Election day open thread

Submitted by Simon on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 10:31am

I'm trying to decide which more aptly reflects my mood:

Or:

Talk about anything appropriate. I need to go hit some golf balls.

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For no reason at all,

Submitted by Jim M on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 1:03pm.

For no reason at all, unscientific prognostication:
Pop vote Obama 54% McCain 45% others 1%
Electoral - Obama 279 McCain 259

Senate Dem 57 Rep 43

House - Not going to even guess since I don't follow many of the races. Dems increase majority.

Chances of me going to sleep before 11:30PM - 70%

Chances of me being hungover from a wild celebration - 3%

Number of arrests at Doak Campbell stadium on the FSU campus tonight for drunk and disorderly in an Obama celebration - 7

Number of arrests at Doak Campbell stadium on the FSU campus tonight for drunk and disorderly if McCain wins - None, the riot squad will be too busy to care about the drunks!

Comment on voter turnout using Florida

Submitted by Jim M on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 9:40am.

Interesting stat - since my prediction were way off (except maybe the Senate)

Overall voter turnout in Florida appears to have been lower than in 2004. Turnout was 74% in 2004 and is only showing at 71.5% for 2008. That number will probably go up a little bit; but likely not more than a percent. There were 946,344 more registered voters than in 2008 and 500,068(preliminary) more votes were cast. Obama is currently ahead by 199,989 votes in Florida. Bush won in Florida by 380,978 votes in 2004. This gives us a swing of 580,967 votes. It will take further research; but while the new voters no doubt helped Obama in Florida, I suspect we are going to find that the number of Republicans who actually voted will be down by a significant number plus a likely swing in independent voters was actually more of a factor. I don't think this is a surprise to anyone, though.

However, with everything said, while there were half a million more votes, I am not sure this election reached the level of voter participation that a lot of people were expecting.

Oh no!

Submitted by Simon on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:10pm.

"this is Jeff Blodgett from the Minnesota for Obama campaign. Our initial data shows this election is significantly closer than the polls predicted. We are putting out an urgent call for volunteers"

I've spent years explaining

Submitted by Tully on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:14pm.

I've spent years explaining to people why they shouldn't trust the polls, but no one listens. ;-)

And with exit polls, the more advance voting there is the less dependable they are, and they weren't all too good to begin with.

For all the scattered

Submitted by Tully on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:12pm.

For all the scattered reports of ugliness, there actually seems to be a bit less than usual of the usual at this point. Philly, of course, leads the pack in reports of nasty.

If it's anything like close, though, it's going to a very long night/week/month/etc.

Surely this can't be true:

Submitted by Simon on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:25pm.

[The City of] Chicago is braced for Obama?s loss and is actually raising the bridges on the Chicago River to cut the city in two, so any problems that Obama?s followers could cause will be contained in the Loop, and not spread onto Michigan Avenue and the Gold Coast (where, ironically, most of the yuppie Obama supporters live)."

why it's printed today

Submitted by bucyrus on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:38pm.

My guess is that there's a pretty good reason why "reasons Obama lost" has been posted today, before the results have been tabulated.

Reason being it's the last day it could be posted.

I would be far less surprised than most other folks if the likely voter models were so far off that McCain made it a contest or even won. Polls err. Period. But it strikes me as an extremely unlikely outcome. Way too many polls and far too little late disagreement.

I am working on the assumption that both sides are putting out all kinds of rumory stuff to motivate or encourage the faithful. My assumption is that most of it is being made up from whole cloth, totally made up.

We're all stuck waiting for the tallies to start coming in. That's all there is to it.

________
I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy for those who think, and a tragedy for those who feel. -Horace Walpole

will there be

Submitted by bucyrus on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:28pm.

So will there be a ceremony for the exchanging of the tinfoil hats? Or does each new generation of derangers make them new from scratch?

I'm long on aluminum just in case.

__________
I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy for those who think, and a tragedy for those who feel. -Horace Walpole

OK, amusing technical toy of

Submitted by Jim M on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 6:20pm.

OK, amusing technical toy of the night award goes to CNN with their virtual view. I was just waiting for Jessica Yelin to say "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope."

I wanted Media Blackout for

Submitted by SimonsWife on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 8:20pm.

I wanted Media Blackout for today & tonite. But I've just not been strong enough to follow through.

*Yes, really, Simon's wife. Envy or pity me. ;)

I offer my congratulations

Submitted by Jim M on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 10:28pm.

I offer my congratulations to Barak Obama and sincerely hope I am wrong in my thoughts about him.

Congratulations to

Submitted by Justin on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 10:39pm.

Congratulations to Obama.

McCain's concession speech was very moving and gracious. It would have been a lot closer if that side of McCain were more evident in the campaign.

I'll agree with the first,

Submitted by Tully on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 7:33am.

I'll agree with the first, and first part second para, but not the second part second para.

The McCain camp put on a mediocre campaign, but graciousness has rarely if ever been a help in campaigning. The McCain camp was not notably nasty at all (as compared to just pointing out the flaws of the other side) but was indeed rather anemic as far as "low" campignng went. OTOH, it was indeed a class act of a concession speech, and I hope for (but do not expect) similar class for at least a brief time from the GOP in general.

I expect nothing but immature idiocy from the wingbots, both sides. But that's a constant.

new constant

Submitted by bucyrus on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 8:33am.

Cool, a new constant! :-)

Have you calculated its value? If not, what would you suggest for a greek letter to represent it? Your honors! How about something that looks like a wing or a little foil hat? The lc delta looks like a little head with hat. But I think I'd go with UC phi, which resembles the symbol for the null set. :)
__________
I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy for those who think, and a tragedy for those who feel. -Horace Walpole

Don't Feel Bad, Simon

Submitted by Blue Jean on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 9:35am.

McCain and Obama were running neck and neck. It was the financial tsunami that made the difference. If President Gore or President Kerry was in the White House right now, then we'd have a President-Elect McCain and a huge year for Republicans.

Besides, think of the massive disappointment when the ponies don't arrive.;-)

Me, I've been feeling "Comfortably Numb" since Hillary dropped out.

No ponies?! Please tell me

Submitted by SimonsWife on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 2:41pm.

No ponies?! Please tell me there will at least be cake!

*Yes, really, Simon's wife. Envy or pity me. ;)

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Election day open thread

For no reason at all,

Comment on voter turnout using Florida

Oh no!

I've spent years explaining

For all the scattered

Surely this can't be true:

why it's printed today

will there be

OK, amusing technical toy of

I wanted Media Blackout for

I offer my congratulations

Congratulations to

I'll agree with the first,

new constant

Don't Feel Bad, Simon

No ponies?! Please tell me

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