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h/t Brilliant at Breakfast. Happy Election Eve. Open thread below...

About Bluegal aka Fran
Bluegal aka Fran's picture
Executive Producer of The Professional Left Podcast. On staff at Crooks and Liars since 2007. Master's degree from Harvard. Happy wife of Driftglass. Mother of three geniuses. Obsessive knitter. Blogs at http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com. .
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A Desperate McCain Throws the Ultimate ‘Hail Mary’
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=4229

GOPnot4me's picture

Next to last "Honest McCain Campaign Poster":

http://gopnot4me.blogspot.com/2008/11/honest-...

Vote early and vote often!


C'mon, Evolution, you can do better than this...

Trittydi's picture

Senator McToast and his wife Milquetoast.
*

Trittydi's picture

Ooooooops another duplicate

DavidtheDuke's picture
wow

That is some impressive technology. If the lips and facial expressions are toned a bit.. you could make people do things they never did before...

MsJoanne's picture

I really enjoyed that.

And with this, off to bed I go. Sweet dreams all.

ron's picture

Already? We will miss you tonight. GN.

Ceci's picture

Pleasant dreams. And I hope that you have a good election day. :)

MsJoanne's picture

and these people are friggin' crack of dawners.

Before I go, Ceci, would you provide your blog link again? I will grab it tomorrow when I logon but I haven't seen you in a while and wanted to ask you for it.

Now...I must poof. 'Night all my favorite people!

Ceci's picture

It is:

http://thepoliticalmegaphone.wordpress.com

Thank you for thinking of my blog. I've been writing little stories here and there since it opened. And of course, I've been dealing with some Republicans who want to post all sort of nonsense about Barack Obama. :-P

But otherwise, it is going well.

I wish you luck on your blog. May it be very successful.

Again, I hope that you will have a wonderful night and good election day. :)

Ali's picture

Fun video. Great way to end the day.

remind everybody you know to VOTE! (except for the republicans, of course)

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

I VOTED FOR OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS!


Some stuff you can't make up!

Peter G's picture

I hope tomorrow is a day you will fondly remember.


Hasa Diga Eebowai

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

:<[)


Some stuff you can't make up!

This has been a rather long and profound day. I plan to vote early tomorrow. And then, I plan to keep a watch on the election before and after work tomorrow. I feel that it will be a very profound day for me as an American. But it will also be a very important day as a Black woman too. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I don't want to miss a moment of it. And I hope that we will get the change we need tomorrow.

I wish the Dems, Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden luck. We've waited eight long years for this moment. :)

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

I just thought I'd tell you.


Some stuff you can't make up!

calgarylady's picture

Very well done. Sleep well, Ms Joanne. Good thoughts for tomorrow!

bellesouth's picture

I feel like a schoolgirl the night before she starts third grade.

I am pulling a late night tomorrow because of my jobby-job, and I voted last week, so fortunately I don't have to wait in line today.

Oh I am so excited!

Here's my pep talk:

Let's go change the world.

JohnnyBravo's picture

How did they do that?

GObama!


NOBODY 2012

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

thank you.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Big E's picture

here in PA, outside of Philly where I live the Rev. Wright
ad has been playing all day..... I am glad to see Republicans '527' ads
staying with a losing 'strategery'...

It will be an Obama day in PA !!

thebewilderness's picture

MSNBC has been running that ad throughout the Rachel Maddow show.
They just reported the first returns from a resort in NH. Obama 15, McCain 6, they then proceeded to play the "Wright" ad twice in the commercial break.

jakes's picture

Whet your appetite a little with these 20 "greatest" political ads... some dripping with poetic hyperbole but also scummy "southern strategy" and (I'll give away the number 1 here) unbridled fear mongering of the highest degree - the infamous "Daisy" ad - keep in mind that little girl by the way is still alive and is older than most of you - you'll sleep better!

aquarius's picture

Boston Legal rocked tonight. In it's own crazy story line, the election was at the forefront. Shore and Crane fight about Republicans and Democrats with Shore pointing out McCain's problems including Palin. Even the battle state of Colorado was mentioned with Shirley casting her vote in Colorado. In the end, Crane says "I crossed the aisle" meaning he voted Obama.

This is probably, on the eve of the election, one of the best Boston Legal episodes, if you were a Dem. If you were Republican you probably will never watch it again.

Ferrofluid's picture

Its going to be one nerve wracking day tomorrow, then the MSM circus begins.
We have the chance to undo eight years of Republican failure, and attempt to rebuild for the future.

Watching Chocolate News, quite a surprise to watch an interesting comedy sketch show, SNL just doesnt cut it for me. Been spoilt by decades of Britcom.

GOPnot4me's picture

The documentary has been running for a week in HBO's rotation and though two years old, not much has been done to safeguard our elections. It's my only worry for election day.

Electronic voting is a failure. When can we go back to paper ballots?


C'mon, Evolution, you can do better than this...

Trittydi's picture

Canada votes completely on paper ballots and they have their results within 24 hours - maybe even less. Rachel Maddow's commentary on how the long voting lines are a default "poll tax" is excellent --

The New Poll Tax -- Rachel Maddow
*

calgarylady's picture

I'm astounded that they are still used. Paper ballots are the only way to go.

ron's picture

Here the early election offices are county election offices. The regular voting places will be open tomorrow and will help spread the voters around. They will vote in their regular precinct voting places.

Obama:15 votes
Mccain:06 votes
Nader: 00 votes

21 ballots

ron's picture

and prayers for Obama and family. I'm sure you all have heard his grandmother passed today.

Ceci's picture

In the earlier thread on Crooks and Liars, I expressed my condolences to his family.

Like I said there, how he looked during the North Carolina speech tonight was heart-breaking. It brought me to tears as I saw him speak about his grandmother.

Edwin's picture

LANDSLIDE!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo.


“let’s hold our nose this one time” and hope, dear Neptune, we don't perpetuate this rancid continuum

Ferrofluid's picture

ʍoɹɹoɯoʇ dn ʞɔ*ɟ ʇ,uop :ssɐ ɹnoʎ dn pɐǝɥ ɹnoʎ ǝʌɐɥ ןןıʇs oɥʍ noʎ ɟo ǝsoɥʇ ɹoɟ

odanny's picture

You made a funny. I had no problem reading this (where is my head?)
Oh, thats right, I voted early, all is well.


Radix Omnium Malorum Avaritia

Ferrofluid's picture

It works both ways, copy paste into the top box, flipped text appears in lower. click (flip) if copy pasting rather than typing.

http://swizzy.frih.net/tools/49/flip

Theres also a million and one online text translators out there, redneck, klingon, gibberish, latin etc.
Some are so so , some hilarious and work very well.

Trittydi's picture

*
˙sɹǝuıɥʍ ʇuǝuıɯǝǝɹd ɟo ʎʇɹɐd ǝɥʇ - sɔılƃnɥʇ-ǝɹ
*

hello's picture
wow

ʎɐp uoıʇɔǝlǝ sıɥʇ uo ɹǝʇʇǝq ɥɔnɯ ƃuılǝǝɟ ǝɹ,noʎ ʇɐɥʇ ǝdoɥ

oɹɹǝɟ 'sʞuıl ǝʇıɹoʌɐɟ ʎɯ ɟo ʎuɐɯ os ʇsod noʎ

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

:<[)


Some stuff you can't make up!

thebewilderness's picture
Trittydi's picture

Those of you on Facebook -- remember to change your status tomorrow to "Working on Getting the Vote Out"
*

Tequila's picture

Hungry, hungry Congo...
The EU's the next domino in the recession game. Obama's got the edge, while the Repugs have the delusions of grandeur.

ron's picture

They plan to steal it again.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/466.html

Trittydi's picture

THAT is practically vomit-inducing. Such unbelievable tripe. If they can get it close enough to steal - they want people to think it was legitimate all along.

Re-thug-lics -- the party of immature, voraciously rapacious, despotic, doughy white, cowardly, angry troglodytes, bigots, racists, perverts, xenophobes, pedophiles, murderers, war criminals, homophobes, misogynists, self-hating women, fetid wombs and consummate chronic liars and preeminent whiners.
*

Raz's picture

I voted a week ago. So have many of you, but you're NOT done yet! My polling place is a block away. I plan to be there to see that everyone gets to vote. Drive one person. Drive a car-full. Heck, make runs. Do whatever you can. Pass out water bottles to voters waiting in line. Help them with voter info. If we all just do one thing we will achieve CHANGE! Get involved tomorrow because then you can say you made a difference!

Peace!

Just another example of Republican whitewashing IOKIYAR

nothing to see, move along.

http://www.bigbrassblog.com/index.php?itemid=...

http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/16/Bra...

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

palins appointees find her and every other state employee...innocent

tell you what...she best not ask favors of the troopers...they dont like it much when one of their own gets effed over

and they released a medical report...as it were

palin is healthy...she did birth babies....she has boobies...she does not have a penis

hello's picture

..that doctors could not definitively locate Sarah's penis with all of the advanced technology available in this scientific/medical age.

seevee's picture

Earlier tonight I stopped and contemplated what it would mean if Obama pulls this off. The utter unexpectedness and historical importance, the profound impact on the rest of the world's opinion of our country, the joy and hope instead of disgust and embarrassment, the chance for meaningful change in our energy policy and hope for redesign of our fractured health care system, the lives saved by getting out of the wars in the Middle East.....all of this...was rather overwhelming to me. I don't care if people think I'm naive or accuse me of being unrealistic in my expectations. I'm tired of having to tone down my enthusiasm. YES WE CAN!!

northernneighbour's picture

I'm a Canuck so I cannot participate but I'm all pins and needles hoping for an Obama win tomorrow. Happy election day!

ron's picture

Expecting presents tomorrow of Obama in the WH, 60 in the Senate and 2/3 majority in the House.

Ferrofluid's picture

A certain duo deserve a meeting with a grand jury.

calgarylady's picture

I'm sure they're busy burning and shredding evidence of many more crimes that we will never know about.

seevee's picture

planning for more mischief before they leave.

calgarylady's picture

they'll come up with something, seevee.

CBC's The Hour had Matt Taibbi on tonight. He was talking about how McCain's campaign would provide daily box lunches for the press entourage. After the press angered McCain on one particular occasion, they all received EMPTY boxes. Nice, eh.

Taibbi is an interesting guy with great inside stories. He's got a new book out that I plan on buying.

..for a resounding victory for Obama/Biden.

Every vote cast for this ticket is a vote for change and reform. It's the closest thing to a 'clearing of the board' that America can realistically achieve at this point in her still young history.
In any case, I've got my razor blades handy.

It will be such a relief to finally get to be able to shave off the beard I've been growing since last spring.

ron's picture

Better yet, give them to repugs so they can slit their own throats.

oncall's picture

Dixville Notch NH: Obama 15, McCain 6

Link


I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator.
Adolf Hitler

paddler's picture

Wow, for political junkies you are sure missing the significance of Dixville Notch. They've been the first place in America to vote in every election since 1960 and have only once before (1968) voted for a Democrat and now again 40 years later they've given Obama a resounding victory, and it wasn't even close.

ron's picture

We have a long way to go. When they cheat, old traditions go away.

paddler's picture

Looks like he won Hart's Location, the other early voting town in NH, 17-10.

Karen's picture

ron:

We have a long way to go. When they cheat, old traditions go away.

Cheating is an old American tradition.

Let Dixville Notche be an energy boost as the fight to the finish ensues. :)


Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

so they havent been perfect

and they use paper ballots

Steve E's picture

After the complete, or should I state ongoing, fiasco revolving around Hurricane Katrina and the lack of support for the City of New Orleans, why oh why, does the State of Louisana support the Republican ticket.

JohnnyBravo's picture

Why the hell is LA red?!?


NOBODY 2012

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

other states and provided no provisions for their return. thank karl rove for that. landrieu lost the governorship and nagen(did he switch parties again?) barely won again.


Some stuff you can't make up!

hello's picture

Saw a piece of it on CNN but the entire thing is really impressive. Thanks for posting it, BG

Karen's picture

From its inception, America has been a battle between hope and hate. From the very moment an otherwise stubborn John Adams yielded to the demands of southern slave holders --- sacrificing the freedom of generations of African Americans lest our country conceived in liberty be stillborn --- hate and hope have vied for American dominance.

With hope embedded into our Declaration of Independence minus the clauses that would have shared it with our African American brethren, it was left to later generations to continue the battle. As played by Anthony Hopkins in Amistad, Adams' son, John Quincy, implored an America fearful of civil war to "let it come" if it must. Their forefathers had pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to principles of equal freedom once. It was their turn. It came. Hope conquered.

As the torch was passed, subsequent generations were more fortunate in their attempts to form a more perfect union. As the battle between hope and hate shifted to women's rights and civil rights, the battlefield shifted from the trenches to the protest marches to the campaign headquarters. To shine light on our right to marry the partner of our choice, we have not had to go to war; we only had to go to court.

Over the grueling course of the last several months, we have watched Barack Obama and John McCain mobilize respectively --- and quite literally --- the forces of hope and hate. It is the quintessential American election. I have watched it unfold both amazed and aghast, tears of both joy and sorrow dripping from my eyes, sometimes simultaneously.

What a glorious privilege to be alive and American at this time! The battle now proceeds to the 21st Century, the marching orders given to us, to encourage not violence, but voting! Breathe that in!

True, some are wary of the road ahead: The soft voter suppression of dirty tricks, the gut-wrenching national conversation in which we still must engage about race, the potentially riotous nature of the Palin mob that will indeed turn out on the side of hate. I say, "Let it come!"

Now is our moment. Tomorrow we battle.

Fear not!

Choose hope!


Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?

Taarak's picture

Thanks Karen. If I might add:

Tyranny – from the Latin tyrannus: an illegitimate ruler.

As a nation, we’ve fought many battles and wars against tyranny. We hold tyranny to be as vile as we hold Liberty and Freedom dear. We celebrate our Freedom and our Liberty with picnics and parades and rejoice in the fact that we once overthrew Tyranny with courage and resolve while proudly waving our Flag.

It’s been a very long time since we, as a Nation, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all, have been required to throw off the shackles of subservience. We’ve fought many wars and many battles, but seldom have the consequences of directly losing our Freedom weighed in the balance. We fight for our flag, for our patriotism, for our country, without remembering what it means to lose our Liberty and Freedom. At times we have celebrated victory without knowing what we’ve won – or why we fought.

So we remember the Flag, and the picnics, and the parades. We learn our history as we learn our multiplication tables and remember them similarly – with dispassion and disregard. Soon, all we have left is our Flag, and our picnics, and our parades. We forget what it means to be One Nation, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All. We have difficulty relating to our forefathers who struggled so desperately for the opportunities which we expect. We no longer recognize tyranny.

Tyranny is not a word shadowed in historical context. It is not an ethereal concept to be studied in philosophy 101. It is a very real human condition. It is the rule of a few over the many – for the benefit of the few; and we are not immune. We can be led into tyrannical rule by those waving the Flag, and providing the picnics and parades just as by those who would point a gun and pull the trigger. We can be made to accept tyranny as normal because we have picnics and parades. We can be tricked into thinking that rule of the few over the many is acceptable as long as we might be included with the few. We can be convinced to vote for the few – as long as they wave a Flag.

Tyranny: the rule of a few, for the benefit of the few, over the many.

Yes, tomorrow we battle. Tomorrow we vote – not for Flags, or picnics, or parades, but for the true American ideal. We battle so those who have fought for Liberty and Justice for ALL before us will not have fought in vain. We vote so that the tightening shackles of tyranny will not forever rust around the ankles of Democracy. Tomorrow we vote not only against the few, but for America, with Liberty and Justice for ALL.

calgarylady's picture

Frankly, I don't know if I will be able to sleep tonight. Obama/Biden all the way!

ron's picture

I'll be watching all day.

Don from Canada's picture

Remember Diebold when McCain takes office.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=55086...

Embittered Angry Anti-Republicrat Max-Hussein-1's picture
.

.

25 Reasons to VOTE!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEmlPdVVXZQ

.


Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.

Embittered Angry Anti-Republicrat Max-Hussein-1's picture
.

.

An Open Letter to Barack Obama
Between Hope and Reality

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/arti...

.


Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.

I guess he's aiming for Governor-for-life.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

ny would never have given him a third term. he knew that. he should be brought up on charges for repeatedly violating the laws of ny and circumventing all local jurisdictions, which he has done. he lied about the cost of yankee stadium to the ny taxpayers. and more.

but since he runs the media, whose to stop him. ny has more stoopid sheeple than I thought.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Tequila's picture

Certain laptops once again have hazardous batteries. More vote-rigging.

Embittered Angry Anti-Republicrat Max-Hussein-1's picture

...look over there, it's Acorn and it's seven cases of registration fraud.

[/snark]


Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.

Exredstater's picture

It is no surprise that the John McCain - Sarah Palin ticket has gone increasingly negative down the home stretch. They really don’t have any other options to close the gap. However, a new negative advertisement is particularly disturbing in its hypocrisy.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Leaked_Ad_f...

Sarah Palin has consistently advocated abstinence-only education in schools, despite the fact that this philosophy has resulted with both Palin and her daughter conceiving out of wedlock. Clearly, abstinence-only has not worked for the Palin family, yet Sarah Palin wants to prescribe this in place of comprehensive sexual education for other young Americans.

This advertisement came from the same 527 group that put forth this anti-Obama spot last week…

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Leaked_Pro_...

xoites defends Constitution's picture

I have a fervent desire to see a bumper sticker on a car before the end of the month. I could stand to see it on hundreds, but just on one would be enough.

YES WE DID!

Karen's picture

xoites:

I have a fervent desire to see a bumper sticker on a car before the end of the month. I could stand to see it on hundreds, but just on one would be enough.

YES WE DID!

Yeah, I was thinking that too. (No, really, I was.) :)

And not just bumper stickers. Signs. T-Shirts. Etc.

And for a slightly more petty jab, I'd like to see:

Joe the Plumber . . . meet Barack the President.


Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?

JohnnyBravo's picture

"Joe the Plumber . . . meet Barack the President."

That would be SWEET!


NOBODY 2012

good one!

:<[)


Some stuff you can't make up!

xoites defends Constitution's picture
Rick Street's picture

has obama been sucker punched? Mccain is hitting the airwaves with all kinds of smear job ads at the last minute. What a disgraceful pos this ahole is.

xoites defends Constitution's picture

Yes he is and he is desperate too [also].

Fuck him!

He sold his soul to the devil months ago.

May i be wrong (as an Athiest) and may he burn in Hell!

And if i am right may he at least lose the election.

VOTE!

Tyler Durden's picture

Try over 50 years ago. And that is by giving him the benefit of the doubt of ignoring his pre adulthood years, and by all accounts he sounded like a complete prick of a teenager.

I don't think I have seen as much benefit of the doubt awarded to such undeserving character ever in my life.

This guy was a piece of shit from way back, let's all be grown ups and stop pretending this is a "recent development." Yes recognizing the truth about his true rotten nature will reflect bad on us, as it will lead to the logic conclusion that our society enabled him... and thus we really are not that much better than him. But truth shall set you free as they say...

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture
yep

mcc*nt has been a POS for some time now. how he treated his first wife is a certain indicator of the man now.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Ferrofluid's picture

It just make them look pathetic

cswat's picture

america. home of democracy spreadism. where election day isnt a national holiday.

xoites defends Constitution's picture

It will be. :)

Chris the...'s picture

My polling place is across the street, and it looks like people are starting to show up. It may not be a holiday but it feels like Christmas.

xoites defends Constitution's picture

Dancing in the street.

(Corrected.)

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

GO DO YOUR THING GUYS AND GALS!


Some stuff you can't make up!

xoites defends Constitution's picture

Two weeks ago. We have early voting in Nevada and i have been busy waiting for everybody else to catch up! :)

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

there are already long lines at 6:00 AM in NJ.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Tequila's picture

They get fired when they come back from service.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

WOW!


Some stuff you can't make up!

So that they are except from abuse like that?

I am sure some of these poor guys had insult added to injury when they were fire, after returning from a deployment in hell, by a CEO driving a nice car sporting one of them big honking yellow ribbon.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

the soldiers who go to court are apparently winning, but many give up for lack of time or money.


Some stuff you can't make up!

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

RACHEL MADDOW POINTS OUT THE NEW VARIATION

Can you afford to lose a days pay(like florida?)


Some stuff you can't make up!

Tyler Durden's picture

(stupid conference paper deadline)

... but somehow I have a bad feeling about this.

The boldness of the GOP denial leads me to believe they were seeding the mindshare for the "upset" we will witness tomorrow night.

The ironic part, as Americans... we can't vote for president in a presidential election. Am I the only one who is bothered by the whole concept of elector and why every state is so hand-wavy about them?

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

same smug repugs.

when the smoke cleared and the ballots were counted, there were four less repugs in the senate and 9 less repugs in the house!

:<[)


Some stuff you can't make up!

Tyler Durden's picture

I am more concerned about the trend than the single point error.

Plus having Pelosi and Reid in 2006 really did change nothing.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

but the blue dems are accumulating. the old guard will be gone in two more cycles. we have to keep the pressure on.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Gimmelibertee's picture

I'm afraid if this election is stolen, there will be violence in the streets.

And I may be leading the charge.......

Tequila's picture

Do it for the brothers and sisters who have to endure institutionalized racism
on a regular basis.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

and beaten by mobs and police and deputized KKKlansmen
and bitten by police dogs
and shot
and lynched
and bombed in church
and bombed in their homes

do it for medgar evers
do it for emmet till
do it for martin luther king
do it for robert kennedy

do it for the children
and do it for yourself.


Some stuff you can't make up!

xoites defends Constitution's picture

The racists
The prejudiced
The ignorant

Let's open some minds and pour some enlightenment in!

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

Some stuff you can't make up!

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

What's Already Gone Wrong at the Polls? A compilation of voting problems, so far

Problems to date include technological glitches, long lines, intimidation and malfeasance, bad handwriting (? and, of course, bad ballots.

About one-third of the electorate voted early this year in a gambit to avoid procedural snafus and encountered—you guessed it—lots of procedural snafus. This doesn't bode well for Election Day. Tomorrow Slate will have rolling coverage of polling disasters across the country. For now, here's a brief account of problems encountered so far.

Technological Glitches

* In Atlanta, four of five terminals connecting a polling site to the secretary of state's voter database malfunctioned because "the state was having an Internet connectivity issue." It took about an hour and a half to fix the problem.
* Voters in North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia using iVotronic touch screens reported "flipping"—wherein their choices were switched from Barack Obama to John McCain or vice versa. With help from poll workers, voters were able to correct their ballots.
* In Park City, Utah, voters had to cast provisional ballots because of a computer glitch that made it appear as though they had already voted.
* The summary page on Knox County, Tenn., voting machines displayed only the first three letters of the candidate's first name. Votes for Barack Obama were recorded as "BAR"—leading some to believe, mistakenly, that they'd selected Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate.
* Absentee-ballot distribution in Fairfax, Va., was frozen by an e-mail blitz from a group that was trying to express concern about the adequacy of the state's voting system.
* Oprah Winfrey had trouble using a touch screen, which initially didn't record her presidential vote.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

It's not that I am opposed to hearing different points of view than my own, but Joe says some of the dumbest things I've ever heard. He was going on this morning about how Obama was a lock in several states in the primary where he lost.....that the polls and the pundits all thought he had it locked up. Then Hillary beat him. He sees that as a sign that McCain may do the same.

Granted, no one can be sure until this day is over, but does he not see the difference....that record numbers of people showed up at primaries to vote for ONE DEMOCRAT OR THE OTHER DEMOCRAT? He keeps saying that the Republicans, especially Bush, are being repudiated and then he pulls this silliness out of nowhere,

I realize he's a former Republican congressman, but he, above all, should get what's going on today. People aren't standing in line for hour upon hour to give a thumbs up to Bush and the Republicans. They are standing there to get rid of them.

are a little unnerving to me. I expected them during early voting, where the number of polling places was greatly reduced. I just hope the long wait times don't dissuade many...

On the plus side, weather looks good in most of the country. Get your asses out there!


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

just remember that a lot of nice old ladies and men who have been following this will get out of line because they are already of the opinion that McCain has lost. So, dissuading may work both sides of the election.

My daughter told me that when she went to vote early last Saturday, there will old black women on walkers standing in line for over 2 hours to vote. I would imagine they never thought they would live to see this day and want to be a part of this history.

Florida polls close at 8pm. If I'm not mistaken, all FL polls close at 7pm.


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

has two time zones. Perhaps, Tallahassee is far enough away from the panhandle to be in the eastern time zone. Pensacola, Destin, etc., are in the Central Time Zone, but since Tallahassee is in the upper center of the state, they may be closing at 8. That would be 7 in the central time zone and all Fla polls would actually be closing at the same hour.

fastfeat's picture

along with Miami, where I live. Ours close at 7pm.

Maybe just an honest mistake by NBC?


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Radically Moderate ad infinitum's picture

I am back from voting and proud to say that my wife, son,and me, voted for Barack Obama!!!!


'We, the People'............rimshot................hahahahahaha!

Gimmelibertee's picture

We're on our way!!!!!!

Right Wing Hater's picture

2008 ELECTION DAY: PLEASE GO VOTE TODAY - DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON YOU, ONE MAN/WOMAN, ONE VOTE
OBAMA BIDEN 08, its time for America to join the 21st century

1-866-OUR-VOTE; Over 100,000 calls and rising... - http://blog.ourvotelive.org/?p=195
If you know people in these states call and inform them please.... If you have any problems voting, please call that number

It's D-Day for Democracy! Brad Friedman, Champion of Fair Elections and Challenger of Election Theft: An Election Day Wake Up Call -- The BuzzFlash Tuesday Interview Series
- http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/132

What's Already Gone Wrong at the Polls? A compilation of voting problems, so far - http://www.slate.com/id/2203665/
Now you know why I call Republicans bastards and hate the right wing....

They'd Vote For Satan if He Was a Republican - http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/theyd-v...
What else is new?

Keepin’ it Real in Fake America, by Jim Hightower - http://jimhightower.com//node/6636
"It hurts me deeply to say this, but here goes: I’m not a real American."

Voter Suppression Hits The Web - http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20...
"Voter suppression is moving off the streets and onto the Internet, but political operatives seeking to spread confusion on Election Day are being countered by tech-savvy voting rights groups employing new Web applications to debunk myths and police the polls."

Ostroy Report: 25 Things I Will Not Miss About McCain, Palin and the GOP - http://ostroyreport.blogspot.com/2008/10/25-t...

New York Crank: The real fraud during this election is Republican election fraud - http://thenewyorkcrank.blogspot.com/2008/11/r...

Obama's green jobs revolution: Democrat will lead effort to curb world's dependence on oil; Plans to create five million new posts in clean energy projects
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ameri...
This is the future of our nation and the world....its time for America to join the 21st century

CNN Hires Saddam-Al Qaeda ‘Connection’ Fabricator And Cheney Hagiographer - http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/03/hayes-cnn/
Yet another reason I don't watch the garbage infotainment channel...

Cartoon: The real reason GOP mentions ACORN - http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/jim-morin/...
As with everything in the GOP, distractions, distractions, distractions...

The 'bailout' was the final taxpayer stickup of the Bush Crime Family: What we wondered all along: "A number of financial experts now fear that the federal government's $143 billion attempt to rescue troubled insurance giant American International Group may not work, and some argue that company shareholders and taxpayers would have been better served by a bankruptcy filing."
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/...

Final Presidential Estimate from Gallup: Obama 55%, McCain 44%
- http://www.gallup.com/poll/111703/Final-Presi...

Brent Budowksy: Obama for America
- http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/11/03/obama-f...

Don't Just Vote: Verify! - http://www.alternet.org/democracy/105977/

Barack Obama's grandmother Madelyn Dunham has died at the age of 86. Oh so close to possibly seeing history. The Obama family is in our thoughts.
- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obama-...

A tearful Obama, grieving his grandmother: 'She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America ... They sacrifice for their children and their grandchildren. They aren't seeking the limelight. All they try to do is just do the right thing.'
- http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gugBpfv2Z...

Paid GOP workers say they misled Wis. voters into thinking that they were volunteers
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_el_...

The final pitch, Power Voters 85,000 of them -- and Obama -- make their final appeal to get out the vote - http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/11/3/22...
In the sea of 85,000 Virginians gathered at the Manassas Fairgrounds to see Barack Obama's final campaign event Monday night, there were a good number of green "Power Vote" and "No coal" stickers in the crowd, thanks to the efforts of the Power Vote campaign.

The audacity of Pope, CBS looks at the Vatican's plan to go solar - http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/11/3/96...

The American Enterprise Institute: Still Peddling Lies, Lies and More Lies About Climate Change - http://www.desmogblog.com/the-american-enterp...

Bowoto v Chevron Human Rights Case Could Set Legal Precedent With Environmental Applicability - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/envir...

Political Irony: http://politicalirony.com/2008/11/03/post-ele...
http://politicalirony.com/2008/11/03/stunning...


We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children - Native American proverb
If being cold means there's no such thing as global warming, does being full mean there's no such thing as world hunger?

JohnnyBravo's picture

here in NY. And it felt so good. Please tell everyone to get out there.

Never thought I'd be happy to see long lines.


NOBODY 2012

Col Kilgore's picture

Good luck and God speed today my American friends. Need to get out and out vote the crooks. Shouldnt be close enough for Diebold to steal the difference. Time to take out the GOP trash !!!

because of the fear of an Obama presidency? Well, if the stock market exists for a reason, it is to prove people wrong.

World Stocks Rally In Anticipation Of US Election Outcome

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTR...

fastfeat's picture

Just remember that when Fux says something, believe the opposite...


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

pissed off patricia's picture

Is anyone else so nervous today they feel like they're gonna be sick, or is it just me?


Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.

fastfeat's picture

It's in Diebold's hands now...


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

mudshark's picture

McCain is making me nervous. He's acting like he knows the fix is in.
It's driving me nuts. Gotta go. See you folks later.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

fastfeat's picture

It's almost as if he can't control his glee. He's like a kid who unwrapped the big Xmas present during the night but has to feign not knowing what it is in front of the family.

Let's hope I'm wrong...


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Gimmelibertee's picture

That creepy grin is giving me nightmares.

Let's wipe it off his face!!!!

Jimbo's picture

Get up, get out and get voting!

Happy Election from the UK.

pissed off patricia's picture

Thanks Jimbo. Hopefully this time tomorrow people around the world will be smiling at us again.

I just saw a story on tv about Obama's other grandmother who is in Africa. Her village is planning a grand party and feast if Obama wins tonight. Everyone in the area there is so excited and hopeful.


Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

Y'all think this'll be necessary to get the "independent" votes that remain undecided?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kGPhpvqtOc


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

dkmnow's picture

I think you'll find there are very few independent voters who are undecided. For the most part, the real "swing-voters" in this race are Republicans who are utterly appalled at what the neocons and "movement conservatives" have done with their party.

And there are a helluva lot of them.

ysbaddaden's picture

I heard a pollster yesterday telling Gwen Ifill, that probably half of the undecided really aren't going to vote; they're just not interested, but don't tell the pollster that.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

fastfeat's picture

If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time the paper has ever made a presidential endorsement.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-end...


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Three hour wait in line, in the rain and then 45 minutes inside waiting for a free machine.

I sure hope this thing is going the right way (or should I say the LEFT way)

ysbaddaden's picture

Well that's certainly a left-handed remark.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

viola's picture

I'm an Australian, I want to know, is voting day a public holiday? If you have to wait in line for eight hours, does that mean loss of pay?

Bangkok Bob's picture

It SHOULD be a Holiday, or it should be held on a weekend, but they do everything they can to keep the working class from voting.

ysbaddaden's picture

If it were a holiday we'd all be sleeping in, getting drunk and going shopping at special sales.

As for the second my excuse is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0r2xpGT4fQ


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Thrillhouse's picture

I think you're right in saying they really want to limit people's ability to vote. There seems to be a full chapter in the Republican playbook on that. Whatever sense the whole second Tuesday thing made a few hundred years ago is gone. Changing it to a weekend or giving people off (my preferred move) would go a long way to making our election more democratic and fair.

I've been saying for a while now that if I'm ever running the show, Election Day becomes a federal holiday and to make sure we don't have too many federal holidays we take that status away from Columbus Day. It's not like he actually landed in what is now the U.S.A.

Gimmelibertee's picture

The corporations that run America don't want the masses to vote because they tend to vote in favor of the masses.

Election day will NEVER be a holiday....

viola's picture

It's always Saturday in Australia. PAPER vote.

Gimmelibertee's picture

Note to self:
Put Australia on the top of the relocation list if McCain wins

Thrillhouse's picture

Man 1: Did you vote yet?
Man 2: No, but I'm going to this afternoon. Did you?
Man 1: Yes.
Man 2: Already? That's great!

Usually I hate being awakened by my neighbors having loud conversations, but I'll make an exception today. While I hope they both vote for Obama, I just think it's cool to hear people talk with such enthusiasm about voting. I've never seen it like this before.

As for me, I voted two weeks ago by absentee ballot.

JerryO's picture

in life that really count. At 7pm I will be sooooo glad that I don't have to look at anymore television ads that dried up old turd. On top of it, I was in and out of my polling place in less than twenty minutes.


Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime

Mr. Squirrel's picture

My daughter and I just got back from voting. It was her first time, and there was no way she was going to sit it out. Definitely longer lines than usual at our polling location.

Chalk up two for the good guys. See ya all later when the celebration begins!

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