger. Even though the challenger is not bad (moderate republican woman) it's still a pick up for the red team. The popular presidential vote here was actually closer than I thought it would be, bust still decisively for McCain. The land of the Niobrara is still red. Damn!
On the whole, though, this was an awesome night. I feel hopeful.
Meh. Off to bed. Good night all.
I'm sorry if my teasing bothered anyone. I'm reqally a nice guy underneath despite being so black hearted. If it helps, I made $150 worth of wagers that Obama would win with more than 330 electoral votes that I will be collecting on over the next few days. I *knew* how this one was going, and was never really concerned.
I'm upset that my home state of Kentucky wasn't much help to Obama, but he still won! As a young voter (this being my second time), I'm a bit overwhelmed. The last two elections were a disappointment to me, but this one is profound. When the media called it, I was in a high emotional state with tons of feelings floating around. Relief, amazement, astonishment, happiness, joy, but most of all hope. In my lifetime, I have never had more hope and confidence in our nation. When Obama speaks, I truly believe our country has hit a turning point and will become that great nation that our parents and grandparents could take pride in, once again. His acceptance speech reflected this notion. I'm paraphrasing, but he said, it may not happen in the next year or the next term, but it is a chance. Just that chance, that step in the right direction, fills me with hope. I know he has fancy speech writers and you could compare his speeches with others in our country's history, but when Obama says the words in his speeches, you get the sense that he absolutely believes what he says and has full confidence. I believe that will translate into the American population's belief and confidence in our nation. I've never been prouder to be an American than on this night in November.!!! Yes we can, and yes we did!!!!
Even though I thought McCain's concession speech was a class act, and teared up at Obama's words, when the winner was announced I couldn't work up a smile. The fact that the race was as close as it was just brought home the fact that the country hasn't changed at all. It's still mired in deep stupidity and bigotry. I couldn't smile or laugh, all I could do was mutter a dark "Finally!". The closeness of the race robbed the victory of any happiness for me.
If it had been a landslide, I could have cheered. I could have imagined that some people had finally seen the incontrovertable evidence of the error of their ways. That some people had actually LEARNED something, and acted on it.
But no. None of the teeming ignoranti learned anything. They're still as smugly stupid as ever.
The only ray of hope from the numbers was that the new, youthful voters, voted for Obama. Maybe there's some chance for the future.
Congratulations! All things considered, there really was only one choice. I'm looking forward to an interesting four years.
Ack, lame duck till January. Ready, set, now twiddle those thumbs.
Final shot:
Holy shit! Ted Stevens is winning! What's up with that? Yeah, let's vote for the convicted criminal!
Btw, Elizabeth Dole lost to Kay Hagan.
well, he also said that his dead grandmother is watching him. he is very religious, which is unfortunate. he seems to be capable of not imposing that on others, though. let's hope that's really so.
I've just woke up (Europe).
.... processing results.....
What? Bachmann. Why Lord?! Why?!
I want to apologize for my state for not booting the Senate Minority Leader...
That being said, I'm not at all displeased with the presidential election, although very unhappy with certain ballot initiatives (I'm looking at you, Arkansas and Florida). Hopefully California doesn't fall into my unhappy-list.
@Q_D
Posted by: Quiet_Desperation | November 5, 2008 1:18 AM
@mayhempix
"Why all the anger? Our guy won.
But that's ideology for you. *Anyone* who exhibits *any* dissent is just lumped together into the same "dungeon" as you say."
No anger here... I am thrilled with the results of the election. I am also no ideologue nor did I ever experience Obamamania. He was not my first choice in the primaries. I was reacting to what you wrote and found it boorish, even if you were only kidding. But I do apologize for lumping you in with Eric and Scott O.
All skepticism and no hope is just as foolish and unrealistic as all hope and no skepticism.
Hey Sarah:
14:59
Damn!!!
Michelle Bachmann squeaked out a win and will return to to the House.
I'm so happy!!! I live near the main artery through downtown Philadelphia, and the honking and screaming show no signs of abating.
I'm just happy to have a president that doesn't hate me!
I know the aftermath of an election is supposed to be a time for reconciliation, but if Michelle Bachmann is returned to her seat, I hope the new Congress will exercise its constitutional prerogative, and expel her.
Congratulations Americans!
You have done history!
For Quiet_Desperation.
The quote below is from Free Republic. You need to worry more about your party than about some people on here enjoying the moment.
Maybe 'win at all costs' isn't all that matters?
Also: I now hate McCain again. The truce is over.
Anyone* who exhibits *any* dissent is just lumped together into the same "dungeon" as you say."
Typical Democrat behavior.
If we shout invectives at "them" loud enough, maybe "they" will go away and we can feel better abour ourselfs.
And later today,Minnesodians will wake up to find they elected Franken to the Senate.
Or else the endless recounts.
Man. What a mess.
As a person from New Zealand, I watched your election with much interest.
I'm VERY pleased to see Obama win (as much for myself and the world as for your own internal politics).
Congrats, U.S., and may your next four years go well.
You know Eric,
if you were a server computer,you would drive the IT guys insane to figure out where the problem is,and would make them go wipe the whole drive and start afresh.....
Was at the Obama rally (unticketed section). Mostly pretty reserved in the early evening, with cheers for D projections, and some boos for R projections. Someone shouted "lame" when the silly Biltzer talked up the CNN "hologram" (no one disagreed, 'cause it was). Lots of cheers when it was clear Dole was going to lose. Lots of cheers when the Chicago crowd scenes were shown -- we were in the area where the building lights spelled out USA and the jumbo-tron TV was on the right.
Alas, the 10yr old was exhausted by 9pm and we hoofed it back to the train station before Obama clinched the electoral votes. Listened to the McCain concession speech on a crappy MP3 radio. Caught part of Obama's speech in the car when my wife picked us up -- she couldn't go because she teaches a night class which generally she likes, but does interfere with this kind of special event.
This is the first time in a few years where I've been glad we still have the electoral college. The popular vote was awfully close.
As for california, I know a few couples who will be seriously impacted by prop 8, and it's heartbreaking. I can't think of a single logical argument for it--usually, there is one, but I can't understand the thinking that would lead you to support this any more than I could understand the support for a bill guaranteeing the right to shoot kittens. I usually try to see both sides, but I just can't.
As for all the bonds, I voted YES on most all of them. Hell, As a single person who rents, I pay like half my income in taxes. I pay as much as a person in a socialist state and get no bloody benefits for it. Healthcare's expensive. The roads suck. Public transit is private (and also sucks).
You bet I want my high-speed train and children's hospitals. If I'm lucky, I might get to see where some of those dollars I fork over actually go for once, and it can only impact me a small % more if they do raise taxes for it.
So does anyone think Stevens will take Alaska, only to get impeached for his felony charge?
"if you were a server computer,you would drive the IT guys insane to figure out where the problem is,and would make them go wipe the whole drive and start afresh....."
I guess the human equivalent would be a "REDUCATION CAMP"
If I were lucky.
Well, at least the Texans in this thread, whilst bemoaning the fact that they ended up a red state, got to enjoy the fact that the pundits couldn't call it a red state 5 minutes into the election, and actually had to wait until the polls were mostly in.
Unlike my lovely, deep-red-wine-on-white-burberry-carpet-stained Oklahoma, which gets tossed to the Reps as a gimme 5 seconds after the polls open. Even on House/Senate, we went 5 out of 6 Rep, with a 70% Rep vote, on every single race. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to vote in a state where my vote might actually matter as a Democrat.
Congrats from the UK!
Hoping he lives up to his promises, but even if not he surely cannot be any worse than the McCain/Palin double-act would have been.
Cheers!
Eric, people not liking you because you act like an arse 90% of the time is not "typical democrat behaviour", it's human behaviour.
Whoop! What a long and sometimes painful road to the White House it's been, but I'm going to bed with joy in my heart!
Since I live in one of the bluest of the blue states on the east coast, I could only sit and watch with great anticipation and some trepedation to see what the rest of America would do. Good job, US!!
To see both whites and African-American's crying with joy and cheering together in celebration--that said so much.
And the post-midnight spontaneous noisy celebration that seems to have broken out in front of the White House--that was profound in its own way too.
Too bad so many anti-gay bills seem to be passing. Still much to be done, but I'll be sleeping so much better tonight.
I thought McCain's concession speech was the most thoughtful, articulate, and reasoned speeches I've heard him give since he entered the race. I'm kind of glad he found his voice again only after the elections were over.
And, yay for the new White House puppy-to-be. Congrats to Malia and Sasha. A new puppy is awesome.
Long time reader, first time poster...
I live in Utah and was debating whether to go vote today or not (I know... shame, shame... I went anyway) and was pleasantly surprised to see Utah's largest voting for a democratic candidate in over 3 decades!!
I feel a little better about living in one of the most conservative states in the nation today.
What a great day!
Kel.
I don't like Obama and do think he is an ass, but I have never said for him to STFU.
Can not people disagrree and even dislike me here with the hate?
Like I really care.
Coleman is looking a little better.
Another day, another thread - and Eric Asskisson being an idiot again.
Swing low sweet sling blade.
with out the hate.
Yes, Gryphin,we folks from Baja Oklahoma (as my OK-born spouse Mr. Science calls it) can rejoice that at least we're not from deep-red Oklahoma. And that we weren't red right out of the chute, as we were in '04. This year we were an interesting color of red-purple, kind of like a two-day old bruise. Great disappointment, though, in our Senate race. Noriega lost to that asshat Cornyn, which just demonstrates the necessity of having money. Cornyn commercials -- no people, but lots of horses and cows and stupid platitudes -- nonstop the last five days.
If there were ever an argument for them, it would be you and Fred Phelps.
"If there were ever an argument for them, it would be you and Fred Phelps."
And you lump me with that fucker?
Eat shit and vomit Nibien.
He's not here, I'm sure he wouldn't mind...
Going around saying "typical democrat behaviour" every time someone says something negative about you is like what Ken Ham said in response to the word moron. You're making no attempt to be social, it seems the whole point of you being here is to act like an antagonistic troll. People who actually are here to converse and exchange ideas find that frustrating; as expected, it's troll behaviour!
Autumn @271: On CNN a few minutes ago, they showed that amendment 2 was winning with 62%, but said it was still too close to call, because it required 60%. So, maybe there's hope.
Dear America:
I was really hoping it would be a sweeping Moose victory, but at least you guys picked the next best choice.
Moose in 2012!
Dear United States of America,
Thank you.
Love,
The World
Kate @ 429,
what on earth are you talking about???
Eric Atkinson | November 5, 2008 2:13 AM
"REDUCATION CAMP"
Oh, the irony!
Hats off to this great country that is the USA- a majority of us voted for an intelligent, articulate person for President even though he does look like the other guys who have held the office before him.
And for those of you who chose not to vote for Obama and voted for McCain- listen to McCain's concession speech and take it to heart. We've all got a lot of work ahead of us.
Peace.
The state I live in was called after 2% of the vote. I suppose they might have as well started it out red, for all the difference it would have made.
At least I have the excuse that as an alien, it's not my fault because i don't get to vote.
and on a different note:
Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,008,420 (56%) - Projected winner
No: 776,896 (44%)
92% of precincts reporting.
Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 544,197 (57%) - Projected winner
No: 544,197 (43%)
90% of precincts reporting.
California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 2,457,023 (53%)
No: 2,202,737 (47%)
39% of precincts reporting.
Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,632,316 (62%) - Projected winner
No: 2,832,236 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.
arrrggghhh. at least the abortion ban in SD didn't pass.
@Eric Atkinson,
I actually think that your initial comment after the race was called for Obama was gracious and humble. I have never called you any names (I don't comment a whole lot, but some of your past comments have tempted me to chime in), and I don't for a second think of you as nearly as crazily single-minded as Scott fron Oregon.
Your Reeducation camp quip, though, has me wondering.
With all the vitriol aimed at Bush in 2000, was there any Democrat who seriously suggested that a Bush presidency could result in American citizens being held in prisons without being charged with a crime, and without access to the judicial system, only on the order of the President?
I can not think of a single person, no matter how much they despised Bush, who could ever have imagined the Lenin-inspired "special military tribunals".
If you are predicting that those who disagree, however vehemently, with Obama's future policy decisions will be subjected to similar treatment, I can not help but think that you are either unbalanced, or a horrifying modern Cassandra.
Wow.... just woke up to an Obama victory (I'm from the Netherlands)!
Congratulations USA!
(and thank you for not prolonging the republican agony)
Hornet's nest.
Voted against gay marriage because of what the kids have to put up with and try to figure out when mom and dad are both thee same.
Bullshit? No. I've seen it.
clinteas, look in the thread before this one....
I had about the opposite reaction to the CNN hologram reporter than everybody else here. My first reaction was "oh, that's cool", but then the newsreaders kept on talking about how cool and high-tech and groundbreaking it was. I could only stand that for a minute or two before I closed the CNN and started streaming the NPR election coverage, which was excellent.
re:#433
should read "doesn't", not "does." too much celebratory wine.
mayhempix. You can take that "missing e" and stick it with the rest of your irony.
Knurl, what exactly do the kids have to 'put up with'?
And is whatever you think that is worth ensuring gay couples never have equal government granted benefits?
"Voted against gay marriage because of what the kids have to put up with and try to figure out when mom and dad are both thee same.
"Bullshit? No. I've seen it."
We, what?
Do you somehow imagine that California Proposition 8 and the like will prevent same sex relationships and childraising being concurrent activities?
Knurl: yeah, those kids are just idiots. They just can't figure it out at all, and you know, you try teaching them. it's just so darned difficult! and that's a good reason to vote against giving people equal rights. It might involve some betterment of our society! what a load of work!
Congratulations USA.
I've not dared to post before the result was anounced as the last time UK folk commented it fired up the rednecks and GW got in again.(I'm sure it wasn't all our fault).
You must feel as we did in 1997, although we ended up with Tony Blair. I'm sure you will fare much better.
Knurl@ 347: "Voted against gay marriage because of what the kids have to put up with and try to figure out when mom and dad are both thee same."
Let's rephrase your opinion a little: "Voted against black/white marriage because of what the kids have to put up with and try to figure out when mom and dad aren't both the same."
Do you see the problem here?
Knurl, what exactly has gay marriage to do with having and raising children? you're making no sense. gay couples will have and raise children whether you want them to or not. they'll however be discriminated against by people like you.
besides, children have a rather amazing ability to accept "atypical" arrangements. they'll be fine.
Autumn. Thank you for your comment. I wonder if you got the part about "wipe the drive."
Yay!!!
Not only did Obama win, but here in Colorado, Amendment 48, the one that sought to define a fertilized egg as a human being in all of our laws, is being defeated 74% to 26% at this time.
And the vile anti-gay crusader Marilyn Musgrave is no longer a Colorado Representative.
Too bad so many laws against gay marriage are going through around the country. That's going to be especially fucked up in California, where those gay and lesbian marriages that are in place now will continue to be legal, but that right will be denied to any others from this day forward. I hope that gets overturned.
But yay! for us, for joining together to take back this country from the cheerleaders for The Apocalypse! And thanks to those of you in other nations, who've lent us your support on these threads! It's been really fun reading the comments today. Thank you, too, PZ!
Yep Clinteas, I was referring to the poll wherein the choice "A Moose" was a more popular than the choice "Sarah Palin" if one could simply choose whom the next president would be.
What can I say? I love them little swamp donkeys. I love them good.*
*Except when I have to be anywhere near them. They stink.
Congratulations America!!! What a mandate! The world is breathing a sight of relief. But, I can't help but show off ... little old New Zealand is also voting this weekend, and here's what our two major party leaders say about their own religious stance(see '7.57pm' section).
Look, Gallup did a poll of 73 nations, and found that an unfeasibly large number of people in other countries who thought it mattered to them favored Obama over McCain.
Why? Well probably because we think the incumbent is a nutcase and we're a bit worried that anybody who is endorsed by the incumbent might not be a good bet.
Look, America has more than 50% of all armaments and armies. A heavy-handed President is a bit like an angry elephant.
Sadly Arizona's version of 8, Proposition 102, did pass: the so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment", which amends the state's constitution such that "only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage" in Arizona.
Fortunately we managed to vote down Proposition 105, the "Majority Rules, Let The People Decide" amendment, which would have established that a measure calling for expenditure of state funds or a levy or increase in taxes could only be passed by Yes votes from a majority of registered voters in the state. Not a majority of votes, a majority of voters. A Yes vote would be counted as Yes, a No vote as No ... no vote at all would count as a No vote, a dead registered voter would count as a No vote. Fortunately we had the sense to vote that one down.
Thank GUT!
Now, please don't get him killed.
A jar of raspberry jam says that someone'll accuse PeeZed of having done fraud with the votes in his district.
I live in Chicago, and I (somehow) managed to be one of the 70,000 at Hutchinson Field in Grant Park for the rally.
Wow.
I've never witnessed anything of such magnitude, passion, and excitement in all my life. The exuberance of the crowd, the anticipation, and the uncanny friendliness of everyone involved. Afterward was a scene I will never forget. The streets downtown were blocked off and filled with throngs of people to the point of overflowing. They were singing, dancing, playing music, laughing, crying, and no matter where you were, you couldn't get away from the constant sound of muted and echoing cheering from all over the city. It was downright surreal.
I don't think it's fully dawned on me yet that I've been privileged enough to take part in an event that will be remembered long after I'm gone and forgotten. What an amazing feeling.
OK. Serenegoose,
It's sonthing new to you.
No, somehow, i Just don..
(and I don't want to make myself look bad)
My neighborhood in Portland is GOING OFF! It certainly doesn't hurt that I live right next to an Obama organization center, but everywhere I went people are a-hootin' and a-hollerin', honkin' their horns; packin' the neighborhood bars and toasting our new president. Its a great time to be alive!
But Michelle Bachmann held onto her seat? You have got to be kidding me!
I've got to say, the sacrificial candidate gave a fairly classy concession speech.
-jcr
Beautifully put Mike, couldn't agree more!
Looks like we may be headed for a legally mandated recount. Minnesota law calls for a recount if the margin is under .5%. Right now CNN shows Coleman ahead by 3,320 votes, with 2,767,246 votes counted, which is a margin of 1.2%, with 3% of precincts remaining, many of which are in blue St. Louis. And if a legally mandated recount is not called, candidates in any contest with a 5% margin of victory may call for a hand recount, at their expense, of up to three precincts.
More info about the new recount law here: http://www.voteraction.org/node/530
P.S. If Alaska elects a convicted felon to the US Senate, I may cry.
Holy shit! Ted Stevens is winning! What's up with that? Yeah, let's vote for the convicted criminal!
The convicted criminal who brings home more pork than they know what to do with?
Don't be surprised.
-jcr
Can anyone explain this to me. If Prop 8 passes, Can it then go to the US. Surpeme Court. Then potentially get ruled in favor, therefor legalizing gay marriage everywhere. Or what can happen. Looks like Tonight I get to see my party in The house, senate, and presidency. ALl I got to do now is take out a few Justices and life will be good.
Hello from France !
It sure feels good to wake up to a (very slight, I admit, but still) victory for free-thought over hate mongering. Especially since after following this for months, I had an actual nightmare involving a McCain victory tonight :o
I have to second my utter disappointment that that evil hag Cheryl Bachman got re-elected. What the hell is wrong with you Stillwater? You seem like such a nice town.
I'm sure someone else has already mentioned this but the difference between the Republican reaction to Obama's name during McCain's concession speech, and the applause for McCain at the Obama rally in Chicago really drove home the difference between the two groups.
Of course, I just called Bachman an evil hag...but that's really more of a fact than an opinion.
Oops, I guess you can't second your own disappointment. That would be the blooze bogging.
god (#464): It could indeed, but I think it unlikely. On the other hand, it is easy to see how a lawyer could argue that the equal protection clause protects the rights of gays to receive equal protection with regard to inheritance, medical decisions, wrongful death suits, and other rights of partners. I'm just not sure the current Supreme Court would be willing to hear it, especially when the State of California has already made it clear what they think the law should be.
There's a legitimate question here of whether to protect a potential right claimed by a minority but questioned by a majority. Do you protect the right of a small subset who claim their rights are infringed, or do you protect the right of the voters of California to determine the law in California, free from federal interference?
Mike Wedel wrote:
I'm sure someone else has already mentioned this but the difference between the Republican reaction to Obama's name during McCain's concession speech, and the applause for McCain at the Obama rally in Chicago really drove home the difference between the two groups.
Or perhaps the fact that it's easier to be magnanimous in victory than in defeat. To me, that makes McCain's concession speech all the more remarkable; while I detested the way he ran his campaign, I was quite impressed with the speech he gave in defeat.
skepsci,
wouldn't 3,320 be just ~0.12% of 2,767,246 rather than 1.2%? I see that the 3rd party candidate won a significant percentage of the vote--I can't help but wonder who this hurt more.
Skepsci, I'm sure you're right and I was impressed with McCain's concession speech in general. But the boos and cat calls were a regular occurrence during the campaign as well. I don't remember hearing any at Obama rallies. I also recall that Palin's initial speech at the republican convention was really divisive; Obama time and again emphasized coalition building. It seems that the republicans feel that if you don't completely agree with them that you should move to Russia or Afghanistan or, worse yet, France.
Hell-frackin'-yeah!
I don't care if almost the entire district map here in Texas stayed red tonight... THE GUY I VOTED FOR IS NOW PRESIDENT ELECT!!!
Man, this place (Denton) is dead quiet. It's like I can feel the disappointment seeping out and draining down into the gutters. Part of me loves it, because being an atheist and a hardcore Democrat in this state is like being Pythagoras at a Flat Earth Society conference, but the other half knows that politics shouldn't be football. Too much is at stake to play the "my team won and yours didn't" game. Hope they get over it quickly.
The one bad thing about the Obama victory is that there isn't any reason for Tina Fey to do more Palin skits. That's the price you pay, I suppose.
If Prop 8 passes, Can it then go to the US. Surpeme Court. Then potentially get ruled in favor, therefor legalizing gay marriage everywhere.
Dream on. The current court didn't even grant Lilly Ledbetter equal pay for equal work.
But yes, in theory, the Supreme Court could rule that a right to marry a person of the same sex is among "the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States", and so under the 14th amendment no state can abridge it.
Just curious...
What do you guys think about Hillary Clinton being appointed to the Supreme Court? That would REALLY piss off a lot of right-wingers.
Also Keith B, it may be time for you to move to Austin.
There's a legitimate question here of whether to protect a potential right claimed by a minority but questioned by a majority. Do you protect the right of a small subset who claim their rights are infringed, or do you protect the right of the voters of California to determine the law in California, free from federal interference?
That question is answered directly by the fourteenth amendment. The only remaining question is whether a right to pick the marriage partner of your choice regardless of gender can be found in the U.S. Constitution. I'm not sure even a court as liberal as the Warren court was would be able to find that right; certainly the Roberts court won't.
What do you guys think about Hillary Clinton being appointed to the Supreme Court?
She's already rejected that possibility. And we need her in the Senate.
Personally, I think she should buy a house in England, pretend to live there for a year, then run for Parliament.
Or perhaps the fact that it's easier to be magnanimous in victory than in defeat. To me, that makes McCain's concession speech all the more remarkable; while I detested the way he ran his campaign, I was quite impressed with the speech he gave in defeat. - scepsci
Probably his first move in the 2012 campaign!
Voted against gay marriage because of what the kids have to put up with and try to figure out when mom and dad are both thee same.
You are mindbogglingly stupid. What the kids will have to put up with is having their blissfully married parents suddenly having their marriage ripped out from under them because of vile cretins like you.
Personally, I think she should buy a house in England, pretend to live there for a year, then run for Parliament.
Stow it. She's quite popular in NY, for good reason -- she's a hard-working, effective Senator.
I think she should buy a house in England, pretend to live there for a year, then run for Parliament.
Why? What have the brits done to deserve another Lady Astor?
-jcr
Tinklenberg's TV ads were pretty lackluster. They attacked Bachmann for the "anti-America" comments but not on all her other craziness (and there's so much). People who don't pay much attention to what their representatives do and say (the vast majority of voters) probably saw the race as being between two reasonable people. People who do pay attention to politics remember Tinklenberg's stint as director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation which was, at best, mediocre. When he wasn't bulldozing the oldest oak trees in Minneapolis, he was a typical out-of-tocuh DFL hack.
I have family in New York, and she's not all that popular upstate.
As for effective, she voted for both the Iraq War and for the FISA amendments. Of course, Obama also voted for the latter. That's something we need to remember when the exuberance passes. The country will be a lot better off with Obama as president than McCain, but we can't trust him to protect our rights.
At last!
Obama will TALK to our enemies. The love to TALK.
The patriot act will be relaxed, if not eliminated and the surveillance will end.
And we will be hit again.
And he will be impeached.
Cactuswren @ 453
As an Arizonan ex-pat, I feel deep shame that Prop 102 was allowed to pass. Hopefully, as someone said, this, Prop 8, and the like will be taken to the Supreme Court and overturned as inconstitutional.
And is whatever you think that is worth ensuring gay couples never have equal government granted benefits?
Not only doesn't Prop 8 deny gay couples government granted benefits forever but, because of previous hard-fought political struggles, it doesn't deny them now -- with only a few exceptions, all California benefits of marriage also apply to domestic partnerships (federal benefits don't apply to same-sex couples regardless of Prop 8).
No, the real consequence of Prop 8 is that it institutionalizes bigotry.
Over this side of the Atlantic most of us think you are having a Blair moment. We offer our sympathy. Ultimately we share your bad news.
LMAO!!! Did I type "inconstitutional" and not see anything wrong with that? OMFSM, my brain isn't online today...
Steve = fail
Congrats USA from Finland.
Now You can be really proud (and I'm somebit yealous).
Hopefully, as someone said, this, Prop 8, and the like will be taken to the Supreme Court and overturned as inconstitutional.
I don't hope that because I want courts to decide things based on the law rather than based on what outcome we want. Anyway, it's moot because the Roberts court would never make that decision -- are people really so clueless that they don't know that?
There are legitimate ways to overturn Prop 8: pass another California proposition that undoes Prop 8, or amend the U.S. Constitution to outlaw discrimination based on gender or gender preference. (Sad to say, neither of those will happen any time soon either.)
With all the vitriol aimed at Bush in 2000, was there any Democrat who seriously suggested that a Bush presidency could result in American citizens being held in prisons without being charged with a crime, and without access to the judicial system, only on the order of the President?
Yes. Stories circulated that Bush's FEMA was building concentration camps and Bush would declare martial law and round up all the dissidents. Googling it, I see that such stories were still circulating as of last year: http://digg.com/politics/Bush_s_plans_for_concentration_camps_and_marti…
I can not think of a single person ...
That's a very poor sort of argument.
"Do you protect the right of a small subset who claim their rights are infringed, or do you protect the right of the voters of California to determine the law in California, free from federal interference?"
Why does "states rights" only ever seem to come up in the context of the "right" to discriminate against and oppress minorities?
Can you hear it? What is that sweet music? Why it is the wailing of the FReepers.
PZ wrote: "and I'm definitely not an uncritical supporter."
Nobody should be an uncritical supporter of anybody for any reason. Otherwise the label of 'fanatic' would apply. :-)
wouldn't 3,320 be just ~0.12% of 2,767,246 rather than 1.2%? I see that the 3rd party candidate won a significant percentage of the vote--I can't help but wonder who this hurt more.
Apparently I suck at math at 3 am while giddy over an Obama victory. In any case, it's clear that Minnesota is headed for a recount.
Protecting the rights of a small subset of voters against infringement by the majority is the basis for our entire system of government.
I can't see Clinton on SCOTUS - I don't think she'd do well there either. Obama on the other hand has the stature to be a new Taft, and I hope that POTUS45 appoints him. My personal hope is that Biden steps down in 2012 and Clinton joins the ticket.
Assuming of course she proves herself in the interim.
It would be very magnanimous to put her in charge of implementing healthcare reform.¨
But I love to see her as chief prosecutor of the warcrimes tribunal.
Congratulations USA, you've got a new young, energetic, charismatic and INTELLIGENT president.
You guys can sure get it together when it really counts!