The big night! A day of decision. An evening of euphoria. A night of fright.
We will be blogging for Johnny Mac until the last dog dies, which I expect will carry us to about 10 PM Eastern. After that, listen for whimpering...
STRAY THOUGHTS: Let's assume for a moment that Congressional Dems reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine and crush talk radio, aided and abetted by President Obama. Weave into that thought the talk that Sarah Palin will serve out her term as Governor and end up with an Oprah-like gig on television (television remains the home of the free-speakers, since no one will be saying boo to Oprah, Olby and Maddow, nor to the journalistic heroes of NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN; the existence of Fox, while burdensome, is a small price to pay).
So, does Ms. Palin leverage her television spot into a 2012 run? Does she even need a television gig to do that, or can she go back to Alaska, get re-elected as Governor, and run from there?
Who's this Earle guy?
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:17 PM
To the pain!
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:17 PM
OKay, how'd I get first post AFTER Hit threadherded us over?
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:17 PM
You're a winner.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Oh, btw, I'm leaving in a half-hour or so for a big networking event in Denver. Just so you know why I go silent.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:20 PM
'He said, "To bluff,'" or: Why Obama went to Indiana on election day.
Posted by: Elliott | November 04, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I'm glad you didn't spell that with an 'e'.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Because he's trying to hear cats, Charlie.
Posted by: JM Hanes | November 04, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Glücklich ist, wer vergißt, was doch nicht zu ändern ist!
OK Strauss lovers -- have at it!
Posted by: DrJ | November 04, 2008 at 06:21 PM
For some reason, I have a warm feeling about Colorado today...
Posted by: Fisher | November 04, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Great typing. People will think I tied up TM and took over.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Because he's trying to hear cats
Cat whistle?
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:23 PM
How many ways can a dem. cheat?
Found: Pre-marked ballots for non-English speakers
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 06:23 PM
I think I fall into the Tom Maguire column. Eyeores to the end...
Posted by: Sue | November 04, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Is it Earley Victorious? A revival?
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 06:23 PM
I meant **herd cats** of course, but maybe someone can do something clever with what I actually wrote.
Hey, looks like Republicans have beaten TeamObama on filing the first complaint in Ohio. Good Times!
Posted by: JM Hanes | November 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM
I ain't watching no TV tonight. no how. no channel Not FOX, not the drivebys. I will be on Hillbuzz and the Corner exclusively.
Posted by: peter | November 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM
So the spin is that "O" went to IN because the campaign that it would be called for McCain right after polls closed???
very interesting....
Posted by: Fisher | November 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM
"Clarice posted the links to various websites for Secretaries' of State at the end of this post."
Thanks, Elliot, I'm watching the Indiana site now (LUN). So far, nothin'! Maybe they've put the election off for a month or two so that we can better examine the candidates? You know, I'm thinking it's maybe not such a bad idea to just close all other windows (even JOM!) and watch the Indiana site update all night long. By midnight, if McCain's won Indiana by at leats 10 points, I might be brave enough to see what's happening on the MSM. Wouldn't it be perfect to tune in Olbermann to see him foaming at the mouth and throwing props around?
Posted by: hrtshpdbox | November 04, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Fisher:
So the spin is that "O" went to IN because the campaign that it would be called for McCain right after polls closed???
cf. Rick Ballard
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Maybe they've put the election off for a month or two so that we can better examine the candidates?
Maybe it's so we can examine better candidates.
Posted by: bgates | November 04, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Is it Earley Victorious? A revival?
Heh, Clarice. I surely hope so.
If you get a chance could you please LUN your blog location for tonight? I think someone posted it on the other thread but I am having trouble keeping up...
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 06:29 PM
It's over at American Thinker, Porchlight.
Posted by: Elliott | November 04, 2008 at 06:30 PM
CLARICE LIVEBLOG
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Oh, are you serious?
A captcha check to post that last link?!!??
Tonight?
Of all nights.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:31 PM
Thnx, Hit. I am going back and forth on an unfamiliar laptop.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 06:32 PM
In that vein, hit, let me bastardize my earlier quote:
Glücklich ist, wer verfrißt, was nicht zu versaufen ist
The earlier one is more apropos the election.
Posted by: DrJ | November 04, 2008 at 06:37 PM
I have a thought on the fairness doctrine. We start a nationwide movement of people who promist to cancel their news and mag subscriptions and boycott all TV news shows until the idea is dropped.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Here we go with the exit poll carp.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:39 PM
I'm in Clarice. Does that include Britt?
Posted by: Jane Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Barone says Bucks County PA is going 2-1 for Obama. That's bad news.
Posted by: Jane Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 06:40 PM
I thought all the "objectionable" content (like Rush et. al) would simply move to Sirius or equivalent.
Posted by: DrJ | November 04, 2008 at 06:40 PM
sorry, more from that Geraghty link:
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 06:40 PM
You know, I'm beginning to think that Drudge purposefully does his headlines to generate more hysterics in order to generate traffic.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:41 PM
I thought all the "objectionable" content (like Rush et. al) would simply move to Sirius or equivalent.
Except there's already been talk that direct-sat radio ought to be regulated for "sexual content."
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:42 PM
people who promise to cancel their news and mag subscriptions and boycott all TV news shows
Who still has news or mag subscriptions?
Who gets news from TV?
Posted by: bgates | November 04, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Except there's already been talk that direct-sat radio ought to be regulated for "sexual content."
If Stern can survive, I don't worry much about "talk radio."
Posted by: DrJ | November 04, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Way, way, back, Obama gave his race speech facing Bucks County and they still haven't recovered.
=============================
Posted by: kim | November 04, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Jane: Barone says ..... based only on exit data, right? Not actual votes?
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM
okay, I'm off to Network. Have fun while I'm gone.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Thanks for the Clarice link, Elliott and Hit..
Barone says Bucks County PA is going 2-1 for Obama.
In real votes or in exit polling, Jane?
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM
If PA goes Obama after everything he has said about them, they deserve what they get.
Posted by: Sue | November 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM
I guess Tom is reading this --- he fixed the typo.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | November 04, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Agreed, Sue. Though geographically much of PA will vote against O, it's just the damn cities that vote in the Dem every time.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Tom, Palin stays in Alaska and has a life, letting us idiots figure things out for ourselves.
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Ace is saying that the Gawker exit poll numbers are bogus and that the leads are much larger. Guess Drudge has the exit carp right.
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Drudge highlighting everything in red on his page....Exit polls show Obama big.
He also has a link to a story:
2004 Flashback: Egg on the face of exit pollsters.
Kondrake essentially just said on FNC that Obama is the next President. Brit told him to shut up, too soon to say anything, exit polls only....yada yada yada. Time to turn the TV off.
Posted by: tina | November 04, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Except there's already been talk that direct-sat radio ought to be regulated for "sexual content."
I thought that was a major component of the raison d'etre for satellite radio. Even though I don't listen to satellite radio (I have enjoyed it in rental cars before) does the nanny state have to be so blatant in its disdain for free speech?
Posted by: Captain Hate | November 04, 2008 at 06:52 PM
For those who wonder about Philadelphia and the New Black Panthers:
"…On whites: “I’m about the total destruction of white people. I’m about the total liberation of black people. I hate white people. I hate my enemy. . . .”"
LUN
Posted by: Pagar | November 04, 2008 at 06:54 PM
I refuse to panic about early exit polls which are utter garbage. I will never understand why they're even released at all.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 04, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Just voted. Short lines. Well organized.
Rockford, Illinois
Posted by: M. Simon | November 04, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Polls don't even close in PA until 8 pm.
And remember, most of Florida closes at 7, but the Panhandle is 8 pm.
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 06:56 PM
How do they get a representative sample of polling precincts for their exit polls? Do they make any attempt to do so?
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 06:58 PM
3....2....1....
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Obama wins VT, McCain wins Kt, Indiana, VA, GA too close to call. Republican Governor in Indiana prevails.
Posted by: Jane Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 07:01 PM
In Indiana: 2.6% in MAC up by .04%
Let's call it!!!!
Posted by: Fisher | November 04, 2008 at 07:03 PM
What state is Kt?
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 07:03 PM
The 53rd. Zero thought he had it for sure.
Posted by: Sarah Joseph Ballard | November 04, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Haven't called South Carolina for McCain yet. Pretty clear the exit polling is not accurate again.
Posted by: Elliott | November 04, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Exit polling is BS, in fact, I don't know why they report it either. I decided to keep the TV on (woe is me) and Meghan Kelley was talking about all these polls....then Brit interrupted and reminded everyone this is exit polls, and in 04 they were way off, then they added a gazzilion caveats about those exit polls. So why bother reporting them if they have no faith in them? Argh, trash TV.
Posted by: tina | November 04, 2008 at 07:06 PM
It's awfully early, but I like the 51-48% break for McCain, so far.
==========================================
Posted by: kim | November 04, 2008 at 07:06 PM
4% of vote:
Indiana
McCain 50%
Obama 49%
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:06 PM
For the same reasonthey continued polling and reporting polls when they knew they had insufficient info--to fill air time and coffers.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Gad, I'm going to be sick.
Posted by: joan | November 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Ace: Shock: Late-Deciding Voters Eager to Talk to College-Age Hipster Exit Pollsters Break for Obama
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM
We start a nationwide movement of people who promist to cancel their news and mag subscriptions and boycott all TV news shows until the idea is dropped.
Done, anything else I can do to help out?
Posted by: Pofarmer | November 04, 2008 at 07:08 PM
It appears that the Indiana Republican Governor is pulling more votes than McCain. They have already called the state for him on FX.
Posted by: jimrhoads aka vnjagvet | November 04, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Indiana is extremely close -- it was barely contested. HEH -- if indiana stays at 1% margin -- McCain is toast.
Posted by: Jor | November 04, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Wait a minute, they've called Vermont with 0% of the precincts reporting. Popular vote 0-0. That's some computer, there.
===================================
Posted by: kim | November 04, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Counties in MO reporting 80% plus turnout.
Posted by: Pofarmer | November 04, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Can we sell VT to Canada for about $700 Billion.
Posted by: Fisher | November 04, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Indiana 6%
McCain 51%
Obama 47%
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:12 PM
I think John King on CNN always has a terrific grasp of election dynamics, down to county, if not precinct level. Alas, the first time I tuned into CNN I got David Gergen assessing the brilliance of Obama's campaign strategy, so I checked back later only to be greeted by Jeff Toobin's smarmy little face. Fortunately my reflexes were still quick enough to exit before I had to hear him saying anything. Blech and Blech's bitchy brother Blech.
Posted by: JM Hanes | November 04, 2008 at 07:12 PM
KT
Why Centralcal, it's the 57th state, Kentabulous.
Or in the real world my stab at abbreviating Kentucky.
Posted by: Jane Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Kazakhstan....
Posted by: matt | November 04, 2008 at 07:13 PM
What state is Kt?
Konnektikut?
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 07:13 PM
woohoo! After John and Rudy called earlier today, Sarah finally called at 5:10PM AZ time. Polls are open for two more hours - I'm heading out to vote again!
Posted by: Bill in AZ | November 04, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Let's trade Vt for Alberta.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Virginia 1%
McCain 55%
Obama 44%
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Obama people have given up on North Carolina per Major Garrett. So they are directing the press' attention to the shiny object known as Indiana.
Posted by: Elliott | November 04, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Florida 1%
McCain 53%
Obama 46%
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Virginia!
======
Posted by: kim | November 04, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Kentabulous I like. Glad our side won ;)
Posted by: centralcal | November 04, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Let's trade Vt for Alberta.
No one is that dumb. How about Gretzky for Vt. (even though he lives in Phoenix now)?
Posted by: DrJ | November 04, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Indiana his flip-flopped, Obama now up 50 to 49%
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:16 PM
I haven't seen Bill Burton in days. Where is that smarmy vermin wad?
Posted by: bad | November 04, 2008 at 07:17 PM
What if we throw in MA?
Posted by: Amused bystander | November 04, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Indiana, flipped again, 9% vote, McCain 50% to Obama 49%
Looks like it is going to be an up and down night
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | November 04, 2008 at 07:17 PM
they don't have to bother calling VT, CA, NY or MA these days...foregone conclusions....
CA is going to have the mother of all wake up calls though. Even the unemployment insurance fund, which I thought was sacrosanct, has been plundered. They are saying BK is less than a year away, even sooner if unemployment rises precipitously.
Once people see how they have been conned, i think it's going to get pretty nasty. We simply can't afford any more taxes here. They are going to have to declare bankruptcy and restructure the pension funds something fierce. maybe the California Teacher's Association will finally take it in the shorts.
Posted by: matt | November 04, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Jor, don't you have a circle jerk to go to?
Posted by: Jim Ryan | November 04, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Watching house. A black senator with presidential aspirations is getting go over by house for HIV and cancer. much better than the election coverage
Posted by: Laura | November 04, 2008 at 07:20 PM
California might consider selling off some of its land and bldg holdings, slahing govt employee benefits and getting like--you know--real.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Well, this is interesting
LUN
A reader writes:
I'm a student at Carleton College who has contributed (financially and with my time) to the Obama campaign. I just got an automated call from Jeff Blodgett, the chair of the MN campaign. The text of the call was:
Posted by: Pofarmer | November 04, 2008 at 07:23 PM
What's with the news of Grant Park?
======================
Posted by: kim | November 04, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Warner has been called as Senator in VA. McCain is running ahead of Warner there.
Posted by: jimrhoads aka vnjagvet | November 04, 2008 at 07:24 PM
What if we throw in MA?
Hey! Some of the best JOMers are Massachusettsians.
I want to see how well Jeff Beatty did against Kerry. (Or should I say Mr. Secretary of State)
Posted by: Jane Plumber | November 04, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Warner, of course, is a Dem.
Posted by: jimrhoads aka vnjagvet | November 04, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Indiana, flipped again, 9% vote, McCain 50% to Obama 49%
Looks like it is going to be an up and down night
At the Indiana state site, Marion county hasn't started reporting yet. Indianacornapolis, that is.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 07:24 PM
I'm staring across the table at the CNN site and McCain looks like he's doing well so natch we're getting reminders that we've a long way to go.
Awful to listen to all the blather to fill dead time.
Posted by: clarice | November 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM
OK, that state site is slow.
CNN has Marion county with 2% reporting, basically tied.
Posted by: hit and run | November 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM