Election central…
…I’m not.
If you want a lot of updates, though, you might want to go to Pajamas Media, as well as Kesher Talk.
Earlier, Blogger was being uncooperative and wouldn’t let me post. I’ve had a busy day; just got back home and will be doing other things for much of the evening. But I’ve got the TV on in the background. I’ve been channel surfing, and so far it’s going more or less as expected: the Dems are having a very good evening indeed.
Years ago this would have been happy news for me. Now it’s not really news at all. The real news will be whether the Democrats get control of the Senate as well as the House, and what they do or don’t do with their victory.
I voted today, marking my little paper ballot in black–no newfangled voting machines here! Strangely enough, for the first time in memory (unless memory is playing tricks on me), there were no curtains on the voting booths. But no one seemed to be looking over my shoulder. Plus, there’s a new gadget that takes the ballots. It’s something like those gizmos that grab a dollar (if you put it in just right) and give you change, only this one doesn’t give you change. In the past we used to fold our ballots in half and put them in a slot.
I always find voting to be a moving experience. It’s a cliche to say so, but voting is a privilege. The white-haired ladies (they are always white-haired ladies) who man (is that a mixed metaphor?) the polls are calm and polite, and have their poker faces on. Voting took all of three minutes today; no lines.
And now we wait. But I’m going to make a prediction: Democrats take both House and Senate.
Darkness falls.
I’m repositioning my retirement investments tomorrow. Shuffling 401k accounts. Our already- purchased trip to Ohio for Christmas is still on.
I doubt I’ll have a job a year from now. Big ticket residential construction always gets hit first…
It could be worse. Like being an Iraqi or Afghani involved in their respective elected governments.
I’d really be in the sh*t then, wouldn’t I? A year from now, “job” is going to be the LEAST of their worries.
Feh. Two years. Maybe the Reps will grow some leadership – and maybe even rediscover some principles.
It’s odd that you mention the lack of curtains at your voting booth. At my polling place I noticed the lack of curtains also. We did have them in previous years.
Nah–It’ll be sweetness and light now that the ‘correct’ party is in.
The media will talk up the stock market and the economy.
Even the trolls will like us ‘cuz america is now lead by the leftists.
You will hear nothing but good news from here on out.
The war on terror is as good as won!
Gray, First of all, Democrats are not “leftists”. In fact, there is very little difference between Democrats and Republicans in the USA. Both of them are in the pockets of big money, big time.
Democrats capture Congress (and possibly, Senate)? Big deal. Tweedledum is being replaced by Tweedledee. What’s all the hooha about?
—
C’mon, just watch the headlines on CNN, Le Monde, The Guardian, NY Times, LA Times, &c….
“America Backs Down from the Brink”
“America Saves the World, Again”
“America Rejoins the World!”
All by electing the leftists.
Everybody will love us now, won’t they?
The Democrats are presiding over a civil war in Iraq!
Pelosi dyed and people died!
I’m repositioning my retirement investments tomorrow. Shuffling 401k accounts.What? You think Halliburton’s gonna drop?
Everybody will love us now, won’t they?Not you Gray, not you.
C’mon, I’m sensitive; I care: my nation elected leftists–now I’m a better person in the eyes of the world….
Surfing the Democrat tsunami…
And Daniel Ortega too. Bring on the spurious comparisons!
Love us now, world: we elected the leftists.
Now we are OK.
Please stop killing us, we care….
Does that mean you are going to come visit now?
Do you think people are going to stop killing us now?
Cheney will be impeached simultaneously (hello President Pelosi).
And she kicks more ass than Chuck Norris!
She’ll find bin Laden in a week!
Defeat the insurgents and end the civil war in Iraq!
Re-inflate the housing bubble!
Bring the French and the Germans into the coalition in Iraq!
Confiscate all the guns in America!
Apply aloe vera to all the red necks!
Find all the IEDs!
This is going to me the most wonderful 2 years in the world.
“Do you think people are going to stop killing us now?”
Oh are you referring to the 42,000 yearly deaths due to auto accidents.
Maybe we should torture drunk drivers, bug their phones and kill 600,000 people just because they roughly look like drunk drivers.
Oh are you referring to the 42,000 yearly deaths due to auto accidents.
Nancy Pelosi will fix that too!
Right after she sends Bush to jail!
Why are we still in Iraq?! The House has been democrat for 10 minutes!
Careful what you wish for Gary, even sarcastically.
Gray 12.46
That’s ambitious pal but yeah welcome aboard!!!!
Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation … It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.-Robert Kennedy
Lots of sound and fury, but too little sense.
I’m with Gray and Neo here. It was not long ago that I would have jumped for joy at this (in fact, I did jump for joy when Lieberman trounced Lamont) but I’m afraid that the Dem will vietnamize Iraq. Heck, even Micheal Kinsey says so. I know war is violent, but Iraq has only been on its own for less than a year and people want to give up because it hasn’t been covered in Mcdonalds and Walmarts yet.
That’s not fair to Iraqis or to us. Saddam’s verdict should have been front page news. Instead we get other crap.
I feel like America is headed for Fahrenheit 451 and Animal Farm country – where we will end up at the glue factory because the will of others
If Bush doesn’t want to go along with the Democratic plan for stabalization and victory in Iraq, then the funding can be cut on the spot and everyone comes home. That’s how OUR Democracy works. It took US troops 2 weeks to make it to Baghdad so they can withdraw just as fast. Equipment can be abandoned/destroyed just like in Viet Nam. I strongly advise against leaving tanks, Bradleys and Strykers for al sadr and his militia however, but then I’m a Republican so my ideas must now be taken with a huge grain of salt or at least marginalized.
The best way to stabalize Iraq now that the Dems are in control of the House and have the Senate negated, is to simply quit reporting on the violence there, assuming they don’t actually have a plan for victory. I do wish them luck however with a nuclear Iran. Any reporting of American deaths done by the Conservative media can simply be chalked off as bitterness, exageration and political sabotage. Death by IED can now be attributed to bad drving resulting in traffic deaths. It’s all in the message and perception of the message these days. Some Dem voters I’m sure do expect stabalization in Iraq, if our troops are not withdrawn.
No nation divided 50/50 can carry out any consistent policy. To became a real superpower US need beforehand came to terms with themselves in which universe they live. And Bush administration, it seems, wasted their chance to do so after 9/11. Winston Churchill words apply: “Americans eventually do the right thing, but not before they try everything else”.
I can’t escape compare Bush and Reagan approaches to presidency. Both deserve to be called “crusaders”, and Bush actually used the term in aftermath of 9/11. But if you begin a crusade, you must explain this to public, do it often and vigorously. And Reagan did exactly this, every week. Of course, he had an advantage – his professional skills of actor, and Bush has disadvantage of being slightly tongue-tie. But when he really talks to public, he does it remarkably well. It is a pity that these occasions were so rare. Churchill also was famous for his rhetorical skills – and understanding of importance of propaganda in war time. Political pundits usually preach to converted; but presidential addresses look and hear almost everybody.
Bush’s failure in Public Relations is primarily one of dealing with not just a hostile press, but a dishonestly, willing to lie, enemy press.
Still, few are the Reps who lost that were strong against pork or corruption, or strongly in favor of term limits.
I felt terrible last week. Now I think it makes 2008 Pres. much closer — the lack of a REAL Dem plan will be seen as they become responsible for the budget; or continue with irresponsibility, as they case more likely is.
When the leading Dems say we must stay in Iraq to win there, that will be excellent.
LGF has an interesting item on the Iranian reaction to the pending election, now enacted. This election has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that America is harshly and vulnerably divided over not only on how to combat jihadists, excuse me, resistance fighters, but even on how to prevent resistance fighters from defending themselves, i.e preventing attacks. That is tactical vulnerability no matter how you want to cut and spin it. For Iran to succeed in destabalizing Iraq, they need to radically escalate the attacks on American troops which will force a withdrawal. I would focus soley on US forces and forget killing civilians – that can come later when recriminations will be unfettered via the absence of US forces. The Dems will cut and run rather than lose political capital – we here know it and most certainly the jihadists know it. Without a land toe-hold to project force, occupation of Iraq, attacks on American interests can escalate almost unchecked. I think once America is driven from Iraq, we will see some very serious attacks on Israel. I also see our homeland being quite safe in light of our subsidaries, i.e. embassies, ports, business interests and those of allies directly dependent on us, being so vulnerable.
On the other hand, and hope always floats, some of the newly elected Dems are far, far from being flaming Liberals who piss all over themselves at the sight of a terrorist. I think the joyous celebrations will be short lived when the reality sets in that complaining and whining and Bush hating now won’t get things accomplished.
The lines at my polling station were short — and I voted for a Republican for the first time in my life. 🙂 I’m amazed.
Who do you think is happier about this stern national rebuke of our president and his policies, The democrats or Saddam Hussein?
The Mujahideen are 3 up–3 countries hit and three sympathetic leftist governments installed.
“…. a massive explosion caused a Humvee to ram into a goat, killing all 4 Americans in the vehicle. The goat’s horns did considerable damage to the vehicle and mutilated the bodies within. The Pentagon was quick to assure Congress that safe driving courses will be mandatory for all US personnel in Iraq despite the remarkable progress made in Iraq and the envisioned pullout expected by July 2007. One anonymous Pentagon source said even if everyone was leaving next week, safety courses would still implimented, stating even the prevention of a minor injury would be well worth it.”
“…a massive pipeline exploison is being attributed to an intoxicated Iraqi fuel tanker driver, an employee of Halliburton. The military commander in charge of security for the pipeline sector where the explosion occured is being brought up on charges of failure to protect islamic religious values. The exploison occured near Tikrit, a strong Islamic community steeped in islamic tradition, and credible witnesses claim the driver was seen drinking beer as he roared past a school house full of children.”
I was afraid for Bush and fearful of this election ever since the conservatives joined the liberals to sandbag the Harriet Miers nomination. THAT shortsighted, uncompromising display revealed a contentious, self-defeating ‘core’ constituency that didn’t know how to wear power well and who stayed home this election because Bush was too centrist for them. This election was won by the Dems because conservatives did not turn out for the President, NOT because the Dems out-campaigned the Repubs.
If the Democrats obtain a Senate majority Bush will be impeached and tried. It will be payback for the job the conservatives did on Clinton. Let’s not forget that frivolous, partisan-motivated impeachment began with the conservatives’ ambush of Clinton.
I voted early but for someone like myself, who is both a domestic issue liberal and a foreign policy hawk, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone to enthusiastically vote for. Siding with the Liberals strengthens the terrorists(who are no doubt happy about the Dem win) and with the anti-Americans like our band of trolls but siding with the conservatives also puts me in company with which I’m uncomfortable.
Where we vote there are several portable booths, sans curtains, and several large round tables. The polling place is a church assembly room most other days.
Usually, there aren’t enough people around to look over one’s shoulder, and, around here at least, peeking over shoulders is likely to be met with some level of disapproval from the peekee. Therefore, I’ve never seen anyone try to sneak a peek at anyone else’s voting preferences. BTW, we’re still in the age of paper ballots — but they’re machine read and tabulated.
Grackle has written wisely.
I’d say, let’s give the *new* Dem congressmen a chance. They may be the beginning of a new, less fanatical Democrat party. If these people can think for themselves, they might actually help the situation. If not…
My worry is that the Kos crowd and their pets on the Hill will bully the freshmen into toeing a hard left line. If that happens, look forward to at least two years of suicidal insanity here in Washington.
Whatever happens, trolls are now on notice: Put up or shut up. Show us how your superior intelligence and patriotism are going to save us poor, dim convervatives from ourselves.
We’re waiting…
Yesterday was the very first time in my life that I voted the straight party ticket… of the OTHER party! (I’m still a registered Democrat.)
I thanked the election judges “for being here so that all of us can vote.” – from their reaction, it seemed as if this is the first time anyone has ever said that to any of them-we take so much for granted.
I’m disappointed, but not dispirited. Bill Whittle has a must-read post today at “Eject! Eject! Eject!” http://www.ejectejecteject.com/
This is really MUST READ:
http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000136.html
Wou! Steve got the same hit first!
A warning: recommended text is addressed to those who have some skills in logical reasoning. As election results show, there are not so many of them, alas. Today I have got the second in my life shock and disillusionment in US democracy. The first I got when I read American test in Math for applicants for post-graduate studies. It looked like my exam program for 9-grade school class.
Rummy falls on sword, new blood, no pun intended, in Defense, Bush calling for cooperation (look out for those pending hearings, George!). It don’t matter what the new directions in Iraq are going to be. It boils down to whether or not the American people really understand the adage that if you play by the rules with jihadists, you lose by the rules. Can you wear their ears, baby, and not wince when you look yourself in the eyes in the mirror? The Dems are now faced with something even more horrific than IEDs in Iraq – Iran working overtime to have its nuclear weapons locked and loaded, ready to defend the manifesting caliphate. And Israel?? Since the Dems cannot divest themselves of the influence of the radical Left, it does not bode well for little Israel garnishing even half the support they had under a Republican Congress. Look out for those undestroyed bunkers and tunnels along the Litani, IDF!
Wow. What a state of denial the neocons and righties are in today.
I have always found that things go most smoothly when you prepare folks for what is to come. It tempers the fits and tantrums. So here is what will happen.
First a little light will be shown through the most opaque presidency in history. Americans will be horrified by what they learn. In regards to Iraq. The dems will need no “plan to win” because there is nothing to be won. Americans of all stripes will simply want out.
The remaining republican congressmen will be in no mood to defend BushCo from what is to come. In 2005 the repubs were assured by BushCo that they had nothing to worry about in regards to the upcoming midterm elections as the repub congress was already starting to panic. Now they see BushCo as incompetents just like the rest of us do.
With light shining through the windows of the oval office leaving no place to hide the arrogance, incompetence and corruption of BushCo you will see the repubs among the first to call for the impeachment of BushCo.
The people will call for BushCo to stand trial for war crimes.
Now. No tantrums. No fits. You have been prepared.
Eject, Eject, Eject gives us wise advice. The GOP got a sound beating and deserved it. This is bitter medicine to swallow, but we must. So mourn today, pick ourselves up tomorrow.
That said, I shudder for this country, and I more than shudder for its trusting friends; because the dem gang can no more conduct the nation’s business than a cow can sing grand opera.
Perhaps by the 2012 election a beleagured, humiliated, desperate America will find its Reagan.
Off-topic, but not so very off: Suppose somebody on the other side, possibly a Webb, were to package their old favs–education, manufacturing jobs and energy conservation–as urgencies of national defense. I have zero % confidence that the dems are bright enough to do so or that they have the character to actually deliver on it, but for argument’s sake, say they were on the level. What would be our reaction?
Me? I’d be listening hard.
No tantrums? No fits? Save that advice for your compatriots on the Hill. Remember which party’s base has been foaming at the mouth since 9/11.
See – Mark is an example of the kind of nutball we *don’t* need influencing Congress. They’ll spend the next two years gleefully sniffing George Bush’s dirty underwear while ignoring the real problems they need to address.
Let’s hope the new Dems have more sense than that. They have a chance to prove that their way is better for the country. They will not do that by dragging the country through another Clintonian inquisition.
Bugs
That was a tantrum. Go to your room.
Let us remember what Margaret Thatcher said to her Cabinet when popular resentment of hardships became obvious: “Under democracy nobody can hope stay at power indefinitely. We must hold on until opposition is sane again.” Wise recommendation.
Whatever the people decide — let freedom reign.
Gray’s stuff is pocking hilarious. Same goes for Sergey’s quote about Churchill and Americans.
Arnold can save America, Sergey. Now is the time to get the Democrats to vote in that the President can be Mexican, etc etc. They’ll take it, hook line and sinker, then Arnold is the new Reagan. Well, he has the acting skills, can’t find anyone better than that.
Tantrum? For me, that was rational discourse! You don’t want to see me having a tantrum…
Besides, I’m already in my room.
Just a note of caution, is all. Obviously, everyone hopes the Dems will really provide a change of course in the WOT and other matters. But if they start their ascendency by launching a pogrom in Congress, only the most fanatical Bush-haters will approve.
Serious solutions for serious times. Good luck to ’em!
Here in Italy Liberal newspapers (full of excommunist minded) say today that now the american people have choosen: “the democracy promotion policy is over”… “is time to come back to the realistic policy of the past” .
I Hope this is only an oniric vision of mine veryliberal journalists !!!
keep going on with your blog !!
Greetings from Italy!!!!
ps: i put your link in my young blog.
“Staffing” the polls. Any time you want to say “manning” something you can say “staffing” instead.
Figured that one out when writing a memo for my all-girl admin team.
Teri
In that case, exercises and dieting juices fruit and vegetable
can’t be that helpful for you. The millions of Americans who say they’re
dieting juices fruit and vegetable 55 percent in 2012,
compared to 56 percent in 2007. There may be something that you cannot get slimmer until you CHANGE your eating habits to something NEW and DIFFERENT, something which you’ve never tried it, don’t dismiss it!
Another popular fad diet that you have tried many diets with little success.