Election Day Open Thread

Here is the Washington Examiner hour by hour guide to the unfolding drama.

The NY Times has their preview here.

And for our friends on the left, Nate Silver offers some reasons to keep hope alive.  (Remember, he is identifying possible excuses if the polls underestimate Dem strength, not predicting.)  I like this:

1. The cellphone effect. This one is pretty simple, really: a lot of American adults (now about one-quarter of them) have ditched their landlines and rely exclusively on their mobile phones, and a lot of pollsters don’t call mobile phones. Cellphone-only voters tend to be younger, more urban, and less white — all Democratic demographics — and a study by Pew Research suggests that the failure to include them might bias the polls by about 4 points against Democrats, even after demographic weighting is applied.

I'm changing my ring tone to "Highway to Hell" if Nancy is still in charge next year.

 

Comments

[Danube of Thought]

Silver is usually reliably objective. I was surprised to see him clutch at straws like this.

[MarkO]

I'm not ashamed to be "angry" about what Obama has done to the structure of this country and to our image in the world. I'm still pissed off about Carter. If it take anger to get rid of him, so much the better.

My ring tone will continue to be "Satisfaction."

[matt]

The issue to me is what happens next. there are huge issues ahead of us, and despite the general theme of opposition, someone is going to have to be proactive and outline a policy that makes sense. I wrote about it last night. LUN

[MarkO]

Pluperfect subjunctive or misspelling?

[Appalled]

DOT:

Silver is usually reliably objective.

Silver did a similar piece on why the GOP wave might be understated in the polls. I think this was his balance to that.

Curious how this turns out. I'm really interested how state and governor's races turn out. Here in Georgia, the Republican candidate is arguably corrupt (and undeniably in serious financial trouble) and ran an ugly campaign in the primary to defeat the Sarah Palin candidate. Still, he's ahead.

[Army of Davids]

"Waiting for Superman"...a must see documentary.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I'm a cellphone only user - older, not urban and pretty much all white.

[Dave (in MA)]

I'd give up my entire ballot if I could trade it for one anti-Barney vote.

[Clarice]

I cannot begin to say all that I feel about Pew. I will note tht a report th other day indicates that in the Mumbai slum that is now so famout, there is not a single toilet for its 10,000 (or is it 100,000?) residents.but almost every adult there has a cellphone.

[matt]

P.J. O'Rourke summed it up best yesterday when he said "This isn't a referendum. It's a restraining order."

[NK]

TM--

have you voted against Himes and Blumenthal yet?

[PDinDetroit]

Remember...

Republicans vote on Tuesday, November 2nd, between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and Democrats vote on Wednesday, November 3rd, between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

[Appalled]

PD:

As a straw poll question - what's the voting tme for Independents?

[Captain Hate]

I'm going to vote right now.

[Extraneus]

Tunku Varadarajan: How to Derail Palin for 2012

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

When I first listened to Beck on the radio (before he was on TV) they had a shtick where they built a giant float out of waffles in the shape of John Kerry's head. It drove around saying "Vote for me on Wednesday!"

[Dave (in MA)]

PDinDetroit, now the Cleo/Bunny types are going to be crying that JOM is trying to "disenfranchise progressives".

[PDinDetroit]

As a straw poll question - what's the voting tme for Independents?

Any time they decide to! Since I normally equate "Independents" as Libertarian, shouldn't the choice be up to them?

[PDinDetroit]

now the Cleo/Bunny types are going to be crying that JOM is trying to "disenfranchise progressives".

One can only hope...

[Sue]

I can't get a Slurpee around my parts. I would have to drive to Dallas, I guess. We have something called an http://www.icee.com/home.html>Icee. Will that do?

[Rob Crawford]

I will note tht a report th other day indicates that in the Mumbai slum that is now so famout, there is not a single toilet for its 10,000 (or is it 100,000?) residents

I'm sure there's a toilet. It might be called "the street", but there's one.

[matt]

trust Eugene Robinson to throw down the race card....What a bozo.

[BumperStickerist]

Pluperfect subjunctive or misspelling?

Either way, we're scrod.

.

[PD]

Sue, Icees are way better than Slurpees, which ends in "pees."

[PD]

Which is what Obama has done all over our country, no wonder he chose that for his illustration.

[Rob Crawford]

They'll all throw down the race card.

But they're gonna have to answer to Representative West.

[Sue]

PD,

Then I shall purchase an Icee to celebrate.

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

We have something called an Icee.

Yes, that will do. As a kid in South Texas we would ride our bikes over to the Stop 'n Shop & dumpster dive for Icee Bear Points off of used cups. Pretty gross... You could mail them in for things like beach balls & towels.....you had to collect like thousands for one lousy beach ball.

[Clarice]

An Indian paper says the Obama trip to India is going to cost US taxpayers $200 million per day.

[hit and run]

If we're allowing substitutes of other frozen slushy drinks,I'm going with margaritas.

[TheVIMH: In the metaphor,Obama is trying to make the case that you shouldn't get the keys to the car back -- and you're going to be drinking?]
I am not taking questions at this time.

[Captain Hate]

Back from voting #136 at my precinct. It's a gorgeous day but I don't think the turnout is significantly higher than the normal midterm BWTFDIK. Since I live in the last existing Soviet Republic of Cleveland Heights, probably the lower the better (knowing that my conservative neighbors are pumped).

[daddy]

Good morning,

A good 3 inches of fresh fluffy snow in our driveway since midnight.

Not snowing now but Pup just went crazy as I was out shoveling with the old shovel (not the snow-blower) cleaning the stuff away. Figured we both needed the exercise, and it was his first real snow to roll around in.

Forecast says we may expect snow off and on throughout the day, and the radar shot shows moisture overhead currently and for a while to come.

We are good up here at cleaning the roads, but always on 1st Snow-Day we have plenty of accidents, since folks like me usually don't get Snow-tires put on until after the last minute. Personally I hope it keeps coming, because the motivated folks in this election are the Joe Miller supporters, whereas I don't think the Lias and McAdam's folks have nearly the passion, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

[Porchlight]

Silver did a similar piece on why the GOP wave might be understated in the polls. I think this was his balance to that.

I think that was what he was trying to do, too. But not every analysis needs a "balance." There simply is no credible argument to be made that Dems will retain the House. So he shouldn't have made one. And publishing it on Election Day just makes him look like an idiot.

[matt]

that's $200 Million Rupees, I think, clarice, which would be @ US$4.5 Million/day.

[Extraneus]

From Drew at Ace's, here's a twitter list of libs whose tears might be particularly sweet.

[Porchlight]

Either way, we're scrod.

LOL, that was the joke I was thinking of, too.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

An Indian paper says the Obama trip to India is going to cost US taxpayers $200 million per day.

I refuse to pay - and everyone else should too.

[Pagar]

Totally Unhinged Obama Supporter
Warning-Not suitable for work sites--Do Not open around your Children

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

the Obama trip to India is going to cost US taxpayers $200 million per day.

Ya think they will accept Icee Bear Points? I got a ton....

[Clarice]

You think it's rupees. The article said dollars but I'll double check.

[Ranger]

Back from voting in Central Illinois. Low but steady turn out. Every polling station was full, and several people filling out ballots sitting at tables (a voluntary option if you didn't want the privacy screens). The seniors were out in force (but it was the middle of the day). I was vote number 178 at about 10:30 am.

The only thing that gives me pause is that several Cook County polling stations "opened late" so the Cook County officials are going to a judge to allow them to stay open an extra hour tonight. Cheaters to the core.

[Clarice]

The article says DOLLARS and gives the Indian currency equivalent:

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/us-to-spend-200-mn-a-day-on-obama-s-mumbai-visit-64106>Dolllars to dosas

[rse]

daddy-

LUN is a picture of Miller supporters with signs out in Anchorage before dawn.

Anyone else see the story about the extremely rare fine Scotch being put into BO's liquor cabinet at the Taj?

I wonder if Michelle will travel around India in that sleeveless black tank top she wore while inspiring the cadre yesterday in Nevada.

Nothing says First Lady like showing off your arm muscles.

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

Another good video on the Sanity rally by Mary Katharine Ham. Very well done.

[centralcal]

Rush announced the $200 million dollar figure too, Clarice. That seems outrageously high, but then, he also said they were taking 3,000 people with them (that may have been sarcasm, not sure).

[Ranger]

To elaborat on why the Cook County keeping polling places open is an big issue... This is the first year that Illinois has allowed no cause early voting. As many as 1/3rd of voters may have voted early. Counties started tabulating early votes when the polls open and will begin reporting results from early voting at 7pm when the polls close. Keeping the polls open an extra hour in Chicago lets them gage how many votes they need in that extra hour to push a close race to the Dem side.

[Porchlight]

I think they would pretty much have to take 3000 people with them for it to cost $200 million a day, wouldn't they?

Then again you never know with this crowd.

Both Clinton and GWB went to Asia after midterm losses, too (though they didn't decamp as quickly). Someone should do a comparative analysis of the trips and how much they cost.

[caro]

10-day trip? $2 billion! This will make him even more popular. And he will probably alienate our allies while he is at it.

Thanks,Ann.Got'em.

[jimmyk]

the Obama trip to India is going to cost US taxpayers $200 million per day.

Worth every penny if we could make it a one way trip.

[Porchlight]

Keeping the polls open an extra hour in Chicago lets them gage how many votes they need in that extra hour to push a close race to the Dem side.

Isn't that basically what happened in 1960? Cook County waited for instructions as to how many votes they needed to deliver to Kennedy?

I can feel my blood pressure rising.

GOP should have poll watchers at all those locations.

[NK]

Cook County staying open? sure sign that the DEM fraud squad is at work. VERY, VERY BAD.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

10-day trip? $2 billion

That money needs to be taken out of something else he wants to spend money on, or his household budget, or Congress traveling stipend. We don't have an extra $2b so michelle can take her personal trainer and make-up artist to the Taj Mahal.

[Danube of Thought]

It's both Air Force One aircraft, six other aircraft, all 500+ rooms at the Taj, four armored vehicles, and much more. You're not doing that on 4.5 mil per day. I'm sure we'll hear more about the actual figure before long.

[MoodyBlu]

Voted in my precinct around 11:30 eastern. Was #602! Asked one of the ladies how many registered voters in the precinct and was told 2300. Steady stream of folks entering as I left and the surrounding streets were still crowded as I drove back by 90 minutes later.

I live in perhaps the most conservative congressional district in PA with Joe Pitts being our congress critter. Joe never has to worry. I still worry about Toomey tonight as Philly is incredibly corrupt.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

My ringtone is Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

"`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass / It`s the American way"

[Ranger]

Just to be clear, its not all of Cook County, just selected voting places, but it still puts a very bad taste in the mouth. Now they are saying its just 5 polling places. Sounds like the Dems in Chicago suddenly realized how angry down state will get hearing about the polls staying open an extra hour and are trying to blunt the damage of the initial report.

[Melinda Romanoff]

NK-

SOP for Cook County, something's ALWAYS open late.

It's probably the Gov. seat they're going to play with.

[Clarice]

The security contingent and food staff alone is in the hundreds. I think that figure is correct though I suppose it doesn't include the cost f the fuel and military personnel staffing the 40 planes .
Absolutely, they ought to take it out of the Wh budget. and they ought to refuse to pay a single czar another penny.

[Jack is Back!]

DoT,

Its worse than that. Both AF1 and AF2 are going. Air Force is going to use a bunch of C-7's just to bring in the rollling stock. I heard up to 300 personnel including cooks, barbers, hairdressers, masseuses (Gore wants to come), photogs, TOTUS of course, translators (Obama has been learning to speak Sanskrit don't ya know:). I wonder if he remembers his Bahasa Indonesia. Apa kabar and terima kasi will take him around the world.

[Jim Ryan]

Icees are not in the same league as Slurpees.

The flavor isn't as good.

The ice isn't crushed nearly finely enough.

Two different worlds. Rail scotch vs. Macallan.

[Neo]

Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs. 900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama's visit to the city. "The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said. About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.

This makes Bill Clinton's trip to China look cheap

[Jack is Back!]

DoT,

Sorry missed your "both" AF1's:)

[hit and run]

This was just an http://www.wxii12.com/politics/25604135/detail.html>innocent mistake:

In Surry County, some Republican and Libertarian voters weren't able to initially vote because election officials had printed out the wrong registries.

Board of Elections director Susan Jarrell said registries for the June Democratic runoff election between Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall were printed instead of registries for the general election.

Elaine is challenging Richard Burr (the man with 4 R's in his name!) for the Senate.

[Danube of Thought]

Wow. Two chicks in a high-speed chase through surface streets in Long Beach. Thelma and Louise.

[Sue]

I watched a special on Air Force One that the History Channel did right after Bush left office. It was his trip to Africa, from the beginning to end. One thing I found out that I didn't know. Anytime the president goes abroad, both planes go. For 2 reasons. One, if the plane the president is on has mechanical problems, they will switch planes. Two, the one without the president aboard is a decoy plane. So, Obama taking both planes is not something out of the ordinary to him. They always take both of them.

[Danube of Thought]

I understand they've got a number of US warships deployed off the coast.

[Sue]

Jim,

Unless I want to drive, round trup, 3 hours, Icee is the only option I have. I don't like Icees and doubt I would like a Slurpee any better. I'd rather have a Slushee from Sonic.

[Sue]

Round trup should be round trip. Or trup, if you prefer.

[Captain Hate]

Is Aunt Zeituni going to India? Mother Robinson?

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

It's ridiculous. Does he plan to accomplish anything while there?

[Pagar]

"You're not doing that on 4.5 mil per day."

I'd be real surprised if 4.5 mil per day isn't his state side expenses.

[Jim Ryan]

Sue, what's the deal with this - Slushee, did you call it?

[Captain Hate]

Jane I expect he'll try to undo all the good work that Bush did in building relations with India.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Well they booked all 570 rooms at the Taj Mahal hotel plus more rooms at another. He is even bringing his own chef to avoid being poisoned, no word why he didn't just bring an "enemy" to be a taste tester.

Since Obama is expected to arrive in the afternoon on November 6, and will travel by road to the Taj Mahal Hotel, the entire stretch from airport to the hotel will be under heavy security. The officer said, “There will be no vehicular movement on Western Express Highway at that time. Traffic on roads leading up to the highway will also be stopped. All buildings flanking the entire stretch will be sanitised. However, there is no threat from the snipers as the President will travel in a bullet-proof car with 4.5-inch thick sheets, which are impenetrable for any gun.”

Obama’s personal security staff itself will be huge, and it has already started making its own arrangements in Mumbai. “A team of secret service agents has already arrived, and has surveyed the areas of his stay and the roads and places on his itinerary,” the officer said.

To ensure fool-proof security, the President’s team has booked the entire the Taj Mahal Hotel, including 570 rooms, all banquets and restaurants. Since his security contingent and staff will comprise a huge number, 125 rooms at Taj President have also been booked, apart from 80 to 90 rooms each in Grand Hyatt and The Oberoi hotels. The NCPA, where the President is expected to meet representatives from the business community, has also been entirely booked.
The officer said, “Obama’s contingent is huge. There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. There will be 30 to 40 secret service agents, who will arrive before him. The President’s convoy has 45 cars, including the Lincoln Continental in which the President travels.”

Since Obama will stay in a hotel that is on sea front, elaborate coastal security arrangements have been made by the US Navy in consonance with the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. “There will be US naval ships, along with Indian vessels , patrolling the sea till about 330-km from the shore. This is to negate the possibility of a missile being fired from a distance,” the officer said.

The President will be accompanied by his chefs, not because he would not like to savour Indian cuisine, but to ensure his food is not spiked.

Does anyone ever remember Bush going to these lengths? I thought Obama was the answer to America being loved in the world again? I guess India will love all those dollars.

[sbw]

"special on Air Force One that the History Channel did right after Bush left office"

Wonderful show. See it if you can.

[Neo]

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is 'beware'. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

[Ranger]

From The Corner:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/251925/were-all-killing-time-until-theres-news-jonah-goldberg>Since We’re All Killing Time Until There’s News

Some jocularity. Change “turkeys could fly” to “ObamaCare would be really popular” and you’ll have a pretty good sense of David Axelrod’s mood today:

Click through, and if you're old enough to remember WKRP you won't even need to watch the video, the picture will be enough...

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

1-dead-2-wounded-in-new-hampshire-shooting-polling-station-shut-down

[Rob Crawford]

I got it!

Sonic! They have slushes and cream slushes and...

ohhhh... their "spiced sugar cookie blast" looks good...

[centralcal]

Oh yeah, Ranger, the infamous Turkey Drop! lol.

[NK]

TM--

Repubs allege voting fraud in Bridgeport Ct. We all expect you to get on your high end road bike and peddle up the Merritt Pkwy to exit 51 and put a stop to that nonsense-- the fraud not the Repub reports.

[Rob Crawford]

Neo -- heh.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

[daddy]

Momma just got daughter to school, more than an hour late.

Says she saw many, many cars in ditches off the side of the road because it is so icy and slick, and that she does not even know if she will try to come home in the interim, and may just stay out till school ends because of the traffic problems. I view this as positive.

[Rob Crawford]

Good to hear they made it OK, but...

Says she saw many, many cars in ditches off the side of the road...

How many had Republicans standing behind them sipping their Slurpees?

[Captain Hate]

1-dead-2-wounded-in-new-hampshire-shooting-polling-station-shut-down

Anybody doubt who did this? Bringing a gun to a knife fight?

[daddy]

"An Indian paper says the Obama trip to India is going to cost US taxpayers $200 million per day."

Obscenities piled upon obscenities.

Our President's ignorance is only equalled by his arrogance.

[Rob Crawford]

$200 million a day is cheaper than what he's cost us so far.

[sbw]

Small price to pay to keep him from doing more damage to the economy at home.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wizbang has a post up asking readers to tell who they most want to see a concede. To pass the time, and all that ....

I'm going to start with someone who is in a safe seat, but is still THE person I'd most want to see a concession speech if I had a magic wand and that's San Fran Nan. Now "don't call me Ma'am" Boxer would be sweet too, but my all time wish list would include Pelosi.

Harry Reid and Barney Frank would be nice too.

[daddy]

Crud, Here comes the Sun.

[centralcal]

I for one am looking forward to Michelle Antoinette's outfits (during their temporary exile). They are never dull. They are never tasteful or classy. They frequently shock.

[Tollhouse]

1-dead-2-wounded-in-new-hampshire-shooting-polling-station-shut-down

Like other have said, Pittsfield is a small town. Probably domestic violence that occurred in town, so they closed the poll because of the situation. I wouldn't bet on actual political violence.

[centralcal]

Sarah: we are way ahead of Wizbang here at JOM. We played that game a few days ago. This list was quite long! lol.

[PDinDetroit]

I Open Carried my Smith & Wesson M&P 9c Pistol while voting today at the Local High School (voter #403). How is this possible? LUN for details.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Jane I expect he'll try to undo all the good work that Bush did in building relations with India.

Yeah - that makes perfect sense given what we know about him so far.

[daddy]

Mumbai Airport does not have a ton of available Ramp Space to park a bunch of extra 747's and C-5'2 or C-17's for great periods of time, without clobbering normal traffic for all the other Airlines that utilize the field, so I don't know what the Administration is going to have all those planes doing during the Presidential visit, but if they don't get a lot of those planes off the tarmac by flying elsewhere, I think there are going to be a lot of P.O'd Hindu's in the long run.

And same with Delhi International. Being there during the Iceland Volcano shutdown, Delhi had planes parked for a week on Taxiways, completely clobbering the place. Maybe Yemen? I think there's some ramp space there thats recently become available.

[Pagar]

Could be On or Off Topic.

As you see the government provided figures on the election returns, you might want to keep in this story in The Social Security Administration asked its inspector general to investigate how a $32.3 billion mistake skewed its statistics on 2009 wages in the U.S..

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Via Ace:

Gallup: 19 Point Enthusiasm Gap, The Biggest Advantage Since They've Measured: At Hot Air:

The record level of overall enthusiasm is primarily the result of Republicans’ heightened excitement — 63% of Republicans (including Republican-leaning independents) say they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting. That not only greatly exceeds Democrats’ expressed enthusiasm this year, but also is substantially higher than what Gallup has measured for either party’s supporters on the eve of a midterm election. The high level of Republican enthusiasm has led to the largest gap in enthusiasm by party of any recent midterm elections, 19 percentage points. The prior highs were nine points in favor of the Democrats in 2006, and nine points in favor of the Republicans in 1994.

[Porchlight]

I could not find any mention of a polling station in the single Union Ledger story Jim Hoft linked at Gatewaypundit. Where is he getting that info?

Given the thin sourcing I think it is irresponsible to be tweeting a headline like that, as people will immediately conclude that the shooting is political.

[Rob Crawford]

daddy -- they'll be parking them at Diego Garcia.