Life at 54 from a media lifer, ordained minister, wedding officiant, parent of two, grandparent of three, endless Tweeter and very occasional blogger.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
What? I Won't Need Pliers, Industrial Scissors, and Band-Aids Christmas Morning??
Well, whaddya know? Some companies have realized that, we, as a people, are just not into clamshell packaging. :)
We Don't Want West Virginia
So, if this Russian's theory becomes reality, let it be known that we in the Mid-Atlantic have little in common with, say, West Virginia. Heck, it's been 145 years since Virginia let 'em go their own way, things have changed!
What "smaller" country would you live in?
What "smaller" country would you live in?
Friday, November 14, 2008
VMI!!! Keydets Baby!!!
The Chicago Tribune must not have thought VMI had a chance to beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena tonight on opening night of the 08-09 college basketball season. They didn't take the time to look up the correct spelling of "Keydets" (click title to read story and see typo).
Sorry, couldn't resist.......
VMI??!!!??? WHOO HOO!!!!
Sorry, couldn't resist.......
VMI??!!!??? WHOO HOO!!!!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
"Billy Graham Doesn't..." What??
Note to author: Who you pray "for" is more important than who you pray "with".
How dare you insinuate this about Billy Graham.
How dare you insinuate this about Billy Graham.
On the other hand.....
A great deal of thanks to "hek", who commented on my Olbermann post of last night, and offered excellent insight into Olbermann's reasons for using the term, "What do we do now?"
I share.....
Greetings, Mr. Witham: At the risk of engaging in some kind of non-productive firefight with someone I don't really know, I just want to correct your record about what Mr. Olbermann is speaking of. He is making reference to the 1972 political film, Michael Ritchie's "The Candidate," in which Robert Redford convincingly plays a vibrant young candidate whose ideals are twiated and turned on the punishing road to high office, across bridges built of compromises. Toward the end of the film, on the verge of his U.S. Senate election, and just ahead of a clamoring crowed, he hustles his campaign director into a hotel room and asks, "What do we do now?"The film is more about the absurdities of running for high public office, and how any candidate is a cipher into which the public project their expectations which he/she then cannot possibly meet. At least not for all of them, all of the time. As Olbermann uses the phrase, it is through a sense of facetiousness. It isn't that Obama doesn't know what he must do, but that considering all that confronts the nation at this juncture, what priorities will go to the top. No matter what happens, whether the trends existed before he showed up, Obama is going to get blamed. For everything. The weather, you name it. Such is the pathetic shambling wreck that is the practice of politics.I'm watching Rachel Maddow more these days, anyway. Carry on.
Now I better understand the background behind it. And I THANK this poster for their comment!
I do still find incredible irony in Olbermann's decision to use this question on multiple occasions, as he positioned Obama as the one to answer all of our questions and meet all our needs. It would seem plausible that he should be able to handle multiple issues at once. At this juncture in our nation's history, he's gonna have to.
FDR didn't want to fight a World War on two fronts, but had no choice.
But I can assure you one thing, Obama is not being blamed on this blog for anything happening prior to the night of November 4th, except for what can be tied to his Senate voting.
But.....now that he has a title other than Senator, he now is fair game. For example:
Wall Street always gets jittery when a Democrat is elected. And the Dow went down 900 points combined on Wednesday and Thursday. With the horrible unemployment report this morning, one would think the trend would continue.
The Dow went up about 250 points today. All I've heard in the media the past two days is how the Dow is tanking because of the economy. Sure it is. But there's another thing: The Democrat factor. No one spoke to that.
With the Dow rebounding on the same day as bad economic news arrives, one wonders now exactly how many of those 900 aforementioned points can be attributed to our economy, and how many are attributed to how people view our "economy yet to come" under an Obama Administration.
Now, let's see what he can do.
I share.....
Greetings, Mr. Witham: At the risk of engaging in some kind of non-productive firefight with someone I don't really know, I just want to correct your record about what Mr. Olbermann is speaking of. He is making reference to the 1972 political film, Michael Ritchie's "The Candidate," in which Robert Redford convincingly plays a vibrant young candidate whose ideals are twiated and turned on the punishing road to high office, across bridges built of compromises. Toward the end of the film, on the verge of his U.S. Senate election, and just ahead of a clamoring crowed, he hustles his campaign director into a hotel room and asks, "What do we do now?"The film is more about the absurdities of running for high public office, and how any candidate is a cipher into which the public project their expectations which he/she then cannot possibly meet. At least not for all of them, all of the time. As Olbermann uses the phrase, it is through a sense of facetiousness. It isn't that Obama doesn't know what he must do, but that considering all that confronts the nation at this juncture, what priorities will go to the top. No matter what happens, whether the trends existed before he showed up, Obama is going to get blamed. For everything. The weather, you name it. Such is the pathetic shambling wreck that is the practice of politics.I'm watching Rachel Maddow more these days, anyway. Carry on.
Now I better understand the background behind it. And I THANK this poster for their comment!
I do still find incredible irony in Olbermann's decision to use this question on multiple occasions, as he positioned Obama as the one to answer all of our questions and meet all our needs. It would seem plausible that he should be able to handle multiple issues at once. At this juncture in our nation's history, he's gonna have to.
FDR didn't want to fight a World War on two fronts, but had no choice.
But I can assure you one thing, Obama is not being blamed on this blog for anything happening prior to the night of November 4th, except for what can be tied to his Senate voting.
But.....now that he has a title other than Senator, he now is fair game. For example:
Wall Street always gets jittery when a Democrat is elected. And the Dow went down 900 points combined on Wednesday and Thursday. With the horrible unemployment report this morning, one would think the trend would continue.
The Dow went up about 250 points today. All I've heard in the media the past two days is how the Dow is tanking because of the economy. Sure it is. But there's another thing: The Democrat factor. No one spoke to that.
With the Dow rebounding on the same day as bad economic news arrives, one wonders now exactly how many of those 900 aforementioned points can be attributed to our economy, and how many are attributed to how people view our "economy yet to come" under an Obama Administration.
Now, let's see what he can do.
Again, to those who comment.......
Since I've received one reply to my "comment" post of yesterday, let me reiterate to simply explain what I ask anyone to do to explain a point or offer proof to show the point as truth. Doesn't have to be political. In fact, I might ask you to prove a point with which I am in agreement. Why? To make sure people are informed, and not walking around saying they want to vote for someone because he/she will bring "change"....but the voter has no clue how to explain what the change is. And if I'm offering an opinion and cannot back it up, then SHAME ON ME!!!!!
Here's my quote from yesterday's post:
Ask my kids; when you come to me attempting to prove your point of view correct and/or mine incorrect, have specifics and facts to prove them. Don't use terms that make you sound enlightened, when in fact, Katie Couric might have a field day with you on follow-up questions.
With this in mind, I receive this today:
I was the one who left the "there" comment. I'm sorry if I didn't write you a 20 page essay explaining each basic idea point by point. I was under the foolish assumption that you had payed attention to politics, or maybe had read a book, at some point in the last 6 years. Considering the way you parse my every word, I'd expect you to be a bit more literate. One thing I really don't understand is how Obama's plan to provide health insurance for citizens is so often described as OMG GOVERNMENT RUN SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE!! 1nazis!Seriously, with nearly every response you act like the Democrats are going to throw you into a concentration camp.
Did I get any answers to the question I posed, which was done for the expressed and sole purpose of having the commenter explain and defend their positions and beliefs? Not one.
But, I did learn that I don't pay attention to politics, don't read books, I'm not very literate (certainly less so than he/she), and finally, the obligatory accusation of using inflammatory terms, this time related to the health care issue, rather than answer my questions and helping me understand how, if my health care is going to be the same as Congress', it's going to still be part of the free market. Congress' insurance is government-paid. I'll get the same. Therefore (a little postulate/theorem throwback to 9th grade Geometry), I get government-paid insurance, correct? And nothing paid for by the Federal Government comes without, well, some rules and regs.
Then, as we would do in geometry, we would go off on the search to prove this either right or wrong. I didn't get any answers as to whether my concern is justified or not.
But I was told, in so many terms, that I'm spreading the words of fear.
----------------------------------------------
So, so glad I don't have Alex Trebek's job. All day I would say, "The answer is......", and I'm concerned that all I'd hear in response would be crickets........
Here's my quote from yesterday's post:
Ask my kids; when you come to me attempting to prove your point of view correct and/or mine incorrect, have specifics and facts to prove them. Don't use terms that make you sound enlightened, when in fact, Katie Couric might have a field day with you on follow-up questions.
With this in mind, I receive this today:
I was the one who left the "there" comment. I'm sorry if I didn't write you a 20 page essay explaining each basic idea point by point. I was under the foolish assumption that you had payed attention to politics, or maybe had read a book, at some point in the last 6 years. Considering the way you parse my every word, I'd expect you to be a bit more literate. One thing I really don't understand is how Obama's plan to provide health insurance for citizens is so often described as OMG GOVERNMENT RUN SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE!! 1nazis!Seriously, with nearly every response you act like the Democrats are going to throw you into a concentration camp.
Did I get any answers to the question I posed, which was done for the expressed and sole purpose of having the commenter explain and defend their positions and beliefs? Not one.
But, I did learn that I don't pay attention to politics, don't read books, I'm not very literate (certainly less so than he/she), and finally, the obligatory accusation of using inflammatory terms, this time related to the health care issue, rather than answer my questions and helping me understand how, if my health care is going to be the same as Congress', it's going to still be part of the free market. Congress' insurance is government-paid. I'll get the same. Therefore (a little postulate/theorem throwback to 9th grade Geometry), I get government-paid insurance, correct? And nothing paid for by the Federal Government comes without, well, some rules and regs.
Then, as we would do in geometry, we would go off on the search to prove this either right or wrong. I didn't get any answers as to whether my concern is justified or not.
But I was told, in so many terms, that I'm spreading the words of fear.
----------------------------------------------
So, so glad I don't have Alex Trebek's job. All day I would say, "The answer is......", and I'm concerned that all I'd hear in response would be crickets........
Oh, it's MANDATED change.......
There's something just not quite right about the concept of "mandated volunteerism".
After reading this post, please, click HERE and enjoy the future of volunteering in "Obama-Land".
At first, the way the paragraph is written, it reads that ALL Americans would have to serve either 50 hours in middle or high school, or 100 hours at a college. I later learned that this program is simply for the students, thanks to one of those evil blogs.
Note to self: Send the Obama transition team an English teacher with excellent grammar skills.
But, BEFORE you click the link (which is to HIS OWN site, BTW, not some hack right-wing blog....), PLEASE read how this "program" was presented to the American people during the campaign.
From BarackObama.com:
Obama and Biden will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year, and will establish a new tax credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
--------------------------
Now, go click on the link to the President-Elect's site and see how "set a goal" was code-speak for mandatory volunteerism. And my post here focuses on the middle and high school student portion (which offers no dangled carrot of a tax credit, BTW)...
Obama wants to dictate to my two kids (and yours, too) HOW and WHEN to volunteer in their community! MINORS! I know there's gotta be something in the First Amendment that would, well, expose this for what it really is......
After reading this post, please, click HERE and enjoy the future of volunteering in "Obama-Land".
At first, the way the paragraph is written, it reads that ALL Americans would have to serve either 50 hours in middle or high school, or 100 hours at a college. I later learned that this program is simply for the students, thanks to one of those evil blogs.
Note to self: Send the Obama transition team an English teacher with excellent grammar skills.
But, BEFORE you click the link (which is to HIS OWN site, BTW, not some hack right-wing blog....), PLEASE read how this "program" was presented to the American people during the campaign.
From BarackObama.com:
Obama and Biden will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year, and will establish a new tax credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
--------------------------
Now, go click on the link to the President-Elect's site and see how "set a goal" was code-speak for mandatory volunteerism. And my post here focuses on the middle and high school student portion (which offers no dangled carrot of a tax credit, BTW)...
Obama wants to dictate to my two kids (and yours, too) HOW and WHEN to volunteer in their community! MINORS! I know there's gotta be something in the First Amendment that would, well, expose this for what it really is......
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Teacher Lovingly Explains McCain Platform.....NOT!!!
Click on the blog post title and watch a North Carolina school teacher scare one of her students to death over the fact the girl supports John McCain.
Her father is in the military. And this "educator" thinks her Dad will live well into his 120's, I guess.
This is cruel, and the teacher? I post, you decide.
Her father is in the military. And this "educator" thinks her Dad will live well into his 120's, I guess.
This is cruel, and the teacher? I post, you decide.
Olbermann equals "Obama-bot"
As the kids type today......"OMG!!!!"
This is TOO funny.......
Keith Olbermann is now using this question to lead his sheep....ah viewers into that new spiritual realm of "change" that he and so many of his friends desperately yearned for during the Presidential campaign.........
"What do we do now?"
Keith, you, ah, don't know? Two quick points to help you, Mr. Sheepherder:
1) There have been dozens of prior transitional periods between outgoing and incoming Presidents where you can learn the basics of what needs to be done and how our nation's wonderfully seamless transitional tradition has developed and proven how incredible this nation truly is.
2) Ah, you voted for Obama (don't tell me otherwise); you've been singing his praises, begging the world to vote him in as savior, while personally attempting to tear apart people who get in your way. Of ALL people I see on TV.........YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR MAN, YOUR CANDIDATE, YOUR PRESIDENT-ELECT IS GOING TO DO???????
Well, I guess that's what happens when America elects a President that offers a one-word mantra, and not a heckuva lot else.
This reminds me of Robert DeNiro's strangest movie role ever......."Fearless Leader" in "Rocky and Bullwinkle".
It's a wonder Olbermann didn't end up sounding like the minions in that movie once RBTV had put all Americans into the "trance with a directive".....
"We will vote for Fearless Leader....."
This is TOO funny.......
Keith Olbermann is now using this question to lead his sheep....ah viewers into that new spiritual realm of "change" that he and so many of his friends desperately yearned for during the Presidential campaign.........
"What do we do now?"
Keith, you, ah, don't know? Two quick points to help you, Mr. Sheepherder:
1) There have been dozens of prior transitional periods between outgoing and incoming Presidents where you can learn the basics of what needs to be done and how our nation's wonderfully seamless transitional tradition has developed and proven how incredible this nation truly is.
2) Ah, you voted for Obama (don't tell me otherwise); you've been singing his praises, begging the world to vote him in as savior, while personally attempting to tear apart people who get in your way. Of ALL people I see on TV.........YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR MAN, YOUR CANDIDATE, YOUR PRESIDENT-ELECT IS GOING TO DO???????
Well, I guess that's what happens when America elects a President that offers a one-word mantra, and not a heckuva lot else.
This reminds me of Robert DeNiro's strangest movie role ever......."Fearless Leader" in "Rocky and Bullwinkle".
It's a wonder Olbermann didn't end up sounding like the minions in that movie once RBTV had put all Americans into the "trance with a directive".....
"We will vote for Fearless Leader....."
The Left has not "Left" those talking points.....
WOW! They know me; they really know me!
I've gotten comments from those on the other end of the political spectrum who do two things:
1) Criticize my postings, each of which were NEWS reports or INTERVIEWS with a comment or two from myself.
2) Get in their "left" jab. Look, just because their guy is heading to the White House, did you actually think they'd stop talking?
I only quote some of them to prove that, well, they prove my point without my help.
ITEM: Commenting on my reposting a news article on Obama workers not getting paid.....
Well it's not like his campaign doesn't have the money. And it's not like he didn't run a rock solid campaign. So by all means, let's make a big deal out of some stupid payroll mistake.
With all due respect, the headline from that story was not a payroll mistake, it was how some Obama workers were already demanding what was theirs and got mad at their guy's payroll team. The final guy quoted doesn't even expect to ever see all the money due him. The PEOPLE and their subsequent reactions were the story here, folks. Dang, the polls hadn't been closed 24 hours and they were already up in arms.
I've worked in independent contractor, et al situations on many, many occasions over the years, and let me tell you, you don't go to your "payer" and DEMAND payment in 18 hours. Makes me wonder how many of these people truly understand the economic system. Getting paid twice a month, or once a month.......
Were they told to come that day and get their money? Yep, so shame on the campaign for not being ready. The people's reactions take center stage here, though, which is why I closed with my comment on being anxious to see their response when they realize Obama won't be paying every bill they have (Peggy, calling Peggy in Florida??)
ITEM: One comment on my Brokaw/Rose post asked for attribution on my "claim".
I should have been a bit clearer, as I did have issues posting the You Tube Video. Click on the blog post title, and Tom and Charlie will answer your questions themselves.
ITEM: My favorite comment, coming on the post where some loon celebrated in D.C. Tuesday night with the fashionable Soviet flag....complete with a pole to use to wave it! But this comment is to my question which will stay at the top of my blog for the foreseeable future:
WHERE IS THERE?
Here's the comment in its entirety..........
"There" is a few places. There is back where we were before Bush messed everything up and left America on the brink.There is being in a position to truly show that we value life by allowing people to seek medical care without fear of financial ruin. There is where we can all be proud of America because we're not doing Godless things like torture, and carrying out needless wars just so billionaires can profit from the destruction and nation-building.And we'll get "there", with or without your help.
------------------------------------
BTW, my comments below are in the smaller font, so people don't think I'm belittling the poster.
"...back where we were before Bush messed everything up....."
Messed up "what"? What did we "have" prior to that? Define "everything".
"...left America on the brink."
The "brink" of "what"? Nuclear war? Economic collapse that can never be fixed? Change?
"....we value life by allowing people to seek medical care without fear of financial ruin."
Allowing? I agree there are people don't have a way to get necessary care; absolutely true. But by letting the government take over health care, how does that justify the use of the word "allowing"? When I get "there", am I gonna need the government's permission to get health care? I thought Obama believed it was a right......
"....where we can all be proud of America because we're not doing Godless things like torture, and carrying out needless wars just so billionaires can profit from the destruction and nation-building."
What's your definition of torture? What do you know about international law and the Geneva Convention regarding this? I wonder if the hundreds of innocent Americans who slowly burned to death in the World Trade Center towers on 9/11 considered that a tortuous way to die? Do you know the difference between a "defendant" and a "war criminal"?? If so, give me some explanation.
Name three billionaires who have profited. Some may have! Name them, prove it, and let's go after them! But.....to accentuate your line of thinking, if this were the end game, with many more countries worldwide without democracy, why have we not invaded at least two or three more nations, like in areas much easier to invade (you know, countries without legitimate military protection) so we could rake in a few more billion in the name of democracy?
"And we'll get there, with or without your help."
Now THERE is a clue as to what we'll find at "there". In other words, "we will get it the way we want it, whether you help or not", which also concludes, if I or others get "in the way", gee.....what becomes of us? Simply a dissenting point of view......do I pay a penalty for having one in this place called "there"?
I thought the days of "partisan bickering" and "divisive politics" were over. Well, this comment, plus "Go F*** Themselves" Emanuel prove that those days are not going away.
----------------------
So, friends, let's review some facts of the last 48 hours:
1) Some Obama supporters already think they won't get what Obama owes them.
2) Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose were dumb enough to actually admit before the election that they don't "know" Barack Obama on many fronts. You know, when it comes to those who influenced him, his views on CHINA, etc.......(psst....guys, it's your JOB to find these things out).
3) Obama's Chief of Staff is partisan and "Chicago Machine politics" head-to-toe, and we all know how the Chicago Machine respects "bipartisanship".....
4) George W. Bush will be blamed for everything in everyone's lives for the next 25 years. Including the paper cut some unknown Obama supporter in Colorado will get in 2011 opening a ream of paper.
5) Oh, and America is on the brink.
The "brink" of what? I don't know. My commenter wouldn't get specific.
He/she didn't get specific about alot of things. Which is exactly what we "heard" from Barack Obama. Change. Change. But NO clue as to what kind or how it's done.
------------------------------
Ask my kids; when you come to me attempting to prove your point of view correct and/or mine incorrect, have specifics and facts to prove them. Don't use terms that make you sound enlightened, when in fact, Katie Couric might have a field day with you on follow-up questions.
If I don't know something, I'll tell you. If I'm wrong, I'll tell you. But note, much of what you'll see posted here politically, especially between now and January 20th, will be NEWS. All of the above comments were posted based on NEWS items.....and a very simple question.
EVERY American, no matter who they voted for, should now assume the role of the lovable but tired kid in the back seat (or the middle seat of the SUV or minivan).....and just ask:
"Are we 'there' yet?"
I've gotten comments from those on the other end of the political spectrum who do two things:
1) Criticize my postings, each of which were NEWS reports or INTERVIEWS with a comment or two from myself.
2) Get in their "left" jab. Look, just because their guy is heading to the White House, did you actually think they'd stop talking?
I only quote some of them to prove that, well, they prove my point without my help.
ITEM: Commenting on my reposting a news article on Obama workers not getting paid.....
Well it's not like his campaign doesn't have the money. And it's not like he didn't run a rock solid campaign. So by all means, let's make a big deal out of some stupid payroll mistake.
With all due respect, the headline from that story was not a payroll mistake, it was how some Obama workers were already demanding what was theirs and got mad at their guy's payroll team. The final guy quoted doesn't even expect to ever see all the money due him. The PEOPLE and their subsequent reactions were the story here, folks. Dang, the polls hadn't been closed 24 hours and they were already up in arms.
I've worked in independent contractor, et al situations on many, many occasions over the years, and let me tell you, you don't go to your "payer" and DEMAND payment in 18 hours. Makes me wonder how many of these people truly understand the economic system. Getting paid twice a month, or once a month.......
Were they told to come that day and get their money? Yep, so shame on the campaign for not being ready. The people's reactions take center stage here, though, which is why I closed with my comment on being anxious to see their response when they realize Obama won't be paying every bill they have (Peggy, calling Peggy in Florida??)
ITEM: One comment on my Brokaw/Rose post asked for attribution on my "claim".
I should have been a bit clearer, as I did have issues posting the You Tube Video. Click on the blog post title, and Tom and Charlie will answer your questions themselves.
ITEM: My favorite comment, coming on the post where some loon celebrated in D.C. Tuesday night with the fashionable Soviet flag....complete with a pole to use to wave it! But this comment is to my question which will stay at the top of my blog for the foreseeable future:
WHERE IS THERE?
Here's the comment in its entirety..........
"There" is a few places. There is back where we were before Bush messed everything up and left America on the brink.There is being in a position to truly show that we value life by allowing people to seek medical care without fear of financial ruin. There is where we can all be proud of America because we're not doing Godless things like torture, and carrying out needless wars just so billionaires can profit from the destruction and nation-building.And we'll get "there", with or without your help.
------------------------------------
BTW, my comments below are in the smaller font, so people don't think I'm belittling the poster.
"...back where we were before Bush messed everything up....."
Messed up "what"? What did we "have" prior to that? Define "everything".
"...left America on the brink."
The "brink" of "what"? Nuclear war? Economic collapse that can never be fixed? Change?
"....we value life by allowing people to seek medical care without fear of financial ruin."
Allowing? I agree there are people don't have a way to get necessary care; absolutely true. But by letting the government take over health care, how does that justify the use of the word "allowing"? When I get "there", am I gonna need the government's permission to get health care? I thought Obama believed it was a right......
"....where we can all be proud of America because we're not doing Godless things like torture, and carrying out needless wars just so billionaires can profit from the destruction and nation-building."
What's your definition of torture? What do you know about international law and the Geneva Convention regarding this? I wonder if the hundreds of innocent Americans who slowly burned to death in the World Trade Center towers on 9/11 considered that a tortuous way to die? Do you know the difference between a "defendant" and a "war criminal"?? If so, give me some explanation.
Name three billionaires who have profited. Some may have! Name them, prove it, and let's go after them! But.....to accentuate your line of thinking, if this were the end game, with many more countries worldwide without democracy, why have we not invaded at least two or three more nations, like in areas much easier to invade (you know, countries without legitimate military protection) so we could rake in a few more billion in the name of democracy?
"And we'll get there, with or without your help."
Now THERE is a clue as to what we'll find at "there". In other words, "we will get it the way we want it, whether you help or not", which also concludes, if I or others get "in the way", gee.....what becomes of us? Simply a dissenting point of view......do I pay a penalty for having one in this place called "there"?
I thought the days of "partisan bickering" and "divisive politics" were over. Well, this comment, plus "Go F*** Themselves" Emanuel prove that those days are not going away.
----------------------
So, friends, let's review some facts of the last 48 hours:
1) Some Obama supporters already think they won't get what Obama owes them.
2) Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose were dumb enough to actually admit before the election that they don't "know" Barack Obama on many fronts. You know, when it comes to those who influenced him, his views on CHINA, etc.......(psst....guys, it's your JOB to find these things out).
3) Obama's Chief of Staff is partisan and "Chicago Machine politics" head-to-toe, and we all know how the Chicago Machine respects "bipartisanship".....
4) George W. Bush will be blamed for everything in everyone's lives for the next 25 years. Including the paper cut some unknown Obama supporter in Colorado will get in 2011 opening a ream of paper.
5) Oh, and America is on the brink.
The "brink" of what? I don't know. My commenter wouldn't get specific.
He/she didn't get specific about alot of things. Which is exactly what we "heard" from Barack Obama. Change. Change. But NO clue as to what kind or how it's done.
------------------------------
Ask my kids; when you come to me attempting to prove your point of view correct and/or mine incorrect, have specifics and facts to prove them. Don't use terms that make you sound enlightened, when in fact, Katie Couric might have a field day with you on follow-up questions.
If I don't know something, I'll tell you. If I'm wrong, I'll tell you. But note, much of what you'll see posted here politically, especially between now and January 20th, will be NEWS. All of the above comments were posted based on NEWS items.....and a very simple question.
EVERY American, no matter who they voted for, should now assume the role of the lovable but tired kid in the back seat (or the middle seat of the SUV or minivan).....and just ask:
"Are we 'there' yet?"
Ut Oh.......
Ah, didn't take long for Team Obama to make some of their faithful unhappy. From Indianapolis yesterday....
Obama campaign workers angry over unpaid wages
Posted: Nov 5, 2008 3:38 PM EST
Updated: Nov 6, 2008 10:47 AM EST
Indianapolis - Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.
The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.
"I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker.
A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.
The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.
"There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they're trying to get it organized," said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker.
The large gathering of around 375 people prompted police to call in extra officers and set up temporary barricades. The barricades helped keep the crowd from spilling out onto Meridian Street. Police say the several hundred people in line were for the most part orderly.
"No arrests. Some of the people were upset at first because the line wasn't moving as fast as they thought it should. But we really haven't had any problems," said Major Darryl Pierce, Metro Police.
Eventually people did start getting paid, but some said they were missing hours and told to fill in paperwork making their claim and that eventually they would get a check in the mail.
"Still that's not right. I'm disappointed. I'm glad for the president, but I'm disappointed in this system," said Diane Jefferson, temporary campaign worker.
"It should have been $480. It's $230," said Imani Sankofa.
"They gave us $10 an hour. So we added it. I added up all the hours so it was supposed to be at least $120. All I get is $90," said Charles Martin.
"I worked nine hours a day for 4 days and got paid half of what I should have earned," said Randall Waldon.
Some people weren't satisfied with filling out a claim form for money they felt was still due to them.
"They say that they gonna call you or they going to mail it to you, but I don't know. We'll see what happens," said Antron Grose.
"Talking about they'll mail it to us. I ain't worried about that, man. They're not going to mail nothin'," said Martin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wait until they find out they won't be getting lots of tax cuts, either.
Obama campaign workers angry over unpaid wages
Posted: Nov 5, 2008 3:38 PM EST
Updated: Nov 6, 2008 10:47 AM EST
Indianapolis - Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.
The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.
"I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker.
A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.
The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.
"There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they're trying to get it organized," said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker.
The large gathering of around 375 people prompted police to call in extra officers and set up temporary barricades. The barricades helped keep the crowd from spilling out onto Meridian Street. Police say the several hundred people in line were for the most part orderly.
"No arrests. Some of the people were upset at first because the line wasn't moving as fast as they thought it should. But we really haven't had any problems," said Major Darryl Pierce, Metro Police.
Eventually people did start getting paid, but some said they were missing hours and told to fill in paperwork making their claim and that eventually they would get a check in the mail.
"Still that's not right. I'm disappointed. I'm glad for the president, but I'm disappointed in this system," said Diane Jefferson, temporary campaign worker.
"It should have been $480. It's $230," said Imani Sankofa.
"They gave us $10 an hour. So we added it. I added up all the hours so it was supposed to be at least $120. All I get is $90," said Charles Martin.
"I worked nine hours a day for 4 days and got paid half of what I should have earned," said Randall Waldon.
Some people weren't satisfied with filling out a claim form for money they felt was still due to them.
"They say that they gonna call you or they going to mail it to you, but I don't know. We'll see what happens," said Antron Grose.
"Talking about they'll mail it to us. I ain't worried about that, man. They're not going to mail nothin'," said Martin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wait until they find out they won't be getting lots of tax cuts, either.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The end of the press.......more proof
Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose don't know about Barack Obama.
No commentary necessary.
Well, except I'm sure they made everyone aware that Sarah Palin really couldn't see Russia from Alaska. You know, the important things.
No commentary necessary.
Well, except I'm sure they made everyone aware that Sarah Palin really couldn't see Russia from Alaska. You know, the important things.
Aren't We Still the Nation of the Stars and Stripes??
Apparently not to one Obama celebrant last night. Good Lord.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Election Night 2008----Live Blog
A rolling blog entry of thoughts, facts, and whatnots on this 11/4/08:
1) Jessica Yelin "via hologram" from Chicago into the CNN HQ in New York talking to Wolf Blitzer.
"Help me, Obi Wolf Kenobi, you're my only hope!!"
---------------------------------
2) PMSNBC gives us the word that McCain will win South Carolina. That's a "whew" for the GOP.
---------------------------------
3) Looking now at the huge stage in Grant Park, Chicago, where some 90 million people....ah, one million people are expected to celebrate with the.......winner? I think he will be.
---------------------------------
4) Here in Virginia, former Governor Mark Warner won (yawn) the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring John Warner (no relation) in a cakewalk over another former Governor Jim Gilmore.
I've never seen two Virginia politicians fall so quickly than Jim Gilmore and George Allen. Before Allen's stupid "macaca" moment, there were many that thought he could have become the next President-elect tonight. As for Gilmore? Happy retirement and don't worry, he'll get a job. He's an attorney.
--------------------------------
7:54pm ET
5) The BBC World News guy says South Carolina is the start of "the real Southern U.S.". Ah, buddy, there's this other place called North Carolina. Apparently you are placing way too much emphasis on the word "North".
Shouldn't BBC America be worried about telling us about Gordon Brown??
--------------------------------
6) 2008 brings a whole new meaning to "Wall-To-Wall Coverage". John King, the incumbent at CNN, versus Bill Hemmer at Fox, with Brit Hume saying if he tried to run the wall, he'd "set the place on fire"......
8PM ET:----------------
Well, here we go; this should change the night.......
Obama gets Dukakis-country
Obama gets Maryland
Obama gets Illinois
Obama gets DC
Obama gets Connecticut
Obama gets New Jersey
McCain gets Oklahoma
Obama gets Maine (must have gotten past that 2 to 1 vote total they've been showing for the past hour or so....)
It's now 77-28, Obama. McCain won't see the electoral lead again.
Now, about that U.S. Senate........
We know Warner gets the vacant one here in Va........
--Inhofe wins in Oklahoma
--Joe Biden wins in Delaware......
--Frank Lautenberg is still alive, and will be shipped back to DC......(he's 84; if McCain is too old, then explain THAT one!!!)
--Susan Collins, the Republican in name only, survives in Maine.......
805pm ET-------
McCain gets Tennessee, cutting the lead to 77-39. Sounds like a fantasy football score! The GOP sure hopes Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner can help cut into the lead.......
808pm ET-------
Mitch McConnell survives in Kentucky and will most likely become the senior Republican in Washington come January.....period.
809pm ET-------
Kay Hagan ends the Dole Political Era. Elizabeth Dole goes down........long live Chiquita! Wha???
North Carolina's Senate seat goes from GOP to Dem......
BULLETIN-------------
Pennsylvania is called for Obama.....on NBC and ABC only.
CNN, CBS and Fox News are holding off......
Meanwhile.......
Obama wins New Hampshire, and it's 81-39 (102 for Obama if you watch ABC or NBC.....)
Vote totals (WOW!!!!!)
Ohio, less than a percent
West Va, less than a percent
Georgia, four percent in
New Hampshire, five percent in, but CNN hasn't called it yet.
Also in New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen takes a seat back for the Dems, beating Sununu II.
--------------------------------------------
Point by CBS-----with Elizabeth Dole defeated, 2009 will be the first time in 50 years that neither a Bush nor Dole will be serving in Washington.
--------------------------------------------
Fox News gives Pennsylvania to Barack Obama at 8:29pm.......and at 8:30?
Fox News gives Arkansas to John McCain.......
So, it's now 103-45, Obama.....
WE BREAK to help Rachel prepare for her P.E. test on basketball history tomorrow!!
-------------------------------------------
John McCain says, "Roll Tide!" Alabama goes to the GOP.........
THE LATEST ELECTORAL SCORES BY NETWORK AT 8:41PM:
CBS: Obama 102, McCain 54
ABC: Obama 102, McCain 49
Fox News: Obama 103, McCain 69
CNN: Obama 102, McCain 34
BBC America: Obama 103, McCain 49
NBC: Obama 103, McCain 58
NOW at 9pm----
Obama gets Minnesota (God, PLEASE not Al Franken!!!)
Obama gets New York
Obama gets Michigan
McCain gets Wyoming
Obama gets New Mexico
Obama gets Wisconsin
Obama gets Vermont
McCain gets North Dakota
McCain gets Kansas
Let's go with Obama 183, McCain 81.........from Fox.....
Let's go with Obama 174, McCain 100....on CBS....
Let's go with Obama 174, McCain 76....on ABC, the Stephanop....the Stepha....George's network.
Let's go with Obama 175, McCain 70....on NBC (The Obama Network)
Kevin Tibbles of NBC says Grant Park reminds him of Woodstock. I see people wearing coats, rather than nothing......and they seem orderly, too.
Oh, and there's CNN-------Obama 174, McCain 49. 49??!!??
918pm: Ohio does go to Obama, according to Fox News. 183-81 now the score.
Obama up 174-115 on CBS right now. I can't wait to see what kind of confetti they throw over on MSNBC when it's 270, which should be at 11pm when California falls.
Meanwhile, BBC America continues to show its ignorance with some dumb reporter saying Palin was a drag.......maybe Romney would have been better, blah, blah, blah, and former U.N. Ambassador Bolton SCHOOLED her.
"I think you show a fundamental ignorance of the Republican Party", says Bolton to the idiot reporter. Palin energized the base. McCain NEVER did. Romney NEVER did. For one independent she may have created a question mark in their mind, there were more conservatives than came aboard.
They quickly ended the live shot with that reporter at McCain HQ in Phoenix, tried to switch to another, couldn't, and the anchor (OOPS!) admitted the truth......
"Maybe we did that just to stop the argument....."
Meanwhile, of ALL PEOPLE, Larry Sabato (??!!??!!) was sitting there?? On BBC America???
-------925pm: Wolf Blitzer teases a big projection! Fox News says 200-81........
AND?????? La dee la dee da..........nothin'.........
Thanks, Wolf. Go teleport somebody.......
CBS says 194 to 124 now.
ABC says 195 to 90 now.
NBC says 200 to 85 now.
Fox now 200-90.
Fox gives Louisiana to McCain.
Fox gives New Mexico to Obama.
Rob breaks to show stupidity........
Brian Williams, thank you for reminding us that I live in the area of the former "Capital of the Confederacy".........as my county, Henrico County, was featured by Chuck Todd as a Republican suburban area of Virginia now taken by Obama.
A Democratic operative told Brian today about how bad they want to win there!
Yes, because obviously there are people who STILL THINK we're the Capital of the Confederacy! Sorry, but that makes me MAD; thanks, Brian!
Oh, and Brian-----we elected the first-ever African-American Governor......he lived in the Capital of Richmond......NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO??!!??!!
We now return to live blogging, hopefully without stupid interruptions......
9:42pm------Tavis Smiley discusses dividends with, that guy, on NBC. He says dividends about nine times in two minutes. Interesting perspective; think I'll keep an eye on his show going forward, even if it is on PBS (hee hee.....)
9:45pm------On Fox, Sen. Bill Casey of Pa. thinks that 51 percent of the vote for Obama in the popular vote means a broad victory. Heh?
The Democrats are already spinning a "mandate". Hold up a sec.....
1) The Dems are only getting more seats in Congress because of such an unpopular President. The President creates "coattails" or "drags", Congress never does.
2) Guess who has a LOWER approval rating right now? Bush? NO---Congress!!! Led by the Dems.....but that doesn't matter right now.
3) Finally----51 percent of the electorate is NOT a mandate; never. Ever. 1996, when Clinton was re-elected 49 to 40 over Bob Dole is the closest we've had to a mandate in the past 20 years. Still, Clinton never won 50 percent of the vote in either election to the Presidency.
Real mandates? Try:
1984: Reagan wins 58.8 percent of the popular vote.
1972: Nixon wins 60.7 percent of the popular vote.
1964: LBJ wins 61.1 percent of the popular vote.
1956: Eisenhower wins 57.4 percent of the popular vote.
10pm ET--------
Obama gets Iowa (switching from GOP, like Ohio and New Mexico)
McCain gets the token prize of Texas (did anyone remember Texas??)
Fox News says 207 to 129
CNN says 206 to 89
BBC America says 207 to 135
Speaking of......the BBC America anchor now asks Larry Sabato if this will be a "mandate". Sabato reminds the Brits that the last Democrat to get more than 50 percent of the vote was Jimmy Carter in 1976.........LBJ gets the last Democratic "mandate", he reminds them. In a nice way, Sabato says, NO.
Now, from Times Square, another BBC blonde, this one with cleavage, who wasn't ready for her live shot, talks of the "cheers in Times Square" when Obama wins a state, then interviews the elder statesmen, comedian Eddie Izzard.
Oh, dear. Now we welcome Erica Jong. "We've been through so many stolen elections", she proclaims. What? Reagan screwed Mondale?? Bush stole it from Dukakis?? Heh???
I thought Ted Koppel was supposed to be part of their coverage. Maybe he thought the better of it at the last minute.......and RAN!
Jong believes Obama has "serenity". Yes, that'll solve the economic crisis. That should bring Osama Bin Laden out to be arrested, too.
Kum by yah........
----------------------------------------
It's hard to watch ABC News' coverage. Not the bias.
They're constantly showing Times Square. WE WERE THERE!! I WANNA GO BACK!! I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!
ABC says 207-135.
NBC says 207-135.
CBS says 206-135 (where's that other vote?? Dan Rather stole it!!!)
Fox News says 207-129.
CNN says 207-95. Wow, being hard on an old guy, aren't they?
OH!
BBC America says 207-135. On their screen. Anything said on the channel, other than John Bolton and Larry Sabato..........and sometimes Sabato is.......well.........
Bolton just SCHOOLED them again over their Colorado reporter, who Bolton says, should be fired for not interviewing, but arguing with the state Republican committee head.
John Bolton rocks!
--------------------------------------------------
Heading to the bedroom for more.....tired of sitting in Rachel's foldout chair. I once had a recliner. Then I got a mother-in-law in-house temporarily.........so long, recliner! :)
--------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE!!!!!!--------------I passed an African-American woman, probably over 60, in the parking lot at my voting precinct today and thought to myself, I'm sure she never thought that in her life she would have the chance to vote for an African-American who really had a good chance to win the Presidency.
I thought that was really cool. I thought to myself, "I don't want your guy to win, but...", my feelings have nothing to do with race.
I wish my first friend from elementary school, Darrell, were still here to see this; he went home to be with God in April.
--------------------------------------------------
Back to the hilarity of BBC America, we see they've shown John Bolton the door, and I don't see Larry either. New people and the first I see is some old Clinton crony. They don't show names on this channel, apparently; I've seen two I think tonight.
We're all just waiting for the final dominoes to fall here......
OH WAIT!!!!!! A HOLOGRAM ON CNN!!!!
Anderson Cooper (the gray Darth Vader????) has teleported the sage political scientist.....
Will.I.Am
who is really in Chicago.......
.....had McCain upset Obama, would they have hologrammed Joe The Plumber??
Ewwww......does he have the butt crack thing going on? Didn't think of that.....
OKAY-----back to the Electoral College......
CNN: Obama 207-135
ABC: Obama 207-141
NBC: Obama 207-142
CBS: Obama 206-141
BBC America: 207-141
Fox News: 220-138 (220 because.......)
ALERT-----------------FOX NEWS says OBAMA wins VIRGINIA.........
Wow..........what else can be said?
This-----FOX NEWS is the first media organization to call the Virginia race.
---------------------------------------
Well, as it was when I was on the air live in 1992, when California closed at 11pmET, I led into the news that William Jefferson Clinton would become the 42nd President of the United States.
16 years later.......Barack Obama does the same, about to become #44.
---------------------------------------
CNN gives Virginia to Obama.......
---------------------------------------
Fox News has a blinking 297 on the screen at 10:59ET. Oops......
And at 11pm, the victory.
Lots of people going nuts......Times Square, Chicago.......they're hugging in Times Square, like it's New Year's Eve.......
Well-----LET THE MEDIA PARTY BEGIN!!!
First........good live camera shot on MSNBC of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta; MLK's church.
CNN just showed the church, and good ol' Al Sharpton is there. Well, everything can't be perfect.
---Chris Matthews says the world will wake up tomorrow and say, "Damn it, they did it!"
---Eugene Robinson says American history goes back 389 years. Jamestown was pretend.
McCain has called Obama. Classy to the max. Didn't wait for "the rest of the rest".
---David Gregory says this election wasn't about race. Does that go with or against all we've heard the past many months. Just throwing that one out to y'all.
---Chris Matthews: "The best is yet to come tonight!" referencing Obama coming forth soon to speak to us.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, a moment to say.....
This is a wonderful moment for the United States of America. It's about time. Black, woman, Hispanic......whichever, this is good. Very good.
Now, let's get the rest of the hatred crap out of us (the collective us) and out of the way. Also, those who have used race politically, from both sides, lay it down. It's over.
I must confess I have doubts about much of this. Electing Obama President does not magically make hate and "the race card" disappear. But they should make them SO DULL, that they die of irrelevancy.
-----------------------------------
John McCain, as always, first class as he congratulates Obama.
And that's it from this election headquarters.
HEADLINES AS I LAY ME DOWN:
1) Obama wins historic election, becomes first African-American President
2) Watershed day as youth make impact
3) "Race Card" blunted
4) One more BIG shovel of dirt dumped on top of the grave of an ugly portion of American history
Well, we'll see what happens next. :)
1) Jessica Yelin "via hologram" from Chicago into the CNN HQ in New York talking to Wolf Blitzer.
"Help me, Obi Wolf Kenobi, you're my only hope!!"
---------------------------------
2) PMSNBC gives us the word that McCain will win South Carolina. That's a "whew" for the GOP.
---------------------------------
3) Looking now at the huge stage in Grant Park, Chicago, where some 90 million people....ah, one million people are expected to celebrate with the.......winner? I think he will be.
---------------------------------
4) Here in Virginia, former Governor Mark Warner won (yawn) the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring John Warner (no relation) in a cakewalk over another former Governor Jim Gilmore.
I've never seen two Virginia politicians fall so quickly than Jim Gilmore and George Allen. Before Allen's stupid "macaca" moment, there were many that thought he could have become the next President-elect tonight. As for Gilmore? Happy retirement and don't worry, he'll get a job. He's an attorney.
--------------------------------
7:54pm ET
5) The BBC World News guy says South Carolina is the start of "the real Southern U.S.". Ah, buddy, there's this other place called North Carolina. Apparently you are placing way too much emphasis on the word "North".
Shouldn't BBC America be worried about telling us about Gordon Brown??
--------------------------------
6) 2008 brings a whole new meaning to "Wall-To-Wall Coverage". John King, the incumbent at CNN, versus Bill Hemmer at Fox, with Brit Hume saying if he tried to run the wall, he'd "set the place on fire"......
8PM ET:----------------
Well, here we go; this should change the night.......
Obama gets Dukakis-country
Obama gets Maryland
Obama gets Illinois
Obama gets DC
Obama gets Connecticut
Obama gets New Jersey
McCain gets Oklahoma
Obama gets Maine (must have gotten past that 2 to 1 vote total they've been showing for the past hour or so....)
It's now 77-28, Obama. McCain won't see the electoral lead again.
Now, about that U.S. Senate........
We know Warner gets the vacant one here in Va........
--Inhofe wins in Oklahoma
--Joe Biden wins in Delaware......
--Frank Lautenberg is still alive, and will be shipped back to DC......(he's 84; if McCain is too old, then explain THAT one!!!)
--Susan Collins, the Republican in name only, survives in Maine.......
805pm ET-------
McCain gets Tennessee, cutting the lead to 77-39. Sounds like a fantasy football score! The GOP sure hopes Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner can help cut into the lead.......
808pm ET-------
Mitch McConnell survives in Kentucky and will most likely become the senior Republican in Washington come January.....period.
809pm ET-------
Kay Hagan ends the Dole Political Era. Elizabeth Dole goes down........long live Chiquita! Wha???
North Carolina's Senate seat goes from GOP to Dem......
BULLETIN-------------
Pennsylvania is called for Obama.....on NBC and ABC only.
CNN, CBS and Fox News are holding off......
Meanwhile.......
Obama wins New Hampshire, and it's 81-39 (102 for Obama if you watch ABC or NBC.....)
Vote totals (WOW!!!!!)
Ohio, less than a percent
West Va, less than a percent
Georgia, four percent in
New Hampshire, five percent in, but CNN hasn't called it yet.
Also in New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen takes a seat back for the Dems, beating Sununu II.
--------------------------------------------
Point by CBS-----with Elizabeth Dole defeated, 2009 will be the first time in 50 years that neither a Bush nor Dole will be serving in Washington.
--------------------------------------------
Fox News gives Pennsylvania to Barack Obama at 8:29pm.......and at 8:30?
Fox News gives Arkansas to John McCain.......
So, it's now 103-45, Obama.....
WE BREAK to help Rachel prepare for her P.E. test on basketball history tomorrow!!
-------------------------------------------
John McCain says, "Roll Tide!" Alabama goes to the GOP.........
THE LATEST ELECTORAL SCORES BY NETWORK AT 8:41PM:
CBS: Obama 102, McCain 54
ABC: Obama 102, McCain 49
Fox News: Obama 103, McCain 69
CNN: Obama 102, McCain 34
BBC America: Obama 103, McCain 49
NBC: Obama 103, McCain 58
NOW at 9pm----
Obama gets Minnesota (God, PLEASE not Al Franken!!!)
Obama gets New York
Obama gets Michigan
McCain gets Wyoming
Obama gets New Mexico
Obama gets Wisconsin
Obama gets Vermont
McCain gets North Dakota
McCain gets Kansas
Let's go with Obama 183, McCain 81.........from Fox.....
Let's go with Obama 174, McCain 100....on CBS....
Let's go with Obama 174, McCain 76....on ABC, the Stephanop....the Stepha....George's network.
Let's go with Obama 175, McCain 70....on NBC (The Obama Network)
Kevin Tibbles of NBC says Grant Park reminds him of Woodstock. I see people wearing coats, rather than nothing......and they seem orderly, too.
Oh, and there's CNN-------Obama 174, McCain 49. 49??!!??
918pm: Ohio does go to Obama, according to Fox News. 183-81 now the score.
Obama up 174-115 on CBS right now. I can't wait to see what kind of confetti they throw over on MSNBC when it's 270, which should be at 11pm when California falls.
Meanwhile, BBC America continues to show its ignorance with some dumb reporter saying Palin was a drag.......maybe Romney would have been better, blah, blah, blah, and former U.N. Ambassador Bolton SCHOOLED her.
"I think you show a fundamental ignorance of the Republican Party", says Bolton to the idiot reporter. Palin energized the base. McCain NEVER did. Romney NEVER did. For one independent she may have created a question mark in their mind, there were more conservatives than came aboard.
They quickly ended the live shot with that reporter at McCain HQ in Phoenix, tried to switch to another, couldn't, and the anchor (OOPS!) admitted the truth......
"Maybe we did that just to stop the argument....."
Meanwhile, of ALL PEOPLE, Larry Sabato (??!!??!!) was sitting there?? On BBC America???
-------925pm: Wolf Blitzer teases a big projection! Fox News says 200-81........
AND?????? La dee la dee da..........nothin'.........
Thanks, Wolf. Go teleport somebody.......
CBS says 194 to 124 now.
ABC says 195 to 90 now.
NBC says 200 to 85 now.
Fox now 200-90.
Fox gives Louisiana to McCain.
Fox gives New Mexico to Obama.
Rob breaks to show stupidity........
Brian Williams, thank you for reminding us that I live in the area of the former "Capital of the Confederacy".........as my county, Henrico County, was featured by Chuck Todd as a Republican suburban area of Virginia now taken by Obama.
A Democratic operative told Brian today about how bad they want to win there!
Yes, because obviously there are people who STILL THINK we're the Capital of the Confederacy! Sorry, but that makes me MAD; thanks, Brian!
Oh, and Brian-----we elected the first-ever African-American Governor......he lived in the Capital of Richmond......NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO??!!??!!
We now return to live blogging, hopefully without stupid interruptions......
9:42pm------Tavis Smiley discusses dividends with, that guy, on NBC. He says dividends about nine times in two minutes. Interesting perspective; think I'll keep an eye on his show going forward, even if it is on PBS (hee hee.....)
9:45pm------On Fox, Sen. Bill Casey of Pa. thinks that 51 percent of the vote for Obama in the popular vote means a broad victory. Heh?
The Democrats are already spinning a "mandate". Hold up a sec.....
1) The Dems are only getting more seats in Congress because of such an unpopular President. The President creates "coattails" or "drags", Congress never does.
2) Guess who has a LOWER approval rating right now? Bush? NO---Congress!!! Led by the Dems.....but that doesn't matter right now.
3) Finally----51 percent of the electorate is NOT a mandate; never. Ever. 1996, when Clinton was re-elected 49 to 40 over Bob Dole is the closest we've had to a mandate in the past 20 years. Still, Clinton never won 50 percent of the vote in either election to the Presidency.
Real mandates? Try:
1984: Reagan wins 58.8 percent of the popular vote.
1972: Nixon wins 60.7 percent of the popular vote.
1964: LBJ wins 61.1 percent of the popular vote.
1956: Eisenhower wins 57.4 percent of the popular vote.
10pm ET--------
Obama gets Iowa (switching from GOP, like Ohio and New Mexico)
McCain gets the token prize of Texas (did anyone remember Texas??)
Fox News says 207 to 129
CNN says 206 to 89
BBC America says 207 to 135
Speaking of......the BBC America anchor now asks Larry Sabato if this will be a "mandate". Sabato reminds the Brits that the last Democrat to get more than 50 percent of the vote was Jimmy Carter in 1976.........LBJ gets the last Democratic "mandate", he reminds them. In a nice way, Sabato says, NO.
Now, from Times Square, another BBC blonde, this one with cleavage, who wasn't ready for her live shot, talks of the "cheers in Times Square" when Obama wins a state, then interviews the elder statesmen, comedian Eddie Izzard.
Oh, dear. Now we welcome Erica Jong. "We've been through so many stolen elections", she proclaims. What? Reagan screwed Mondale?? Bush stole it from Dukakis?? Heh???
I thought Ted Koppel was supposed to be part of their coverage. Maybe he thought the better of it at the last minute.......and RAN!
Jong believes Obama has "serenity". Yes, that'll solve the economic crisis. That should bring Osama Bin Laden out to be arrested, too.
Kum by yah........
----------------------------------------
It's hard to watch ABC News' coverage. Not the bias.
They're constantly showing Times Square. WE WERE THERE!! I WANNA GO BACK!! I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!
ABC says 207-135.
NBC says 207-135.
CBS says 206-135 (where's that other vote?? Dan Rather stole it!!!)
Fox News says 207-129.
CNN says 207-95. Wow, being hard on an old guy, aren't they?
OH!
BBC America says 207-135. On their screen. Anything said on the channel, other than John Bolton and Larry Sabato..........and sometimes Sabato is.......well.........
Bolton just SCHOOLED them again over their Colorado reporter, who Bolton says, should be fired for not interviewing, but arguing with the state Republican committee head.
John Bolton rocks!
--------------------------------------------------
Heading to the bedroom for more.....tired of sitting in Rachel's foldout chair. I once had a recliner. Then I got a mother-in-law in-house temporarily.........so long, recliner! :)
--------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE!!!!!!--------------I passed an African-American woman, probably over 60, in the parking lot at my voting precinct today and thought to myself, I'm sure she never thought that in her life she would have the chance to vote for an African-American who really had a good chance to win the Presidency.
I thought that was really cool. I thought to myself, "I don't want your guy to win, but...", my feelings have nothing to do with race.
I wish my first friend from elementary school, Darrell, were still here to see this; he went home to be with God in April.
--------------------------------------------------
Back to the hilarity of BBC America, we see they've shown John Bolton the door, and I don't see Larry either. New people and the first I see is some old Clinton crony. They don't show names on this channel, apparently; I've seen two I think tonight.
We're all just waiting for the final dominoes to fall here......
OH WAIT!!!!!! A HOLOGRAM ON CNN!!!!
Anderson Cooper (the gray Darth Vader????) has teleported the sage political scientist.....
Will.I.Am
who is really in Chicago.......
.....had McCain upset Obama, would they have hologrammed Joe The Plumber??
Ewwww......does he have the butt crack thing going on? Didn't think of that.....
OKAY-----back to the Electoral College......
CNN: Obama 207-135
ABC: Obama 207-141
NBC: Obama 207-142
CBS: Obama 206-141
BBC America: 207-141
Fox News: 220-138 (220 because.......)
ALERT-----------------FOX NEWS says OBAMA wins VIRGINIA.........
Wow..........what else can be said?
This-----FOX NEWS is the first media organization to call the Virginia race.
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Well, as it was when I was on the air live in 1992, when California closed at 11pmET, I led into the news that William Jefferson Clinton would become the 42nd President of the United States.
16 years later.......Barack Obama does the same, about to become #44.
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CNN gives Virginia to Obama.......
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Fox News has a blinking 297 on the screen at 10:59ET. Oops......
And at 11pm, the victory.
Lots of people going nuts......Times Square, Chicago.......they're hugging in Times Square, like it's New Year's Eve.......
Well-----LET THE MEDIA PARTY BEGIN!!!
First........good live camera shot on MSNBC of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta; MLK's church.
CNN just showed the church, and good ol' Al Sharpton is there. Well, everything can't be perfect.
---Chris Matthews says the world will wake up tomorrow and say, "Damn it, they did it!"
---Eugene Robinson says American history goes back 389 years. Jamestown was pretend.
McCain has called Obama. Classy to the max. Didn't wait for "the rest of the rest".
---David Gregory says this election wasn't about race. Does that go with or against all we've heard the past many months. Just throwing that one out to y'all.
---Chris Matthews: "The best is yet to come tonight!" referencing Obama coming forth soon to speak to us.
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Now, a moment to say.....
This is a wonderful moment for the United States of America. It's about time. Black, woman, Hispanic......whichever, this is good. Very good.
Now, let's get the rest of the hatred crap out of us (the collective us) and out of the way. Also, those who have used race politically, from both sides, lay it down. It's over.
I must confess I have doubts about much of this. Electing Obama President does not magically make hate and "the race card" disappear. But they should make them SO DULL, that they die of irrelevancy.
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John McCain, as always, first class as he congratulates Obama.
And that's it from this election headquarters.
HEADLINES AS I LAY ME DOWN:
1) Obama wins historic election, becomes first African-American President
2) Watershed day as youth make impact
3) "Race Card" blunted
4) One more BIG shovel of dirt dumped on top of the grave of an ugly portion of American history
Well, we'll see what happens next. :)