a nifty map to keep track as the results start to roll in in several hours

http://maps.google.com/help/maps/elections/index.html#2008_election

Quoting A332 (Reply 98): Good to see Republicans are ready to violate the democratic process any way they can to win.

But don't forget, it was ACORN that was possibly "perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history".

If anyone believes these calls then perhaps they don't deserve to vote and if anyone really thought that false "Mickey Mouse" or "Tony Romo" registrations really could be "one of the greatest frauds in voter history" then perhaps they don't deserve to vote either.

What a joke.

Tugg

[Edited 2008-11-04 14:06:48]

Quoting A332 (Reply 98): what a surprise that reports of misinformation & dirty tricks are flowing out of the Red States

more...

The removal of two Republican election workers from a Warren Township polling site - for using improper methods to challenge voters' rights to cast a ballot - has prompted local Republican Party leaders to issue a statement of regret.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/242766.php

At least there's a statement of regret.

And there's this...

http://iowaindependent.com/8068/stud...hallenges-in-battleground-district

Republican attorneys challenged the absentee ballots of 50 Grinnell College students today, an act that could have an impact on the battle for control of the Iowa House of Representatives.

Seems like this would also be ballots for the presidential election.

I'm sure there's a lot more going on.

I think the Bush administration has really damaged Trans Atlantic relations.

IMO Kioto, legalizing torture, Blackwater operations and scary right wing ideas getting acceptable caused deep damage to US credibility.

Hopefully Obama after some time can start restoring the US as a country that also listens.

Quoting AirCop (Reply 71): This comment is totally classless, especially on a day in which his grandmother passed away.

Yeah, sure, I'd ask you to explain yourself but why waste the time.

Quoting Superfly (Reply 56): First of all, the evangelical voters vote all the time in the Presidential elections, even if their guy isn't one of them. They always bluff and pretend to stay at home on election day but they never do.

I'd like to see the numbers on that since after having lived in a number of bible belt areas I've seen exactly the opposite. Evangelicals will almost always sit on their hands and take a defeat on principle rather than vote for someone like McCain. If they do vote, they are voting in part because Gov. Palin is on the ticket and that gives them some cause.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 55): and "jokes" from Republicans who announce that Democrats should vote on November 5th to reduce wait times

Comparing a joke to a threat of open rebellion is kind of stretch don't you think?

Quoting BN747 (Reply 57): Get the old school Republicans back and we can talk, work together

You mean the RINO's? No thanks. We had those kinds of represenatives for 40 years and where did it get us? Might as well pull the lever for the democrat if you're going to vote that way. BTW I'm anything but an evangelical or a member of the religious right. There are other types of conservatives.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 72): If he does, it might actually lead to an open revolt because it would be so obviously due to tampering.

A second veiled threat of open rebellion in a land where the right side accepts the outcome peacefully.

Quoting StuckInCA (Reply 88): You're the model of bipartisanship

I never made that claim. Pelosi and Reid on the other hand have. Of course the suggestions of co-leadership positions in the Senate died at the same exact time the democratic party again took over the majority in the Senate. Fancy that.

Nice to see the Black Panthers are out in PHL.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 104): Comparing a joke to a threat of open rebellion is kind of stretch don't you think?

So open action to skew voting results* is worse than a threat that may not even be fulfilled? Do you seriously think any state is going to openly rebel against a McCain win? Not even Massachusetts would do that!

* Includes underhanded tactics by both parties.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 104): You mean the RINO's? No thanks. We had those kinds of represenatives for 40 years and where did it get us? Might as well pull the lever for the democrat if you're going to vote that way. BTW I'm anything but an evangelical or a member of the religious right. There are other types of conservatives.

You get the religious ideology out of the Republican platform and you'll more easily get my vote. Plain and simple the people that do not treat this nation as secular scare me. I vote for the Republican's that do not bring religion into everything.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 104): A second veiled threat of open rebellion in a land where the right side accepts the outcome peacefully.

Actually I was shocked today to overhear someone I respect a lot here at work say "....well if Obams wins perhaps we'll be lucky and he'll get impeached or something will happen to him, or if he survives, the four years will turn out to be a complete disaster and we will be able learn from our mistake". T

This person just lost a lot of my respect for her, I could not believe that she would say something like that. And she is a somewhat liberal though personally very religious, she has always been reasonable in all my conversations with her. Please, I understand you don't like "the talk" you hear but don't act like it doesn't come from both sides.

Support your President! Support your country!

Tugg

Where are the exit polls for the two states?

Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): Support your President! Support your country!

  

I detest George Bush, but the man will be my President until January 20th, 2009!   Hoping a candidate gets assassinated is just revolting.

Quoting Keesje (Reply 103): I think the Bush administration has really damaged Trans Atlantic relations.

That is very mildly said. Bush did more damage to his country´s image than any US president before him. I would really like to know if there has been a worse president in the White House. Very strange I´ve never seen a list pointing that out - or showing his rivals for last place.

A poll just published in Germany ended 80% for Obama, 7 % for McCain. I would wish we would have such an easy choice among our German politicians!
Don´t get me wrong, I´m sure McCain is an honest man, but to have the same people in power, even if in lesser positions, than under Bush, and which have proven that they are able to crash her country against the wall at full speed, is a horrible thought.

Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): You get the religious ideology out of the Republican platform and you'll more easily get my vote. Plain and simple the people that do not treat this nation as secular scare me. I vote for the Republican's that do not bring religion into everything.

        

Case in point: for the local council seat here in DC I voted for the Republican candidate. Why? Because, as he himself put it, he's a "fiscal conservative, not a social conservative". In fact, he even supports gay marriage and is pro-choice. So I voted for him both for what he is (a candidate who promises to control spending in the city) as well as for what he isn't (a social conservative who wants to tell me how to live my life).

As for the election going on right now, whomever wins it (McCain or Obama), could you PLEASE fix the voting system!!!!

Quoting N867DA (Reply 105): So open action to skew voting results* is worse than a threat that may not even be fulfilled?

If anyone is dumb enough to believe the election is on the 5th given the overwhelming amount of media attention then they are probably too stupid to find the polling booth to begin with. You don't have to be smart to take part in a riot.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 105): Do you seriously think any state is going to openly rebel against a McCain win? Not even Massachusetts would do that!

Not States, individuals.

Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): You get the religious ideology out of the Republican platform and you'll more easily get my vote.

You get the socialists out of the democratic party and maybe I'll be tempted to listen to the few that are left in the party.

Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): the four years will turn out to be a complete disaster and we will be able learn from our mistake".

The first two examples I would agree with you on wholeheartedly. But this example? I think it will probably turn out to have some amount of truth to it. We will know as soon as 2010.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 111): Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): You get the religious ideology out of the Republican platform and you'll more easily get my vote. You get the socialists out of the democratic party and maybe I'll be tempted to listen to the few that are left in the party.

Fair enough. I also think that Democrats should allow differences in opinion on abortion, they'd probably get a whole swath of people with just that.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 111): Quoting Tugger (Reply 106): the four years will turn out to be a complete disaster and we will be able learn from our mistake". The first two examples I would agree with you on wholeheartedly. But this example? I think it will probably turn out to have some amount of truth to it. We will know as soon as 2010.

I do not ever wish that our President will turn out to be a disaster. I always hope that they will do and lead well and our country will prosper under their administration. Period. Hoping for failure is close to evil (I think). What do you say and think about the people hoping for us to fail in Iraq?

Tugg

[Edited 2008-11-04 15:41:02]

My prediction is very similar to

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 111): If anyone is dumb enough to believe the election is on the 5th given the overwhelming amount of media attention then they are probably too stupid to find the polling booth to begin with. You don't have to be smart to take part in a riot.

Unfortunately the dumb people in the country deserve to have their voice heard. I'd hate to meet someone that gullible, but if they are passionate about their candidate - McCain OR Obama- their voice should be heard. Many of these notices look like official documents. Someone even hacked into a university's e-mail system to send them out. I'd still double and triple check to make sure the e-mail is true, but I don't know if everyone would do that.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 111): Not States, individuals.

Hell, people have been doing that for years! I remember back on 2004's election day (this is in high school). This kid was wearing a shirt that had Bush's face on it and the words 'NOT MY PRESIDENT' at the bottom. I thought he was an idiot, but what can people do? If people are going to riot, I hope they have the presence of mind to go after Zogby, Rasmussen, and Gallup...not their own businesses and cars! (joke)  

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 111): The first two examples I would agree with you on wholeheartedly. But this example? I think it will probably turn out to have some amount of truth to it. We will know as soon as 2010.

Imagine that....it'll be just like what the Democrats said in 2000 and 2004! Of course I still think McCain will win it. I'm betting on a 273-vote victory for the Repubs. Zogby better watch his back!

I'm hearing on radio here that some exit polls show 10 per cent lead for Obama, with a strong vote for him among white males. Significant?

Quoting Braybuddy (Reply 114): I'm hearing on radio here that some exit polls show 10 per cent lead for Obama, with a strong vote for him among white males. Significant?

NO, NO, NO....trust the exit polls as much as you trust a pathological liar. They are MOSTLY wrong and greatly overemphasize Democratic gains. This is why a lot of people thought Kerry won in 2004.

The only thing you should trust is when all the major networks safely and unanimously label a state red or blue. And even then, it's best to wait for a while to be safe.

Quoting Tugger (Reply 112): Fair enough. I also think that Democrats should allow differences in opinion on abortion, they'd probably get a whole swath of people with just that.

I could care less about that issue and I wish it would go away on both sides.

Quoting Tugger (Reply 112): What do you say and think about the people hoping for us to fail in Iraq?

That is one issue among many. I don't think they are evil, just plain wrong. For a President to be a true disaster ala President Carter, with whom Sen Obama shares many traits if he gets elected, there have to be failures on all sides.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 113): Unfortunately the dumb people in the country deserve to have their voice heard.

I agree, that's why I said too stupid to find the polling booth. But should they somehow stumble across the correct one they have every right to vote.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 113): Hell, people have been doing that for years!

Not violently as we have had two prognostications of in this thread.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 113): Imagine that....it'll be just like what the Democrats said in 2000 and 2004!

No, what the democrats said in 2000 is that President Bush stole the election. I highly doubt that will be the case this time around. In 2004 they claimed he "scared" the populace into voting for him. Again I doubt that will be the case. If Sen. Obama gets elected he will have virtually no friends on which to call on for favors on the Hill. Same as President Bush 43, Clinton, Reagan, and especially Carter. His ego will give him a sense that he has a free hand to do whatever he chooses but he will fly squarely into the buzz saws of Pelosi and Reid. Those two have been around a long time and from a political sense will run rings around him legislatively. So in essence it's not Sen. Obama that we have to fear it's Reid and Pelosi. He (Sen Obama) will just be their mouthpiece.

I wonder if Sen. Biden hears the creaking of the hinges on the crypt door just yet? A few more hours and you'll see him one more time in the next four years.

Its got Mccain winning 8-3 so far on the BBC.

Vermont called for Obama, Kentucky called for McCain. No surprises there.

Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 117): Its got Mccain winning 8-3 so far on the BBC.

Those 8 must be from Kentucky and the 3 must be either Delaware or Vermont.

[Edited 2008-11-04 16:14:26]

Quoting Superfly (Reply 119): Those 8 must be from South Carolina

Actually Kentucky.

Gee, where's the press now?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081104/D9480AK83.html

"There is no probable cause to believe that the governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters," the personnel board's report said.

"The Governor is grateful that this investigation has provided a fair and impartial review of this matter and upholds the Governor's ability to take measures when necessary to ensure that Alaskans have the best possible team working to serve them," her attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said in a statement after the report was released Monday.

Quoting Superfly (Reply 119): Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 117): Its got Mccain winning 8-3 so far on the BBC. Those 8 must be from South Carolina and the 3 must be either Delaware or Vermont.

Nope.
8 for McCain from Kentucky and 3 for Obama from Vermont

Jan

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 121): Gee, where's the press now?

Covering the worlds largest sporting event: The US elections.

Bad day to release the results.

Tugg

I'm going to call a McCain victory now.

Since i'm in the military stationed in Nevada. I'm a Washington State resident as being in the military allows me to keep the state of residence as long as I'm active duty. I sent off for the voting materials through the FVAP website through the instructions of my voting officer. I used my current address in Nevada requesting the ballot from the Washington website. I recived a Nevada absentee ballot which I sent via mail to the local county as it was pre addressed back in early October.

My questions are 1st of all I'm assuming that my vote counts as Nevada, and secondly what are the chances that my ballot wont count even though I followed the directions on the ballot?

Mike

On MSN (website) right now they are giving Vermont to Obama with 0% percent of the polls reporting. I would think that MSN is jumping on that one a bit too soon. I have never seen that kind of projection before. They have Kentucky for McCain and there is only 15% reporting. No other states yet.

Mccain 21-3 now on sky news.

CNN is reporting the following actual votes tallied so far, as of 7:58pm ET

Obama: 2,409,194 (53%)

McCain: 2,104,028 (46%)

Illinois calls for Obama, putting him ahead on electoral college votes. No surprise there though

Senator John Sidney McCain III has made a number of bad decisions during this campaign, which is surprising considering his long tenure in Congress. He started by dumping the team that got him the party's nomination. Then McCain brings in the Karl Rove team, highly arrogant and inept, to politically position him as "NOT another four years of the Bush administration". He flipflops his positions on everything but the Iraq war: Immigration policy, tax cuts, health care, and so on. McCain is self-admittedly fairly clueless on the the economy; so when Wall Street craters, rather than showing some humility and consulting with experts, McCain grandstands and races to Washington, looking somewhat erratic. He threatens to cancel a Presidential debate but then changes his mind when polls show that move is unpopular with voters and finally goes forward with the debate.

McCain gives horrible stump speeches (but seems to improve greatly in the final weeks of the election) and points out his opponent's superior oratorical skills - as a negative! Strategically, he cedes the internet to his opponent, again mocking Obama's innovative digital campaign. He mocks his opponent's money-raising ability, the type of crowds that he draws, the passions he stirs. Then McCain starts to campaign in what seems to be an "alternate universe", where he now frames Obama's strengths as weaknesses. He attacks Obama's wife, family, race, minister, etc. - alienating every moderate, minority, and immigrant in America. McCain makes no major policy speech on the future of United States. He campaigns in bursts, trying to flood the weekly news cycle with tabloid headlines, pandering to FOX News, Rush Limbaigh, and the rest of ultra conservative talk radio personalities, clearly employing the tactics of Karl Rove. McCain's performance in the debates is weak, the fodder for comedy sketches. McCain smirks, seethes, grimaces, and wanders about the stage aimlessly. He comes across as to many in the national press (and public) as arrogant, testy, and temperamental.

McCain makes the first, big decision of his campaign, a decision he can't blame on his inept Neo-Con handlers. He picks Governor Sarah Palin. She's recommended by Rove and his neo-con buddies, loved by Rush Limbaugh, and then soundly rejected by moderate Americans. She's a gun-lovin', anti-gay marriage, anti-immigration, pro-life, radical Christian evangelical; the majority of American voters dismiss her as completely unprepared to be vice president.

Senator McCain will not only lose this presidential election; he will lose by a landslide, IMHO. McCain may even lose in his home state of Arizona.

77:34 for Obama according o CNN now.

Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 127): Mccain 21-3 now on sky news.

The 21 electoral votes for McCain come from 3 states: KY, WV and SC. They were already expected to go to McCain in the first place.

The oder in which states report their results can be misleading in the beginning. It's the battleground states and any potential upset states that will make all the difference.

Quoting Diamond (Reply 132): The oder in which states report their results can be misleading in the beginning. It's the battleground states and any potential upset states that will make all the difference.

Ok thanks.

Yes it seems you are right. Obama 103 -Mccain 34 now!

103:34 for Obama now.

cnn is doing really well comparing the bush votes on a county to county basis and it is consistently showing that McCain is not gaining the same leads in counties in indiana and other states as bush did

Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 133): Yes it seems you are right. Obama 103 -Mccain 34 now!

They gave Penn. to Obama immediately. They're being IDIOTS!!!

Its funny, FOX News has McCain winning West Virginia with 42% of the vote but is showing Obama with 56%. Didn't know it worked that way......

Better get that tracker fixed!

http://www.foxnews.com/

Tugg
(and yes, I know they are projecting the win while the vote tracker is showing the actual count so far.)

[Edited 2008-11-04 17:17:24]

Some battleground state updates:

Florida:

Obama 1,820,027 54%
McCain 1,514,133 45%


Indiana:

McCain 461,710 51%
Obama 426,073 48%


North Carolina:

Obama 507,592 59%
McCain 350,394 41%


Ohio:

Obama 231,006 69%
McCain 102,742 30%




And a surprise in Texas:

Obama 996,934 54%
McCain 824,909 45%

you guys don't understand this much, do you? Certain states are almost a formality to go to a certain candidate. Don't forget, they can take a lot from exit polls and with the history of the state, they can declare a state for someone really early. They won't do it with certain states, but they sure will with others. It depends which counties are reporting, how many of them are reporting, etc.

Quoting N867DA (Reply 136): Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 133): Yes it seems you are right. Obama 103 -Mccain 34 now! They gave Penn. to Obama immediately. They're being IDIOTS!!!

Here is a detailed explanation how the BBC gets their information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/ame...icas/us_elections_2008/7707124.stm
In short, AP has an organisation carrying out exit polls. If these exit polls indicate a large majority for one candidate, they project this result immediately.
If the race is close, they wait for the actual count of the ballots.
This means that Pennsylvania probably went to Obama in a landslide.

Jan

Quoting MD11Engineer (Reply 140): In short, AP has an organisation carrying out exit polls. If these exit polls indicate a large majority for one candidate, they project this result immediately.

Yes, but exit polls shouldn't be trusted. For some reason, they are reliably Democratic. If the exit polls were right four years ago, President Kerry would be running for reelection.

They're calling it for Obama here already. Apparently he only has to win one more of the swing states to become president.

Quoting Braybuddy (Reply 142): They're calling it for Obama here already. Apparently he only has to win one more of the swing states to become president.

Even I think that's premature.

The current headline on CNN is: " .. Battleground states too close to call .. "

Popular vote:

Obama: 6,500,327 (50%)
McCain: 6,399,261 (49%)


Electoral vote:

Obama: 81
McCain: 34

Quoting SpeedBirdA380 (Reply 133): Yes it seems you are right. Obama 103 -Mccain 34 now!

Quoting NA (Reply 134): 103:34 for Obama now.

Oddly, the Beeb is giving 103 to Obama, but CNN (and Sky) just 77; I'm just wondering where that discrepancy is? What state hasn't yet been counted.

I'm just seeing McCain go up to 49, but can't see what state it is.

Quoting Diamond (Reply 138): Obama 996,934 54% McCain 824,909 45%

That would be a MASSIVE upset!

The whole of New England (except Rhode Island) has now been called for Obama. That includes New Hampshire, which McCain very much hoped to take on the basis of his local ties.

Florida is looking very interesting - Obama leading by 6% with one-third of the votes counted.

The BBC projects 103 for Obama to 49 for McCain.

Jan

Quoting Kaitak (Reply 144): Oddly, the Beeb is giving 103 to Obama, but CNN (and Sky) just 77; I'm just wondering where that discrepancy is?

In 2000, several TV networks prematurely gave Florida (and thus, the whole election) to Gore. Later that night they all had to reclassify it "too close to call."

I think the reason some networks have lower electoral votes than others reflects them being 'careful' before committing to a winner, as not to repeat the mistakes of 2000.

Obama is leading in 10 per cent of the Florida boxes opened.

CNN calling PA for Obama, he's almost there.