mr_genius

That OR contest was one I had a feeling would go Dem. MN is in almost impossible to call, will come down to recount madness. GA and AK still fairly safe for GOP, I just don't see the Dems taking either.

Down 10% in 2 days. DOW loses another 440. Bad news.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 6, 2008 -> 03:43 PM) Policy-wise, that sounds like the opposite of what the GOP needs. I mean, that's what they have already been pedaling, and what we saw from most of their primary field. What they need is someone more moderate socially, and more conservative fiscally and intergovernmentally. Now of course, as we saw this election, the discussion is not entirely about policy. It will depend on what Obama does. If he spends like I think he will, being a fiscal conservative will be enough.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 08:30 PM) Palin getting ripped on Fox. haha i saw that. it was funny Palin has basically been blaming her terrible media interviews on McCain. Like he was somehow responsible, which he wasn't. Only thing he was guilty of was picking some annoying dumbass to appease parts of the so called 'conservative' base. Basically he needed someone to inspire those people, as they all hated him before; remember the fury of all the right wing radio hosts and even some FOX commentators. So he goes with her, at least he has some media on his side now as he realized a lot of media outlets were going to be totally pro-Obama, and he has the base riled up. He took a gamble on Palin, her poor performance just sealed his fate. Obama had plenty of room for Biden's gaffes as this election started off with big advantages for the Democrats as GW Bush is a Republican and he is Nixon popular right now. Obama ran a better campaign, McCain just really didn't have it. 8 years too late for him, unfortuately.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 10:35 AM) Behind The Scenes: Newsweek On McCain In The Dark, Obama Threats, And More -- McCain himself rarely spoke to Palin during the campaign and aides kept him in the dark about the details of her spending on clothes because they were sure he would be offended. Palin asked to speak along with McCain at his Arizona concession speech but campaign strategist Steve Schmidt vetoed the request. -- The Obama campaign was provided with reports from the Secret Service showing a sharp and very disturbing increase in threats to Obama in September and early October, at the same time that the crowds at Palin rallies became more frenzied. Michelle Obama was shaken by the vituperative crowds and the hot rhetoric from the GOP candidates. "Why would they try to make people hate us?" Michelle Obama said to a top campaign aide. -- On the Sunday night before the last debate, McCain's core group of advisers--Steve Schmidt, Rick Davis, adman Fred Davis, strategist Greg Strimple, pollster Bill McInturff and strategy director Sarah Simmons -- met to decide whether or not to tell McCain that the race was effectively over, that he no longer had a chance to win. The consensus in the room was no, not yet, not while he still had "a pulse." -- The Obama campaign's "New Media" experts created a computer program that would allow a "flusher"--the term for a volunteer who rounds up nonvoters on Election Day--to know exactly who had, and had not, voted in real time. They dubbed it Project Houdini, because of the way names disappear off the list instantly once people are identified as they wait in line at their local polling station. -- Palin launched her attack on Obama's association with William Ayers, the former Weather Underground bomber, before the campaign had finalized a plan to raise the issue. McCain's advisers were working on a strategy that they hoped to unveil the following week, but McCain had not signed off on it, and top adviser Mark Salter was resisting. -- McCain also was reluctant to use Obama's incendiary pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a campaign issue. He had set firm boundaries: no Jeremiah Wright; no attacking Michelle Obama; no attacking Obama for not serving in the military. McCain balked at an ad using images of children that suggested that Obama might not protect them from terrorism; Schmidt vetoed ads suggesting that Obama was soft on crime (no Willie Hortons); and before word even got to McCain, Schmidt and Salter scuttled a "celebrity" ad of Obama dancing with talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres (the sight of a black man dancing with a lesbian was deemed too provocative). -- Obama was never inclined to choose Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate, not so much because she had been his sometime bitter rival on the campaign trail, but because of her husband. Still, as Hillary's name came up in veep discussions, and Obama's advisers gave all the reasons why she should be kept off the ticket, Obama would stop and ask, "Are we sure?" He needed to be convinced one more time that the Clintons would do more harm than good. McCain, on the other hand, was relieved to face Biden as the veep choice, and not Hillary Clinton, whom the McCain camp had truly feared. -- McCain was dumbfounded when Congressman John Lewis, a civil-rights hero, issued a press release comparing McCain with former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, a segregationist infamous for stirring racial fears. McCain had devoted a chapter to Lewis in one of his books, "Why Courage Matters" and had so admired Lewis that he had once taken his children to meet him. -- The debates unnerved both candidates. When he was preparing for the Democratic primary debates, Obama was recorded saying, "I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me ... answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'." sounds like another crappy hit piece on McCain. i'll pass.

It could be because of race, I will concede this, as I don't really know the mindset of racist voters. I don't even know any blatant racists; if I do, they keep that information away from me. But I do remember Kerry and his goofy hunting photos and stuff which is the type of pandering that some people demand. Obama refused to do that stuff, which I don't blame him for, as I wouldn't want to be running around trying to shoot ducks making a fool out of myself on national tv as to win over a few votes.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 08:33 PM) No... it shows people who otherwise voted Dem in '04 and voted Republican in this election. All the places where that happened in large numbers were concentrated in the same places. Seriously I can't think of any other reason to explain that trend there's more variables in the equation than race. Palin has a strong appeal to that type of blue collar, rural vote. They see her as one of them, they like the fact she does the same stuff as them like hunting, and she has a similar world view as them. Obama's fairly insulting comments about them also didn't help. If it's McCain and Guiliani running, and Obama doesn't make the infamous 'gun toating bible clinchers' comment, I bet Obama gets those usual Democrat voters. edit: i will concede that there are some racists left in this country that wouldn't vote Obama, no matter what. I just don't think these voting shifts can be attributed mainly to that.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 08:14 PM) You know though, if you look at that map Balta posted, there's a little indication that Murtha was onto something. Now as far as calling it out publicly... that was just pretty dumb and it made me cringe. well that goes to the assumption that if you voted McCain and not for Bush you're a racist. Ok so if someone voted Bush and voted Obama they're a sexist cause obviously they didn't vote for McCain because a female was on the ticket. both are suspicious, and honestly this whole 'only racists vote mccain' thing and 'anyone who criticizes Palin is sexist' is really getting stale. i've had about enough of it to last at least another 4 years. then it starts over again i guess. which sucks.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 08:06 PM) landslide? yea it ended up being 58%-42% in favor or Murtha.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 07:00 PM) I want to know why Murtha got re-elected, I figured this was a good place to post this. How long is his leash? He used the same tactic as McConnell. They said they have Washington influence, therefore they can get the most earmarks for their state. No joke, both ran on a 'I can deliver the pork' platform and it helped both. Murtha wasn't really in that much jeopardy of losing (not enough rednecks were offended to equal a loss IMO), but his arguments of his ability to secure federal money cemented a landslide win.

Well it's not all doom and gloom for the GOP. They will win 3/4 of the standing Senate seats in contest (2 at the very least). So the super majority the dems wanted is down the drain for sure.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 02:59 PM) The problem with Chambliss' runoff is that Chambliss started to fall apart a couple weeks ago. If he can't recover in the runoff, there's no guarantee of anything. There are a lot of people around the country that want Chambliss gone, specifically for what he did to Cleland to win in 02. And I think that means a great outpouring of support for the Dems in that runoff. Lean Chambliss but by no means a sure thing. The problem with Minnesota is that there were issues in Minneapolis. You can register to vote the same day that you vote. And in many urban areas, they ran out of registration materials and there were some other irregularities that may result in vote totals flipping. I would put the chances of Chambliss losing at very low. If the Dems want to throw resources there they are probably wasting those resources. Minn is going to be a dirty recount fest, with tons of claims of cheating, a lot whining, and complaining from both sides. Top that all off with Al Franken being involved. Not looking forward to it. I still predict a Coleman win, but there is stilll a good chance that senate spot turns blue.

QUOTE (Chet Lemon @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 02:54 PM) They still have not finished counting votes in Oregon's Senate race. thats true. there is still around 27% left to count. so it could turn around quickly. at best I see 57 senate votes for the Dems (55 plus the 2 I's).

looks like the DOW could tank -500 today

QUOTE (Texsox @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 09:15 AM) I am thinking about the comparisons to Reagan and how they are so similar to what Obama is facing. The previous President (Ford-Carter, Bush) was inefficient, low approval ratings, and with world events seeming bigger than the President. A recent President (Nixon, Clinton) was technically good but morally bankrupt. A weak economy that seems to have bottomed out and poised for a rebound, but in need to consumer confidence. America had been bullied by a little pissant (Vietnam, Iraq) of a country and looking for a hero. Obama, like Reagan, fits adjectives like incredibly confident, charismatic, "movie star", great communicator, teflon, larger than life. We need a cheerleader and someone to make us feel good about ourselves. that or Bush is Nixon and Obama is Carter. Obama has a lot of tough things to deal with, a lot of which are financial. But so did Reagan. I was watching a PBS documentary on Reagan and I admit I was thinking about the parallels between Obama and Reagan.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 5, 2008 -> 09:14 AM) Not to mention a city that consistantly re-elects a corrupt mayor with 80% of the vote, or has had 3 straight governors indicted (or will soon enough). haha how bout it. if you live in chicago you really have no room to laugh at corrupt Alaska politicians. we elect crooks all the time.

Chambliss will most likely win the runoff. Smith leads in OR and Coleman in MN. I'm sure we'll see some recount shananigans, but I think both will win. Stevens will hold in Alaska I believe, but will get booted from the Senate, which will lead to another election which the Republican will likely win. Palin will name a temporary replacement. so 54 D 2 I 44 R in the Senate. with the two I's voting with the Dems most of the time.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 10:52 PM) I don't think that the McCain we saw in the heat of the campaign is who he really was. True

Grats everyone. I know a lot of you really put a lot into this election. Truly a historic win.

FOX calls it. Obama

Watching CNN and FOX is pretty funny. I remember 2004 everyone on CNN was depressed and sad. FOX was super happy. Opposite this time.

OMG CNN HOLOGRAM

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 09:40 PM) For Obama? yep

FOX calls Virgina. McCain will throw in the towel soon.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 09:15 PM) Energy bill soon as well. I thoroughly agree with Tom Friedman that the key to a prosperous 21st century america is leading the world in energy technology I would expect support on energy bills. The $500 free check will pass too.