This one will be a little tougher to shoplift. Doesn’t mean it can’t be done, of course. What would help is confirmed kills in Florida and Ohio. And an unbending Democratic spinal column, should Robot-Zombie deploy its squadrons of pinstriped flying monkeys to shit legalese all over everybody.
Crucial to the next 24 hours is what Lyin’ Ryan does. He sees next time around as a mortal lock for himself. I’m inclined to bet that he sells the ‘Bot for scrap at his earliest possible opportunity.
Thanks for the blogging, Patrick! I came here first this morning after following your posts last night. Khal, I think it’s ok to celebrate now. I just read that the Romneybot has conceded and all of the media has called it for Obama. The forces of darkness have been pushed back for another four years…
I feel like the dad in Breaking Away after his heart attack. They tell him he’s lucky to be alive and he says something like, “No, I’m lucky I’m not dead!” I hope Mittens will quickly fade away into oblivion and Obama will tell the Repugs something like “OK, I won again, now sit down and let’s start talking about how we can fix this mess because you’re stuck with me for the next four years, like it or not! No more of this one-term president nonsense, no excuses – let’s get to work – we’ve got a fiscal cliff to avoid.” If the Repugs won’t play, he can whip out the “do-nothing Congress” label and executive order this and executive order that until things are put right.
And that is exactly what he needs to say. The ReThugs are going to have to cut deals, they don’t want the “Fiscal Cliff” to happen any more than Obama does.
The one elected offical that the ReThugs aren’t going to be liking at all is the junior Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren.
re: Iowa – The judges were retained and we managed not replace our Rep with a ReThug in the 2nd district. Larry wasn’t so fortunate as King of the Wingnuts was retained in Iowa’s 4th.
Too bad about King… 55% to 45% victory. I’m tempted to “write my Congressman” as they say, and point out that 45% of his district voted for his opponent – maybe he could somehow see his way clear to at least try (a little) to represent more than just the 55% who voted for him? Maybe actually WORK to benefit the new Iowa 4th district instead of making screwball soundbites about lawsuits against the prez or fears of the Hurricane Sandy victims getting Gucci bags? Would THAT be so hard? Even if 55% of this district is composed of right-wing nutjobs, the 45% of us deserve something other than tyranny of the majority – but what do I know?
The last few elections have all been squeakers, especially 2000 (we don’t need to go there right now). It always seems to come down to one or two states, and always Ohio and/or Florida. The country seems almost perfectly split.
Looking for historical context, it’s immediately apparent that it hasn’t always been this way, or at least not this equally divided for this many consecutive elections. The one that leaps out is 1972 in which Nixon took every state save Massachusetts. So I have a question for you people who can recall those days (if you can remember when the Rolling Stones were good, you qualify): what were things like then and what has changed? How was it such that a wack job like Nixon could convince 49 states worth of voters that he was worth being Prez?
Any additional first hand perspective regarding other Presidential elections would be also welcome. I’m trying to decide whether to be optimistic about the future or not.
Take it back one more election, Humphrey saying that he was “going to be the spendingest President you ever saw”. In ’72, Senator McGovern, running as an anti-war candidate, refused to call on his own credentials as a combat veteran (B-24 pilot, ETO) to emphasize why he held that position. Keep in mind that Nixon held a position as a REMF in WWII “the big one, y’know”. The fact that Kissinger popped up with “Peace is at hand” at the last moment also swayed a few citizens. But probably none of Chilean ancestry.
If my memory serves me correctly, seeing as how our coffee-maker died this morning…
Thanks Richard!! I didn’t know the Nixon wore a uniform but that he kept it clean everyday. Would you describe him as pretty much the original Chicken Hawk? And why didn’t McGovern cite his veteran status? Was being a veteran unpopular with the left back then? At least Kerry gave it a try.
Before you answer, sounds like you need to make our trade deficit with China that much more out of balance by fetching yourself a new coffee maker. Unless, that is, they have a coffee maker repair center near where you are.
GJ John – McGovern wouldn’t trade on his combat experience. He wasn’t hiding it because it would make him unpopular – he was a very self-effacing, modest man. I never understood him to believe his war experience made him a hypocrite to be anti- war.
US elections are a lesson in who lost, not who won. ’72 was a Dem implosion. Firing the Veep nominee for seeking treatment for depression was the last straw.
Nixon and LBJ both got huge victories, but it’s hard to argue that America was crazy about either. LBJ was a safe southerner (Texas, before the state lost its collective mind) who had the post-JFK sympathy vote and was running against a very misunderstood Barry Goldwater. Perfect storm, to use an annoying metaphor. Nixon was never accused of Donny Osmond level fan club worship, but was a safe choice in most folks’ mind. So, the two biggest landslides of the last half century plus totally lucked into it.
Mad Blog Media 
It ain’t over. It’s only just begun.
I’m almost ready to celebrate, but keep remembering going to bed in 2000 thinking that we won.
Zero reporting from Hawaii …
This one will be a little tougher to shoplift. Doesn’t mean it can’t be done, of course. What would help is confirmed kills in Florida and Ohio. And an unbending Democratic spinal column, should Robot-Zombie deploy its squadrons of pinstriped flying monkeys to shit legalese all over everybody.
Crucial to the next 24 hours is what Lyin’ Ryan does. He sees next time around as a mortal lock for himself. I’m inclined to bet that he sells the ‘Bot for scrap at his earliest possible opportunity.
Thank you for the great live-blogging!
And thank Herself for her hard work getting the vote out.
Some goofball on ABC News just pronounced that “this is the last [presidential] election where we’ll see two white men running.”
Thanks for the blogging, Patrick! I came here first this morning after following your posts last night. Khal, I think it’s ok to celebrate now. I just read that the Romneybot has conceded and all of the media has called it for Obama. The forces of darkness have been pushed back for another four years…
I feel like the dad in Breaking Away after his heart attack. They tell him he’s lucky to be alive and he says something like, “No, I’m lucky I’m not dead!” I hope Mittens will quickly fade away into oblivion and Obama will tell the Repugs something like “OK, I won again, now sit down and let’s start talking about how we can fix this mess because you’re stuck with me for the next four years, like it or not! No more of this one-term president nonsense, no excuses – let’s get to work – we’ve got a fiscal cliff to avoid.” If the Repugs won’t play, he can whip out the “do-nothing Congress” label and executive order this and executive order that until things are put right.
And that is exactly what he needs to say. The ReThugs are going to have to cut deals, they don’t want the “Fiscal Cliff” to happen any more than Obama does.
The one elected offical that the ReThugs aren’t going to be liking at all is the junior Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren.
re: Iowa – The judges were retained and we managed not replace our Rep with a ReThug in the 2nd district. Larry wasn’t so fortunate as King of the Wingnuts was retained in Iowa’s 4th.
Too bad about King… 55% to 45% victory. I’m tempted to “write my Congressman” as they say, and point out that 45% of his district voted for his opponent – maybe he could somehow see his way clear to at least try (a little) to represent more than just the 55% who voted for him? Maybe actually WORK to benefit the new Iowa 4th district instead of making screwball soundbites about lawsuits against the prez or fears of the Hurricane Sandy victims getting Gucci bags? Would THAT be so hard? Even if 55% of this district is composed of right-wing nutjobs, the 45% of us deserve something other than tyranny of the majority – but what do I know?
Let’s do a quick review of the results:
– A 2nd term black President
– Gay marriage legal in Maine & Michigan
– Recreational pot allowed in Colorado & Washington
Before you know it the world community are going to think of Americans as Liberals!
We’re looking down from the Great White North with envy. Our current PM makes Romney look like a bleeding heart.
Good luck and congratulations to everyone who participated in democracy.
The last few elections have all been squeakers, especially 2000 (we don’t need to go there right now). It always seems to come down to one or two states, and always Ohio and/or Florida. The country seems almost perfectly split.
Looking for historical context, it’s immediately apparent that it hasn’t always been this way, or at least not this equally divided for this many consecutive elections. The one that leaps out is 1972 in which Nixon took every state save Massachusetts. So I have a question for you people who can recall those days (if you can remember when the Rolling Stones were good, you qualify): what were things like then and what has changed? How was it such that a wack job like Nixon could convince 49 states worth of voters that he was worth being Prez?
Any additional first hand perspective regarding other Presidential elections would be also welcome. I’m trying to decide whether to be optimistic about the future or not.
Take it back one more election, Humphrey saying that he was “going to be the spendingest President you ever saw”. In ’72, Senator McGovern, running as an anti-war candidate, refused to call on his own credentials as a combat veteran (B-24 pilot, ETO) to emphasize why he held that position. Keep in mind that Nixon held a position as a REMF in WWII “the big one, y’know”. The fact that Kissinger popped up with “Peace is at hand” at the last moment also swayed a few citizens. But probably none of Chilean ancestry.
If my memory serves me correctly, seeing as how our coffee-maker died this morning…
Thanks Richard!! I didn’t know the Nixon wore a uniform but that he kept it clean everyday. Would you describe him as pretty much the original Chicken Hawk? And why didn’t McGovern cite his veteran status? Was being a veteran unpopular with the left back then? At least Kerry gave it a try.
Before you answer, sounds like you need to make our trade deficit with China that much more out of balance by fetching yourself a new coffee maker. Unless, that is, they have a coffee maker repair center near where you are.
GJ John – McGovern wouldn’t trade on his combat experience. He wasn’t hiding it because it would make him unpopular – he was a very self-effacing, modest man. I never understood him to believe his war experience made him a hypocrite to be anti- war.
US elections are a lesson in who lost, not who won. ’72 was a Dem implosion. Firing the Veep nominee for seeking treatment for depression was the last straw.
Nixon and LBJ both got huge victories, but it’s hard to argue that America was crazy about either. LBJ was a safe southerner (Texas, before the state lost its collective mind) who had the post-JFK sympathy vote and was running against a very misunderstood Barry Goldwater. Perfect storm, to use an annoying metaphor. Nixon was never accused of Donny Osmond level fan club worship, but was a safe choice in most folks’ mind. So, the two biggest landslides of the last half century plus totally lucked into it.
it is always better to be lucky than good.