November 5, 2008

• Yes, We Did, and This Is Just the Beginning

  NOTE: This post is both on my Xanga site and the smaller blog I’ve started up on my Kizyr for Obama page.

  VICTORY!!!

  Stream-of-consciousness style, I’d like to just lay out what my thoughts were as the events of the day progressed. All times are estimated.

  7:00am – I get to the polls. Lines are long, but no longer than I expected. I had my DS with me and so I spent the seventy-five minute wait playing Civ Revolution.

  8:20am – Finally voted. Arlington County, and my precinct in particular, were very nice and very efficient with getting through the number of people that were there. Much, much thanks goes to those folks.

  Daytime – Tried to avoid all news of polls, except for refreshing FiveThirtyEight.com repeatedly.

  7:00pm – Well, I’m home now. Time to channel-surf between CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Comedy Central… and why the hell not, let’s check out Fox News. I load up FiveThirtyEight.com while I’m at it.

  7:30pm – CNN HAS HOLOGRAMS! Yes I know it’s just cinematography, but still, how awesome is it to hear Wolf Blitzer say “And now we’re beaming Yellin in from Chicago” and the caption below read “CNN’s Jessica Yellin Via Hologram”!? I’m telling you, holographic anchormen are the future of cable news! Although, as cool as that is, I’ll still prefer print.   Clip of CNN’s Anchorwoman of the Future, Jessica Yellin

  8:00pm – States start getting called. What kind of states? Vermont and Kentucky. Come on, I gotta find out about Virginia!

  8:10pm – James Carville, man, you’re great and all, but you gotta learn to annunciate! I can’t understand anything you’re saying unless you open your mouth a little wider!

  8:15pm – Oh, Fox News, I’ve found a new reason to watch you. Your depressed tone brings me much joy. Let’s see how much you can deny reality before it sinks in.

  8:30pm – Ohio and Pennsylvania get called for Obama. I’m ecstatic, since now it seems like it’s the end for McCain’s run. But, still no word on Virginia! Only the non-allegedly-fake districts have numbers in.

  8:45pm – Brit Hume, man, you need to work on your facial expression. I can never tell if you’re pissed off or just being yourself.

  9:00pm – One good result from Virginia: Mark Warner (Democrat for Senate) has trounced his opposition. Excellent! One part of the ballot down, more to go.

  9:15pm – Tennessee is called solidly for McCain. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a good remark to make to my family back in Nashville, since I’m so tense about the ultra-close result of Virginia.

  9:30pm – What’s with Fox News using “liberal” like a four-letter word? Do they realize how utterly comical it sounds? “He’s the most liberal senator of the liberal liberals pushing liberalism grumble grumble liberal liberalists with liberal ultra-liberals grumble grumble liberal liberal liberal libear lier aelirb aelirb alerb eailr bl—.” You know, I consider myself a moderate (given my views on things like abortion, gun control, free markets, etc.), but if calling myself a liberal will piss Fox off more, then call me liberal.

  9:30pm – Obama has won Virginia! Hah! What do you say to “fake Virginia” power now?

  10:00pm – Florida is called for Obama. No hope for a McCain victory now. …let’s see how Fox News is taking this!

  10:15pm – Forget Fox News. Let’s see how Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are taking this.

  10:30pm – So, McCain has called it in and given his concession. A gracious speech from him, and tons of boos from the crowd. Man, talk about being bitte–no, wait, that’s not right. But the boos are rather disconcerting, particularly if you contrast the crowd’s animosity with McCain’s graciousness.

  11:00pm – So, all the anchors are waxing poetic (except for Fox, which is waxing oddly–oh, no end to the amusement there). Anderson Cooper says that everyone will remember where they were at 11:04pm when the election was finally called for Obama. I remember… I was in front of a computer and television talking with several people at once and following half a dozen news sources, while posting “VICTORY!” everywhere. …that doesn’t sound as good as I’d hoped. Eh, no matter.

  11:15pm – Quick thought… I wonder if this is the last we’ll hear from Joe the Plumber or Sarah Palin? I hope so. We need some new caricatures.

  11:30pm – For that matter, once Obama is sworn in on January 20th, what are Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert going to do?

  12:15am – Obama’s speech has just finished. Even as he praised McCain, no boos from the crowd. Quite a difference. Best line? “This isn’t the change we seek, but the opportunity for this change.”

  12:15am Man, Fox News can turn anything a Democrat says into a negative. “Oh there are no new ideas. There’s nothing policy-related in that speech.” …it’s not a policy speech.

  12:30am Arlington County results are in (except for absentees). Let’s see what the numbers are:
   
  
  

  	President and Vice President of the U.S.
  My Vote + Winner ->	Barack Obama and Joe Biden	51912
  	John McCain and Sarah Palin	22904
  	Other	1010
  	U.S. Senate
  My Vote + Winner ->	Mark R. Warner	54783
  	James S. “Jim” Gilmore III	18683
  	Other	1271
  	House of Representatives, 8th Dist
  My Vote + Winner ->	James P. “Jim” Moran, Jr.	48249
  	Mark W. Ellmore	23236
  	Other	2079
  	Member, County Board
  My Vote + Winner ->	Barbara A. Favola	46629
  	John G. Reeder	15797
  	Other	968
  	Member, School Board (two seats)
  My Vote + Winner ->	Libby T. Garvey	52255
  My Vote + Winner ->	Emma N. Violand-Sanchez	46512
  	Other	1704
  	Redevelopment and Housing Authority ballot question
  	Yes	20010
  My Vote + Winner ->	No	47271
  	Metro ballot question
  My Vote + Winner ->	Yes	53312
  	No	16976
  	Community Infrastructure ballot question
  Winner ->	Yes	46656
  My Vote ->	No	22078
  	Utilities ballot question
  Winner ->	Yes	54810
  My Vote ->	No	14460
  	Arlington Public Schools ballot question
  My Vote + Winner ->	Yes	51970
  	No	17661

  12:45am – People are celebrating in downtown Washington. I really want to go down there and honk a few times in support, but… …I have a meeting tomorrow morning. I really, really, really should get to bed.

  Good night! KF

  • 1:19 am
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