First Calling

[TracerBullet]

Well, most networks are now calling the election for Bush.


Everybody remember though, it's not over until Fox News calls it three times.

[Vegeta2711]

CNN is still leaving it up in the air and as far as I know we won't know the Ohio results for a while. Mainly because of all those damned provisional ballots.

[dandan]

The BBC has it Bush 249 Kerry 221 with only Hawaii 4 (Kerry), Iowa 7 (close but Bush leads), Michigan 17 (Kerry), Nevada 5 (50/50, Bush leads), New Mexico 5 (tight but Bush leads), Ohio 20 (Bush leads with Democrat areas still being counted) and Wisconsin 10 (Kerry).
That means Bush has 286 easy win and still 269 even if Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico change hands. Bush needs just Ohio.

Looks like a tight but clear Bush win.

[TracerBullet]

But how clear Ohio is is the question.

[dandan]

Bush 150 000 up, two Kerry areas still counting plus anything up to 180 000 other votes from non-registered or overseas voters.

Looks clear enough for Bush to win and Kerry to whine to me.

P.S. Ohio counting votes 11 days from now?! Holy couldn't-hold-a-piss-up-in-a-brewery!! Is Iraq going to have elections results before you lot?

[Azhrei]

This just in:

November 2nd banned/restricted list:

Banned

Freedom of choice
Science

Restricted

Freedom of Speech
Book Learning

Unrestricted

Fear Tactics
Deficit
Rape the Land

[Bram]

Last time I checked neither Bush nor Kerry had clear stances on the Magic comminity. Hence: moved to General.

[dandan]

I believe that middle-America, that heartland of Bushdom, is firmly against Magic with its widespread Satanic worship. Kerry, always one to appeal to minority voters (or is that the minority of voters?) loves games where people can be 'gay'.

I guess you guys got Bush again.

Azhrei - remember that democracy means that stupid people get to decide, communism means that stupid people get told who to vote for. It could be worse!!

[Bram]

So when exactly will we know if the 12 or so states of which the representatives in the electoral college are not required to follow the popular vote actually do so or not? Or is going against the grain so rare that this isn't a serious hope for Kerry's victory?

[SliverKing]

So when exactly will we know if the 12 or so states of which the representatives in the electoral college are not required to follow the popular vote actually do so or not? Or is going against the grain so rare that this isn't a serious hope for Kerry's victory?

'faithless electors'  have never decided a presidential election.  The few that have cast 'protest' votes have done so when it didnt make a difference in the result, and this was years and years ago before the parties got really hardcore about who they let be electors. Hoping for that is like hoping Bush's plane crashes before the election.... its possible, but not likely. Kerry's only realistic chance for a win is for the provisional ballots to all be approved (historically in Ohio 7-20% are)  and for them to break 85-15 or so in his favor... if you call that realistic.   Love him or hate him, it looks like Bush will be the American president for the next 4 years.

[Machinus]

Bush has got it. Suck it up, we've got another four years of apocalypse.

[Saucemaster]

Bush needed only Ohio to cover all the lands in a second darkness, and he's got it, whatever CNN says.  I'm personally waiting for the purge in the Democratic party.  They let me down, and I want my money back.

In the meantime, it's probably a good time to invest in any company with defense or oil contracts.  And if you get a chance, visit the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge now, while it still exists.  If you're gay or a minority, stock up on canned goods.  If you're a woman, you should seriously consider using three or four forms of birth control, or even better, just give up sex altogether for the next four years!  And even more if O'Connor and Stevens can't hold out.  If you're in the National Guard or the Reserves, all I can say is, I'm sorry.  I would start learning Korean and Farsi, just in case.  Finally, if you were too young to vote in this election, would you mind just holding this deficit for us for a minute?  Just a minute, I promise.

[theorigamist]

It seems people are a little quick to jump the gun.  I believe it is still the case (as it was at about 4 AM last night) that Bush has 269, and Nevada, New Mexico and New Hampshire were all still too close to call.  Obviously, even if Bush gets Ohio, if Kerry gets those three then there's a tie and it goes to the House (and Bush probably gets it, but at least Kerry has a legitimate shot).  Otherwise, Kerry's only hope is to bitch about Ohio and make it the Florida of 2004.  Yes Bush has Ohio by about 136,000 votes after counting all the precincts, but the provisional ballots (I think more than 175,000, thought to be strongly Kerry) have yet to be acknowledged or counted, and the absentee ballots (I think 60,000, generally leading towards Bush, but possibly evener this year than usual) have not been counted.  Also, 1.6 million absentee ballots haven't been counted yet in Florida, so, although it's almost impossible, Kerry could actually take Florida from Bush if he wins that 1.6 million by more than 300,000.

^You see that hope?  Yeah, I'm a Red Sox fan.  It paid off once.


EDIT: Nevermind.  Kerry just decided he didn't want to drag it out, even with the possibility.  So he just called Bush and conceded.  Oh well.

[jpmeyer]

I would start learning Korean and Farsi, just in case.

저는 한국어 공부해요  

::praaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ays that I fail the physical::

[Smmenen]

I'm sorry I didn't carry Ohio.  

On the other hand. Meandeck solidly won the mana drain election.  Expect my victory speech at 3pm.

[Bram]

Wait! I didn't count the provisional votes yet.

[edit] One. Kay, I'm done. Congrats!

[Methuselahn]

I bet the Clintons are/will be secretly happy that Bush won.  If Kerry would win, then there is no way Hilary could run for office four years from now.  It is hard to believe that Hilary wouldn't have divorced Bill unless she plans on running for president, it's so obvious.  THAT'S strategery.

[rvs]

It's not like a woman will ever have a chance to become the president in the US, and especially not Hilary, carrying the 'baggage' from 8 years in the whitheouse alongside Bill. I would be seriously surprised if they put her forward as the next leader/candidate.

[Azhrei]

IMO, Clinton wil be the 2008 candidate. All she really has to do is be conservative. The Dems will vote for her, and women will vote for her just because she's a woman. It'd be a risky gambit, but Obama isn't ready for a shot at the Presidency yet.

[Matt]

I've got my fingers crossed for McCain in 2008. I figure the only reason he shut up about how much he hates Bush is so that he can get Republican backing in '08.

You know, the Founding Fathers' wisdom never ceases to amaze me.

[Smmenen]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/smmenen/

If the Democratic Nominee isn't a Southern Governor or a celebrity, please don't apply.

[jpmeyer]

Grand Moff Tarkin : The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.
General Tagge : But that's impossible. How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?
Grand Moff Tarkin : The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.

[Eastman]

Apathy is not something that we can say the United States citizens are.

[Smmenen]

Meh I didn't edit, sue me.

[TracerBullet]

It's gonna be Dean/Clinton in '08.  The major thing that Democrats need to learn from this isn't to run another random losing southerner ala John Edwards, it's to run somebody with a pulse.

[Matt]

[Kowal]

It's like Command and Conquer all over again.

[rozetta]

It's like Command and Conquer all over again.

Except now we have the GLA