Pajiba

My husband and I just voted with our little daughter in tow. I don't think she, at one-and-a-half years of age, quite understood the historical magnitude of the day, but she was very well-behaved. Polls were bustling, but orderly (Forest Hills, Queens).

The thing that gets me all choked up is that today, we as a country, might let go of racism. I don't mean that there won't be individuals out there still, and I'm not so naive as to think there aren't a lot. But America might finally be electing her first black president. To me, it is more amazing than if a woman was to be elected. To me, it will allow the world to see us in a different light. To me, it will be a declaration - even to ourselves - that has long been due. And it will send a message to racist people everywhere - that they finally are the minority. I can't wait to be proud today. I'm sure I will cry - I'm teary just writing this.

Come on America, let's finally get it right.

My Godtopus I hope America gets this one right. I don't want to be invaded for our oil. Although Celine Dion is a weapon of mass destruction so maybe it could be justified.

In Japan, it's ERECTION DAY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

"Come on Irene" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!

I'm going to hell...

5:24 am in California. Planning to get to the polling place VERY early, so I can avoid the lines, but still vote and get to work.

Yes on Obama, no on 8!!!!

Heading off to vote with Mr Smith and bringing the kids along. They are very excited (7 and 10 y.o.). I hope they don't get too bored waiting in line.

This time I feel like my Dem vote might make a difference in my usually red state of NC. Go Obama! Go Hagan!

As a Canadian, let me just urge all you Pajibians to get out there and VOTE!! This is a moment in history, not only for the US, but the world. Obama represents a fundamental shift in US foreign policy from the unmitigated dumbassery of the last 8 years, and I swear if you people somehow f*%k this up and somehow again elect the old, white, rich warmonger, I'm coming down there on my dogsled to beat you to death with my hockey stick.

Am I the only person who didn't register because she lives in a state that's a lock (New York)? Every time I've admitted this is in real life, strangers join in on badgering me to register, even after the deadline was up.

I will cry either way. Out of happiness that we have finally evolved as a nation, or sadness that we took two steps back. Either way I am freaking out!!!

Florida had early voting for a week prior to the election. Between that and absentee ballots, 48% of the registered voters in my county voted prior to the 4th! Wooo!

Here are some presidential mixed drinks, courtesy the listserv ShovelBums.org

A "John McCain" - Simple and strong.

2 oz of single malt scotch
1 oz of vanilla vodka (a nod to Obama because he is now a part of John now)
1 ice cube (a nod to Sarah)

A "Barack on the Rocks" - smooth and cultured but it reminds you of youth

1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao
1 finger of Kahlua (a nod to John as Arizona is always a gateway to cheap Kahlua and he is a part of Obama now)
1 oz Vanilla Vodka, (a nod to some of his south Chicago constituents)
Half and half to taste (try 2 oz)
Ice as preferred.

Layer ice in glass. Pour in Dark Crème de Cacao, Kahlua and Vanilla Vodka. If no spoon, pour half and half in slowly so it hits an ice cube to separate it out.

A Ralph Nader

Green tea with sugar (no Splenda here!)
Spot of gin.

american friends, please vote for obama.

do it for the polar bears!

I'm in Ohio and got to the polls before they opened at 6:30 with Mr. McGee and four-year-old Monkey McGee. Some of the people who got there before us couldn't be bothered to park in-between the parking lines. Anyway, the line was long when we got there and the polls opened a few minutes late. Luckily, Monkey charmed our fellow voters while in the line, even getting an "I Voted" sticker while we waited to use one of only seven voting booths, two of which ran out of paper while I was waiting in line.
Many people were using paper ballots to be finished faster, except of course those older folks that shouldn't be using the electronic voting booth. My turn finally comes, more than an hour after waiting in line and my smartchip card DOESN'T WORK!!! I loudly announce that it doesn't work and someone cuts line and takes my voting booth while I am getting it straightened out. They tell me my smartchip card is fixed and I wait for another booth to open up. I walk to that booth, insert the card and IT DOESN'T WORK AGAIN!!!
The third time was the charm, the card worked and I voted. And then I came home (one hour and 30 minutes after arriving at the polls), made coffee and poured half a bottle of whiskey into it. Well, not really. Maybe later...

Well, Sabrina, you and your attitude are a big part of the problem with this poor country. In case you were wondering.

My older daughter's class is having a mock election today and she was really excited. She proudly proclaimed that she will vote for Obama.

I am praying that things go the right way (or left way, if you prefer ;)) and that she's able to remember a little bit about the time our country elected its first African American president.

@epimethea - Thanks! I was looking for some good election-themed drinks for this evening.

We elect the officials that we deserve....

So go get em America!

Well, my situation is similar to Sabrina's, in that my state is a lock for McCain (Alabama). However, I do intend to vote, both for the local races, and as a fuck you to the overwhelming red state mentality around me. I'm counting on all of you in the contested states to carry Obama to victory.

I live in Tennessee where Obama has no chance at all of winning. And like Sabrina, early on in the process, I decided not to vote. I knew my vote would not count. I voted four years ago and even though Bush didn't win the popular vote, because of the stupid and antiquated electoral college, he was elected. So I figured, clearly, because I live in Tennessee, my vote does not count.

Then Sarah Palin came along. She scares the LIFE out of me. So as a result, I decided to change my mind and do the responsible, adult thing and vote. This is the most imporant election of our lifetime. The entire planet hates us and we are the brink of a global financial crisis. It's never been more important to vote, especially in this historic race. Sabrina, I URGE you to change our mind, like I did, before the next election. You can't complain if you don't vote.

This year I at least live in a black precinct closer to the city proper (moved back out of the white'n'red in time). I'd get home by 6 but I'm gonna leave work a little early anyway, just in case, you know, I can't park or some shit and have to go home and walk back. At least it's not far.

Also, school's out today and I work in a public library, which may likely become voter day care. Your sympathy's appreciated.

Guess I better go serve said public!

I live in a tiny town in upstate NY, and there were maybe three people in line ahead of me a little before 9am this morning. First of all, the young woman in front of me's name was wrong in the list, they had her married and maiden name switched. If this were Florida, she would have been disenfranchised. But, the election lady just wrote the correct name on a big legal pad.

Did any of you vote in blue booths with tiny switches? I was struggling to close the curtains, I just could not figure it out. I cried, "I can't close the curtain! Someone will see my vote!" An older lady laughed at me and explained you pull the lever to close the curtains. Then there were all these little switches to press, all archaic-looking. AND other than the presidential nominees, I studied up on the wrong candidates, the ones not in my district, so I am totally the uninformed voter I can't stand.

When I get to the polls later this morning, I look forward to waiting in a long line. Because then (and only then) I will remember that this is America, and we are all blessed to take part in this great day.

VOTE KANG!

I was very recently on a trip to the UK, and I have to say that everyone I talked to over there (including some Australians who were also vacationing) wanted me to explain what the hell is going on with America's political system. To them, today's vote was a complete no-brainer. I hope this Election Day gives us something to be proud of--at the very least people are actually voting this time.

That being said, Woohoo for democracy! I'm off to vote!

I live in Florida, so it's not like it matters who I vote for......

Oh and of course the one requisite voter hassling the pollworker. The voter didn't know which district he was registered in, and of course he MUST berate the volunteer for not instantly recognizing that voters on his street should be over at the other table. Way to go, dude!

There's always somebody.

My belief: if Obama doesn't win, it can only be because of racism. There is simply no other explanation possible for a majority of voters choosing to maintain in power the party that has given us one of the most unpopular presidents in American history, to say nothing of McCain's own string of gaffes, mistakes, and absurdities.

Wow, you guys who think your vote doesn't count: you have been beaten. Seriously, you allowed someone to convince you that you have no voice, and you silenced yourself.

You should vote because women once weren't able to vote.

And those women fought for your right to vote. They dared to stand silently and hold banners in front of the White House that demanded their right to vote. They were arrested on charges of "obstructing traffic."

Then they were convicted, incarcerated and tortured in prisons because of their beliefs. They went on hunger strikes and were sent to psychiatric wards and were force fed raw eggs through a tube.

Go google Alice Paul or Rose Winslow, or go watch Iron Jawed Angels.

Go register for next year!

It's a motherfucking honor to be able to vote. Right on, TK!

OK...OK...serious question.

Am i the only one who is extremely emotional right now? Like, i feel like my entire future hinges on the next 14 hours and i don't know how to handle it. Anyone else? I'm reading areticles and watching youtube video and welling up with the tremendous sense of pride...but I shit you not, i am moments away from completely losing my shit. It's like it's all too much to handle...but in a good way. I am leaving to cast my vote in 1 hour and I'm going to feel like the most powerful person on the face of the earth.

Am i the only one overcome with emotion right now???

EMOTIONS. I think it's weirdly compounded by the fact that Obama's nana died the day before election day. And that I have a quiz in chem today.

PissBoy, I'm afriad to look at the news, only Pajiba. I feel like I might burst into tears at any "McCain pulls ahead..." second.

Just wanted to wish all of you the best of luck today. The more libraries the better, nobody can read enough.

I'm a lefty dutch, so consider my local rightwing about to be your Obama. Vote for him, it CAN only be an improvement.

One last point:
Read somewhere in this rant "The world hates us."
This is not true. I loathe your present goverment,but don't judge you as inhabitents. and I think many of the smart people outside the USA think thesame.

We're all just humans with sucking rulers..

Good Luck!

I voted already..... I'm not a partisan person, but this year, as in the last POTUS election year I straight voted straight Democrats. Obama/Biden, John Kerry, Markey.... lines were a bitch even in this lock state of MA at 7 AM in a small suburb of Boston.

Anyone else in MA please Vote NO on Question 1... I need my job.

Magiel T. - that is good to hear!

I can't even take this stress. I keep hitting refresh on CNN.com like every 4 seconds - like there's results in at 10:30 in the freaking morning? I know there's not. I CAN'T STOP MYSELF. Polls - long line but orderly and moving smoothly in downtown Columbus, OH.

JR - i can't take it either. I just keep hitting refresh on Pajiba to keep away from CNN.com.

I voted two weeks ago by absentee ballot, and THEN they tell me about the free ice cream, coffee, donuts, and sex toys. Damn it!

If there are any Floridians here, I hope you'll vote NO on Prop. 2! The people who want you to vote "yes" keep saying "Marriage: One Man, One Woman." Well, many domestic partnerships are in fact one man, one woman, and if you vote yes, you'll take away their rights too! So even if you're against gay unions (which I'm not - I fully support everyone's rights to be miserable with one person for the rest of their lives, har har), think of this as a vote not against them, but against families in general. Vote NO!

spaztastic Seriously. Question 1 is ridiculous, and I live in fear that it will pass. I don't even want to think about what'll happen to funding for education and emergency services etc if it passes, but I think it is going to be a close one if the informal polls I have been watching are anything to go on.

I voted. There was an actual line inside our little pole barn/volunteer fire station/polling place. (Note: For those of you voting in Rives Junction, MI--I know parking is limited. I have no objection to you parking on my lawn, or the shoulder. But for the love of God, PLEASE don't completely block my driveway so I can't even get out).

Now I won't turn on the TV until tomorrow morning. I still remember eight years ago, going to bed happy because Gore was projected to be the winner, and then waking up to a Bush presidency. I thought I had fallen into a Twilight Zone episode, or some awful alternate dimension.

I could have accepted McCain. But not Palin. She is a twittering ignoramus, and the idea of having to listen to her for four years makes me ill. And yet I've heard so many people describe her as "articulate". This is what eight years of Bush has done to people; now they're just thrilled to hear someone pronounce words correctly, regardless if they mean anything when they're strung together.

I'm about to head out and vote. Thankfully, I don't work on Tuesdays. I'm voting for Obama, and I live in Alabama. Pray that I don't get lynched on the way to the polls! rlr260 and I unfortunately live in one of the few states that doesn't even allow early voting. My best friend won't get to vote because his bosses are assholes who won't let him off work early. I know that is illegal, but if he did leave early, his boss would come up with another bullshit reason to get rid of him. Why isn't Election Day a Federal Holiday? Everything should be closed today. EVERYTHING. Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, McDonalds. EVERYTHING. That way we could all vote, and they could have many more volunteers working the polls. I'm so tired of living in the reddest of the red states. Sigh :(

I plan on watching movies for the rest of the day and ignoring the television channels that don't show only cartoons or cooking. We're already on viewing number two of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed for the love of Sweet Zombie Jebus. I've almost burst into tears, oh, ten times since 6:30 this morning. Thank Godtopus for Xanax, kids. Gah!!!

Sarina: It's people who don't vote that cause their states to have a lock. If you and everyone else who didn't register HAD voted, you could have changed history.

My Dad was in Nazi concentration camp as a child. He considers it an honor and his duty to vote in a free country.

Here in Florida, the ballot was 4 pages long. There were all sorts of different things to vote on. Congressmen, supreme court justices, judges, clerk of the courts, tax collector, sheriff, soil and water commissioners, new admendments (especially one defining marriage as between one woman and one man, and one reducing taxes for older buildings that are refurbished to be hurricane proof), and stuff about the school board. All these votes affect me even more than who wins the presidency. PLEASE register, and always vote. Your vote DOES count.

I try not to check any results until around 9 PM and then I stayed glued throughout the night.

I know what you mean Julie, I'm feeling pretty queezy and I don't even live there!

AH! Not Sarina, Sabrina. Sorry. You Sa-rina names all look alike to me.

Jerce, You are entirely wrong. TK's argument notwithstanding (and it's a good one), if Sabrina's not interested or doesn't care then I sure don't want her voting. Why do we insist on coercing uninterested people to vote? I don't WANT people who don't care making these decisions. The last thing we need is more uninformed morons (present company excepted) deciding who our leaders are.
+++
"I hope that today will be a remarkable day. A day on which we show to the world that we are not racist."

Agent Scully, If THAT'S your sole rationale for choosing a president, you should stay home too.
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"This is the most imporant election of our lifetime. The entire planet hates us and we are the brink of a global financial crisis. It's never been more important to vote, especially in this historic race."

None of this is true (except possibly for the financial crisis part). In retrospect (and depending on how long you've lived, of course), the most important elections of our lifetime probably were the last two. The rest of the world does not hate us: I saw a poll that said more than half the French, of all people (just for an instance), would gladly move to America if they could. Thanks for the second on this, Magiel T.
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"My belief: if Obama doesn't win, it can only be because of racism. There is simply no other explanation possible ..."

Todd, Don't try to bully me like that. That's bullshit. I voted for Alan Keyes in the primary and I'm voting for Bob Barr today, so I got your racism RIGHT HERE.

I voted absentee already (I'm from Syracuse, but go to school on Long Island) for Obama, and decided not to re-register because the Democratic candidates for state legislature need help more than the ones on the Island. Now it comes down to waiting and hoping that this doesn't get fucked up.

I worked a night job in 2000 on the night of the election.

THAT was a fun eight hours.

Today I voted for Obama and pot and dog racing. The only vote I am still questioning is the dog racing.

GOBAMA!!!!!!

On a serious note:

Pissboy, I don't live in your country and I'm emotional about this election. I think most people on this website understand that what happens today will not only affect America, but the whole world. Being your neigbour, Canada is directly and significantly influenced by the American government of the day.

I can't help but remember the last Presidential Debate when McDiaper was speaking about reducing the U.S. dependency on foreign oil. He said, "but not Canada, Canada's O.K." the look in his eye as he said that still gives me shivers. It was like he was preparing to offer us candy then touch us inappropriately.

Rest assured Pajibans the rest of the world is praying to Godtopus that things go your way.

PaddyDog, good on you sir.

Voted this morning. No line, in and out. I don't care who anyone votes for as long as they vote. Okay, and as long as they're not complete idiots about it (i.e., not voting for Obama b/c he's black, not voting for McCain b/c he's insane...on second thought....).

But I've got to say this: Please, please remember that it's not your right or your privilege to vote. It's your civic duty. Let me say that again. In exchange for living in this country, with the rights that you enjoy, it is your duty to vote.

Maybe we can take a break from berating Sabrina, et al - to be fair, she didn't have to tell us she wasn't voting, she volunteered it (I presume) because she expected Pajiba to be a place she can discuss such things without us getting all sanctimonious and judge-y. She even stated she hadn't thought about local elections, and that was her bad.

I voted Obama, and I damn well hope he wins AND can be held accountable for the promises he has made; that doesn't mean that people who DIDN'T vote for Obama for whatever reason (voting McCain, voting third-party, or not voting at all) are any less patriotic or American. What makes us American is everyone is allowed to vote (or not vote) as their conscience dictates.

I think it is appropriate, as in TK's case, to bring in your perspective on an issue that for many of us is a hot-button one, but I think we can tone down the "Sabrina Is what's wrong with America!" and "Anyone who votes anti-Obama is a racist" rhetoric a bit. This is Pajiba, not Free Republic, peeps.

/end sanctimonious lecturing.

Thanks pea! It's good to know somebody.....might?

*silent weeping*

i cannot WAIT to get out of work today and bring my midgets to the voting booth this afternoon! i woke up my daughters this morning "it's voting day!" they went to the primaries with me, too.
then i'm totally getting my free starbucks. it's the only thing around me.
no ben & jerry's
no krispy kremes

so i asked my older daughter last night who she is voting for in school today, and she told me that she heard obama would make the kids go to school on saturdays. i almost choked. where would a kid get that?

i voted just a little while ago and didn't think that i would be able to. my car is gone and i've been sick all for the past few days. my very conservative father that i always argue with brought me out to vote (and don't worry i covered my mouth and dissinfected my hands before touching anything). now i have nothing to do but sit here and be miseerable and apprehensive.

I just remember four years ago going to sleep thinking Kerry won, and waking up in hell. I will not be sleeping anytime soon today.

OK MA Pajibans who have posted, here's your chance to convince me on #1 because I'm pretty on the fence. I'm wary of voting yes, but the chicken little style claims of the con argument are off putting.

I'm from NH, so I'm still not entirely used to income tax. To me, the MA budget is a bloated, corpulent, blundering beast. Obviously, reducing the budget reduces funding for public works, a bad thing. However, a local library near me just lost accreditation, the school I worked at also nearly lost accreditation, and the roads are crap. So if the money isn't going to public works anyway, I'd like a little more lining MY pocket instead of some bureaucrat. Thoughts?

For a more humane enslavement!

VOTE KANG!

1.5 hours before work. Three voting machines. It normally takes

Sorry Bslim I'm going for Kudos.

I fully support his "cooking for people" policy.

And Kang totally stole the last election.

Admin11:

Thank you, a quick correction however, I am not a "sir".

My dog and I just got back from walking an hour each way to our polling place here in the Beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Upstate NY.

I pulled the lever for Obama and it felt really nice.

My issue now is that I have the day off of work so I need to occupy myself until my frantic results-watching evening. I'm thinking laundry...and once the clock strikes noon I am having a celebratory beer or three.

I believe people!

I plan on taking a long nap this evening (starting, oh, now) so I'll be able to stay up all night and follow the election. I'm six-nine hours ahead of most of you guys, so it'll be a long night, but I can't stand not following the news.

I don't think you guys understand how much the election means to people in other countries, and how frustrating it is for me to sit here in Sweden and feel as if there's absolutely nothing I can do to make a difference.

Just vote, okay? Do the right thing. I won't hate you if The Old Fart and The Silly Goose end up in the White House, but I sure as hell won't have much sympathy for you either.

I'm in class right now at NUSL (yay civil procedure *gag*). But in about two hours I'll be heading to NH to cast a vote in a swing state that will hopefully help with an Obama win. I don't want a repeat of 2000. Fingers crossed people! And if you really want a win go find a quadriplegic and cross his atrophied fingers and toes for him! I hear it's magic.

phquaryn
i also have the antique bluish green voting boothes with the curtain and little clicky switches. i think voting in this way kind of makes it more special. it's not something my kids see every day, you know?
does anyone here understand the ny prop for disabled veterens?

I'm heading out now to vote in rainy San Diego and thought I'd post my thoughts on the election.

My entire life, the politicians have been the problem, but that also has been the only defense of the system. As long as politicians were all different sides of the same coin, we could believe that the American system worked. We could still retain our faith in democracy. The system, we would insist in some corner of our mind, was not broken; it was just all the politicians that were broken. There was always a hidden hope that one day the right person would come along, that the millions of votes would surge into action for a candidate who actually deserved the faith of the American people. But what if that someone comes along and then loses?

I was born in 1980. Reagan was just some old guy on TV, any memory of him and his legacy is strictly an ex post facto construction. Bush was the next old guy on TV, and though I remember hearing about his broccoli speech at the time, nothing about his presidency mattered nearly as much as the Niners blowing out the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Clinton is the first president about whom I actually had political opinions, the pervert uncle of American politics. Raised on Limbaugh and unimpressed with Gore, I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 with my first presidential ballot. One's twenties are a cynical time, and my vote in 2004 was a write-in for Stewart/Colbert.

I provide this background to illustrate that I am not a born-again democrat or a pissed off republican. I am almost thirty years old and I have never felt that one of our leaders was worth following. I assumed that would never change, certainly not this election between yet another old guy and the pervert uncle's sociopathic wife. Then I saw Barack Obama's victory speech in Iowa, and the years of aggregated cynicism began to peel away as months of listening and reading revealed a candidate so different from any other in my lifetime.

I do not think Obama can walk on water. I do not agree with hefty portions of his political platform. I am certain that there are skeletons in his closet, just as there are for anyone. I do believe though that he is an honest and thoughtful man with the charisma and political skills to actually back up his beliefs. I believe that if elected, Barack Obama has a real chance at pulling government back from the sound bites and special interests and put it back to work developing innovative solutions and policy for the future. I have heard some call him nothing but a peddler of false hope. My reply has been that there is no such thing as false hope. If you believe a man is a liar, fine. But if your only quibble with a man's words is that they dream of a future beyond your estimated capacity of our flawed species, then the problem is with you, not the man. Cynicism is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Andrew, I saw on your blog some months ago a dissenting remark chastising Obama supporters for bemoaning the end of the world should Obama lose. The chastisement concluded by telling Obama supporters to grow up, that there would always be another election, that sometimes your guy wins, sometimes he doesn't. That is democracy, the dissenter insisted.

As I said, my entire life the politicians have been the problem. Obama losing in November would be a catastrophe, not because the wrong horse came out a length ahead in the race, but because of what it will do to the faith of a large chunk of the American people. If the system chews up and spits out the only mainstream candidate worth a damn in at least a generation, then the problem is evidently not with the politicians, but with the system itself.

I do not want the system to be broken. I really want to believe that democracy works. However, if people do believe the system is broken, then the system will be changed. But it will not be changed through elections or campaigns. It will not be changed by peaceful men reaching across the aisle for common ground. If the system itself is broken, then change will come in the worst possible way: in the streets, with blood and fire.

Admin11:

No offense taken. Just thought some of my other posts might appear a little odd (like my voluminous contribution to the menstruation thread a while ago) if I didn't clear that up.

Beautifully stated, Stipe42.

TK, is my hero, not just because he falls down a lot, but also because he said everything I wanted to say about the "not voting" issue.

No, I haven't voted yet. RELAX. We have two bond and two ballot questions on the board here in Philadelphia and there's one that I haven't made my mind up about yet, and I don't vote until I know exactly which buttons I'm pushing when I get in there.

Now, like Tom Servo up there, I am going to try not to puke from nerves until the results are in.

P.S. - I, too, have been way emotional over this election. I cried at Obama's infomercial. I got teary last night during his MNF interview. I might weep like a bitch in the booth today. I know for DAMN sure that I'll cry openly with joy if he wins.

The only other vote that meant this much to me was when I voted to see Rabbit get the Trix from those goddamed kids. Oh, and the new marshmallows in Lucky Charms... Shit, almost forgot when I voted for the blue M&Ms.

Goddamed kids. WHAT WOULD IT HURT TO GIVE THE GODDAM RABBIT SOME CEREAL, HUH?! YOU SELFISH, SONSABITCHES!

And, another thing that has me confused (except that there are people who would honestly think that Obama is going to sell America to Bin Ladin as soon as he's inaugurated): how come voting is such a hassle for you guys? In Sweden, we always vote on the third Sunday of September, and we have the opportunity to vote early should we want to. Most people don't work on Sundays and voting starts at nine or so and closes at six pm.

But you might have to skip a class to go vote, you might be late for work, you might not be able to skip a class because of a quiz etc, and that just seems so stupid to me. Especially for professors to schedule quizzes on election day! I mean, come on! "Hey, vote if you have to, but if you don't ace the quiz you'll fail."

By the way, not to impugn upon your absentee ballot as my older sis absentee votes, I re-registered in my college town so I could go to the polls :). By the way, we so do not have those antiquated lever-pulling thingamajigs (according to my computer "thingamajig" is a real word...bizarre). We get paper ballots where you fill in the arrow in pen. Boring...I want to do something fun like lever pulling or punching cards.

The nice thing about living out here in Podunkia is that there were no lines. I went around 8:30am. It took me longer to fill in my scantron bubble ballot than to get it in the first place.

I'm a college professor, and while I happen to have no classes on T/R this semester, if I did I'd tell students to skip the hell out of my class to vote, if that's what it took.

Oh yeah, Admin, go XX by default around here. Life gets easier.

I'd just like to clarify that I don't think racism is the only reason anyone would ever not vote for Obama. I believe it is possible to agree with the Republican platform, or Libertarian or whatever, and still be a decent person and a good citizen. But in the broadest strokes, America seems to be about 1/3 hardcore Democrat, 1/3 hardcore Republican, and 1/3 generally independent. That last third is what usually decides presidential elections. And this year, after everything the Bush administration has done to this country and as much as the Obama campaign has outspent the McCain campaign, I am honestly surprised that the polls are even as close as they are. If McCain wins, I don't know what other explanation there could be than that a disturbingly large number of Americans just won't vote for a black man.

I wanted to vote first thing this morning (polls open at 6AM here in the Shallow South), but the line at the polling place stretched around the block ... at 5:30 in the morning ... in the rain.

So I went to work, and zipped out to vote during an early lunch. No lines at all.

Odd thing, though: There was a guy outside the polling place. As I walked up, he greeted the three people ahead of me and asked if they were Democrats. Then he ignored me completely.

I wonder why he assumed I was not a Democrat?

*Kodos*

Shit!

I love to vote. So. Much. Voting makes me feel powerful. It makes me feel like part of the country, and not just part of PA or West Philadelphia. I love pushing that button. I love watching the returns and seeing the number of votes from Pennsylvania and thinking "One of those is mine."

I loved watching the group of elderly black women in front of me walking to the church, knowing that despite who they voted for that they finally had the option to push a button next to an African American man on the ballot. I loved the students, I loved the families waiting together. I loved hearing that click when I pushed vote.

I feel powerful today. Is this what it feels like to have an erection?

Prepped for the day by watching "Assault on Precint 13" last night (thanks for the recent John Carpenter recommendations, that one's a very good actioner).

However, I only had to stand in line for maybe five minutes at my precinct (86, Morgantown, W.Va.), though there were maybe 30-40 people in the lines at some of the other precincts at the school where I vote. The weather's gorgeous and the radio says statewide turnout is expected to be 75%, which is very high.

Someone above said few things are more hopeless than being a Democrat in Gwinnett County, Ga. I would counter that fewER things are more hopeless than being a Republican in West Virginia, where the Dems own a 2-1 registration advantage, where the governor, the statewide officeholders, the Congressional delegation, the state House and the House of Delegates are overwhemingly Democratic.

Being a registered Republican AND a Pirates fan ... well, obviously I just loathe myself.

Nevertheless, the state went for Bush the younger twice and is likely to go for McCain, so take from that what you will (and keep in mind, you occasional race-baiters, that no black candidate ran against W, they just REALLY like their guns here).

BTW, if you want to know what a state with vast natural beauty and ungodly huge stores of natural energy resources would be like if Democrats ran it almost exclusively for 80 years ... welcome to West Virginia! It might help explain why I voted for no incumbents and no Democrats except the county assessor, whom I sort of know.

Barr/Beer '08

Once again, I love how many Pajibans live in Atlanta.

I waited in line for about an hour and was definitely the youngest voting person there. I felt kind of bad because it literally took my about five minutes to vote on everything and I was done well ahead of people that had been in the voting booths before me.

I really wish there were more Democrats in Georgia, but I'm fairly certain that the state will go red much to the delight of my parents and everyone else that's convinced electing Obama will bring about the End of Days (someone actually said this to me today. There are some areas of Georgia that I really hate.)

bucdaddy, it is a severely small ass world. My older sister lives in Morgantown right now with her fiancee. She's going to graduate school at West Virginia University.

I'm Canadian eh, and I just wanted to let you guys know that we're up here hoping you wind up with Obama!

Who are these people who vote for McCain? I don't know if I've ever encountered one.

"Is this what it feels like to have an erection?"

Dammit, Julie, may I remind you you are NOT allowed to pick yourself to win the Top 10 Comments shirt this week, even if yours is the best. And you should NOT be setting the bar so ridiculously high for the rest of us, either.

*mutter, grumble*

I better catch my nut then tonight PissBoy, because there aren't enough batteries in this world to help ease the potential blue balls clit of a McCain victory.

Dammit, Julie, may I remind you you are NOT allowed to pick yourself to win the Top 10 Comments shirt this week

Wait, WHAT?! Fuck me against a voting booth, I was all set to award myself a t-shirt.

Balls.

In my area, we have a machine where you push a button and a little green X lights up. It's pretty fun.

Also, there was no line when I went at 6:30. I'm waiting to hear from pseudo-Mr. AvB as to whether there were any when he went, which he planned on doing at 12:30.

PissBoy, I am also very emotional - I cried when Obama got the nomination and have no doubt I'll cry tonight.

Paddy Dog, you rock for driving people to the polls.

Word TK.

bucdaddy:

How typically Republican your statements are. You quote snippets of someone's comment and declare judgments. My quote:
"A day on which we show to the world that we are not racist. That we understand that all humans are equal. That we all deserve the same treatment and consideration. That we are not above the law."

My statement speaks of racism, yes. It also speaks to healthcare for everyone. Equal rights for homosexuals. Our treatment of Muslims and our disregard for their life. Our injustice to governments different from our own. The ignorance of climate danger occurring on this planet. Our own disregard of our governing rules. Our willful ignorance of the Constitution.

I'm very sorry I did not make my statement more clear for your understanding.

We voted early, so I didn't get to have QUITE the euphoria of voting on Election Day 2008, but still. I was pretty damn proud to do it; also, that a co-worker and I had convinced someone in the office to register to vote for the first time in his life. He can't prounounce Palin's name, even today. Oh well. You can lead a horse to water...

I was planning on just going home tonight and watching the returns on tv, but you guys have inspired me to go out and find a large group of people to watch with. I've already given notice at work that should Obama win, I would be taking time off in January to be there for the inauguration - It is that important for me to be a part of history.

Also, I am TOTALLY jealous of all you Chicagoans who will get to be in Grant Park. Dammit I wish I was there!

[raises hand] Who is Kang? [scratches head]

Well, courtney 1, the little blue booths are cool, but I kinda feel like there is no "proof" that I voted. Also, I didn't even know about the veterans prop until I was standing in line, and I am all about politics and the process, so I don't know what my disconnect was. I *think* it was saying if you vote yes to the prop you are removing a roadblock to veterans getting benefits they are entitled to.

Nobody likes getting typecast by a sweeping generalization, but the fact of the matter is that at the heart of every stereotype is a kernel of truth.

At the heart of many, many McCain supporters is a kernel of racism. It's hidden behind layers of rationality; some high-minded ("Obama isn't natural born", "He's got a messiah complex", "He'll raise taxes") - some less so ("Obama is a terrorist and he supports terrorists.")

All this rationality maintains one constant: it's not about how John McCain is arguably the better candidate, but how Obama is simply a worse human being. It's not just negative campaigning, it's outright negative humanity, the sort of corroded soullessness that emenates from those that have founded their personality on hate and distrust and fear.

By all means, not every McCain supporter is this person. But as an intellectual exercise; ask the next McCain supporter you meet why they are voting red.

Is it because McCain is the better man?

Or is it because they fear Obama?

So ... voting is kind of awesome, even if I did have to fill out a scantron with a marker. I seriously felt powerful. I am part of America. AND I got to vote in an old church where they gave us cookies. Home-made cookies. Which were warm.



Aurora, Illinois (which is a suburb of Chicago -- excellent). My wait was less than 3 minutes. You know you're jealous.

Who is Kang? [scratches head]

Posted by: Stella at November 4, 2008 1:14 PM

-----------------------------------------

*shakes head*

I...I'm sorry, I just can't help you at this point.

I do fear Obama in the way that if he wins The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, SNL and basically any other late night show's monologue will be terrible!

The election coverage has been so freaking funny. I'll miss Palin. I'll miss attack ads. I'll even miss Joe the Plumber, although I understand he may be coming out with a country album.

I hope Biden starts saying crazy stuff again.

c'mon Slim I *want* to understand!

Posted by: Stella at November 4, 2008 1:28 PM

-----------------------------------------------

You make me SICK!

*sigh* search Kang on Wikipedia and look for the Simpsons characters entry. I'd post a link but this ....eh ..."alternate lifestyle" site won't let me.

becks, you can bet your guns and religion that Sarah Palin will NOT disappear after the election is over. If anything, she'll announce her candidacy for President in 2012, regardless of who wins, and start on the campaign trail ;-).

Sorry, didn't get that out quick enough. It was directed at Lexi's comment.

Good God! All some people are trying to say is that if you vote for McCain instead of Obama its because you are a racist. What is the problem that all you honky republi-no-we-can'ts have with that?

Plus, no one thinks you're just racists. We know you hate women and gays too. Chillax.

The man exudes CHARISMA (and no, I am not talking about John the necrophiliacs' bait McCain). I think that people all over the world (even I in my little Croatia)watched all the coverage hoping that some day we will get this excited about the possibility of change and new hope. I admit getting a bit teary-eyed watching the "Tears for Obama" slide of Huff post - esp. the pictures of an old black man seeing Obama's Dem nomination acceptance. Beautiful.
So Americans, forgive us for voting vicariously thru you, but if you fuck this no-brainer of an election up, you will be dethroned from the heights of global significance and you can all dumb down and prepare for at least 8 years of betchas and wink-winks.
*rant over*

Speaking of being all emotional and crap...
For any NYers in the house, get thee to the Leica Gallery and see the Obama photos that have hanging (it's free!). I usually save my crying for when I'm really drunk and propheting about the end of days, but this gallery of images was so incredibly touching and inspiring. I felt the power of history, all happening right as we speak.

I voted early this morning. :) (I also have people voting me as mayor of my hometown. More on that tomorrow...)

I voted a few weeks ago. It took me 40 minutes.
I am glad I did. I thought I would miss the excitment of Election day, but it felt just as powerful.
On my way in, and a Father and son's way out, the son had his I voted sticker, and he asked if dad if he could wear it now. And dad said, of course, we voted. Today, we made a difference.
I got all teary eyed.

marija,

Where in Croatia are you? I studied there for six lowly weeks in 2002 and it was the best summer of my life! We traveled from Groznan in the mountains to Pula, then Zagreb, and then glorious, glorious Dubrovnik (which would be my destination if I ever expatriate).

If the election goes our way, toast us with some quality rakija, will you? Hvala!

Aww, I love that PissBoy and Paddy Dog are showing their soft underbellies. You.are.not.alone.

I feel like Christmas, my birthday and the civil rights marches all rolled into one. I voted last week (Rhode Island) but here in DC the polls are busting in DC, MD and VA. I wish to heaven I could be in Grant Park tonight, the city where I was born.

On Saturday I went to a baby shower for my African American friend and while she's cautiously optimistic I am beside myself over the idea that her baby will have a black president, a black first lady and a nation that has shocked the world. We grew up in Northern New Jersey at the end of the Underground Railroad and yet there was always a current of doubt that education and drive were not enough to obtain the highest office in the land. I think none of us can put into words the myriad of ways this election will change our country and its role in the world. I'm excited by possibility and hope.

Since this is a movie site let's end with a quote:
"I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope." -Shawshank Redemption

I'm so torn right now...

Not about voting, because I did that first thing in the morning. But about where I'm going to go drink and watch election coverage! So many bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn will be open for business, no doubt. Also, how to get all the free shit that's being given out today?! I already scored my cup of coffee from Starbucks. I guess I will schedule a quick trip to Babeland to score me a silver bullet vibrator.

We live in a lovely country.

(By the way, even though I got up early to vote before I went to work, my location had a long line the length of the Mississippi. Everyone commented on how unprecedented the crowd was. Chills.)

Lexi-

You might want to consider that those ads don't reflect the views of the average Republican voter. Those ads are desperation attempts to scare independents. To be sure there are Republicans out there that agree with them, but there are plenty of Republicans that just quietly vote Republican because they agree more or less with the party's economic and/or social stances. You don't get hysterical forwards from those people, and they are as embarrassed by those ads as you are appalled. News cameras aren't going to find those people and they aren't going to be in your face, so your picture of the other party might be a bit, well, bigoted.

For my part, I probably didn't need to fly off the handle as much as I did, I just put a lot of thought and research into my political choices, so I get a little sensitive when people assume that my choices were made for simplistic, morally offensive reasons. I used to think that everyone who disagreed with me politically did so because they were brainwashed, but of course that's largely not the case. There are very intelligent people who disagree with me for well thought-out reasons, and the truth is that all of these issues are enormous and complex and there is room for intelligent disagreement. I just hope that everyone does themselves and their country the service of doing their best to understand the opposite point of view beyond what the blowhards in the media yell about it. It's healthy that we disagree and discourse, but I think with a little thought we might find that we disagree about more things than we have to.

It's 70 degrees today in Bowling Green OH, which I think is either a good sign (yay! The sun is shining! Its a new day in America) or a terrible sign (global warming, the world is in the shitter and is only going to get worse with a McPain presidency)

Anyway, I don't get to vote (not an American thank godtopus) but I'm an emotional wreck just the same. I hope everyone's got their lucky panties on!

I won't admit to any lucky panties, but if I weren't at work I'd certainly be fiddling with my lucky balls all day.

I would like to point out that before the shenanigans, respected and though, honestly that having a McCain presidency wouldn't be such a bad thing. Whether he wins or not is yet to be decided but, I lost the last ounce of respect I had for that man. A "war hero" running on "straight talk" and "maverickism" shouldn't need to surround himself with the sort of scum who would tear a country apart and inflame hatreds just to win an election.

He's no hero.

Tammy: I am from Zagreb.But I have plenty of great Istrian medica (honey rakija, I bet you tried it in Istria)and will definitely toast to Obama's victory.
This summer I met a girl from Texas who works as a English lit professor, she fell in love with a guy from Brac and moved to Croatia.So this is always an option for you, even if Obama wins:) I invite all the Paheebettes to come and sample our fine male specimens

I, too, voted early in Florida. Hell yeah to Obama, fuck no on 2. For the last week I've done my civic duty by egging my friends to the polls.

Right now I just really really want tomorrow morning to come so Obama will have won already. Today is going to draaaaagggg; it's like I'm 5 years old and waiting for Christmas morning. Hurry up, Santa!

I'm in S. California, and I voted 2 weeks ago (not by absentee ballot either). Obama is a lock in this state, so I'm not worried about that (not that I'll be relaxing until tomorrow, mind you).

Since then I've been badgering everyone I know to get with the program vote NO on Prop 8 (the gay marriage ban). Can't let the Mormons dictate how Californians live, you know (although I find it more than a bit ironic that Prop 8's slogan is "Restore Traditional Marriage"--so how many wives does a traditional Mormon marriage involve?).

State = Mass. Interesting ballot questions:

#1 - Repeal state income tax? I voted against. Too much at stake.

#2 - Decriminalize Weed? Of course.

#3 - Eliminate Dog Racing (dog cruelty)? YES

Not to get preachy here, but if your parents came across the pond to escape poverty or persecution like mine did, you would not need to be lectured on why you are blessed to be here, and why you must vote.

Does anyone have a good drinking game for tonight? I think we're gonna need it.

I was about second in line at 6:30 this morning to vote before work. Go Obama! and NO on Prop 8 in California.

Voted in Stephens City, VA this morning at 8:30 and I was out of there in less than 5 minutes. I just sat at work and read through all the comments in this thread and I've gotten teary several times. I am so excited/nervous about the results that I want to puke. Anyone in Northwestern VA want to party tonight?

Lexi, considering you are spewing forth hatred like nobody else on this comments thread for Republicans, how do you know so much about Republican's opinions? Have you ever actually met one, or have you stuck mostly to screaming obscenities at them from afar? And your statement that there is always a kernel of truth at the heart of stereotypes is...ridiculous and offensive. Particularly in light of your preaching about racism.

B Slim, I totally disagree with your comments about McCain. You said: "A "war hero" running on "straight talk" and "maverickism" shouldn't need to surround himself with the sort of scum who would tear a country apart and inflame hatreds just to win an election." I would point out that many Republicans are downright pissed at John McCain for not getting nastier - for not talking more about Rev. Wright and for refusing to discuss Obama's illegal aunt, among other things. I've gained a lot of respect for McCain for running a relatively clean race. The hate-spewing stuff that I assume you are referencing has been brought up by interest groups and the conservative media, not McCain. And McCain himself has never been, and still isn't, a darling of the conservative media. Of course they are supporting him against Obama, but he's not exactly surrounding himself with them. And if you want to take a good, honest look at the people McCain and Obama have always associated themselves with in politics, you'll notice that Obama has never been one to be very bi-partisan, and McCain always has. I'd say years of that says more about someone than a few months of campaigning (during which, if you'll notice, Obama still hasn't managed to reach across the aisle). Of course right-wing crazies are going to say nasty stuff about Obama in this election. But McCain has been, in my opinion, a class act through this whole thing, especially when you know he's been pressured to roll up his sleeves and get dirtier.

Eep, you raise an interesting point above. In my personal fantasyland, McCain would've picked Lieberman. That would have been really fantastic. But remember, you've gotta raise money. Unorganized moderates aren't going to do that for you - - the Republican base has to. So you have to make them somewhat happy. And your strategists are telling you to pick a woman. This isn't just McCain sitting in a room thinking about what he wants to do. I'm pretty sure Palin wasn't his idea, or his decision.

Okay, so I need to rant about this whole "votes not counting." Your votes only don't count if you don't freaking cast them. If everybody who believed like you did actually went and cast a ballot, then maybe the party lean of your state would straighten up a bit. When you do that you are letting the last generation and the generation before that determine how your state will vote, rather than voicing your own opinion.

It can be heartbreaking, sure--as a Nebraskan democrat I know this!--but you still have to do it. If for no other reason than to up the popular support for your candidate and show the nation how many are behind him. This election will show that states whose colors have run true for decades are still open to voting for the best leader irrespective of party.

NotBlonde-
I think I would be comatose within minutes. Especially watching Anderson Cooper....

Jamie Jamie Jamie Jamie Jamie Jamie JAMIE......
No. You should not.

Man, is there a worse before-and-after situation than breast implants? See, I'm not even taking you seriously but still I must be emphatic! I feel strongly about this.

One projection I saw had Georgia with the "leaning" stripes. Leaning red, sure, but still, one can hope. I've fortunately been able to vote for presidential elections in Clarke and Dekalb only where I know I helped buck up the area, but voting in the suburbs feels nicely subversive too. "I live here too, assholes! No I ain't happy about it either!!"

Okay, another half hour and I can get in there.

Again: NO on implants!

I'm a New Zealander living in London and I've gotta say - I am choking UP with emotion over this election... this is so important to the rest of the world who have no vote (and rightly so, it's not our country) but who have still been living, in many ways, under the rule of Bush.
My friends and I are staying up all night with our eyes glued to the TV and our fingers firmly crossed.

Go Obama.. the rest of the world needs change!

Jay, have you seen Zack and Miri yet? The girl in that movie has some wonky implants. I hate when they ripple when the girl moves. Gives me the heebiejeebies!

People, I admire all of your viewpoints, but I need to draw your attention back to something a little more important involving the 2008 election.

Whether or not you choose to vote for Obama or McCain, there is one thing you have to do:

Vote JULIE/NICOLE '08, Pajiba! We have awesome tits and we promise to use them!!!

tt_marie- I am sooo getting all up in your Kool-Aid and your discussion with someone else, but I just thought this was relevant.

I don't think Lexi was spewing much hatred for Republicans. I just read back what she said and there was nothing in there that was really hateful, she's really just telling it like it is. There are large quantities of white people who won't vote for Obama just because he's black. Some are open about it, others try to mask it with "He's a Muslim" (as though that is a bad thing) or "He's a Socialist" or "He's not my type of guy". And if you don't believe that, then don't believe it, but you should know that that is definitely true.

As much as the thought of crazy ass Sarah Plin running the White House scares me, I voted for McCain because the thought of a Democratic freight train in the House, Senate and Oval Office passing more fucking entitlement legislation willy-nilly is downright terrifying. Also, the Death Tax must die, people!

Please VOTE !!

Some of the american do not understand the effect of the outcome of this election does to little 3rd world countries like mine, where everything that happens there we get affected, where most of the income of some families come from relatives that live there....i believe every vote counts.

I still do not get your voting system but i let you in on ours i am from the Dominica Republic), the day before since noon everyone goes home early from work, everything is close and no alcohol is to be sold (everyone buys ahead), we vote in a cardbox booth, we get to vote directly for the president (so is really clear who you are voting for, even for the ones that are not so smart), we get our right index finger tainted and of we go. We get the results early on and life goes on.

So my only plea is to vote foa a change bc the way things are now it is not working...and give the politics a lesson that we are the ones that put them there and we can take them out. Thats the beauty of this day...TODAY WE GET TO DECIDE!!

And for all that i am as nervous as you guys are!!

And for all that i am as nervous as you guys are about the outcome of this election!!

Saucy.and.Unsure: Please show me where I said that because I would think that a logical person would read what I said "Some are open about it, others try to mask it with "He's a Muslim" (as though that is a bad thing) or "He's a Socialist" or "He's not my type of guy'" And deduce that I didn't mean that every single solitary person who says he's a socialist is a closet racist.

My statement is basically this: Racists won't vote for Obama. Some racists will be open about it. Some racists won't be open about it and hide it with He's a Muslim, He's a Socialist, He's not my type of guy.

You have managed to fall into the category of those whose reading comprehension skills were compromised at some stage in your life.

Some are open about it, others try to mask it with "He's a Muslim" (as though that is a bad thing) or "He's a Socialist" or "He's not my type of guy".

Exactly. Now, granted, I attend school in the middle of Racism USA (at "give 'em hell" University, no less), but I see this shit all the time. Just this morning my boyfriend's roommate walked in and told us that his mom called and told him that if "he" (Obama, who hasn't been mentioned by name here too much lately) wins, we should stay in our rooms lest we be caught up in riots, and that if "he" does get elected, to prepare for a military coup. Why? Because Obama's more likely to be involved with "strange" countries, which will piss off our armed forces.

WTF?

"...I would point out that many Republicans are downright pissed at John McCain for not getting nastier - for not talking more about Rev. Wright and for refusing to discuss Obama's illegal aunt, among other things...."

----------------------------------------

Thank you! thank you, for clearing that up.

Here, Here, tt_marie! You spell that shit out!

B Slim - - huh?

I also pointed out he DIDN'T do those things, and said I'm glad he didn't. I don't have the power to control the crazy-filled fringe of my party or the tactics they promote. Not sure what you're trying to say, but you seem to feel quite victorious - - so I will assume you think you scored a point...somehow??

tt_marie: Two further points. One, I didn't say all Republicans were racist; I'm saying that a large number of people in this country will refuse to vote for Obama - even when it may directly affect them and their lives in a positive way - because he's an African-American.

They will give any number of plausible reasons for their choice, so legitimate, some less-so, some outright ridiculous. But what they will not do is come out and say "I will not vote for him, because he is black" - even though that is precisely what they feel in their gut; even if they can't see it in themselves. Racism and bigotry is insidious that way.

What I am not doing is calling all Republicans racist, that's just silly.

Point two: for someone that can't stand the idea of judging a book by it's cover, let me be the first to congratulate you on incorrectly assuming I'm a she.

tk i love you

Vote JULIE/NICOLE '08, Pajiba! We have awesome tits and we promise to use them!!!

Fuck, Nicole, so now you're just throwing your fabulous tits in my face?!?! (excellent mental image.......)
I may have to disappoint poor Jay and change my voting stance on the implants.
Bitch.

Oh, jamie, I'll throw my tits in your face whenever you like, if you elect me. And guess what? My nips shoot confetti. It's true. Ask my running mate.

1. I don't know where you live, but things sure aren't like that where I live. Furthermore, the people you know appear to be crazy, or made-up (because I find it hard to believe that you happen to work with such a large group of people who sound like they need to be institutionalized), but you still haven't pointed to evidence that any of them are RACIST. Crazy does NOT equal racist. The antichrist thing - - I know one person who thinks that. He's INSANE, and he also said that about Bill Clinton. That's not a racist thing - - that's an unhealthy fear of Democratic agendas. As for the Muslim issue - - that's desperate people trying to sway people away from Obama, and that says nothing about WHY they dislike Obama. They may dislike him simply because he's a Democrat, and may not know enough about politics to argue on the issues. I know people like that - and usually they aren't very politically active, just happen to listen to Rush Limbaugh. On the flipside, I happen to have some very educated and informed friends voting for Obama for solid, merit-based reasons, but I also know a lot of people who couldn't tell me a damn thing about Obama's agenda, but sure have fun telling me how old McCain is! There are stupid Democrats and stupid Republicans. There are LOTS of people who cast votes a certain way simply because they've ALWAYS cast thier votes that way. Where's the racism here, because I'm not seeing it, and that was your initial argument, and the issue that I took with your statements.

As for Karl Rove, the famous alleged push polling was AGAINST John McCain in the primary. McCain accepted a contribution from him, and said he had a smart political mind (which you have to admit he does). I've never EVER heard that he was an advisor. Interesting that you say "informal" - I'd assume that means McCain has never called him an advisor? What are you basing this on, because I've never heard this.

And I LOOOOVE when people say "how dare you!" It is so very soap-opera-y.

I know a girl named Lexi. I thought you were a girl for that reason...so, I'm sorry if that is offensive?

Paddydog> good work dude.

As a fellow Irishwoman, I've been sat on my arse all day watching the news and the coverage of the lines outside polling stations have me damp of eye. I can only imagine the wreck I would be if I was there.

I'm staying up and have promised to keep my friend's posted. "we're all screwed" is code for McCain/Palin won one. Not because of McCain himself (tho' as primarily staunch liberals we would all most likely be Obamettes), but rather Palin. Who scares the living shit out of all of us.

Julie and Nicole: I will gladly lend my generously sized natural breasts to your campaign and the girls will assist in any way they can. If this means wearing pasties that say "JULIE" and "NICOLE", my nipples are up to the job.

Saucy said: So everyone who says they wont vote for Obama because he is a socialist is actually a racist in hiding?

Yeah see the thing is he's not a socialist. Just like he's not a muslim.
So all of these little rumors that have been spread about him by...whomever: the MSM, conservative flacks blah dee blah....are really all about providing convenient excuses for people to not vote for him.

Now, I'm not saying that all of the people who aren't voting for him are racist. I'm just saying that race is still a volitile subject in our society and also still very taboo and for some folks, if you can give them an excuse that gets them out of bringing up race they'll totally take it.

Thanks y'all. I'm just in complete shock right now. I knew he had small health issues, but this was really unexpected. I just saw him like a month ago for my aunt's birthday and he seemed fine.

Hey, I don't want to hijack the thread, so let's not get caught up in it, but I really appreciate the sentiments. I don't even really know why I posted it here, it's just all I can think about right now.

My condolences, Eep. It's always hard to lose someone and I don't think anyone minds if you post about it here :).

I voted for Obama, it's not a secret. I was born into a family full of hardcore democrat. Eight years ago I would have had a tough time deciding between Gore and McCain.

However in the following 8 years, Republicans in general have gone so negative. About everything. Except what they should be negative about. I LOATHE with every fiber of my being, hearing what amounts to "I'm a bad American" because I believe in X, Y and Z. FUCK YOU. I get up every morning and I do a job I get paid shit for. I pay my taxes I get a shit refund. I see the world in shades of grey, not black and white. I'm a bad American because I want to know WHY we were attacked on 9/11. I'm a bad American because I don't support the war. Democrats never seem to say someones a bad American.

I don't think Ann Coulter is a bad American. I think she's a horrible human being who makes me wish abortion were retroactive. I think Sean Hannity is a waste of flesh and is the personification of the load his mother should have swallowed.

But I don't consider them any less of an American than I am. I believe in free speech and know that it means I have to listen to shit I don't like if it means I get to say something too

eep: Likewise, sorry to hear that. :(

tt_marie: You don't have to tell me that the lot of them are crazy. But the sad thing is, they are very, very real.

And yes, they are, sadly, all closet racists. The fascinating thing is that in this day and age, they cannot come out and say what they truly feel; so instead, it is wrapped in layer after layer of justification.

I understand that obviously Obama is (a) not a Muslim, (b) so what if he was and (c) that as a religious aspect, it is quite different from racism. Nonetheless, the backroom racists here, that know they can't really say what's on their mind, they like to bandy it about. He's a Muslim. Or a secret Muslim. Or attended a Muslim faith-based school.

It's so much nicer than just coming out and saying that if they saw him walking towards their car downtown, they'd slam the locks.

Glad you like the "How dare you"; I'm in a very Olbermann place today with all the talk around me right now about how McCain is simultaneously going to clinch the election and have it stolen from him.

Also, my point was simply that you were apparently outraged by the idea that there could be no underlying basis to any given stereotype, and yet immediately leaped to the conclusion that, based on my chosen pseudonym, I must be be a girl - as you know a girl named Lexi. I feel that rather underscores my point.

And on that note, I've got an ObamaBQ to attend. :)

Whatever happens, I soooo wish the Republican go back to the principles of fiscal responsibility, smaller government, lower taxes and government OFF your back. I liked those Repubs, hell they'd be awesome for my pocket, and less gun control to boot (I don't believe in the concept of only having the criminals adequately armed)

Buuut, when the FUCK did they get taken over by a bunch of lunatics who are only about excluding everyone who does something they don't like, or who doesn't believe in their literal version of the jewish book of fairy tales aka "the bible."
I can't support people like that, you realize they went more insane after Clinton beat them at their own game, twice.

They just LOST. IT. big time, buncha mean, crazy haters. Listen, call liberals socialists all you want but I've never seen a more frightening group of people in America than crusading "judeo-christian-conservatives" (whatever the fuck that is).

Oh, and sorry Eep :(

Maybe I'm shit out of luck but can anybody recommend a channel or website where I can watch the election results without the douchebaggery from either side?

"Whatever happens, I soooo wish the Republican go back to the principles of fiscal responsibility, smaller government, lower taxes and government OFF your back."

That's the Libertarians, man. Get on board.

Barr/Beer '08

Admin, try this one
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/

Pookie/BSlim 08

[de-lurks for important event]

I live in the UK. I know PLENTY of people who are staying up throughout the night to watch the election and the votes rolling in.

(ok, the majority of those are students, who own no real life where normal working hours exist, but still...)

Your election has a major effect on us and the rest of the world; anyone who doesn't believe that is slightly in denial. we're hoping that you go for the right guy. If you don't, we're screwed too. And yes, I don't think I have EVER met anyone here who thought that voting for THAT bloke was a good idea.

(And yay voting! My mother always gives me the "they DIED!" speech whenever an election rolls round, but I agree; it's hypocritical to complain about the state of the country without putting in your two pence.)

*sigh* I kinda wish I could vote.

It's okay Honeypie, mine was the token Dutch vote...

Ah, the beauty of getting off work at 2:30. Voting took no time at all.

Only three things I really cared about: president, sherrif (go to hell, Joe Arpaio. No really. Please go there) and prop 102, AZ's little "If gays can marry civilization is DOOMED" law. Never mind that we voted on pretty much the same thing two years ago, struck it down, and gay marraige is already against the law here.

Eep, I'm very sorry for your loss, and you're not hijacking anything. Even when we're ripping each others' throats out over political views or opinions of "Worst Lohan Movie Ever," we are a community that loves each other with orgy-tastic ferocity. I'm tossing you a virtual hug with my ticket-winning funbags.

Nice try, Pookie, but Julie's and my collective noobers are just too amazing.

JULIE/NICOLE '08 pasties will be for sale on CafePress soon. Wear them to church!

opinions of "Worst Lohan Movie Ever,"

Incidentally, the answer is I Know Who Killed Me.

If there are any females that can't get to the poles, I'll be more than happy to bring the poles to you.

Thank all things holy that someone else in this state voted against Arpaio! That is reason enough to go to the polls.

Thank's Pookie. I mean for getting the female COF. I couldn't handle that shit.

You and Dad can go to hell becks. I got a job and spent my money on a shiney new 12. I asked and asked for you to replace that raggety ass 11 and you wouldn't. I don't have to save my money its my money. All the kids were making fun of me at school and calling me names and then they would YOU NEVER LOVED ME!

*runs to room crying*

You have some serious emotional problems young man. I knew I should have sent you to counseling after Uncle Pookie touched you.

So how long until results start to come in?

O.K.

Julie/Nicole/Natural Lopsided Asymmetrical Tits/Pookie/Bslim '08

For comfort and smackin' a bitch / Against speed and letting Rowles live.

Well, we've already appointed our Secretary of (Drunken) State and Secretary of the Interior, but other Cabinet positions are available to experienced nipple-twiddlers.

And Pajiba, Julie and I pledge to install a CZ-encrusted stripper pole in the presidential/vice-presidential office. (We like to share, okay?) (Also, diamonds are just too pricey in this economy and we're cheap.)

There's a proposition here in San Francisco to rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Plant to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant!! Awesome!!

Go Obama!
NO on 8!

a CZ-encrusted stripper pole?
That's an injury waiting to happen...

CNN just projected Obama the winner in Vermont & McCain the winner in Kentucky. No surprises yet.

Anyway, I dragged my gargatuan ass down to my polling place (NY sucks and didn't update my address change in time for the election, so I had to drive to downtown Albany to vote). I thought there would be long lines, but I was the only voter there. I felt like crap but I was beyond proud that I put off my c-section so I could vote today. I will be thrilled if my baby is born in a new era for America.

It's days like these when I enjoy living in LA. When your boss says "Go home early and watch the election. I'm still coming down and can't get anything done." This is the American dream, folks. I've got a bottle of Jack and FoxNews on the teevee.

Why Fox News? Because if polls are correct the night will end with a filibuster-proof Senate, Democratic House and a hippie in the big house. How this gets spun will be fantastic. I'm anticipating mass, ritualistic suicide beginning with Papa Bear ripping off his jacket and yelling "FUCK IT!" Then repeatedly smashing his head into the desk until the pain stops.

I do love election night.

BSlim as my Vice-President I am putting you in charge of interviewing all of the White House Interns, female only. We are looking for Interns with low self-esteem and father issues. After the initial process is completed we will take all the finalist up to Camp David for the final selection.

Yours, P

I feel like I am going to erupt from all orifices right now. I'm going to throw up, start my period, have diarrhea, snot is going to pour out of my nose, and blood is going to shoot out of my eyes!

As Secretary of Defence I must insist that I am present to protect you and the Vice President. Skanks can appear anywhere and they're fucking wily bitches.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm....stripper goo.

Or perhaps Mocca in English...(mutters to self in shame)

And now I'll leave you to your own ridiculousness, which apparently involves *checks recent comments* stripper goo and rupturing orifices...

Sorry, Virginia....I think.

does having a black president really mean racism is dead? of all countries in the world...america is up there with the worst racists, sexists.....and yet - america is still cool.

im confused shitless.

Word, bucdaddy. WORD. Only five more days to DBT's!!

Alright kids, you seem to have things in hand here. I'm off to eat pizza, dump some Scotch down my gullet, chase it with beer and snuggle up to Mrs. TK and watch the results.

Take care.

I got to my polling place in Sacramento at 6:25 this morning, 2nd in line, no problems at all.

Yay for competency!

I'm so excited I feel like a wriggly puppy dog. Eatin' pizza and watching the US turn blue!!!

Right now I'm drinking Jameson's and eating candy corn, but if Obama nails Pennsylvania and New York to the wall, I'm going out for some stripper goo...

Whoa... this here was a helluva lot to catch up on, kids.

So anyway, I have no wish to belittle anyone who made a conscious decision not to vote because they thought their vote didn't matter, or those who just couldn't be bothered to participate. I will say, however, that I adamantly disagree with both these lines of thinking, and it makes me sad in the pants and heartbreakingly disappointed that you've somehow been led to feel this way.

I voted this afternoon. I live in a decent-sized suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul, but my house is, like, literally across the street from the border of a wee suburb consisting mostly of farms and townhouses and fast food restaurants (Rosemount, for those familiar with the South Metro) and I vote in Precinct 13 (Diamond Path Elementary). I left the house at like 1:35 and got there about a minute and a half later (it's right up the road) and even though it's a little bitty precinct, I had to wait for over an hour. I got a bit misty at the sight of all those people in the gym of that tiny school. Me! With actual tears in my eyes! I guess I'm not actually dead inside, after all. It makes me happy that so many more people are finally rocking their vote, and it makes me proud that so many Minnesotans don't feel that they shouldn't need to bother, despite the fact that MN hasn't voted Republican since 1972 (longest-running Democratic streak in the country, bitches).

My dad's American, and he's 65 years old and has never voted. NEVER. I've tried my whole life to get him to register and vote, but I realised by about age nine that it's pretty much a lost cause. He's one of those who love to piss and moan, but he doesn't read the newspaper and doesn't understand how the internets work and believes anything he hears on television, so it's probably for the best that he doesn't vote, sad as it makes me to say that. I mean, this shit ain't beer pong, you know? It kinda matters how it turns out, so you should have some idea how the game is played if you want to root for a team.

My mum is Irish and is not an American citizen, so she can't vote. When we were children, she constantly encouraged my siblings and I to not only exist in this world, but to participate in the shaping of it because it is a blessing and a privilege that we have the right to do so. Now that we're older, if any of us ever skipped out on voting (even if we were, like, in a coma at the time) she would rain down hellfire on our asses. I can't even imagine the unholy wrath she would summon if we tried to tell her that our votes didn't count, so why bother?

If you believe in your own worth as a human being, then you should believe that your voice deserves to be heard. It should never matter what other people think or how loudly they're shouting about it or whether the majority of them agree or disagree with you. It does matter, however, that you have a mind and a personality and a whole world of thoughts and opinions which deserve expression, regardless of their leanings. The scale or scope of an election should never matter. Your investment in the outcome shouldn't change because it is or isn't a presidential race. If you believe that it's at all important what happens to your money or your health or your job or your family or your faith or your fundamental rights as a person, then you should believe to the core of your being that it matters who gets to make those decisions and that you goddamn deserve to have a say about who's handed power over you, and you should be interested in who those people are and how they plan to change your life.

This was long as hell, and probably the most serious I've ever been in this joint. But holy shit you guys, speak up or get smished under the iron fist of those willing to take advantage of complacency, you know?

Sarina is right. Getting smished sucks. Go vote. Please?

It seems like you're safe, greer. Ohio is smart.

Which is more than can be said for my current residence.

Fuck you too, Arkansas.

Ok. Ohio can stay.

O-H!

I-O!

Gabs, don't worry about Arkansas. We are working on a deal to trade that state to the Ukraine. Plenty of room for you here in New York State. Or you can stay with my Mom in Ohio. I'll call her.

See, if the federal government had the amount of power it's supposed to have, y'all wouldn't have even had to sweat this.

Just sayin'.

Question - Comedy Central lists the Stewart/Colbert special at both 10 & 11 PM. Is it a repeat at 11, or a new episode?

Well Nicole I can't say that I'm dissapointed. If you have any positions available I would like to put my name forward. My skills include; looking at tits, thinkng about tits dreaming of tits, basically anything involving tits. Givin your party's platform I feel I could definately be an asset.

Ahhhh Indecision 2008. You make it aaaaalll better.

I would like to read the 300+ excited messages about voting and elections. But I'm too giddy. So giddy, that I'm going to vote for the Boobies. Julie/Nicole '08!

You know what? I've had a sudden crazy urge to cast a vote for Julie/Nicole '08. I'm just feeling the Boobs this evening.

On that note, I'm off to bed to let husband do same.

Go Obama! Sending good vibes from the Great White North!

I'm starting to feel confident that Obama will win. But now I'm worrying about another popular vote v. electoral vote issue. I'm sure there won't be as much outrage as there was when Gore lost even though he won the popular vote, but McCain is projected to lose states where he has a higher percentage of the vote, but not where it counts.

In other news, I didn't know Barr had so much support. Nadar, I'm not surprised by, but Barr? Did this happen because of the Colbert Report, or are there really that many people in favor of a socialist president? Barr and Nadar keep switching back and forth between third and fourth place on the C-Span/AP interactive vote map.

I'm just happy McKinney's in fifth place, to be honest. Maybe she'll even crack 100,000 votes by the time the night's out. That makes me smile. Though I'm happier that the campaign mantra of vote green, not blue, against red seems to be working out pretty well. Her highest percentages are consistently coming from Republican states, including .5 in Louisiana.

The point is moot,

I want to cut his nuts off.......

Only 2 more hours till my half off Rainbow Coalition memberships for prisoner sale ends....

Can someone please explain how it is that Louisiana went to McCain?

I was wondering the same thing. Fucking crazy.

On the other hand, America I am so proud of you today.

Can someone please explain how it is that Louisiana went to McCain?

Posted by: c at November 4, 2008 10:22 PM

We'll ask Lousiana to explain itself as we take it out the the woodshed. I'll go cut a switch.

THANK YOU, Ohio. Finally, I can stop apologizing.

C

McCain was throwing beads at Palin. Lots and lots of beads.

Marra don't worry about it, I've been naked for the last hour or so. If you feel you must reward me for swinging around that pole and thrusting my ample bosoms in your face, then by all means, feel free to shower me with compliments or beer.

People have mocked my VA pride in the past (I know, I know, I'm inside the beltway, but it's still Virginia...), but tonight I am vindicated, woot!

IT'S OFFICIAL! Obama's the president, now we can all put this fucking election behind us. Back to what really matters: Finding an Oscar Shaped personal massagers for Alabamapink. C'mon, lil people who give me the interwebs, find me dildos!

MSNBC is saying Obama won! Did he really win? Did he????? Oh my God, Oh my God!!!

Jon just called it officially Obama. I almost feel like crying. In a good way.

HOLY OBAMA LLAMA BATMAN!!!!

YES WE CAN. Audacious indeed. I'm so proud of America.

phquaryn, I had the same booths. And oddly enough they had the name of the woman in front of me wrong as well, for the same reason.

I actually don't know what to say... I'm not used to being happy about an election outcome. is it REALLY true???

Can I just tell you how i'm at my friend's election party and we all just kind of freaked out and maybe a couple of us cried a little?

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Also after little to no coercion (ow, my arm's all twisted!), I would like to say that even though I voted for Obama this afternoon, in my heart of hearts I was really rooting for Julie/Nicole. More boobs, America!

...except, you know, not the plastic kind. And not the dialing-up-the-crazy-in-its-third-century-of-life kind. Or the terrifying "Drinking International Delights coffee totally counts as foreign policy experience!" kind. But yay for all the other kinds! Boobs: They're what's for dinner.

Also, I just ate three pork tamales and a bunch of m&m cookies and drank two Rock Star energy drinks and Obama won goddamn Virginia and then swept the whole west coast and he doesn't seem to have won this election so much as OWNED THE FUCK OUT OF IT and Rachel Maddow is tearing up on national television and I might start sobbing and/or throw up from excitement at any moment.

Holy shit, you guys. I didn't want to say this before because I guess part of me must believe in jinxes or something, but I was a little worried. Maybe even a lot worried. I'm sorry I didn't have more faith. I've never, ever been ashamed of being American, but for the first time in longer than I care to recall, I'm genuinely PROUD. Good job, citizens!

As I sit in my office in the land down under, I'm finding it difficult to stifle my cries of joy!

Well done Yanks & congrats!

Florida, people! FLORIDA.

From Melbourne, Australia, congratulations and well done!

Jesse Jackson is crying his face off. Just like me.

He's conceding at this moment..... and to all the MA voters... thank you for voting NO on 1 my mortgage company is very pleased!

McCain's speech right now? His classiest moment of the whole damn election.

Gabs: I was just thinking that :)

Okay, I fervently dislike the geezer, but that "the failure is mine" line choked me right up.

I can't help thinking that if this was the guy running for the presidency, I might have faltered.

h0p3, I also choked up a bit when he said that. You can see he was pleased when the audience reacted as they did.

johnbigbootay at 11:19 p.m.: yah. I forgot about the rednecks and david duke nutjobs of the world. I just thought after the katrina debacle there would be some kind of change somehow. Anyway. I am going to crack out the alcohol now and finally celebrate because I was worried. Sorry, I just didn't have the faith.

Oh sweet jesus yes. This is going to be a fun 8 years.

I give McCain credit for conceding now instead of drawing it out through the night.

His crowd, however, should take a hint from John and try to be equally dignified.

So, an African American girl on my hall just ran down the hall screaming and crying and called her mom and said, verbatim, "Momma, he did it! He's the president!"

I'm in tears right now, and it's not stopping anytime soon.

Nicely done, Senator McCain. Very classy speech.

And I don't think I've noticed before, but Todd Palin is kinda hot...

And I don't think I've noticed before, but Todd Palin is kinda hot...

Glad I'm not the only one. It made me feel kinda dirty.

Just now, Sofia?! I noticed that the first time I saw them getting off that helicopter, when everyone was still gushing over Palin's "librarian hotness".

McCain: eloquent, kind and supportive. He is truly a good man :)

BUT OH MY GOD!!!!

I am sooooooo beyond excited. Jesse Jackson was literally crying.

i m way ahead of you C, reading those drink recipes this mawning, decided it would be good to have an ample supply of vanilla vodka on hand this wildly historic eve, you can put that stuff in anything, coke, chai tea, your morning coffee,tuna fish,... yeah thats about it; nothing, and i mean nothing, like a little faith in the bottle and obama in the white house, i ll be darned, somebody give me a freakin mint julip

Hot damn, he won. It's nice when an election makes me feel patriotic.

Yes!!! YES!!!!!!! This is like an early Christmas present to the world! Thank you, America!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VP BIDEN! i am so relieved and thrilled!

McCain, good on you; that was a classy, gracious, and mature speech. You know, if he would've conducted the entire campaign like that, he might've had a chance. But it makes me excited to hope that maybe people who were with him will actually, you know, respect what he said and realize that we are all in this together and to start working as a team instead of such divisiveness.

I take it you all understand the influence Paheeba Day had in Obama's victory.

Robert am I understanding correctly that you think Barr is socialist?

Libertarians are about the opposite of socialists.

Barack Obama! President Barack Obama! That's really all I can say. This is the greatest night of the year. Even better than Christmas. And I freaking love Christmas!
America, I am so impressed with you. I always love election days; they remind me of everything good about this country, even with all the craziness and ridiculousness that leads up to them. But today especially, I just...I love you, America. I feel like I'm living in an episode of The West Wing. And really, it doesn't get any better than that.

The point is moot...

I am crying my face off....

Does this mean the Race Card has expired,,,
cuz mine sayz Lifetime Member!

You have become the shining city on the hill that Winthrop was going on about! And now the eyes of the world are upon you...Way to go America! You have made us all proud.

I'm listening to his Obama's speech right now and I'M getting emotional and I'm not even American! Congratulations, you guys, this is progress.

CONGRATULATIONS!! I just teared up a little bit, and for so many reasons- the breaking of the race barrier, the reprieve from anti-choice abortion laws, and also because I'm looking forward to seeing another charismatic world leader! I'm still a little bit in love with Pierre Elliot Trudeau up here, and he was already out of office when I was born, so hopefully this will be a new and fabulous political crush for me.

Fantastic. Racism is now a non-issue.

A black man is president. I now don't have to listen to any more bullshit excuses for lethargy.

I'd like to make you cry like a baby too Rachel....but in a bad, bad way!

djganesh at November 5, 2008 12:11 AM

Well, Negative Nelly, while you're doing that, you might want to crack open a web-dictionary and look up the expression "missing the point", yeah? Maybe "obtuse" while you're at it.

I can't stop crying and these bitch tears drip dropping on my keyboard are bound to lead to electrocution. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that tonight, I get to remove the asterisk next President of the United States of America from my Kindergarten list of things I can be when I grow up.

I humbly ask the overlords to post a transcript of that amazing, moving and inspiring speech tomorrow.

This may well be the best moment of my life.

No more "Yes We Can." YES WE WILL.

wow wow wow congrats america. i'm a bit less scared of you now.

another aussie saying THANK YOU, you did good!

I was just watching Obama's speech on the local news in Chicago (ABC7) and holy shit, the reporter on the scene is a retard.

"...And remember, he looks more like the rest of the world than he does the rest of... what we would expect him to look like."

Mmhmm.

We get the elected officials we deserve....

Me likey what me deserve

Nice work Americans! You had me a little scared there for a while, but you came through in the end.

From down here in Aus I say a big ol' Thank You!

Smooth move, America.

OBAMA FUCK YEAH!!!

It's 5.40am here, I've been up all night and that made it all worth it. I'm going to take my snivelling ass to bed.

Thanks Yanks, you rule!!

Posted by: jr. pajiba at November 5, 2008 12:28 AM

Dustin, I know this is a historic day 'n shit, but the hell is Lil Pajiba doing up this late? And how'd he learn to type so young? And how can he even reach the keyboard? Do you have a booster seat set up in a swivel chair, or is there, like, a Zoboomafoo laptop on the floor in a corner?

The youth, they've taken to the streets.

Well Done America. Well Fucking Done.

Much love and endless, ENDLESS gratitude and relief from Australia.

Dear Obama.

Congrats on winning.
Now don't fuck it up.

With love,
The World

"Change," my ass. Obama has no provision at ALL for helping the Pirates reach .500 and leveling the playing field with the Yankees and Cubs. NONE! I fully expect 67 wins again next season. so nothing at all with change. Bah. I wave the Jolly Roger and whizz on your "change."

Otherwise, congrats, all. For better or worse, we'll get the government we deserve,

Congratulations American, and thanks for re-affirming my faith in the human spirit,

Frank

I was worried that I didn't have the eloquence to properly comment at this moment, but after reading, I will go with the others. . . .

Obama - FUCK YEAH!!!!!

Congrats people! This is an amazing day for everyone (especially my aunt, I have no idea how she's going to make it through the upcoming Election Withdrawal...and she's not even American, much less live in the States!)

May God Bless America and us all!

It's nice as hell outside right now here in MN so I have my windows open, and my jackass neighbours across the street just skulked out of their house and pulled the McCain/Palin yard sign out of their lawn and stepped on it to fold it up and then shoved it in their rubbish bin. I suppose it's possible that they're just pissed and venting their rage or whatever, but I prefer to think that their hearts have grown two sizes today. Mrs. Jackass even scraped the Sarah Palin sticker off her car bumper. Now if they would just stop blocking the sidewalk when they park in their driveway and stop littering when they drop their junk mail in the street by their mailbox, maybe we can become friends.

Hallelujah! Obama has won!! Thank you, America. Thank you SO much.
Now (turns to California), why aren't you turning down a certain hateful proposition regarding the ban of gay marriage, hmm?

vic

I did my part, I swear. The only two things I really cared about were Obama and Prop 8. Anything else was icing on the cake. And I swear I don't associate with anyone whom I know would vote "yes" on prop 8.

Ignorant motherfuckers.

As a cynical, cold-hearted bitch I do not cry. My tear ducts haven't been functioning since I was fourteen months old. This summer I lost both my great-grandmother and grandmother to cancer in a five week span and nary a tear was shed from my cold dark eyes. But tonight...tonight my rock hard heart was softened. In a room full of people no less, actual tears streaked my face as I could not believe that this country actually did it. I will not listen to the hateful or ignorant things others might say. Tonight I will celebrate this victory and be proud of my country.

jM, A 300-pound Samoan muppet doll.

Oh wait, that would be Cookie. I'm sure he'd eat Samoas by the truckload. And he'dbe a GREAT escort on a drug-fueled run to Vegas, he's got the googly eyes and all ...

"We were near Barstow on the outskirts of the desert when the acid-laced snickerdoodles began to take hold ..."

With ... with Kermit, yes! That's it! Both stoned out of their minds, Kermit at the wheel, envisioning giant flies (yum!) and Piggy (hee-YAH!) buzzing the car (obviously Bunsen Honeydew and the Swedish chef would cook up their meth).

And they'd pick up Elmo hitchhiking along the road. And they'd anal rape him and slit his throat and bury him in the desert ...

(Che, Che, where are you, man? C'mere, you gotta help envision the rest of this with me! It's the new Muppet movie, "Frog and Loathing in Las Vegas," and it's GOLD, man! Fuckin' GOLD! Where's Henson? We need Henson ... HENSON!)

It's been 22 hours now since I woke up to go to the polls. I'm old, and I've had one hell of a lot of beer today. And yet I can't stop watching, reading, living this moment.

Especially as a nearly lifelong Atlantan, who's seen his hometown besmirched and ridiculed for years and years by those who have never been here, and who don't know how hard it's been for white and black to grow and get along together in a place where there's so many of both of us that WE'VE ALL HAD TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. No smug and homogeneous liberal enclave here -- we're actually trying to work shit out.

And so a good deal of the pride I feel now is civic pride, that Mr. Obama singled out two Atlantans to show everyone where we've been, and what we can do.

I am so SO happy! I cried so long during the speeches that my tears just dried where they were and then new ones ran over them moments later. Couldn't reach for a tissue while I was glued to the tv.

And ditto to the people with crushes on both Obama and Biden! When they hugged eachother, I wanted to be the meat in that sandwich.

*somewhere in the Chicago suburbs*

Scene: In a dark basement sitting around a big table are: Osama Bin Laden, Reverend Wright, Zombie Lenin, Zombie Stalin, Fidel Castro and Zombie Che Guevara wait for he who is about to enter...

*door opens*

...in walks Barak Hussein Obama, his first words:

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..."

*cue somber Imperial march Phil*

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAAAAAAAAAAAA..."

I cried and clasped my hands like a wee baby during Obama's acceptance speech. I think it's love.

I cried and clasped my hands like a wee baby during Obama's acceptance speech. I think it's love.

Posted by: Smalls at November 5, 2008 4:13 AM

_________________________________________________

No, you're just having a somewhat understandable reaction to having a leader who is well acquainted with the beauties and intricacies of the English language. I am the decider and I say eloquence is teh awesome.

I'm a 23 year old American New Zealander who isn't able to vote unless she moves to the States (President Obama, can you get the American Born Abroad voting restrictions lifted on the states that have them? Please?) so I was quite literally glued to the tv all day. I was just about licking it when they said Pennsylvania was predicted to go Obama's way. Luckily, I work at New Zealand's state broadcaster so our "news" channel basically turned into CNN and as much as I love it, I'd say it jumped the shark with the holograms. How did Anderson Cooper keep a straight face? Seriously?

I don't know if America gets just how important this was for the world. I have friends who have taken the time to understand the electoral college system (general consensus - wtf?!? I'd agree with that). They understand the primary system. They've learnt about policy positions. They've learnt about Senate candidates who were up for election. These aren't "silly girls" who are keen on Obama because "omg he's like SOOOO cute". They know about his policy positions. They watched the debates. They followed the primary races from start to finish. They know about things like V.A.W.A, No Child Left Behind and the global gag rule. They'll never get the chance to vote in an American election but they've gone to this trouble to understand. Mostly, to try and understand how/why Bush got elected but just because, believe it or not, they do love America and Americans. If they've put up with me all this time, they really do!

What does I think this means for me?

It means that I'll be able to tell people that I am an American New Zealander. For the last seven years, it hasn't been worth the time or energy to try and defend a President and policy positions that I didn't vote for and wouln't've voted for even if I could.

It means that in the countries that I want to travel to, I might be able to use my American passport again. I might have to give it a few years but, still, there's a distinct possibility that it could be used again.

As forlorn as it might be, I hope it means an end to the divisiveness. The hate that I see that keeps poisoning the waters and has turned a generation of people around the world against America. I can't even begin to describe the conversations that I've had with American relatives over the years where I've been brought to tears. Why does one have to be a churchgoing rural town living person to be a "real American"? Why does the fact that I identify as Buddhist having anything to do with my standing as a person? Why does the fact that I believe in diplomacy make me "naive"? All I can say is that I am incredibly glad that my parents made the choice to raise their children in New Zealand.

There's so much more that I want to say about how damn happy I am at the moment but I can't figure out how to say it. All that's gonna come it is something akin to a toddler on a sugar high emitting small high pitched hamster noises so I'll stop here.

And say thanks.

You did good, America.

Oh and the "Don't Blame Me" bumper stickers will appear soon, right?

Ohhhh it feels like the early 90s, except I'm of age and have better technology. So that's pretty cool.

And NOW....to put my librarian poker face back on. I dare say there'll be some not entirely ecstatic people hanging around. But in the words of Nigel Tufnel: I'm a professional and I rise above it!

How about 8 years down the lane

Palin vs Hilary?????????????

Hotdamn!!!!!!!!

or will Palin's publicity die quickly & painfully soon.

Also, there should definitely be a Pajiba Atlanta. Preferably somewhere in Virginia Highlands.

congratulations america.

as a non-american watching all that has gone on over there, i can honestly say that i have been swept up by the emotions that led to this day and feel like i am a part of this just as much as you are.

and in a way i am- the president of the U.S. is considered the leader of the free world, so many of the president's decisions profoundly affect the rest of the world, and as a citizen of this world, in a way, i too had stake in the outcome of this election.

so, on behalf of the rest of us- congratulations and thank you.

a few thoughts as i was watching CNN:

-Obama's speech in Chicago was very powerful. his eloquence, his poise, his directness and his humility- even watching it on tv i was taken in by him and felt the emotion and the electrifying energy in the air. i can only imagine how it must have felt to someone who was there.

-McCain spoke with great dignity. and didn't, at any time make himself look like a sore loser. he stayed away from partisan mudslinging and seemed to be very sincere- especially when quieting the booing when Obama's name was mentioned. a tip of the hat to him.

-the way both men spoke of each other, especially considering how dirty the campaigns had become, really impressed me. no empty platitudes, but rather sincere respect.

other random thoughts:

-as fun as it was to make fun of Palin, i do kinda feel sorry for her, and feel bad for her when republicans start to blame her being a reason McCain lost. yes, she might be a reason for the loss, but it isn't her fault- she should never have been chosen in the first place and the blame for that rests squarely on McCain's and the RNC's shoulders.

-as pissed as i was about Jesse Jackson's "cut his balls off" comment - which was obviously the result of jealousy that Obama looked like he might pull off what Jackson hadn't been able to so many times before (getting the nomination) - it was also pretty emotional seeing him openly crying. i can't imagine what he must've been feeling. when something he has fought for for so long has finally happened. awesome.

-when CNN started showing clips of the celebrations in the streets, not just in america (times square, harlem etc) but also in the rest of the world, am i the only one who kept expecting to see a clip of a bunch of ewoks banging drums, singing "Yub dub!"? you have to admit, there is a bit of a the-evil-empire-has-fallen vibe to all of this, no?

Preferably somewhere in Virginia Highlands.

Elitist!

Posted by: Jay at November 5, 2008 7:40 AM

There's nothing elitist for wanting to be centered somewhere that's known in Atlanta primarily for its number of bars and pubs.

And while we are in the topic of Alaska, and its wildlife, federal CONVICTED felon, Ted Stevens is about to be re-elected to the Senate of these United States.

Stay classy, assholes.

I am So proud of America right now. As a Canadian, I cant vote for your president, even though it effects me more than the Canadian elections do (because really, y'all know Prime Minister Rapist-Eyes isn't going to do anything that will piss off your President, we need you too much)
Seriously, All you need is a federally funded medicare program, and I would ditch this conservative soul-less eyes voting country, and move to the U.S.

Yea...but would Stephane Dion really have been that much better?

(I'm honestly asking as I have no idea, I get all my Canadian political news from Filibuster Cartoons)

Renee: Jack Layton would have been sooooooooo much better.

8:20am and I am still beaming and can't even talk about the election without tearing up!!!!

Heck yes, trade it! Tell the Ukrainians we'll throw Louisiana in free. No purchase necessary!

hey hey HEY. We rule. (And by "we", I mean "New Orleans"...to hell with the rest of you.)

OH, and David Duke is from Tulsa. So na na na na boo boo.

Jay and Renee,

This Pajiban totally lives in Va-Hi. Trust me, it ain't all elite.

Yeah, Peachtree in Buckhead isn't any cozier than Jimmy Carter, the drinks probably just cost more.

(and does the Vortex in L5P make anyone else feel 8 years old? Just me? Then again, most bars do that, with my baby face and little Hungarian legs that dangle off barstools. Seems awfully cramped for a group too)

I can't remember the name of the restaurant I was in in Virginia Highlands for....well, it was sort of a wake, I guess, like a college reunion after the funeral home visitation (people get married and divorced after college, which is strange enough. Death's pretty much just surreal). It was really dark in there. Yeah, that place was nice. That really narrows it down, right? I'm so helpful.

But poncey enclaves are much more likely to have beer that I like and agrees with my head. So call me a snob.

Obama has a lot of work to do. A quote from FoxNews.com:

"There are many who are trying to turn us into Muslims like Obama. His friends in Arabia want to attack Israel so that they can destroy Jerusalem. Sarah Palin knows that she must save us in 2012. Jesus sent her early as a sign that we must pray for four years. She will deliver us from evil."

And fuck you to everyone who voted for Prop 8.

As a Paji-Canadian, I have to thank you, America. Not only am I proud to be your neighbour to the north, I am grateful. I can only hope that our Godtopus-awful PM will behave now that a man of true quality is holding the most powerful office in the free world.

Yay Americans, Yay Obama!

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