Welcome to the world of tomorrow!
CHANGEWEVOTEDFOR.BLOGSPOT.COM
I don't quit that easily. The countdown may have to end, but my work is far from over.
It's been fun, and I thank you all for the ride.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Times, They Are A-Changing!
Welcome to the world of tomorrow!
CHANGEWEVOTEDFOR.BLOGSPOT.COM
I don't quit that easily. The countdown may have to end, but my work is far from over.
It's been fun, and I thank you all for the ride.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Looking Back and Looking Forward! One Day Into a New Era!
Firstly, this is how I'm feeling:
Now, what exactly happened last night? I'll be honest, I can't really remember. Here's a rundown of some occurrences last night, both epic and less epic.
--> President-Elect Barack Obama won a decisive, dominant victory last night over Senator John McCain, expanding the electoral map in a way that no Democrat has done since Lyndon Johnson, and winning a majority of votes for the first time since Jimmy Carter.
Of course, amidst all the excitement and wonder of last night (see my Facebook video), Taeggan Goddard managed to present the most compelling thought of the evening: Our first 16 presidents could have legally owned our 44th as a slave.
How far have we come? It's a topic that President-Elect Obama touched on heavily in his fantastic speech last night, telling American history through the eyes of a 106-year-old woman in Georgia, and framing his victory as part of a larger, American belief that anything is possible - YES WE CAN.
Thomas Friedman reminds us that it was Virginia, the state that lended enough weight to the Southern cause to make secession a reality, and was the front line of the Civil War, was the state to put an African-American President over the top.
The Boston Globe heralds a new age of politics in America: grassroots, decentralized, and driven from below.
The Chicago Tribune reminds us that we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth in February, and asks us, today of all days, to look at how far we have come in so short a time: "When [Obama] was born in 1961, African-Americans risked death merely to register to vote in some Southern states."
Five poets frame the campaign beautifully, courtesy of that news source that shall remain the greatest in the land, the New York Times.
And without question, the quintessential story thus far about the outcome of this election comes from two of the finest political bloggers on the map - Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin.
--> Four years after the lead writer of The West Wing called a political consultant named David Axelrod and said, "Tell me about this guy Barack Obama." Two and a half years since the character they based on Obama rose from political abscurity (thanks in part to an inspiring convention speech) and claimed the White House, defeating an older, experienced, maverick Republican senator who ultimately sold out his independence to appease the conservative base. Isn't it fitting that this election would mirror the pretend one so closely?
Both the character and the candidate refused to be defined by their race. Colin Powell noted today that Obama won because "he did not put himself forward as an African-American president." Jimmy Smits' character asserts, "I don't want to be the brown candidate, I want to be the American candidate."
It also turns out that the building that Matthew Santos stands in front of to announce his candidacy, as he tells Americans that "hope is real," was used as one of the backdrops for McCain's convention speech this year. Yeah, you should watch the speech and think about how closely it mirrors Obama's.
Well, the wheel has kept turning, as today we received word that Barack Obama has offered Congressman Rahm Emanuel the powerful position of Chief of Staff. The job is long described on The West Wing as the second most powerful job in the country, and it is fitting that the Matthew Santos candidate would pick the man who Josh Lyman, his chief of staff, was reportedly based on to serve in that post. Emanuel is known as someone who pulls no punches and gets things done. He also reportedly rattled off a list of "traitors" to the Clinton campaign after their reelection victory and screamed "Dead!" after each one as he jammed a large knife into the table. He was portrayed as "The Enforcer" by Rolling Stone, and he is without question the perfect man for the job.
--> Meanwhile, not that it matters, but Sarah Palin's shopping spree turns out to have been a lot bigger than previously reported. Oops.
--> We're still locked in several tight Senate races, as of this posting. Oregon, Minnesota, Alaska, and Georgia are still razor-thin (Georgia being close only in that getting less than 51% requires a runoff). Let's see how those play out.
--> Also, it looks like the California ban of gay marriage will pass.
I'll give you more of a rundown tomorrow or Friday, but right now this is all I can come up with. Just go celebrate!
Now, what exactly happened last night? I'll be honest, I can't really remember. Here's a rundown of some occurrences last night, both epic and less epic.
--> President-Elect Barack Obama won a decisive, dominant victory last night over Senator John McCain, expanding the electoral map in a way that no Democrat has done since Lyndon Johnson, and winning a majority of votes for the first time since Jimmy Carter.
Of course, amidst all the excitement and wonder of last night (see my Facebook video), Taeggan Goddard managed to present the most compelling thought of the evening: Our first 16 presidents could have legally owned our 44th as a slave.
How far have we come? It's a topic that President-Elect Obama touched on heavily in his fantastic speech last night, telling American history through the eyes of a 106-year-old woman in Georgia, and framing his victory as part of a larger, American belief that anything is possible - YES WE CAN.
Thomas Friedman reminds us that it was Virginia, the state that lended enough weight to the Southern cause to make secession a reality, and was the front line of the Civil War, was the state to put an African-American President over the top.
The Boston Globe heralds a new age of politics in America: grassroots, decentralized, and driven from below.
The Chicago Tribune reminds us that we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth in February, and asks us, today of all days, to look at how far we have come in so short a time: "When [Obama] was born in 1961, African-Americans risked death merely to register to vote in some Southern states."
Five poets frame the campaign beautifully, courtesy of that news source that shall remain the greatest in the land, the New York Times.
And without question, the quintessential story thus far about the outcome of this election comes from two of the finest political bloggers on the map - Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin.
--> Four years after the lead writer of The West Wing called a political consultant named David Axelrod and said, "Tell me about this guy Barack Obama." Two and a half years since the character they based on Obama rose from political abscurity (thanks in part to an inspiring convention speech) and claimed the White House, defeating an older, experienced, maverick Republican senator who ultimately sold out his independence to appease the conservative base. Isn't it fitting that this election would mirror the pretend one so closely?
Both the character and the candidate refused to be defined by their race. Colin Powell noted today that Obama won because "he did not put himself forward as an African-American president." Jimmy Smits' character asserts, "I don't want to be the brown candidate, I want to be the American candidate."
It also turns out that the building that Matthew Santos stands in front of to announce his candidacy, as he tells Americans that "hope is real," was used as one of the backdrops for McCain's convention speech this year. Yeah, you should watch the speech and think about how closely it mirrors Obama's.
Well, the wheel has kept turning, as today we received word that Barack Obama has offered Congressman Rahm Emanuel the powerful position of Chief of Staff. The job is long described on The West Wing as the second most powerful job in the country, and it is fitting that the Matthew Santos candidate would pick the man who Josh Lyman, his chief of staff, was reportedly based on to serve in that post. Emanuel is known as someone who pulls no punches and gets things done. He also reportedly rattled off a list of "traitors" to the Clinton campaign after their reelection victory and screamed "Dead!" after each one as he jammed a large knife into the table. He was portrayed as "The Enforcer" by Rolling Stone, and he is without question the perfect man for the job.
--> Meanwhile, not that it matters, but Sarah Palin's shopping spree turns out to have been a lot bigger than previously reported. Oops.
--> We're still locked in several tight Senate races, as of this posting. Oregon, Minnesota, Alaska, and Georgia are still razor-thin (Georgia being close only in that getting less than 51% requires a runoff). Let's see how those play out.
--> Also, it looks like the California ban of gay marriage will pass.
I'll give you more of a rundown tomorrow or Friday, but right now this is all I can come up with. Just go celebrate!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
http://thepage.time.com/2008/11/04/obama-wins-ohio/
44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! NOW ON TO THE SENATE, THE HOUSE, AND THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY!
44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! NOW ON TO THE SENATE, THE HOUSE, AND THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Did You Fall On Your Way? It's a Long Way Down! Finally - End of the Countdown! 1 DAY TO GO!!!!!
We've finally reached that day. 20 months after this campaign began. 154 days since Election Day Countdown exploded into existence and rocked the blogosphere to its very core. All the preparation and the analysis and the guessing and the waiting has finally culminated in this one day! I am so grateful to all of you who allowed me to take this journey with you, and I can't wait to celebrate tomorrow night as returns start coming in.
So where does this take Election Day Countdown? With nothing to count down to, what will I possibly write about? Well, on Wednesday or Thursday I'll post my post-mortem, looking at where I went wrong, where I went right, and just wrapping up this election season and looking forward into what lies ahead. By the end of this coming weekend, my plans for the future of this blog will become apparent. So keep watching the skies...
So what should we look for tomorrow? Well, if you were sitting next to me (although I most likely won't be sitting, more like pacing and jumping and tugging at my hair) watching CNN, you'd get to hear my analysis of what the returns and exit polls mean - my analysis usually consists of CNN's analysis, only about 15 minutes quicker. But here's some things to keep an eye on as indicators, or just interesting races to amuse yourself with:
--> East coast returns. Polls close in Virginia at 7 PM. If Obama is running up the score in the northern part of the state, and McCain isn't absolutely dominating everywhere else, the networks might actually call this one before some of the other states close. Now, the TV pundits will do everything they can to avoid calling the election this early, in order to avoid messing with turnout on the west coast. However, if Virginia goes blue, you can pull out the cigars right there, because this thing is finished. Same applies to Florida or North Carolina or Georgia.
Keep an eye on Pennsylvania. It has a tendency to be closer on the day itself than people expect from polls. Obama needs an enormous victory with record turnout in Philadelphia, and a sizeable majority in the Pittsburgh area. McCain is going to dominate in the middle of the state, but keep an eye on the returns in the Penn State area. Also, look at the suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia - specifically Delaware and Montgomery - which will be great indicators of how Obama is doing amongst moderates and independents.
--> State Races: Kay Hagan vs. Elizabeth Dole for Senate and Beverly Perdue vs. Pat McCrory for Governor in North Carolina are going to be incredibly tight, as will the presidential race. McCain's and Obama's coat tails will be crucial here, depending on if they can get everyone to vote down-ballot. This will be a fascinating state to watch.
Georgia - Saxby Chambliss vs. Jim Martin for Senate looks really close, and if Obama can make this state close (as polls suggest he can) or even squeak out a victory as part of an Electoral College domination, he might be able to put Martin over the top.
Arizona - Can Obama actually win McCain's home state? Probably not, unless McCain voters just stay home, having already given up. And in that case, it'll be part of a larger blowout anyway. It'll also signal a tough reelection race for McCain in 2 years if this is close.
Iowa - McCain's camp keeps claiming that their internal polls show it tied, while every major polling group has Obama leading in double digits. Are they lying, or will this actually turn out to be closer than expected?
California - Proposition 4 and Proposition 8, one to force physicians to notify parents 48 hours before the perform an abortion on a minor and the other to prohibit gay marriage, are both on the ballot, and are expected to be EXTREMELY tight. It'll depend on GOTV efforts by the two presidential campaigns.
Minnesota - Franken vs. Coleman for Senate will be fascinating. There's a strong third-party candidate, but it's unclear who he's drawing votes from, as polls continue to conflict, showing both major candidates with decent leads. Let's see who's right.
--> Turnout. Of course, that's the name of the game. However, unlike past years, Democrats hold an ENORMOUS advantage amongst voters who have already cast their ballots. Thus, McCain can win a decent-sized majority of votes on Election Day itself and still get his ass kicked.
--> Volunteering. And by that I mean, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING WATCHING CNN OR CHECKING BLOGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY???? POLLS ARE STILL OPEN, YOU TWIT! GO VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL OFFICE, MAKE PHONE CALLS, KNOCK ON DOORS, YELL AT YOUR FRIENDS TO GO VOTE!!!! In all seriousness, all of this advice on what to look for ONLY takes effect at 8 PM local time. Before that, I don't want to hear a peep from you.
This is what we're fighting for:
The polling booth is not a forum for your ideological grievances. Tomorrow is not an excuse to whine about the two-party system. This is for choosing a president. Pick someone who can and will govern this nation effectively and with the support and consent of the population of the United States. On Wednesday, go right ahead and try to tear down the two-party system; I'll be right there with you. But tomorrow, that's all we have to work with. Spoiler votes tomorrow will just increase general hostility to your cause of expanding the proportional system of our democracy.
Remember, 270 and 60. That's what we're after. Now go make it happen, one vote at a time!
So where does this take Election Day Countdown? With nothing to count down to, what will I possibly write about? Well, on Wednesday or Thursday I'll post my post-mortem, looking at where I went wrong, where I went right, and just wrapping up this election season and looking forward into what lies ahead. By the end of this coming weekend, my plans for the future of this blog will become apparent. So keep watching the skies...
So what should we look for tomorrow? Well, if you were sitting next to me (although I most likely won't be sitting, more like pacing and jumping and tugging at my hair) watching CNN, you'd get to hear my analysis of what the returns and exit polls mean - my analysis usually consists of CNN's analysis, only about 15 minutes quicker. But here's some things to keep an eye on as indicators, or just interesting races to amuse yourself with:
--> East coast returns. Polls close in Virginia at 7 PM. If Obama is running up the score in the northern part of the state, and McCain isn't absolutely dominating everywhere else, the networks might actually call this one before some of the other states close. Now, the TV pundits will do everything they can to avoid calling the election this early, in order to avoid messing with turnout on the west coast. However, if Virginia goes blue, you can pull out the cigars right there, because this thing is finished. Same applies to Florida or North Carolina or Georgia.
Keep an eye on Pennsylvania. It has a tendency to be closer on the day itself than people expect from polls. Obama needs an enormous victory with record turnout in Philadelphia, and a sizeable majority in the Pittsburgh area. McCain is going to dominate in the middle of the state, but keep an eye on the returns in the Penn State area. Also, look at the suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia - specifically Delaware and Montgomery - which will be great indicators of how Obama is doing amongst moderates and independents.
--> State Races: Kay Hagan vs. Elizabeth Dole for Senate and Beverly Perdue vs. Pat McCrory for Governor in North Carolina are going to be incredibly tight, as will the presidential race. McCain's and Obama's coat tails will be crucial here, depending on if they can get everyone to vote down-ballot. This will be a fascinating state to watch.
Georgia - Saxby Chambliss vs. Jim Martin for Senate looks really close, and if Obama can make this state close (as polls suggest he can) or even squeak out a victory as part of an Electoral College domination, he might be able to put Martin over the top.
Arizona - Can Obama actually win McCain's home state? Probably not, unless McCain voters just stay home, having already given up. And in that case, it'll be part of a larger blowout anyway. It'll also signal a tough reelection race for McCain in 2 years if this is close.
Iowa - McCain's camp keeps claiming that their internal polls show it tied, while every major polling group has Obama leading in double digits. Are they lying, or will this actually turn out to be closer than expected?
California - Proposition 4 and Proposition 8, one to force physicians to notify parents 48 hours before the perform an abortion on a minor and the other to prohibit gay marriage, are both on the ballot, and are expected to be EXTREMELY tight. It'll depend on GOTV efforts by the two presidential campaigns.
Minnesota - Franken vs. Coleman for Senate will be fascinating. There's a strong third-party candidate, but it's unclear who he's drawing votes from, as polls continue to conflict, showing both major candidates with decent leads. Let's see who's right.
--> Turnout. Of course, that's the name of the game. However, unlike past years, Democrats hold an ENORMOUS advantage amongst voters who have already cast their ballots. Thus, McCain can win a decent-sized majority of votes on Election Day itself and still get his ass kicked.
--> Volunteering. And by that I mean, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING WATCHING CNN OR CHECKING BLOGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY???? POLLS ARE STILL OPEN, YOU TWIT! GO VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL OFFICE, MAKE PHONE CALLS, KNOCK ON DOORS, YELL AT YOUR FRIENDS TO GO VOTE!!!! In all seriousness, all of this advice on what to look for ONLY takes effect at 8 PM local time. Before that, I don't want to hear a peep from you.
This is what we're fighting for:
The polling booth is not a forum for your ideological grievances. Tomorrow is not an excuse to whine about the two-party system. This is for choosing a president. Pick someone who can and will govern this nation effectively and with the support and consent of the population of the United States. On Wednesday, go right ahead and try to tear down the two-party system; I'll be right there with you. But tomorrow, that's all we have to work with. Spoiler votes tomorrow will just increase general hostility to your cause of expanding the proportional system of our democracy.
Remember, 270 and 60. That's what we're after. Now go make it happen, one vote at a time!
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