November 03, 2004

JUST A THOUGHT

Do people have a vague feeling that this is coming back to Bush?

Posted by Tim Blair at November 3, 2004 12:45 PM
Comments

There is nothing I've seen on the various coverages that suggests that Kerry is making up ground.

Its a bit early but things look like they are maintaining the status quo.

Posted by: Nuffy at November 3, 2004 at 12:48 PM

Fox just called Louisiana for Bush. Looking good for the good guys so far. Bush 165 Kerry 112

Posted by: Todd at November 3, 2004 at 12:49 PM

Vague? Nope. Midwest is coming in. Bush territory.

Posted by: Squatch at November 3, 2004 at 12:49 PM

Check out how Clark Co., Ohio is voting:
http://election.sos.state.oh.us/results/RaceDetail.aspx?race=PP

Looks like they're going for Bush! :D

Hey "Guardian!" F**k you!

Posted by: brett at November 3, 2004 at 12:50 PM

At the nadir today, online betting exchange Betfair had Kerry at $1.24.

He's now $2.26.

Bush is going to take OH and FL. I'm pretty much calling the election for Bush right now.

Posted by: ChrisV at November 3, 2004 at 12:51 PM

I agree with ChrisV. Bush has it wrapped up if Florida and Ohio hold solid. Missouri (where I'm from) was looking close but now is about 53-46 Bush. Michigan is in the Bush camp right now. It could be a fairly significant win for Bush, easing over the 300 EV total.

Posted by: Brent at November 3, 2004 at 12:54 PM

FL & OH look good for Bush
NH looks good for Kerry
MN, WI, & MI are showing early leads to Bush

Posted by: James Dudek at November 3, 2004 at 12:55 PM

Tim,

No worries, Mate! We've done our part. The Coalition will be maintained and Fallujah will mourn tomorrow.

Posted by: Editor at November 3, 2004 at 12:56 PM

Landslide coming. Kerry cannot come back from here.

Posted by: The Brown Hornet at November 3, 2004 at 12:56 PM

British/European channels still spinning furiously for Kerry (at almost 3 am - and I'm sober and cold).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 12:57 PM

boy PA wasn't even close - that was a waste of money

Posted by: James Dudek at November 3, 2004 at 12:59 PM

Media is very cautious about Florida. 73% in, Bush on 52%, but its still undecided?

Guess they don't want to do a "2000" again.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 12:59 PM

The horserace blog (republican supporter)has some interesting running commentary on voting in comparable counties in Florida & Ohio mostly favorable to Bush.

http://jaycost.blogspot.com/

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 01:00 PM

Washington DC - 90% for Kerry

Hah!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:01 PM

Bush isn't doing too badly in Michigan. Isn't that Michael Moore's homestate? Way to pull a Gore, Michael.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:05 PM

The British/Euro channels keep saying it's too close to call, too early to say anything. Well, it may turn out very close in the end. But there's just nothing at all about the fact that Bush is looking very good at the moment. Just lots of forgetable waffle from guests. The guy who presents the state-by-state numbers also keeps emphasising that it's very close.

The internet is completely kicking TV's ass on this.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 01:07 PM

I'm starting to feel cautiously optimistic.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 01:09 PM

Scott Campbell: It's 3 AM and you're both sober and cold? Ditch the sober part and you'll forget about the cold. Two birds, one stone.

Posted by: Squatch at November 3, 2004 at 01:10 PM

"The internet is completely kicking TV's ass on this."

Why yes, yes it is.

I'm not going to say landslide quite yet, because it would be premature to say landslide at this point, when there is no firm evidence of a landslide.

Landslide
Landslide
Landslide

Posted by: Brent at November 3, 2004 at 01:11 PM

Bah! We all know it will be a plastic election victory!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:12 PM

Worried. Clear looks like of box stuffing in dem pcts.

Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 01:13 PM

One more thing - the Beeb and other channels keep saying over and over that it's 2000 all over again.

Why do they talk such crap? Well, apart from the fact that they're full of it, most of the analysts seem to spend their whole time talking rather than looking at the more detailed results that are coming in.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 01:13 PM

Evilpundit,

You're 'cautiously optimistic.' Why the caution? How the hell is Kerry going to get back from here?

Posted by: The Brown Hornet at November 3, 2004 at 01:13 PM

The guy who presents the state-by-state numbers also keeps emphasising that it's very close.

Weird. The figures I see, indicates its less of a close race than 2000

Kerry seems to be doing worse than Gore...at the moment.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:15 PM

I'm revising down my earlier estimate of the Bush electoral college landslide:

Bush: 3.75 Gazillion
Kerry: -12

Posted by: Bob at November 3, 2004 at 01:15 PM

If Michael Moore can deliver Michigan for Bush then it would be the sweetest one of all!!

Good to see John Edwards following in the tradition of Al Gore from 2000 and losing his home state of North Carolina also. Maybe there was a big lesbian turnout this time?

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 01:16 PM

Edwards is gonna sue someone.

Posted by: C.L. at November 3, 2004 at 01:22 PM

Just don't know, I'm still slightly pessimistic. But no surprises thus far. It'll all depend on OH and FL, and it's hard to tell what precincts have reported (red vs. blue). My wife is telling me that the DNC is behind these "exit polls", but who knows.

But on the brighter side, I just heard Barack Obama's wife introduce him as "my baby's daddy", which is a first in politics I think.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 01:23 PM

CL, I love this comment from your site

Meanwhile LGF commenter karmic_inquisitor suggests an interesting theory: "If Bush was "selected not elected" in 2000, then 2004 would be the first election he 'won,' right? Well then, he must be eligible to be re-elected in 2008 since he is limited to being 'elected' to two terms.

Classic! That's what happens to people who don't think through conspiracy theories to their logical conclusion...

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:26 PM

It was funny... a few months ago I predicted it wouldn't be that close a race, then about a week ago I started saying it was gonna be really close... now we see it's *probably* going to be a pretty decent Bush win. But, the Left Looney Coast hasn't reported in yet and we know how they're going to go.

I notice Ohio hasn't been called even though 30% of the vote's in. (Several counties, including the county of my old hometown, haven't sent in any results yet. Based on what I recall from living there, they'll have to send in their results by carrier pigeon or snail or something.)

Saw several heated discussions and one almost-fistfight on mass transit... usual topic was Bush and how he's rigged the elections. (Again. *grin*) The "proles" here in SF/CA are gonna be uber-irate if Kerry loses.

Posted by: 42nd SSD at November 3, 2004 at 01:27 PM

Geez. Yahoo says 79% of the precincts are reported in Florida with 52% of the vote for Bush and they still won't call it.

Posted by: Eric Blair at November 3, 2004 at 01:27 PM

Pennsylvania is not lost. Hold your horses. Approximately 4 million votes need to be counted and only a third are in. Please note that those counties counted first are Gore/Kerry counties. Bush overwhelmingly wins suburban vote in Pittsburgh are counties and will win the central T. I will wait quite a while before calling this state. Butler County is going more strongly for Bush than in 2000!

Posted by: tomp at November 3, 2004 at 01:28 PM

BBC finally talk to an American reporter on the ground who says Florida 2004 is going nothing like 2000. Oops! The BBC didn't want to hear that.

What's happening now is priceless - some English BBC suited twit is going around a bowling alley in Ohio asking people who they voted for and making a complete fool of himself.

BTW it's Peter Snow doing the state-by-state analysis. If Bush leads a state then he says it's too early to tell.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 01:28 PM

Easy people. Lets see how the Senate is coming in. Bunning got past but Martinez in Florida is heading to the courts and Specter is in a real fight. Ditto Coors.

Posted by: YoJImbo at November 3, 2004 at 01:33 PM

Hmm, Ohio so far...Bush 50.66%, Kerry 46.54%, Cobb (Greens) 2.31%. Not quite close enough right now, and I hope Bush keeps this lead, but can you imagine the Democrats' reaction if the Greens kill them in Ohio even without Nader at the top of their ticket?

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 01:33 PM

42nd SSD, poll workers in Ohio average 73 years old. Give 'em a break, they move slow.

Posted by: Rebecca at November 3, 2004 at 01:34 PM

the west coast is yet to come in but I'm with Eric Blair (aka Orwell), they should call Florida for Bush as well as Ohio - I'm much happier than I was 2 hours ago!

DM

Posted by: DM at November 3, 2004 at 01:34 PM

Brown Hornet, I'm a really pessimistic sorta guy. So 'cautious optimism' is about as good as it gets, until all the votes are in and a landslide is confirmed.

By the way, it just occurred to me that if we could harness the energy of left-wing heads exploding, we might have enough power to last the rest of the decade.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 01:35 PM

Bush now has slight lead in New Hampshire.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:35 PM

Quentin George says:

Washington DC - 90% for Kerry

Doesn't it remind you of Canberra?

JPB

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 01:37 PM

I'm watching the coverage at c-span
Bush is currently winning New Hampshire by about 270 votes... thats closer than Florida '00

On the whole the result is looking mighty promising WOOT!!!

Posted by: RhikoR at November 3, 2004 at 01:37 PM

You are going to be waiting for awhile for Ohio...a number of counties still have 5 hour queues waiting to vote, after the polls closed. (Once you are in the queue before the cutoff time, you can vote.)

It's gonna be a long night...

Posted by: cheshirecat at November 3, 2004 at 01:37 PM

must...keep...drinking...c'mon...george

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 01:38 PM

I am doing my damnedest to get NH in the Bush column, but I can only go back and get in line to vote again so many times an hour....

Posted by: Carl in N.H. at November 3, 2004 at 01:39 PM

Doesn't it remind you of Canberra?

Sure does. I happen to live in the People's Republic of the Australian Capital Territory. This is where "swinging" means you don't know whether to mark ALP on the Reps sheet first, or the Senate sheet first.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:39 PM

Landslide! Look out below!

Posted by: Squatch at November 3, 2004 at 01:40 PM

Hmm:

Massachusetts 2000: Gore 59.80%, Bush 32.50%, Nader 6.42%

Massachusetts 2004 (74% reported): Kerry 62%, Bush 37%.

John F'ing Kerry hasn't even managed to keep the Gore/Nader voters in his home state, it sure looks like.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 01:40 PM

Can they call Florida yet?

87% of polls are in, and Bush is up 52-47.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:41 PM

I'll party my fu...Errr, celebrate when even the MSM figures Ohio and Florida are in Bush's bag...There's still a hanging chad bone or two flailing a disenfranchised wrist against the drawstring.

Oooooouuup...There goes Arkansas!

Those three red cherries in the Senate cocktail taste pretty damn sweet though.

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 01:42 PM

Can they call Florida yet?

No, because the big counties (Dade, Palm Beach) haven't reported yet, and they are heavily Democratic.

Posted by: cheshirecat at November 3, 2004 at 01:43 PM

Well, Quentin, you can always do the radical thing and vote 1 = Green and give the ALP your second preference.

That'd teach them bastards not to take your vote for granted! :-)

JPB

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 01:43 PM

On channel 9 (Austraila), Hugh Rimmington has said a few times that Kerry is "still in it" and it's "not over just yet". To me, that sounds as if they believe that Bush will probably go on to win, but Kerry still does have some hope yet. So I guess Bush's chances are improving...

It's been good coverage so far. Very fair and even-handed.

Posted by: Richard at November 3, 2004 at 01:43 PM

ITV also saying that it's all incredibly close. Why don't they save money on staff costs and use robots to repeat the same information over and over again?

(Oh sorry, they already do).

Bill Neely, 'International Editor', is now giving Kerry a blow-job, in a profile that sounds like it was written by... Kerry. (One negative comment - Kerry seemed dull).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 01:44 PM

America, F--- YEAH!

Posted by: James at November 3, 2004 at 01:44 PM

earlier on i was debating whether or not to open the champers, not wanting to jinx anything... now that things are starting to look much more optimistic i've opened it.


i have been so anxious these past few days, sort of like before a big exam or a first date, but 100000 times more so.


The silent majority is at work...


I'll leave you with an Orwell quote which is very fitting (as all of his quotes are!):

"So much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot." - George Orwell

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 01:44 PM

It's looking good for the Bushmeister General.

Imagine if you took a bag of cats and threw it into a jet engine. That's the noise I expect the global 'liberal' 'intelligencia' to make when Bush wins.

It'll be like Alderbran getting blown up in Star Wars "A million voices crying out then silenced!" Only not silenced, in fact continuing to yammer on incessently and irritatingly for four more years.

Fuck you, Mike Moore! Ha ha!

Posted by: Amos at November 3, 2004 at 01:49 PM

Why do you Americans colour your right-wing party commie red on the electoral maps?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 01:49 PM

Gawdelpus I can see the demograph Barack Obama is pitching at and it's vomit-inducing: Gen X tools who think they invented parenthood. One of the males from his crowd up on the noisy stage with a small baby. Do they have to cart their sprogs around to prove they've got balls?

Posted by: slatts at November 3, 2004 at 01:51 PM

i think the people of michigan would be the last to be fooled by michael moore. to start with, he's always saying how he's a regular joe, a working class guy from flint - when in fact, he's from davidson, which is a much wealthier suburb.

in abe lincoln's words, you can fool some of the people all the time, you can fool all of the people for some time, but you can't fool all of the people all the time!

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 01:54 PM

I've wondered that myself, and also why the Republicans are known as the GOP but the Democrats are just Dems or DNC

Posted by: RhikoR at November 3, 2004 at 01:54 PM

and why the US votes on Melbourne Cup Day.

Posted by: ilibcc at November 3, 2004 at 01:58 PM

GOP stands for Grand Old Party, and I don't remember where that came from.

Up until 2000, I believe, the Republican states were colored blue and the Dems were Red. Don't know why that changed.

Posted by: Polly at November 3, 2004 at 01:59 PM

BBC now conceding that if Bush wins Ohio, it'll be all over. (This is mainly because of an American studio guest who actually has a clue how the whole thing works and is keeping a close eye on the numbers coming in).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 01:59 PM

Quentin: Because Commie red is better than UN blue.

Posted by: Sean at November 3, 2004 at 02:00 PM

And DNC stands for Democrat National Committee, which is part of the Democrat party.

Posted by: Polly at November 3, 2004 at 02:01 PM

I still can't figure out why other countries don't celebrate July 4th like we do. Not even our friends the Brits.

Strange.

Posted by: James at November 3, 2004 at 02:01 PM

Mr. Bingley-- hope you found an acceptable coalition beverage. I seem to have settled for oceans of cheap Italian Greejio.

Posted by: Bruce at November 3, 2004 at 02:01 PM


The Republican Party started in the 1850's, formed from a split in the Democratic party, whose members, primarily abolitionists, felt the Democrats were no longer representing their interests. They decided to call themselves Republicans because they felt their ideals were very similar to Jefferson's Democratic-Republican party. After the Civil War, the upstart Republicans were perceived as the party that won the war. Now firmly entrenched in the federal government, they were ironically dubbed the "Gallant Old Party," which soon became the "Grand Old Party," which was soon shortened to the familiar acronym "GOP."

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:02 PM

Actually its the first Tuesday after the first monday in November, so it can be anywhere from the 2nd to the 7th (I think)
John Ray has a post up at dissectleft about why

Posted by: RhikoR at November 3, 2004 at 02:02 PM

if you look here, you'll see that actually those bigger counties have mostly reported in in florida.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 02:03 PM

Fox News just called the NC Senate seat for Burr over the Clintonista!!!!!!!

Posted by: YoJimbo at November 3, 2004 at 02:03 PM

CNN.com has just given PA to Kerry.

I guess the gap was a bit too large for Bush to close, even though someone here has said the more Republican-leaning areas were yet to report.

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 02:03 PM

Quentin, we're taking the color red back. Kind of like gay activists taking back the term "queer" and so on. [/SARCASM?]

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 3, 2004 at 02:04 PM

Quentin: Commies don't 'own' red.
;^)

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 02:05 PM

Clark County Ohio
Bush, George W. Republican 14,760 54.39%
Kerry, John F. Democratic 12,245 45.12%

HA! Kiss my ass Guardian!!!!

Posted by: Lilly at November 3, 2004 at 02:06 PM

"Why do you Americans colour your right-wing party commie red on the electoral maps?"

Not Commie red...Patriot Red, as in the blood of the patriots who fought to keep this damn country out of the hands of ignorant so-called 'liberals'. :) I think it's most appropriate.

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:06 PM

bruce - lots of peter lehman and wolf blass shiraz (and thank god i took tomorrow off work) for me and the wife is imbibing lindemans chardonney!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 02:07 PM

Mr. Bingley - will you have a virtual screwdriver with me? All I have in the fridge is vodka, and it's actually making the returns rather fun to watch in a lighthearted sort of way.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 02:07 PM

Daily Kos are worried. Very worried:

e.g. "MSNBC exit poll indicates that the youth did not vote. The 18-29 bracked voted the same this year as in 2000, while 30-44 group was down.

That's what's killing us."

Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 02:07 PM

Still too early to say that Mr Bush has won but I agree with nicki that the silent majority are at work. Good on you all!

Posted by: Lofty at November 3, 2004 at 02:08 PM

sonetka - lighthearted or lightheaded? but of course...cheers!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 02:08 PM

I reckon you Americans should cast California adrift from the Union. Maybe it can form its own arrangement with Quebec, eh?

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 02:09 PM

Thanks for the lesson, nicki. I love that about the internet. I've forgotten so much of what I learned in school, but there is always someone out there to fill me in.

Posted by: Polly at November 3, 2004 at 02:11 PM

e.g. "MSNBC exit poll indicates that the youth did not vote. The 18-29 bracked voted the same this year as in 2000, while 30-44 group was down. That's what's killing us."

So after all the Michael Moore stuff, the Rock the Vote, the etcetera...the young'uns STILL didn't bother to trot down to a booth?

Lazy bums.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:15 PM

Polly - no problem, i had actually looked that up about two days ago myself because i had forgotten!

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:16 PM

Mr. Bingley - both, of course! I'm trying to think of a good portmanteau word. Lighthearded?

Oh, and what's all this about the youth not voting? My husband and I (we're both 25), like, *so* voted :). Of course, the votes were for Bush, but hey, you take what you can get.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 02:18 PM

JPB, some of us have been hoping that California would break off and slide into the sea as has been predicted for years. My only regret would be on behalf of President Reagan who had a fondness for the place.

Posted by: Retread at November 3, 2004 at 02:19 PM

Oh, and will they just CALL Florida already? All this 197-188 crap is freaking me out. (They just *had* to throw Cali in there to make it look close, didn't they?)

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 02:19 PM

Sonetka, thanks for a great idea. I just poured myself a big glass of Florida orange juice, with a shot of Ketel...mmmmmm.

Posted by: Ernie G at November 3, 2004 at 02:20 PM

They called California with 0% of the polls returned according to Yahoo.

Hmmm!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:21 PM

It is but I'm having a frigging heart attack here. I need a higher alcohol drink.

Posted by: swassociates at November 3, 2004 at 02:21 PM

Hey! Before anybody here breaks out the Sawzalls and starts sawing off Californicatorland, let some of us sane CA inhabitants know ahead of time--at the very least we can help.

Posted by: 42nd SSD at November 3, 2004 at 02:22 PM

How are things at The Rocks?

Posted by: swassociates at November 3, 2004 at 02:23 PM

Kerry is winning pennsylvania by around 300,000 odd with 70% counted and they call it for him, Bush is winning florida by around 300,000 with 94% counted and they still wont call it...
WTF?????!!!!111eleven?

Posted by: RhikoR at November 3, 2004 at 02:23 PM

They'll deny it up to the bitter end, RhikoR. It's what they do.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 3, 2004 at 02:25 PM

They've already called PA for kerry

Posted by: Sam at November 3, 2004 at 02:26 PM

>They called California with 0% of the polls returned according to Yahoo.

1% according to C-Span!

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 02:26 PM

Un-f**k***-believable! Opened up the ABC(Aust) web site to see the headline "Kerry wins one of key US states". They then list the states Kerry has won.

The only mention of Ohio and Florida is that "both are too close to call".

How hard are these clowns spinning.

Posted by: Dean McAskil at November 3, 2004 at 02:26 PM

Quentin George says:

They called California with 0% of the polls returned according to Yahoo.

Well, why not?

As you well know, no need to count the vote in the ACT either, and you can be certain the ALP has won!

California's not quite D.C, but it's no that much different.

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 02:27 PM

John Edwards failed to deliver NC - or any other Southern State votes - to Kerry.

And he's also lost his vacated Senate seat to a Republican.

If Bush wins, the junior hairdo will have brought exactly squat to the effort.

Kerry, of course, would keep his Senate seat, given that he refused to resign it for the election.

Posted by: Steve in Houston at November 3, 2004 at 02:27 PM

So after all the Michael Moore stuff, the Rock the Vote, the etcetera...the young'uns STILL didn't bother to trot down to a booth?

Hey, I would've, but there's this lack of citizenship that posed a slight obstacle...'course, if I were a Kerry supporter, somebody probably could have gotten me on the voter rolls if I'd tried...

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 02:27 PM

when they call fla, and if ohio stays as is, that'll be close to, what, 250 or so? c'mon!

sonetka, i noticed they took down the early call for washington...jeffs, did they finally find your vote?

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 02:28 PM

Bought some Black Swan Shiraz on your Big Day.
Just put it in the fridge.
Maybe I'll give it an hour or so, but I'm beginning to think I'll be drinking it in celebration and not to get to sleep.
Hope you Aussies can hoist one with me.

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at November 3, 2004 at 02:28 PM

Cybercast is calling it 207 to 199 to Bush.

That's pretty dam close. Isn't it?

Posted by: C.L. at November 3, 2004 at 02:30 PM

Sonetka: The MSM is hopelessly biased I agree, but there's practical business reasons for them not conceding florida and ohio too early, too. Remember that what really matters to them above all is viewers, or hits on their website. Calling OH or FL too early may give people the impression the race is over and would lead to reduced viewers.

Biased, sure, but on this matter I'd wager it's the bottom line calling the shots. The fact it fits in with their general agenda, all the better.

Posted by: Sho at November 3, 2004 at 02:31 PM

This just in...

Moody's has upgraded Brett from Pessimistic to Cautiously Optimistic. Analysts advise that Brett might be way too volatile to put your money in.

Seriously, I'm feeling much better, and it's only partly due to the red wine. FL and OH look good. Damn, 94% precincts reporting in FL with Bush up by 5% and they won't call it? Perhaps somebody knows something.

Anyway, I might eat some serious crow and have to accept lots of Told Ya So's from my wife.

But all in all, I'm happy. Even happier when I see the panic at DU.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 02:32 PM

Maybe they won't call Florida, because the Democrats still want a chance to steal it?

Posted by: Alan Dungey at November 3, 2004 at 02:32 PM

i'm not american but i did persuade at least ONE, if not two, new york state voters to go for bush.
these kids had no idea about any policies and i let them know about the facts and dispelled any untruthful rumours they had heard in moore's movies.
obviously new york was safe for kerry but in a weird way, i feel a little proud of being able to contribute in this very very important election. probably the most important of my life, definitely the most important sofar (i'm still young-ish). this election does not only concern the USA, it's extremely important for the rest of the world!! global security depends on it.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:32 PM

Yes, it's probably up to the Dem's lawyers to allow the networks to call Florida.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 02:33 PM

National Review is agreeing with what I said earlier, that Kerry is doing worse than Gore.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:34 PM

Bush has won Florida, they just won't admit it.

After that, Ohio, Colorado, and New Mexico(all looking good), and it's a done deal baby.

That's not even counting Nevada(too soon), Wisconsin(looking good), or New Hampshire(toss-up).

Posted by: Bill at November 3, 2004 at 02:34 PM

By my bacl of the envelope calcs its 284evs to 254evs at least.

Posted by: Dean McAskil at November 3, 2004 at 02:35 PM

By my back of the envelope calcs its 284evs to 254evs at least.

Posted by: Dean McAskil at November 3, 2004 at 02:35 PM

Cybercast is calling it 207 to 199 to Bush.

That's pretty dam close. Isn't it?

CL, they've already called California, which boosts Kerry a lot, due to its 55 votes.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:35 PM

Things are looking grim for one fat Michiganian.

Posted by: Bob at November 3, 2004 at 02:38 PM

by the way, apart from fox news on australian foxtel, i'm watching the c-span returns which at least seem to update in real time.

C-SPAN: 2004 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:39 PM

The lead in FL seems too big to even try to steal, but who knows.

I agree with the other sentiments on here...Kerry seems to be doing worse than Gore. Wow.

And I eat serious crow given that it appears that the youth vote didn't turn out this year. On another note, I'm not sure I'm ready to not be considered part of the youth vote, but I just need to let go.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 02:39 PM

nicki, good on you. I have the opposite situation: convinced my wife of Bush's merits over Kerry, but she is not a US citizen.

So, a personal thanks for the helping hand !

Posted by: Carl in N.H. at November 3, 2004 at 02:40 PM

Scotland here. BBC moveing towards a Bush majority. The coalition of the willing is holding, Howard, now Bush, and Blair in the next 6 months. In the Anglosphere you can fight wars to overthrow dictatorships and still get elected. Let all Tyrants take note, reform or die. F**K you indeed "Guardian", guardian of what exactly?

Posted by: donald at November 3, 2004 at 02:40 PM

The hero of Cambodia is up a creek without a paddle.

Posted by: perfectsense at November 3, 2004 at 02:42 PM

carl in n.h. - glad to help, at least now i feel like i may have had some very insignificant influence on all this. i have been following the election coverage closely for the last few months. something that can't be said of any other 22 y/o non-american i know!

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 02:43 PM

Florida now called for Bush!

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 02:43 PM

Um...why is Washington still called for Kerry, now that Bush is leading 50-49?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:43 PM

Susan Estrich (on Fox News), who was downright giddy earlier, has said that Ohio is "everything" and is counting on one particular county ("Kayahoga"?) swinging the vote, cutting into Bush's 4% lead. Then something about urban OH precincts that would be coming in.

I hope she's wrong, but I hope that was spin. Definitely a different msg from earlier. The silly spin seems to have shifted parties.

She's also claiming the FL lead will be contested, "lots of questions", yada yada yada.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 02:44 PM

scotland, god bless ya.

as soon as i finish this bottle of australian loveliness i will move into some tasty murray mcdavid...yum.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 02:45 PM

'BBC moveing towards a Bush majority.'

And they took those exit polls so much to heart. Poor dears.

ABCs called Florida for Bush (about frelling time)

Posted by: Ral at November 3, 2004 at 02:45 PM

The margin in Ohio and Florida is all Bush. I'm calling it. Kerry is dead - 3 Nov 2004 12.44PM Perth WA Time. Go Bush!!!!. Please send your daughters to Australia to celebrate with me, but don't tell my wife.

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 02:46 PM

Whatsisname on channel 9 has just called Florida for Bush does that count?

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 02:46 PM

Kerry was always going to get Cali, that's a given. Florida and Ohio are the crucials, and they're looking good.

Posted by: Amos at November 3, 2004 at 02:46 PM

Florida is in the bag for Bush. Ohio is this year's Florida. If Bush takes it it's over.

Posted by: Randal Robinson at November 3, 2004 at 02:47 PM

...and what happened to resident troll charlemagne?

I'd feel a little sad if he's banned.

:)

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 02:47 PM

From ABC America: Bush 237, Kerry 188.
I'd put my money on Bush to win.
Thank God.

Posted by: Youngy at November 3, 2004 at 02:49 PM

Razor, sounds good to me, although I think I'm glad I don't have a daughter. ;-)

ABC just called FL for Bush, and CNN's Woodruff says her DNC contacts have conceded as well. As predicted, it all goes to OH. Given the number of potential-chad-hanging ballots used there today, let's just hope Bush's 4% lead holds so it doesn't head to court.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 02:49 PM

Richard Aubrey:I'll raise one (a VB) with you tonight. I hope when Mr Bush wins tonight he gives the MSM a flogging for their out-and-out bias.

Yep, and I hope Mr Kerry gets so deflated by his loss that he packs his bags and pisses off to France or some other degenerate old world country where the only thing not contaminated by the inhabitants touch is the soap, because they refuse to wash.

Posted by: Lofty at November 3, 2004 at 02:49 PM

Drudge probably has the best map and most up to date i have seen and is also now posting republican sources claiming Ohio: "At 10:30 p.m., Bush was told by a senior adviser that Ohio would land in the GOP column and put him over the top with at least 274 electoral votes, the sources said"

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 02:51 PM

Brett, she's talking about Cuyahoga County, Cleveland area, big rust-belt area that lost a lot of jobs. It could hurt Bush, but maybe not. Time will tell.

Posted by: Rebecca at November 3, 2004 at 02:53 PM

According to www.repubblica.it, ABC has called Florida for Bush.

Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 02:54 PM

I was beginning to feel quite confident but that has taken as dent in the past 10 minutes.
According to c-span Bush is leading in enough undecided states to win, but if only one of these (not including washington which is too close/early) goes to Kerry then he will lose.
He is only winning New Mexico by 12,000 odd and Kerry is gaining

Posted by: RhikoR at November 3, 2004 at 02:54 PM

Yeah, Cuyahoga County is really the Democratic heavy hitter in Ohio, it is also essentially the arch nemesis of my home county. Cuyahoga is in the north east of the state, home to Cleveland, Hamilton County is the extreme southwest of Ohio, home to Cincinnati. Cuyahoga is bigger, and it will go for Kerry, Hamilton County will almost certainly go for Bush, though I wouldn't guess by how much.

Posted by: Alex at November 3, 2004 at 02:54 PM

Sho - Understandable, but I can't say this shredding of my nerves is exactly encouraging me to return to the networks come November 3rd (or 4th, for all of you whose time zones are significantly ahead of ours). Sure, they get great ratings for one night, but do they really want their viewers to subsequently associate the words "CNN" (or whatever) and "intense pain"?

I need another screwdriver. We also have some pumpkin pie in the fridge, and i should probably eat something, but I think that that combination plus an unexpected sighting of Kerry's lamprey grin might do me in.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 02:58 PM

Also saw somewhere on TV coverage that the Carolina senate seat vacated by Edwards has been claimed by Republicans? Wonder how dems leader Daschle is doin in Dakota?

Bush media guru woman Karen Hughes has just spoken to Dan Rather on CBS and all but claimed victory including quoting the dark conspirator Karl Rove as saying: "close but optimistic"

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 03:00 PM

With roughly a third of the vote in, Cuyahoga is going almost 70% for Kerry, with Hamilton slightly over 50% for Bush.

How strange is this that I'm posting these statistics on an Australian blog? UK next!!

Posted by: Rebecca at November 3, 2004 at 03:00 PM

pumpkin pie on top of a screw driver could get messy. i mean, you and the hubby are still young enough to power through it, but i would suggest...another screwdriver.

just a thought.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:02 PM

Rebecca, thanks. I've heard that if Bush loses OH, he has OH Republicans to blame. I don't know much about it, but apparently OH is largely run by tax-happy Republicans, and I know OH has been hit by job-loss. Looks good thus far, though.

Still, Susan sounded rather desperate.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 03:02 PM

Lofty, the wife is talking about Machu Picchu next summer.
Maybe she'll settle for Ayres Rock.

Posted by: RichardAubrey at November 3, 2004 at 03:02 PM

BBC finally talk to some GOP people, but then cut straight to a PLO spokewoman.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:02 PM

The people at Chris Shiel's blog must be going nuts

Posted by: Tex at November 3, 2004 at 03:03 PM

Mr. Bingley - yes, I was thinking only if the election started to look really bad (Kerry sweeping to victory etc) the pumpkin pie would come into play. Then I'd be in too much pain to really care about the impending administrative disaster.

But for now - another screwdriver it is!

Ohio freaking me out.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:03 PM

PLO spokewoman.

PLO!?! I didn't know they were running candidates. What bearing do they have on the election?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 03:04 PM

With 66.72% of the vote in, Bush still leads by 52.31% in Ohio.

Posted by: Rebecca at November 3, 2004 at 03:07 PM

theresites - with 67% reporting, CSPAN says Thune leads Daschle 50.5 to 49.5%.

But 2 years ago he was leading Johnson by what seemed an insurmountable lead with one Indian reservation precinct to report, and (shockingly) lost. He chose not to contest the fraud and to concentrate on 2004. Let's hope it pays off. After Bush, the wife and I are rooting for Thune more than anybody.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 03:08 PM

ohio...new mexico...wisconsin...oy, i'm putting quite a dent into the wine cellar tonight

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:09 PM

I just talked to a girl I know who's in the Army National Guard and is stationed in Iraq. I asked her if she got to vote, and she said, "Yes, for Bush. I know only one soldier who voted for Kerry, and I know a LOT of soldiers here." So don't believe the crap that you hear about our military not liking Bush!

Posted by: Spork at November 3, 2004 at 03:11 PM

Wisconsin trending back to Kerry. :( Just checked the by-county stats...still plenty of votes to be counted in Milwaukee County and Dane County (Madison), and the one big and one semi-big conservative counties (Waukesha and Racine) probably aren't going to make up for it...

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 03:12 PM

just overheard a a bon jovi song on bbc world that is on at john kerry's party venue.

"We´ve got to hold on to what we´ve got,

it doesn´t make a difference,

If we make it or not,

We´ve got each other and that´s a lot"

ha ha ha
the people on chris' blog are conceding defeat.




Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:13 PM

Colorado 63% reporting bush has jumped to a 54% lead.

Ohio 74% reporting Bush 51-Kerry 48.

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 03:13 PM

Still 52-48% for Bush in Ohio with 72% of precincts reporting. No movement yet at all towards Kerry.

The Bushies are feeling pretty confident now about Ohio according to Fox News. I think the fat lady is warming up.

Posted by: Randal Robinson at November 3, 2004 at 03:14 PM

Richard Aubrey, I don't know where Machu Picchu is, but Ayres Rock is fine. Just a shame about the long flight to get over here. But on the positive side, there's plenty of time for drinking on the flight!

Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny, what are the media tarts doing talking to a PLO representative about the election?

Posted by: Lofty at November 3, 2004 at 03:15 PM

Lofty - he's probably an "election observer" dispatched by the UN.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:16 PM

Gap closing slightly in OH, which is where it all sits right now.

But Bush is still leading in NM (can't wait to hear from Richardson if Bush takes that state) and trending better in NV.

OH + NV, or OH + NM = Bush for 4 more.

(WI still fairly close)

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 03:16 PM

Brett - at least I'm polite and asked, most men don't. Drinking age here is 18, too! Just in case the girls were wondering.

I've just estmated a minimum 271 EV for Bush on C-Span results. I excluded the really close states.

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 03:19 PM

>Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny, what are the media tarts doing talking to a PLO representative about the election?

There's been quite a few Arab speakers giving the 'Arab' POV on British TV tonight. The PLO etc. always get articulate, well-groomed, good-looking young women to represent them on British TV. No crazy unshaven towel-heads wielding guns for the BBC. (No normal moderate Arab people for that matter).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:21 PM

Sonetka, the UN may as well have sent Bin Hiding as well to oversee the election. Oh that's right he's incommunicado in some cave or other.

Posted by: Lofty at November 3, 2004 at 03:24 PM

Lofty - if they could find him, I bet they would. Just to get a balanced view, you know :).

[drinks]

[shakes in fear]

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:26 PM

fox just called colorado for bush, putting his total at 246 over 195. with ohio, the president will have 266 and he'll be pretty damn close to victory.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:27 PM

actually, it looks like the gap has widened slightly to nearly 15,000 in ohio. yippee!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:27 PM

Looks like Bush won Clark County OH ... I wonder how the Guardian feels about that?!

Posted by: Robin Burk at November 3, 2004 at 03:31 PM

Woohoo! C'mon Ohio, you can do it.

(I admit it; I partly want us to get Ohio for nasty personal reasons. A very ex-boyfriend of mine - obviously from my idiotic, pre-husband college days - is a MoveOn, foaming-at-the-mouth Kedwards supporter living in Ohio. I will admit to hoping for shameless joy in contemplating his misery tomorrow morning, should things work out).

[declines to drink toast, for fear of jinxing it]

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:31 PM

>it looks like the gap has widened slightly to nearly 15,000 in ohio.

Actually, C-Span make it about 130 000 (with 79% counted).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:34 PM

Judy Woodruff on CNN looks like she's either just cried or she's just about to...Voice cracking.

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 03:35 PM

CNN still running big scare headlines about how Ohio is Too Close To Call. Guys, it's late, even for those of us who are stateside. Stuff the ratings and just call it already.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:36 PM

Anyone got any inside dope on Nevada? It's very close, with only 15% counted.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:37 PM

Sonetka - I'll toast with you, at the very least to spite those stupid, clueless ex-boyfriends!

Posted by: melissa in oz at November 3, 2004 at 03:37 PM

I'm signing off to go watch Rather/Brokaw/Jennings eat sh---er, crow.

Posted by: Rebecca at November 3, 2004 at 03:37 PM

scott cambell-

er, my alcohol-besodded fingers missed a zero on the keyboard...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:38 PM

Melissa -

*clink*

May their dreams wither in the harsh light of day.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:40 PM

Scott - I'm a little surprised at the NV results thus far. The nuclear waste dumpsite issue might hurt him there. I'd still be surprised to see NV go blue, especially given Las Vegas being such a big terrorist risk. Let's hope OH and NM make NV a non-issue.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 03:41 PM

Ohio must be Bush's. Another 3% counted since I last posted, from 79% to 82%, and the gap has narrowed from 130 000 to 127 000, but even at that rate the gap is way too wide.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:41 PM

Fox just called Ohio for Bush!!

Posted by: Jeremy at November 3, 2004 at 03:42 PM

Bush wins OH. *beams a smile* I -love- this country!

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:42 PM

Bush still at 51-48.

82% counted.

Go Ohio!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 03:43 PM

That's 150,000 in Ohio; down to 120,000 with maybe 600,000 to count.

Fox has called it for Dubya.

He needs 3 electoral votes to secure re-election.

Looking OK lads.


Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 03:43 PM

Sonetka - *clink*!!

Posted by: melissa in oz at November 3, 2004 at 03:44 PM

I feel embarrassed that I even have to ask at this point, but how many electoral votes does OH have?

CNN just called Oregon for Kerry. Big flippin' surprise there.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:44 PM

>scott cambell - er, my alcohol-besodded fingers missed a zero on the keyboard...

You drunkbloggers disgust me. Thanks God I stayed sober.

(Christ, why didn't I think to get some beers in?)

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:44 PM

Oh, this is precious. Dan Rather is doing his best to show how Kerry could -still- win it. His poor hand is shaking as he points to the different states on the map.

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:45 PM

OH has 20 electoral votes. Fox is calling it for Bush.

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:46 PM

Just checking in......I see things are looking good for President Bush, even if those flippin' colonists from California gave Washington to Kerry.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 03:46 PM

Wait!

Is that Mrs. Edwards singing an aria?

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 03:47 PM

hmmm, scott you can tell i'm drinking aussie wine, because if it was aussie beer then i'd never have missed the 'p'...


*hic*

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:47 PM

According to CNN's running tally, with 72% of the national vote counted, Bush is leading Kerry by 3 million votes in the popular count.

Another stolen election, ladies and gentlemen!

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 03:47 PM

I'm looking forward to going to the airport tomorrow and waving goodbye to all the folks who promised to move to France if Bush won again.

Posted by: Spork at November 3, 2004 at 03:48 PM

Fox just called Ohio for GWB!! It's over

Posted by: swassociates at November 3, 2004 at 03:48 PM

Twenty votes, excellent.

But I'm not getting out the *good* vodka until I see that ticker hit 270.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:50 PM

John Kerry US Navy (Retired)

Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 03:51 PM

Okay, now just one goal...getting Bush to 300+ EVs so the Democrats don't even think about litigating individual states.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 03:51 PM

Another stolen election, ladies and gentlemen!

We're getting better at it, too. By 2012, we should be able to steal 55% of the popular vote, easy.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 03:52 PM

obviously, bbc world says that depiste fox's call, ohio is "still a knife's edge" because a few provisional ballots haven't been counted yet.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:53 PM

WOO HOO! Bush got Ohio! Yeah!

Makes up for my forlorn vote in Washington.

God, I need a drink. Quick, someone hoist one for me!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 03:53 PM

Oh wow...Carville on CNN just basically conceded. Paula Zauhn (sp?) just tried to get him to take it back, but he wouldn't.

Novak agreed. ;-)

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 03:55 PM

ITV say that Bush needs either Alaska or Nevada to win, completely forgetting New Mexico.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 03:56 PM

done, jeffs!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 03:57 PM

john micklethwaite from the now-left-wing the economist has just realized on sky news that europeans will be pissed off when they wake up...

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 03:57 PM

Jeff - asked and answered.

*clink*

(For the record, I'm not exactly drunkblogging. I can make my screwdrivers last a long time. But they certainly lend a warm air of happy surreality to the evening)

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 03:57 PM

Okay, now just one goal...getting Bush to 300+ EVs so the Democrats don't even think about litigating individual states.

Sorry, PW, but lawyers (and especially Democratic lawyers) need no excuse to file a lawsuit. Note the "intimidation by rolled eyes" suit in South Dakota.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 03:58 PM

Dem Demolition

Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 03:58 PM

BBC said Ohio on knief's edge ??? 52% to Bush???

Me thinks many liberals to be committing Hari-Kiri

Posted by: Louis Hissink at November 3, 2004 at 03:59 PM

I can understand people still being cautiously optimistic about it. Maybe a greater understanding of the US election system would make me that way, too. But I think there's no doubt: Dubya's got it sewn up.

The reason: Terrorism is THE big ussue. He's the only guy with a clear, morally driven attitude to it, and a plan to defeat it. And he has a spine.

Kerry (like many of his supporters) is basically a moral mollusc. He's all over the shop like a squid on a rock.

Posted by: Matt at November 3, 2004 at 04:00 PM

Novak -- "This is a conservative country"

"too conservative for the Democratic Party as presently constituted."

Amen.

Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 04:00 PM

Results updated every 6 minutes. BTW, you have to preview your post in order to post it.

Posted by: zefal at November 3, 2004 at 04:01 PM

AHHHHHHHH!!

Thank you, Sonetka and Mr. Bingley! I feel much better.

I chatted with my niece, who also live in Washington; she and her husband voted in Washington. So we commiserate in company. [sniff]

266.......Go Bush!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:01 PM

Drudge has just posted: "BUSH WINS"

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 04:01 PM

just heard on CNN - "this country is too conservative for the democrats as constituters."
watch out for those excuses yet to come from the dems, i bet the OBL tape will be the democrats' #1 excuse for why bush won. furthermore, i bet that it won't have been kerry's own fault in the least.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 04:02 PM

The race has tightened a bit in Ohio ... Bush leads by 101,000 with 87% of the votes counted.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 04:02 PM

Sonetka - I didn't think I was drunkblogging, but the wife and I just did a wine inventory, and since the general mood of the election turned, we've consumed an impressive amount. I think I need to logoff soon.

Scott - I don't follow that news. OH is in the bag, so Bush needs to win either NV (he's down b/c of the nuke waste issue but it's a usual red state) or NM (he's up by 5% with 83% reporting). I just don't see it going any other way.

Hell, even Carville has conceded!!!

First Howard, then Bush. Great last few weeks.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 04:02 PM

Excuse me, that virtual alcohol is affecting my typing. I meant to say, "My niece and her husband voted for Bush".

hic!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:03 PM

Bush is shitting it in in AK - 62:35 with 44% of the vote counted.

NM to be declared for Bush any minute now.

It's all over. I feel so sorry for the SMH, The Age, the ABC and all the other assorted losers...

Well done, America! I never did think you could elect that weasel Kerry!

I'm looking forward to having a celebratory toast tonight. Cheers!

JPB

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 04:04 PM

Kerry just pegged back 40,000 frickin' votes in Ohio, in going from 84% to 87% counted.

Lead now down to approx. 100k from 140k. Yikes.

Posted by: Sweet sweet Bundy at November 3, 2004 at 04:05 PM

Iowa is really, really close.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 04:06 PM

I sympathize, JeffS. Husband and I voted for Bush in Cook friggin' County, Illinois. Talk about one grand gesture of futility. I also voted for Keyes, not because I think he's sane, but because I'm tired of Barack Obama being the Second Coming.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:06 PM

Factoid I haven't heard anyone say yet; It is possible, though increasingly unlikely, that Kerry could turn Ohio around.

It is basically impossible that even if he does so, he also makes up enough ground to win the popular vote too. (He's three full percentage points behind and there aren't many states left.) If Kerry wins, look for a whole lot of people to start scraping off bumperstickers which imply that presidents who win that way aren't legitimate....

Posted by: Mike G at November 3, 2004 at 04:06 PM

Oh Christ, is Ohio going to be the new Florida.

NOOOOOOOO.....

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:07 PM

"too conservative for the Democratic Party as presently constituted."

Unfortunately, I bet the message they're going to take away from that isn't that they need to realign themselves with the voters, but that Kerry didn't phony it up enough as a centrist. But who cares, it's gonna be another 30 months until we need to sit through another mindnumbingly stupid Dem primary full of unreconstructed leftists again.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 04:07 PM

Auntie ABC in Australia just interrupted the afternoon kid's program to announce that some US networks are giving Ohio to President Bush, and that it is now basically all over.

I am happy to report that, unlike some US reporters apparently, the lovely Juanita Philips did not appear to be close to tears!

Posted by: Bavarian Weissbier at November 3, 2004 at 04:08 PM

I'm thinking of writing the SMH, Graudain, NYT, etc, a short message that would go something like this.....

I don't know if you follow the news, but I thought you might want to know that President Bush has been re-elected. If you have a problem with this, you might consider migrating to another planet. God knows your publication's content shows that you could be from another world, so why not remove all doubt?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:08 PM

Drudge has called it for Bush, but I think Ohio is still in play.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 04:09 PM

>The race has tightened a bit in Ohio ... Bush leads by 101,000 with 87% of the votes counted.

That's a big last-minute swing, but still not big enough. Ohio is Bush's.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 04:10 PM

OK everyone, enough fighting, it's all over and BUSH HAS WON

Posted by: dave the rave at November 3, 2004 at 04:10 PM

Fox just called Alaska for Bush. 269!!!!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:12 PM

Thanks all you Aussies for your support, over the last three years and especially tonight.

Posted by: Retread at November 3, 2004 at 04:12 PM

I'm waiting for CNN to call it, because God knows they're slow as January molasses to call things in Bush's favour. (This being the same news-site that left the forged-documents story up for FORTY-EIGHT hours after the shiatstorm began. They are SLOW). If they call Ohio for Bush, it's pretty much done. I hope.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:13 PM

Well, NBC and Fox have both called OH for Bush. He's still 116,000 up with 88% reporting (per CSPAN).

I was the party's biggest pessimist the entire past week, up until about 4 hours ago. I refuse to go back now!

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 04:13 PM

The tears have begun to flow over at "Democratic Underground".

Posted by: Richard at November 3, 2004 at 04:13 PM

If I read this right from Fox, there are 58 EV still up in the air. With Kerry at 211, the best he could do is tie with Bush. Not good, but there's a couple of red states in there (NV, NM).

It ain't over yet, but the end is in site. Bush just has to take one state.......

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:15 PM

"First Howard, then Bush. Great last few weeks."

Now I hope we make it a conservative hattrick with Michael Howard in Britain next year. Then all the countries I care about will have sensible governments.

Fingers crossed.

Would anybody else find it screamingly funny if the Guardian's Operation Clark County cost the Dems the election in Ohio? ROFLMAO

Posted by: PJ at November 3, 2004 at 04:16 PM

holy shit is cnn spinning on ohio for kerry.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 04:16 PM

To my patch of ground, George Washington's rebel army evacuated New York. Down the road they made their daring Christmas 1776 attack. The hills and valleys out my front door was where they lived and died in the desperate winter of 1779-80.

This election was about national existence. It was about whether we would keep faith with men like Washington who gambled fortunes and risked the noose, or put ourselves in the hands of Jacques Chirac, Kofi Annan, Pinch Sulzberger and the rest of the globalist gang that thinks it knows better for us. It was about keeping up the fight to be able to pass on their inheritance to our kids.

To hell with them and their global test. Can we get the one more point we need for a passing grade on our American test?

Dave Smith
in "Purple" northwest NJ

Posted by: Dave Smith at November 3, 2004 at 04:16 PM

I agree with Retread...no matter how the election goes tonight, a GIANT THANKS to Australia. I've monitored this blog for a while, especially during the recent Aussie elections. Australia has been the greatest ally for the longest time, and I can't express enough appreciation.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 04:17 PM

Just went through the Ohio by-county data on CNN...if the trends hold in all the counties which haven't reported 100% yet, Bush should pick up about 30,000 across the state despite Cuyahoga County still about one third away from being fully counted. They'll have to raise a lot of dead to make up for that.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 04:17 PM

88% counted in Ohio, and it's back up 116 000 lead for Bush. It's over.

By my calculations there are about 600 000 votes left in Ohio. To make up 116 000 votes would be astonishing. Kerry would have to win 360 000 - 240 000 - about 67% of all the remaining votes. Ain't gonna happen, even if all the areas that are left lean Kerry.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 04:18 PM

HEY! DU is shutting off access to unregistered users due to "...an unusually high level of traffic..."

Can someone cut-and-paste the whines? I'm curious as to who wants to migrate to France.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:18 PM

PJ, only 1600 votes diff in Clark. Nice thought though.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 04:19 PM

It's a pleasure Retread. Congratulations to Mr Bush.

And, fellow Aussies, won't it be a treat to see Kerry O'Brien looking as sour as a prune for the second time in three weeks and four days?

Posted by: ilibcc at November 3, 2004 at 04:19 PM

Mr. Bingley - sick, innit? Don't know why I keep going back there. It's like watching some morbid disease spin out of control - you can't help but be fascinated by the sheer weirdness.

I would like to echo the thanks to the Aussies. I'm not 100% sure of this yet, but am hopeful. (I want to stay up until EVERY network has confirmed Bush winning - don't want to wake up to a nasty surprise like in '00. Thank God I have the day off tomorrow).

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:19 PM

From news.com.au:

"The Kerry camp still believes it can close the gap in Florida because most of the state's 1.5 million postal ballots have yet to be counted."

F...ing dreamers..

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 04:19 PM

And let me add a big THANK YOU to Australia as well, a true ally and friend! Good on you, mate!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:20 PM

Carville's conceded.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 04:20 PM

Drudge is calling the election for Bush.

BBC has bush 249 kerry 221.
CNN has Bush 249 Kerry 200.

Its looking good.

Posted by: dawn at November 3, 2004 at 04:21 PM

Daily Kos sang froid:

"MARKOS! FUCK THIS SHIT! (none / 0)

PUT UP A FUCKING HEADLINE! DRUDGE IS A FUCKING PUSSY FOR PUTTING UP HIS HEADLINE! WHO THE FUCK IS HE?! PUT YOUR OWN HEADLINE AND DO NOT QUIT! DO NOT BACK DOWN!
THIS IS AT BEST A TIE SO FAR!

CALL SOME FOLKS AND TELL THEM NOT TO CONCEDE!

DO NOT JUST FUCKING LIE DOWN MAN!!!THIS IS NOT OVER!!

THEY KNOW OHIO IS NOT DONE AND YET THE FUCKING RAM IT IN BY CALLING IT!

FUCK NO!"

Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 04:21 PM

For your schadenfreude pleasure, I give you Democratic Underground.

JPace (xxx posts) Tue Nov-02-04 10:59 PM
Response to Original message
25. The thought of looking at AWOL and his regime
Edited on Tue Nov-02-04 11:00 PM by JPace
continue their dismantling of our country for another
four years is so abhorant it makes one feel ill. Its
like trying to kill a damed vampire....we shoot and
shoot and the thing just keeps rising up and coming
at you again.

Posted by: Bruce at November 3, 2004 at 04:22 PM

Hmmm...Iowa could still go Bush.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 04:22 PM

MSNBC just called Karl Rove a "political genius" - dead right!

Posted by: Dylan at November 3, 2004 at 04:23 PM

WhoooHooo! Wolf Blitzo just called New Hamper for Kerry.

"Sniff"

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 04:23 PM

JPB - there's an image; Kerry as Don Quixote. Only I like the Don better.

"To dreeeeamm...the impossible dreammmm...
To fight the unbeatable Cong
To bear with unbearable spouuuuses....
To run where Dr. Dean could not go...

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:23 PM

Stop your frantic barking, Trimalchio. It's over. Now YOU get over it.

Posted by: Spork at November 3, 2004 at 04:24 PM

>"The Kerry camp still believes it can close the gap in Florida because most of the state's 1.5 million postal ballots have yet to be counted."

The difference there is 360 000 votes. So they'd have to get, say, 950 000 to 550 000 of the postal vote to win, which is almost two-thirds. As JPB says, they're dreaming.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 04:26 PM

Its all over red rover,

Bush in


Now, the winners list

1 Michael Moore - ambassador to Afghanistan....


Posted by: rog at November 3, 2004 at 04:26 PM

Stop your frantic barking, Trimalchio. It's over. Now YOU get over it.

He's quoting Kos.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 04:26 PM

waaaaayahaaaah !! ONYA SEPPOS
now get back in ere and join us in the left-bashin. been doin it fer 3 weeks here in oz and he novelty aint worn off yet. plus theyll be sookin with renewed vigour after the US result. ahhh I luv this shit
think im a bit pissed though. a beer might cure it. cheers

Posted by: FusterCluck at November 3, 2004 at 04:27 PM

Sheesh, the lefties can't even figure out how to kill a vampire. Maybe they are allergic to garlic, and think a cross is politically incorrect.

Thanks, Bruce!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:27 PM

I shall have fun all week reading and listening to the whining and crying of Soros, Moore, MSM, the pundits.. GLORIOUS!!!!

Posted by: Ripclawe at November 3, 2004 at 04:28 PM

i can't wait to see and read all the reactions by the liberals. not just in the US, but all over the world. this will be absolutely priceless.

and finally sticking to my beliefs in the past 4 years will start paying off now that i can gloat!!!! i'm looking forward to seeing every single one of the many leftie people i have encountered in recent times and rub it in. damn wacked out lefties always thinking they're on a moral high horse, always assuming everyone else hates bush too... in the simpsons' nelson muntz's words: haw haw!

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 04:28 PM

Dear Spork,

Please note the quotation marks (""). That means someone else said it (www.dailykos.com). You can find "sang froid" in the dictionary.

-Trimalchio

Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 04:28 PM

This is the Counterpunch Kerry celebration thread...Right?

Posted by: monkey fan at November 3, 2004 at 04:28 PM

sonetka - my bride and i are sitting here chortling with glee, watching them squirm

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 04:29 PM

OHIO - Bush up by 130000 with 89% counted.

IOWA - Bush up by 4300 woth 90% counted and coming on strong.

NEW MEXICO - Bush up by 22000 wit 87% counted

WISCONSIN - Bush down by 26500 with 74% counted

He's home guys !!!!!

Posted by: amortiser at November 3, 2004 at 04:29 PM

Bruce, maybe you can give those Dems Underground a few hyperlinks to the Australian leftie blogs. If they go through the archived posts there of about a month or so ago, they can find plenty of inspiration for their whining!

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 04:29 PM

Jeff - Well, you can shoot a vampire to death. But you have to use silver bullets, and you know how ecologically unfriendly those are :).

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:29 PM

Ohio is, I admit, flipping about dramatically. But now it's back up to 130 000 lead for Bush with 89% counted.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 04:30 PM

rog, do not send Moore to Afghanistan. They have enough problems.

No, I suggest Iran as a suitable location. He can bring a suitable supply of pig's knuckles and pork rinds with him. Or maybe Saudi Arabia.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:31 PM

Wanted to add - go Iowa! I used to live there and retain a fondness for the place, despite their repellent governor. Go, good citizens of Powesheik and Johnson Counties! Go, citizens of Des Moines! Cast off the blue-state status which was so narrowly yours last time!

Damn it, I want to be proud of at least *one* state I've lived in. Can't count Utah, because we're not moving there until December.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:31 PM

"PLO!?! I didn't know they were running candidates."

They certainly are running a candidate, his name is John Kerry

Posted by: Sheriff at November 3, 2004 at 04:32 PM

By my count, Kerry will win all the remaining states except Nevada and Iowa, which both have only several thousand votes between Bush & Kerry.

Posted by: Ed at November 3, 2004 at 04:33 PM

The JeffS - and he can team up with Osama bin Laden, his favourite movie reviewer, while he's in Iran.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 04:33 PM

"THIS IS AT BEST A TIE SO FAR!"

That particular moonbat doesn't seem to realize what happens if the electoral college is tied, hehe.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 04:34 PM

Actually, Sonetka, I find it ironic for the left, the nominal "anti-war, anti-violence" group, to use that analogy.

But you're right, they probably won't use silver bullets because they not eco-friendly. Oh, and they have to be blessed by a priest first, another problem for them, no?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:34 PM

Trimalchio, My sincerest apologies. It's late and I'm very tired. I should have noticed the quotes in your message. Please forgive.

Posted by: Spork at November 3, 2004 at 04:35 PM

Sorry, the REAL JeffS.. this champagne is working wonders ;) at least two drunk bush-supporters in australia.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 04:35 PM

Let's just hope there's no bitter and twisted legal action that keeps the result hanging (and my winnings hanging at Centrebet heh heh..).

Can't wait to see all my soft (politically) friends who couldn't BELIEVE i was betting on 'that man'!

Posted by: Sweet sweet Bundy at November 3, 2004 at 04:36 PM

Dan Rather: "We would rather be last than wrong". He's still desperately searching for math that will make it work for Kerry.

Posted by: Brett at November 3, 2004 at 04:36 PM

allow me to explian i meant another beer. sorry its now 5:30 or something in australia and I am on beer number 5 and a half. congratulations to the U S of a. well done. give us a minute while i try and remember what i was celebrating

Posted by: FusterCluck at November 3, 2004 at 04:39 PM

That's cool, nicki. Party on!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:39 PM

Oi! CNN sez "Projections are outstanding for only a handful of states with Ohio and its 20 Electoral College votes being the key, and where there is not yet enough information to make a projection."

Is this the spin you were discussing?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:44 PM

Looks like Daschle is going to lose in SD as well - the second most important race in America tonight. It's not the Dems' night, is it?

Posted by: PJ at November 3, 2004 at 04:46 PM

Spork, No offense taken.

Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 04:47 PM

That popping sound wafting across the suburbs of the US isn't just champagne bottles being opened, it's also the occasional leftie head exploding.

Posted by: MOik at November 3, 2004 at 04:47 PM

has anyone succesffully managed to get into to DU ? there is denial on an industrial scale going on there :


"I tried earlier, and no one wanted to believe it. Maybe now you do? *THE FIX IS IN.*

If we're afraid to call it as is, there's no chance we'll ever see democracy or a Democrat elected in this country every again. PLEASE WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES.

Here are some facts:

(1) All exit polls had Kerry ahead in in FL and OH.

(2) All Democrats were completely confident, based (I'm sure) on internal polls. Kennedy said Kerry won. He was sure. So was the DNC chair, who referred to Kerry as president-elect.

(3) Canadian TV (CTV) said it will be an early landslide (their word) for Kerry. They had inside information.

(4) Exit polls have always been correct -- until they pulled Florida away from Gore, and Bush took power by force. Since then no exit poll has ever been any good. Coincidence?

(5) In the midterm elections, the VERY SAME thing happened as tonight. Polls nationwide favored Democrats, and then the GOP won every state -- and the exit polls vanished!!! Pollsters had never been so wrong. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME MACHINES WERE USED.

(6) We all know who owns the Diebold (Diabolical) voting machines. And it ain't the Democrats.

(5) Every historical predictor pointed to a Kerry victory: the large turnout, Bush's approval ratings, the economy, and the fact that he consistently polled under 50 or even 48%. No president had ever won with such low numbers.

And then magically everything reversed itself and Bush wins. Do you guys believe this is for real?

I don't know what we can do. But at the very least I suggest:

-- Write letters to every paper and every person you know, outlining the facts above (plus everything you can add about the electronic voting machines -- lots of info out there).

-- Write Kennedy and others who KNOW Kerry had the real vote. We need them to come forward and speak out.

-- We need strategy. We can't just go and protest and be angry. It will look like we can't accept defeat. We need to get our facts and target our message. Or else forget about this country.

Ideas? Drop me a line.


this is too funny

Posted by: FusterCluck at November 3, 2004 at 04:49 PM

CNN is still soldiering on bravely hoping that Ohio will somehow flip for Kerry. They're talking breathlessly about the provisional ballots as if they're going to swing 100,000+ votes to Kerry.

Posted by: Randal Robinson at November 3, 2004 at 04:49 PM

on BackPages Blog:

Ohio has blown back out for Bush: 51.03/48.47, with 89.6 counted. Is that sound I hear a Fat Lady clearing her throat?
Posted by cs on November 3, 2004 05:39 PM

Well Fox and NBC now are the fat lady's support act - both project Ohio for Bush.
Posted by tb on November 3, 2004 05:43 PM

Face it. The minute that first plane flew into the Twin Towers, Bush had won his second term. With the media that exists today in the US, this was all but inevitable. Those gallant folk in the US tried their best, but it was not enough to stave off the onslaught that is right-wing Amerika.
Posted by JC on November 3, 2004 05:43 PM

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 04:49 PM

Time to start the Condi Rice '08 Campaign!!!

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 04:50 PM

HOO-EEE! It's time for big hats, beer and beligerence to bolshies!

Posted by: Habib at November 3, 2004 at 04:50 PM

Oh, man, I just noticed this. The Senate has at least 52 Republicans, a gain of 1, with 3 undecided. The House is projected to maintain the GOP advantage.

And Kerry just took MN.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 04:50 PM

Randal - CNN says Kerry is "refusing to concede" until Ohio is no longer in play. Christ only knows what that means. I'm guessing that "no longer in play" means "when the Democrats win it."

Then again, the Dem machine doesn't exactly sound supportive of Kerry. He doesn't make a very good golden boy.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 04:54 PM

Ohio - Yahoo have 93%, with Bush leading by 104 000.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 04:55 PM

MOik, I hope that champagne is Australian sparkling and not Frog fizz.

And also - how could so many media outlets get it so wrong? All they had to do is ask Gerard Daffey. Gerard Daffey knows everything. Why didn't they ask him?

Posted by: ilibcc at November 3, 2004 at 04:57 PM

Let\\\'s start a collection for all the one-way tickets for those who said they\\\'d leave if Bush wins again. I\\\'ll contribute $20.

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 3, 2004 at 04:57 PM

Here's the latest polls from the states still in contention as of 1:43 am EST (www.newsday.com):

Ohio: Bush, 2.585 million -2.483 million (92% precincts reporting)
Wisconsin: Kerry, 1.142 million - 1.114 million (79% precincts reporting)
Iowa: Bush, 700,000 - 693,000 (92% precincts reporting)
New Mexico: Bush, 253,400 - 230,700 (92% precincts reporting)
Nevada: Bush, 261,000 - 260,000 (49% precincts reporting)
Hawaii: Kerry 55,000 - 69,000 (0% precincts reporting)
Michegin: Kerry, 1.167 million - 1.562 million (71% precincts reporting).

Based on the current polls, Ohio and New Mexico are in the bag for Bush, which gives him a minimum of 274 electoral votes. If he takes all the states he is currently leading in, he'll have 286 electoral votes.

Last count, Bush was leading the popular vote by three million. Let's hope he gets it. And honestly, if the shoe was on the other foot and Kerry was about to clinch the nomination , I'd be saying the same thing. The job of running this country is tough enough without over half of the opposition claiming you stole the election.

Posted by: Sean at November 3, 2004 at 04:58 PM

Just got home here in Oz - well done guys! Heard a rumour the goodies won Clark County - can anyone confirm or deny please.

Posted by: graboy at November 3, 2004 at 04:58 PM

"colorado thistle" in comments at Kos:

"Should we march in the streets? Should we protest from now until 2008? Should we accept a result that is so fricken wrong? I say march, fight, and, if you're not like me, that wants to move to New Zealand right now, get out and protest peacefully, go out and make this president resign."

This is too good. Onya Bush.

Posted by: max power at November 3, 2004 at 04:59 PM

the "nomination"?! I meant the election. I really need to go to bed.

ps: current tallies at Newsday.com have Bush padding his lead in Ohio and Iowa, and Kerry retaking the lead in Nevada.

Posted by: Sean at November 3, 2004 at 05:00 PM

fuster, i would humbly suggest that polls only show how a small group of people say that voted, as opposed to how they actually voted.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 05:00 PM

Well, the Dems are currently down 107,000 in Ohio and that's not going to change much anymore, since the few Democratic counties not finished counting yet are at best delivering another 10,000 to Kerry and that's going to be offset by Warren County (Bush up by 34,000 votes there and still 21% to count, so that's about +7,000 for him there).

I guess the Dems and CNN are putting their hopes on the 130,000 or so provisional ballots (and a challenge to get military absentees disqualified, I guess). Still, those provisionals would have to break 80-20 for Kerry, and I find that hard to believe, even with the fix being in.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:01 PM

with 96% in ohio's back out to 120,000!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 3, 2004 at 05:03 PM

Graboy, Here you go:
Clark
Bush, George W. Republican 34,444 (50.96%)
Kerry, John F. Democratic 32,824 (48.56%)
Badnarik, Michael 183 (0.27%)
Peroutka, Michael Anthony 144 (0.21%)
Cobb, David Keith-WI 0 (0.00%)
Schriner, Joe -WI 0 (0.00%)
Duncan, Richard A.-WI 0 (0.00%)
Parker, John T.-WI 0 (0.00%)
Harris, James -WI 0 (0.00%)
Zych, Thomas F.-WI 0 (0.00%)
Precincts Reporting: 100.00% (67,595)

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:03 PM

CNN is calling Ohio a 'green state'. Gimme a break.

Posted by: Alli at November 3, 2004 at 05:04 PM

Only 1000 in it in Nevada, with 54% counted. Bush up by 27 000 with 93% counted in New Mexico - looking good there. And Iowa: Bush 11 000 ahead with 94% counted - but that's close, because there are more voters there than in New Mexico.

I know Bush doesn't need all these states, but it would be good to see a big a win as possible.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 05:04 PM

a DU'er spoke thusly:

(3) Canadian TV (CTV) said it will be an early landslide (their word) for Kerry. They had inside information.

Ignoring the hilarity of putting your faith on freakin' Canadian television to get the US election right, what exactly does it mean they "had inside information" into an election whose votes hadn't been counted yet? Is he insinuating that CTV knew about Democrats' plans to steal the election, but those darned Repubs just stole it back somehow?

Man, these people need killin', as they'd say down in Texas...

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:04 PM

Mr. Bingley - Good for Ohio. The "green state" stuff is hilarious.

Still cheering for Iowa.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:07 PM

Congratulations, people!
My personal take is that a lot of people felt like me -- not madly in love with Bush, but totally disgusted with the 4 years of psychotic hate-spewing from the left.
I guess we can say thanks the Eminem, Yassir Arafat, Bin Ladin, Mike Moore and assorted hate spammers to convince the "swing voters".

Posted by: Rene at November 3, 2004 at 05:07 PM

From Drudge:

Boston, MA - Kerry-Edwards campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill released the following statement:

"The vote count in Ohio has not been completed. There are more than 250,000 remaining votes to be counted. We believe when they are, John Kerry will win Ohio."

Posted by: thersites at November 3, 2004 at 05:07 PM

According to the Corner, Kerry is not making a move to make any kind of speech, concession or otherwise.

Methinks he believed his own hype. "Me, lose the election? Impossible! I am the great and powerful JOHN!!!"

For Chrissake, dude, give it up and go home. You know Theresa would rather be living in one of her Swiss villas than in that poky old White House. Do it for the family. Please?

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:09 PM

Speaking of Arrafat, should Dubya pull it off (so close, YES!), who wants to bet on him retiring in Paris to live out his golden years, out of range of the IDF, and protected by the French?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:09 PM

I doubt there are actually that many mail in votes. But if Bush can maintain a 150000 vote lead, it won't matter if there are 250000 mail ins.

Posted by: Matt Jones at November 3, 2004 at 05:10 PM

JamesUK

Thank you. Sheer bliss. Off to the fridge (which was packed full this morning).

Posted by: graboy at November 3, 2004 at 05:10 PM

Teddy 'the swimmer' Kennedy is reportedly consulting with Kerry.

Posted by: Alli at November 3, 2004 at 05:10 PM

Oh, God, Ohio in 2004 is what Florida was in 2000. If Jesse Jackson shows up there, I'm gonna puke.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:11 PM

uh-oh, sounds like trouble at mill, from DU:


Posted by SkinnerAdded to homepage Wed Nov 03rd 2004, 01:59 AM ET The Kerry Campaign says they think they won Ohio. John Kerry isn't conceding. Neither am I. And neither should you. This is Florida 2000 all over again. But they're not going to steal it this time. No fucking way. CNN says there are 600,000 ballots still to be counted in Ohio. Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell says it could take 11 days to count them. The entire political and media establishment is going to Ohio. This is it, people. The moment of truth. This time, I am not going to sit here in my comfy house and watch this on TV. This time, I'm not going to sit back and watch a bunch of Republican congressional staffers in button-down shirts and loafers shut down the process. Fuck that. I have a tent. I've got my health. I've got a car. Now that the campaign is over, I've got a shitload of free time. I have a website that gets tens of thousands of people every day. I am going to Ohio. Who is with me?

Are these morons really going to contest Ohio?

Posted by: Amos at November 3, 2004 at 05:13 PM

Free the oppressed and fight for the weak, and the left and the media will villify, and try to destroy you.
I wonder what Jesus' chance of survival would be should he happen to pop up about now?

Posted by: truss at November 3, 2004 at 05:13 PM

I think it's time to make what Dubya called the One Finger Victory Salute. So, to Michael Moore, George Soros, the DU, MoveOn.org, Euroweenies, the MSM, the East Coast Euroweenie wannabes, and all the rest: here's a big, fat, brass-plated One Finger Victory Salute just for you!

Posted by: Brown Line at November 3, 2004 at 05:14 PM

Even less than if the Romans were occupying North America, truss.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:15 PM

Graboy,
:) Goodonyer

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:15 PM

Oh Christ. Please God, let them come to their senses, if they have any.

Though I'll admit that one of the funniest sights of 2000 was watching Bill Daley prancing around, bleating about how Florida was "stolen - stolen!" Yeah, Bill, you should know all about that kind of thing. Still, it's a sight I could gladly go without ever seeing again.

Please, God. Just make them see reason. They lost, f'r Chrissakes. Will this turn into a tradition? Every election the Democrats lose is somehow stolen?

I think I'm going to vomit.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:16 PM

It looks like since there are about 150,000 provisional ballots in Ohio and Bush is only ahead by 107,000 (93% reporting) Kerry\'s not going to give up. Kerry is counting on getting over 70% of those (and don\'t forget a lot of them are probably bogus). If he has any class he\'ll concede Ohio. Don\'t hold your breath.

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 3, 2004 at 05:16 PM

The Democrats are going to complain about the exit polls and imply some voter fraud.

But I think it was just the early exit polls that screwed Bush. I don't have access to a straight exit poll breakdown. But for Florida I calculated the final exit poll as 51% to Bush. Bush got 52% of the vote this is well within the margin of error.

Posted by: drscroogemcduck at November 3, 2004 at 05:17 PM

Kerry down almost 29,000 in New Mexico with barely 30,000 votes left to be counted, and CNN isn't calling the state yet, hmm. I guess they're keeping their faith that all the provisional ballots casted by illegal aliens will come through for them, or something.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:17 PM

Can someboby post some more leftie squealing please.
I need another fix. It's addictive.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:18 PM

Think Kerry'll give up when every last one of those ballots is counted? Like hell. They'll be counting chads before the day is out. Because God forbid that the almighty John actually lose a race.

God damn it.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:20 PM

Also tradesports had Bush at 25.00 this morning before any official results even came in or the final exit polls for that matter. I closed my position at 96.00 tonight because I can't justify the risk of absentee ballots/recounts/or court challenges to grab an extra 4 points. I'm happy. :)

Posted by: drscroogemcduck at November 3, 2004 at 05:21 PM

"Are these morons really going to contest Ohio?"

No Amos their just going camping, moon is waxing and they will be barking.

Posted by: gubbaboy at November 3, 2004 at 05:21 PM

Even worse, Sonetka, it's another 4 years of "Bush stole the election!"

It almost makes me wish we could crush dissent. At least dissent from confirmed congenital idiots like Kerry.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:22 PM

Can someboby post some more leftie squealing please.
I need another fix. It's addictive.

Me too. And Democratic Underground has blocked access to non-registered users.

Posted by: EvilPundit at November 3, 2004 at 05:23 PM

Bush currently up 128,000 in Ohio (via CNN), and he should pick up another 16,000 or so...if they're going to put their hopes on 150,000 provisional ballots to offset a 144,000 vote hole and not conceding for perhaps two weeks until those provisionals are counted, they can say goodbye to the 2006 election, too.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:24 PM

Thank you, PW, for finding the silver lining in the cloud.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:26 PM

Ah, but Bush seems to have won the sacred popular vote. Any bets on how soon that will vanish down the memory hole?

This can't last as long as Florida, though. Florida really was close. Ohio - doesn't look like it. At least, not the way Florida was. Damn it, I want to see the Republicans challenging Cali or something like that. I want to see the Democrats having to defend themselves against undisproveable anecdotal crap six ways from Sunday.

Of course, I also want adorable twins and a million dollars. I think the latter two are more likely.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:26 PM

Can someone please tell Kerry that he can save his dignity by conceding NOW.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 05:27 PM

I'll settle for the million bucks and a rational Democratic party.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:27 PM

Let's listen to John Edwards now...this should be fun.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:29 PM

Quentin, what dignity Kerry ever had when down the toilet when he prostituted himself to the Vietnam Veterans Against The War 30 years ago.

But I agree, a concession would be great.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:30 PM

JeffS - sounds good to me. With a million dollars I could afford to adopt the adorable twins.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:30 PM

To satisfy your cravings, this is from The Currency Lad:

Screw Them

FLORIDA and Colorado have now been called for the Republicans. While we await the final word on Ohio, why not enjoy some afternoon delight courtesy of the commenters at Daily Kos? For some of them, it seems all that open-armed love for the young and the old has evaporated quickly. Mighty quickly.

Brian Williams is talking about the Moral Majority vote. What hypocrites!! Bush is a "Fake Christian" and a moralist who took us to war in Iraq, spilling so much blood. There is a God folks, I'm a Believer. When Rove and Co. comes beforetheir Maker, it's going to be payback time for Eternity. And that's a long long time!!

A Dem activist friend use to say, "no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." Seems to me this is a case in point. My take is we (USA) haven't learned our lesson yet and the frightened little people, which appear to be the "voting" majority, have chosen faith over reason because it's going to take real faith in Baby Jesus magic to save us from ourselves.

Who started this pathetic dismal mopey pessimist thread? Kos or the anti-Kos? Kos must be drinking heavily if he can't even spell vot(e). I'm 20, a student at Washington U in St Louis and everybody I know voted for Kerry. Of course, I don't have any Republican friends, but still.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 05:32 PM

More leftist squealing from Daily Kos, as requested:

"read Orcanus.
Last night was exactly the excuse the thugs needed to start consolidating their forces, and moving us toward the police state that they want.

THERE WILL BE VIOLENCE AGINST US, the question is do we respond in kind. The even bigger question is DO WE RESPOND NOW, while we are together, or later as individuals that they can pick off in ones and twos.

This will not be won in the courts, and the constitution will not stand long enough for us to have another try at the ballot box.

This one will be won, or it will be lost in the streets.

The last hope is that we get saved the same way the Germans did.

If you don't have the stomach to fight, then put your head down, and prey you survive till the rest of the world comes together and puts a stake through the heart of the evil that rises up from last night.

America died last night, it now comes down to us to see if anything can be salvaged or if we becomme a third world nation. Once the thugs consolidate power here, e will comleate the journy to being a right wing fasist state of some sort."


Posted by: Trimalchio at November 3, 2004 at 05:33 PM

Soneka & RJeffs,
No, you should have your own. The more the better.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:34 PM

Fox just called MI for Kerry. 269 to 238.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:34 PM

When it is all said and done, who would have thought that Tim's idea would end up getting the Gaurdian to win Ohio for Bush....

that is just HI-larious.

Four more years. Osama, if that was really you, I would start running.....

Posted by: Tman at November 3, 2004 at 05:34 PM

"amaranth" at the Daily kos:

"Keep fighting huh? If we cannot beat this President i'm not sure it is worth fighting for, I don't think these people deserve saving, I think it is within my means to leave this failed experiment called America to it's own damn desmise and dammit it looks like a better option right now."

Posted by: max power at November 3, 2004 at 05:34 PM

I'm 20, a student at Washington U in St Louis and everybody I know voted for Kerry. Of course, I don't have any Republican friends, but still.

*cackles*

Posted by: Alli at November 3, 2004 at 05:35 PM

The Dems want to find some way to at least make it seem like Bush stole this election.

Hey, hey, my, my,
The plastic turkey will never die.

Posted by: ForNow at November 3, 2004 at 05:35 PM

Edwards just came out and said they will fight for every vote. This is code for litigation, litigation, litigation. Where\'s Nixon when you need him?

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 3, 2004 at 05:36 PM

JamesUK - some of us can't :(.

Edwards says no concession. Good grief. Do these people have not a shred of dignity among them? Do they realize what an awful precedent this is? To do this not once, but twice in a row?

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:37 PM

Sweet monkey jesus, here we go. Well, I'm glad to see my fellow Ohioians turned out in numbers able to offset Oberlin College and Kucinich-vania (Cuyahoga County). That's positive news at least.

Posted by: Ryan W at November 3, 2004 at 05:37 PM

Crap. I guess my dream of an election sans litigation just got flushed.

I should have known better when the DNC picked a known ambulance chaser as their VP candidate.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:37 PM

Nicki,
uh-uuhh.. shudder! Thank you.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:38 PM

For fucks sake Kedwards...IT's OVER!

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 05:40 PM

Congratulations to all you 'Merricans for showing courage and common sense.

Can't believe Kerry won't concede. I guess our even MSM in Australia wouldn't put up with that sort of bulldust. They would ridicule anyone trying to spin a win in Ohio when down by a hundred and plenty thousand when only a theoretical 250,000 left.

By the way, all you folks in Fallujah should reconsider your accommodation arrangements. Not sure that a hift to Syria or Iran is a great long term move either.

Posted by: Michael Gill at November 3, 2004 at 05:41 PM

It's a shame when Nixon has more grace and class than the current Democratic candidates.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 05:41 PM

This is such absolute bullshit. Bush is up by 125 000 in Ohio, and there can't be more than 200 000 votes left to be counted. The estimate of provisional votes seem to be anywhere between 150 000 - 500 000 (but not all of those will be valid). How deluded is the Kerry camp to think they can pick that many votes up?

(Sky just reporting that only 6000 votes left in Ohio - not sure if this is true. Also a rumour that vote-counting in Ohio has had to stop because of a technical problem - they say this could be false, though).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 05:42 PM

Hey - New Jersey came within 5 points for Bush (Gore won by 18 last time). I can't believe K/E are going to NOT concede. Bush is winning popular vote by 3.5 million votes - but THIS TIME that doesn't count. Amazing.

Posted by: Kathleen A at November 3, 2004 at 05:42 PM

Well put, Quentin. I guess the difference is that in the current Democratic candidates, we have an ambulance chaser and a preening Euroweenie.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:43 PM

"Once the thugs consolidate power here, e will comleate the journy to being a right wing fasist state of some sort."

Complete with embarassing misspellings and all, that really sums up the mindset of the current Democratic base better than anything I've read in a while.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:44 PM

Bush won, fair and square, in both the Electoral and popular vote counts. Now it's up to the Democrats to summon (or cultivate) the dignity to concede the election, promptly and without snarky comments. They lost the election, and so they should act like grown-ups and acknowledge it.

I'm not holding my breath...

Posted by: Butch at November 3, 2004 at 05:44 PM

Trimalchio :)
Sonetka. Cold turkey. Good point.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 05:45 PM

(Sky just reporting that only 6000 votes left in Ohio - not sure if this is true. Also a rumour that vote-counting in Ohio has had to stop because of a technical problem - they say this could be false, though).

Someone on FNC said that the counters in Ohio had to stop because of machine problems and "exhaustion".

Wimps. Gimme those ballots... I'LL count 'em.

Posted by: Alli at November 3, 2004 at 05:45 PM

Whups! Fox just withdrew MI for Kerry. It's back to 269 to 211. Anyone know what happened?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:46 PM

It’s a scorched-earth policy to delegitimize Bush’s second term any way they can—except that in fact these Dems, Kerry, Edwards, Kennedy, & their gang, are scorching not the earth but the system itself which they dislike anyway, they want socialism. They don’t mine destroying what America has in order to get what they want. For them it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

Posted by: ForNow at November 3, 2004 at 05:47 PM

Whups! Fox just withdrew MI for Kerry. It's back to 269 to 211. Anyone know what happened?

Beats me, there's really no way Bush can still pull out MI in my opinion, unless all soldiers currently stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan happen to hail from Michigan and make up for Dubya's current 90,000 deficit and the additional 75,000 Kerry should be picking up in Wayne County before the night is over...

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 05:49 PM

269 EVs and New Mexico with 98% reported and a 5 point lead and it still hasn't been given to Bush.

Maybe they are getting over-tired and are taking their eye off the ball.

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 05:51 PM

OK, I need to watch something else.....Fox just gave MI back to Kerry. 269 to 238.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:51 PM

Guys, the Kos misery thread is here:

After 2000, we were, sad, disappointed, upset. But we talked about it, we picked up the pieces. This time, what can I say? It's so devastating, on every level. I can't think. I can't speak. Anyone in Chicago interested in starting a support group?

And the boys and girls of Atrios get gonzo here:

This is a nation built on racism, human slavery, and genocide. What more should we expect, really?

And:

NEVER cooperate with Republicans. Kick them in the balls at every turn. Kill their children. Fuck their wives. Curse their god. They are right about one thing, however: I now officially HATE AMERICA. I BLAME AMERICA FIRST.

Charming to the last.

Posted by: Brian at November 3, 2004 at 05:53 PM

Cannot friggin' believe it. According to CNN's own chart, Bush is up in Ohio by 150,000, 97% of precincts reporting. And yet they're yapping about "too close to call."

Look for the Democrats to discover a miracle cache of 100,000 D votes somewhere. Jesus.

Posted by: Sonetka at November 3, 2004 at 05:53 PM

Fox's website still showing MI for Kerry. C-Span numbers support this. No big deal.

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 05:54 PM

Are any American stations giving New Mexico to Bush? No British stations have yet, even though he leads by 30 000 votes - 52% to 47% - with 99% of precincts in.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 05:54 PM

If we ship these turkeys to Antarctica, they could start their own nation. Their beginnings would literally be as pure as the driven snow.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:55 PM

You know what *really* tees me off about these crazed Democratic weasels? They keep figuring out our game plan.

I mean, how could they possibly have known we were about to install a police state with TJ Hooker in charge as the Supreme Overlord? (All this George Bush stuff has just been a smokescreen.) Goosestep marching! Uniforms! Book burnings! Mandatory 6am exercises! The Two-Minute Hate! Star Trek TOS on every channel 24 hours a day! Liberal beatings of liberals! Oh, the list goes on.... but why bother, the plan's in shambles, they got our codes...

Posted by: 42nd SSD at November 3, 2004 at 05:55 PM

99% counted in New Mexico. But they haven't called it?

Why?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 05:56 PM

Yeah, Razor, I'm focusing too much on the browser. Sorry.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:56 PM

Nevada goes to Bush - 5 EV's

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 05:57 PM

"This one will be won, or it will be lost in the streets.

The last hope is that we get saved the same way the Germans did."

What, does he mean some American cowboy will come beat off the bad guys for him then rebuild his sorry ass state?

I think I will see about exercising my 2nd amendment rights. Just in case. :) Those loonies scare me sometimes.

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 05:58 PM

Hard to say, Quentin. They might be confirming their counts to avoid litigation. This might be a wise move, given the past history of the DNC when they lose an election.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 05:58 PM

apparently, according to CNN, bush & co are waiting for nevada and new mexico before they make a victory speech.

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 05:59 PM

You know Bush now has an absolute majority of the popular vote (51%) and a win in the electoral college?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 06:00 PM

The American news networks are avoiding calling New Mexico & Iowa for Bush in order to give Kerry some cover, some credibility, for his stubbornness.

FoxNews would have called it but the FoxNews commentators have an agreement that their unanimity is required in order to call a state for a candidate—& Juan Williams has been holding out in order to give Kerry some cover for his stubbornness.

Posted by: ForNow at November 3, 2004 at 06:00 PM

"Let\\\'s start a collection for all the one-way tickets for those who said they\\\'d leave if Bush wins again. I\\\'ll contribute $20."
----------
Hopefully these lunatic moonbats do get the fuck out, but probably like last time they threatened leaving few will follow through. Judging from an article I read, one of their destinations of choice for these types is NZ. :/

Posted by: SleepyInSeattle at November 3, 2004 at 06:00 PM

The last hope is that we get saved the same way the Germans did.

Can someone explain this? Last I looked, the Allies rolled over Germany in WWII. I sure can't think anything else, unless this leftie is talking about the Berlin Airlift.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 06:01 PM

42nd SSD: rotflol! Thanks for the laugh, that was really needed right now.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:02 PM

Look - they called NJ for Kerry before 8pm (the polls close at 8pm) - the WHOLE night Bush was winning in Florida at the same rate as Kerry was in NJ - yet they waited until Florida was 98% in before they called it for Bush. So they've been doing that all night. Calling states with 20% of the vote calculated for Kerry and WAITING for states which 95% of the vote is already in for Bush. Bias? Now come on. We all know the media isn't biased...

Posted by: Kathleen A at November 3, 2004 at 06:02 PM

Wait, what am I saying? This is from KOS, fer gawd's sake!

Never mind.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 06:02 PM

Hmmm, now that I think about it....maybe he means when they became the favorite whore of the French?

Anyway, time for bed. Been a good night. Thanks, all you adorable Aussies. Y'all are the best!

Posted by: Vicki at November 3, 2004 at 06:03 PM

Update: Fox is holding off because New Mexico has some funny business going on.

Posted by: ForNow at November 3, 2004 at 06:05 PM

Ohio - Yahoo clicks over to 98%, and its a lead of 136 500 - 51% to 48%. Iowa 98% done, and looking like Bush (but that's closer than Ihio).

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 06:05 PM

CSPAN has given Bush NV.

Posted by: Alli at November 3, 2004 at 06:05 PM

From news.com.au coverage:

"After voting in Boston with his two daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa, Senator Kerry said: "I hope there aren't challenges. I hope America will vote according to the law today."

This was before or after he issued the press release about challenging the results in Ohio?

What a fuckwit...

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 06:05 PM

Yeah, bed for me as well, work for me in the morning. Keep these lefties in line, would you, people? I'll sleep better.

Thanks!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 3, 2004 at 06:06 PM

Can someone explain this?

The moonbat is equating the U.S. liberating Germany from Nazism with what needs to be done with the U.S. now (i.e. liberation from Bushitler). I do wonder which country or organization he expects to send troops for this liberation...Germany? France? The UN? Cuba? Canada?

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:07 PM

If Bush wins NV, NM, WI, and IA, then OH won't matter. But OH has laws on the books ... the margin between the two parties has to be 0.25% for a challenge to be levied to the vote count ... but the margin for Bush is way more than that. The Sec of State of OH, Blackwell, is a great man who will not take crap from anyone, he will follow OH law and will allow no court challenges if they do not comply with OH law. OH is no FL ... governor, legislature, representatives, state supreme court all GOP, which means, no legislating from the bench as the FL state supreme court did in 2000.

Posted by: MountainMama at November 3, 2004 at 06:08 PM

Bush is up by almost 4 million votes in the popular vote now. That's going to send the "Selected Not Elected" crowd completely around the bend. Not that that's a long journey.

Posted by: Randal Robinson at November 3, 2004 at 06:09 PM

All the wine's gone and I've started in on the kids' Halloween candy. Don't overlook Atrios in your quest for comedy gold; his eschaton seems to be immanentizing quite nicely.

Feel the love:

________

Kerry should declare victory and then start fighting.

They hate gay people, love an invisible sky buddy, and there are more of them than us. But in my heart, I know I am right about how the world should be. I'll sleep tonight thinking of 2006 (or New Zealand

Dogville. Rent it, see it. That's what we are. Dogville.

We couldn't defeat Bush, so it's up to you, Iraqi freedom fighters. Face it, most Americans like Bush. Which makes it clear that most Americans are thoughtless, xenophobic wastes of sperm and egg.

The conservatives have control of the media. How can the Dems get their message out there, if no one will let them speak?

I'm sick of patriotism. Sick of the flag. Sick of everything it stands for. Think I'll take an extra anti-depressant tonight and avoid the news altogether.

All I can say is that there is plenty of space in Sweden for a couple of millioon of you. You can return to the US when things are back to normal.

We're fucked in Alaska. We'll have cash out the wazoo, but no animals, no trees, no fish. But we'll have cash, everyone will be little Halliburtons.

When the Plame indictments come down, we'll see who's in cuffs and who's not.

etc etc

Posted by: Bruce at November 3, 2004 at 06:11 PM

Anyway, looks like CNN isn't going to call any state (except Wisconsin, which looks to be going Kerry) until Kerry makes his concession speech or his pack of lawyers descends on the earth, lest they actually have to admit that Bush has 269+ EVs. Media bias? Nah, of course not.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:12 PM

Sky now says there's 130 000 votes left in Ohio - although who knows how old that news is.

And 200 000 provisional votes - but who knows how accurate that is.

Posted by: Scott Campbell at Blithering Bunny at November 3, 2004 at 06:14 PM

If we go by the mantra that the rabid left have, which is that Bush was "not elected" in 2000, then theoretically, he could run for another term, couldn't he?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 06:15 PM

Bruce,
That stuff is quite sobering. They really ARE lunatics.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 06:18 PM

according to c-span, 101% of precincts have been counted in new mexico, with a 52% over 47% lead for the president, but no one has called the state for bush.. what's going on?!

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 06:21 PM

With 6% of the precincts still needing to be counted in WI (10 evs), Bush is only down Kerry by 17,000. Nevada (5 evs) called for Bush. NM (5 evs): Bush 52% to 47% with 97% of the precincts counted. IA (7 evs): Bush 50% to Kerry 49% with 98% of the precincts counted.

Posted by: MountainMama at November 3, 2004 at 06:22 PM

This from C-Span:

New Mexico ElectTotal: 5 Precincts Reporting: 101%
Name Party Vote Pct Electoral
Bush Rep 279,968 52 0
Kerry Dem 251,524 47 0

HEY, FUCKING WAKE-UP AND CALL THE DAMN THING.

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 06:23 PM

Looks like Dashle is going down by a very slim margin.

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 06:27 PM

Clearly, Karl Rove has engineered this situation to cause maximum long-term damage to the Democrats' reputation. Or rather, to goad them into causing that damage to themselves. Leave it to the Dems not to realize that.

/sarcasm, I think

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:27 PM

Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio are all Bush.

Wisconsin is Kerry. Barely.

There's nothing left to count.

Concede, you dumb sons of bitches.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 06:28 PM

SleepyinSeattle writes:

Hopefully these lunatic moonbats do get the fuck out, but probably like last time they threatened leaving few will follow through. Judging from an article I read, one of their destinations of choice for these types is NZ.

Mate, if I were them, I wouldn't be applying for those NZ visas just yet. Being married to a New Zealander with her relatives all living in "Godsown" I have a feeling Ms Clarke's Labour government may be history after the next NZ election.

I think France or Belgium may be a safer bet for these loonies. With a bit of luck, some Muslim might even chop their heads off when they get there.

Posted by: JPB at November 3, 2004 at 06:30 PM

13teen,

In South Dakota, with 97% of the vote counted, Daschle is down by 7,900 votes. (192.6K for Thune, 184.7K for asshole.) That fucking weasel isn't going to steal this one on the reservations this time, unlike in 2002.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 06:33 PM

In Ohio, only 76,000 provisional ballots were issued:
http://election.sos.state.oh.us/ProvBallots.htm

Bush is up 144,000 there with 99% of the precincts reporting. Kerry can count all he wants; there is no math anywhere that has him within 100,000 votes in Ohio.

Posted by: MountainMama at November 3, 2004 at 06:34 PM

They've apparently counted 103% of the vote in New Mexico. Are the extra's for Bush or Kerry?

Posted by: Razor at November 3, 2004 at 06:36 PM

JPB,

"I think France or Belgium may be a safer bet for these loonies. With a bit of luck, some Muslim might even chop their heads off when they get there."

Shhhhh! You're giving away Rovie's plot.

Posted by: JamesUK at November 3, 2004 at 06:36 PM

Perspective: Bush's OH lead is bigger than Kerry's PA and NH lead ... but the MSM had no problem calling those two states for Kerry.

Posted by: MountainMama at November 3, 2004 at 06:36 PM

In Ohio, only 76,000 provisional ballots were issued:
http://election.sos.state.oh.us/ProvBallots.htm

I was getting my hopes up, too, but...check all the empty cells in that table. The counties that already have a provisional ballot count only represent about 52% of the total electorate (many of the missing counties are big ones), so I suspect the final number of provisionals will be about 150,000 as expected.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:40 PM

Too true, MountainMama, and the MSM had no trouble calling them yonks ago.

Dickheads.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 06:41 PM

For some good news...that assclown antisemite in Texas district 08 went down 30-69 to the incumbent Republican. Good riddance.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 06:46 PM

In Nevada, 100% of the vote counted:

388,791 for Bush
368,305 for Kerry

And yet nobody will call it for Bush. A 20,000 vote lead, with 100% counted, and yet none of those ass-holes will call it. Un-friggin-believable.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 06:46 PM

A Man Without A Life posts as follows:

The 103% in NM is just bad AP arithmetic. If you check the totals it's 1535 of 1566 precincts counted, or 98%.

And while I was posting, they fixed it.

Posted by: Jim Whyte at November 3, 2004 at 06:56 PM

CNN just called it for Nevada, about time.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 06:56 PM

c-span just downgraded new mexico's counted votes to 98%.....??

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 06:59 PM

Daschle being defeated is incedible news and i'll hold that hope until the morning totals. Bush re-elected, daschle defeated and supreme court appointments not far down the road, and toss in federal judgeships that have been kept under lock and key by the worm from South Dakota.

hear that sound?

Thats the fizz of a nice cold beer, on second thought, maybe i'll have a shot of hopped shnaps too.

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 07:00 PM

Bush seems to be enjoying one last surge in Wisconsin...went from minus 20,000 to minus 14,500 with precincts going from 95% to 96%. I have no idea how many provisionals and absentees there are going to be, but it would be supremely delicious if Wisconsin turns red on military ballots, which (along with Iowa) would give Bush 271 EVs even without Ohio.

New Mexico currently Bush +1,800 on CNN, 6% yet to be counted.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 07:01 PM

Okay, nicki's comment makes me wonder whether I in fact didn't hallucinate just now. I could swear New Mexico's count was near 100% already (I thought I was imagining that), but as just posted, now it's at 94%...odd.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 07:03 PM

But I shouldn't complain...the NM county with the most outstanding votes is currently 75-25 for Bush. *G* If trends hold, that's another 15,000 advantage for Bush which should deliver NM to him.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 07:05 PM

PW: it was at 103% on c-span, now it's 99%.. i don't really get it, but be assured, you are not hallucinating..

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 07:08 PM

New Mexico's at 99% according to the Yahoo map.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 07:09 PM

Daschle is done. Adios, asshole. Today is truly a good day. Thank you South Dakotans.

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 3, 2004 at 07:09 PM

From NRO regarding New Mexico:

CNN still won't call....Says Sec't of State won't certify until tomorrow.

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 07:12 PM

Why can't these clowns just concede?

Posted by: Quentin George at November 3, 2004 at 07:12 PM

And now it has jumped from 94% to 99% at CNN again...must be the DNC lawyers playing with the recount buttons on CNN's computer system, I guess.

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 07:12 PM

nicki,

They just screwed up their math -- didn't have enough total precents listed. They just adjusted it correctly.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 07:13 PM

It just gets sweater all the time.

Howard Dean WAS the governor of Vermont. Gave up that office to run for president, ARGGGHHHHH.

With 97% of the precints reporting in Vermont:

176K - Douglas, REPUBLICAN
114K - Clavelle, Democrat

Thank you Howie, we got us another governor's mansion.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 07:17 PM

NY Post:

Early in the voting, Kerry allowed himself to muse about the problems he might face in the White House.

Problem solved.

Posted by: 13times at November 3, 2004 at 07:30 PM

What are "provisional" ballots?

Posted by: Janice at November 3, 2004 at 07:32 PM

No, Jim Douglas has actually been Governor of Vermont since 2002...

Looks like 2 lost governorships for each party (Republicans taking Indiana and Missouri, Dems taking Montana and New Hampshire), with Washington state (previously Democratic) currently on knife's edge: Gregoire (D) 910, 491 - Rossi (R) 910,023

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 07:33 PM

PW,

Thanks for the correction.

As to the Washington state governorship, the Libertarian candidate currently has 38,400 votes.

Of course, the libertarians I have met here in Washington state probably wouldn't have ever voted for a Republican. They are the fusty, utopian-demanding perfectists that couldn't possibly sully their hands by voting for a major party candidate. They pretty much revel in being non-entities, it re-inforces their sense of self-superiority over grubby "politicians" and their oh-so mindless supporters. Fuck them, I hope the Washington state Republican party can fuck them over good at some time in the future. Payback is a bitch.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 07:45 PM

Um, not "perfectists" but "perfectionists". Jeez what a word to screw up. Proves that I'm not perfect, I guess.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 07:49 PM

Provisional ballots: I just figured out today what the hell these are. Basically, if you arrive at your polling station and they do not have you on their list you get to cast a provisional ballot. If you check out later your vote counts. If if it turns out you are a left-handed lesbian Guatemalan felon your vote won\'t count.

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 3, 2004 at 07:53 PM

this is fantastic, there is NO ONE left at the democratic "victory party", while the republican venue at the reagan center is full of people. i hate to gloat, but i will...

Posted by: nicki at November 3, 2004 at 08:02 PM

Shanks,

Or if they are drunk retard who shows up at the wrong polling place. The type who's driving down the street, sees a sign that says "Polling Site", and decides, "hey, that nice guy from the Democratic Party gave me a some cigs and a bottle of wine to sign up, I guess I better vote or else they won't give me cigs and juice next election". Stops and demands to vote. They don't have him on the election roll because he listed his residence as a dumpster in the alley off of a street three towns over -- and would be on the election roll in that town. They'll (gladly) give him a "provisional ballot", if only because the guy is stinking the joint up. He votes. Later, the state election office then tries and see if he really is a registered voter. If he is, his vote counts. If not, no it doesn't.

Posted by: David Crawford at November 3, 2004 at 08:07 PM

Bad weather in New Mexico is making it difficult to send the election return smoke signals into Santa Fe. Pony Express riders have been dispatched from Santa Fe to the affected areas to bring back the results to the capitol.

Just a little cowboy humor to cap off a good day for the Republicans. LOL

Posted by: RandMan at November 3, 2004 at 08:20 PM

Thank you very much Mr Tommy Shanks. You're very kind to take the time to explain that to me.

Here in Oz we have to enrol to vote and there's a cut off date. If you haven't been enrolled by that date you can't vote even if you're qualified in every other way.

So are you talking about people who have properly registered to vote but because of some public service screw-up have been left off the roll? Or is it possible to lodge a provisional vote even if you haven’t registered but, being qualified (or not, as the case may be), just decide on the day that you want to vote?

Posted by: Janice at November 3, 2004 at 08:37 PM

http://bigpeeler.smugmug.com/photos/10810722-L.jpg

Posted by: Nordic Redneck at November 3, 2004 at 08:57 PM

A friend of mine - a real Bush-hater - shocked me the other day. He was hoping for a Bush re-election because the mess he has created is so massive that anyone following him into the Presidency would be doomed to failure. It's his contention that Bush will self destruct. I don't agree with this, and fear for all the others that Bush will take down with him (several-tens-ofthousands already, and counting)

I was taken back for a minute, but began to see the method to this seemingly mad idea. Who knows, he may be right.

We talked for a while and imagined what would have happened if Gore had won in 2000, with 9/11 still occurring. Who knows what Gore would have done? Maybe he would have been effective, maybe not.

My friend went on to say that this would have led to massive factionalism in the nation, and we'd be right where we are today - a divided nation. Far right neocons would have done everything they could to have blamed the attack on Clinton, due to his failure to nail Usama - and they would have been partially right. The 2004 election would have been a Dem slaughter, based just on that. His imaginary portrayal of events somehow struck me as plausible.

Don't despair at the current turn of events: The people behind Bush have been cynical dividers. That will have to change. If it doesn't, we will begin to see the Congressional turnstiles start to turn in 2006. The Repubicans have absolute power now. We know what that does. (In this case however, it will have to corrupt *more*)

Thankfully, California has all the things that Kerry was shooting for on his platform (including stem cell research!), except for national health care (badly needed).

No matter who wins, we are *definitely* headed back toward the middle - however slowly - because REAL conservatives (not neocons) in the Repo party are really afraid for their jobs, and largely offended (as are their constituents) at the far-right pandering that has gone on recently. The Bush deficit, the Bush administered far-right-wing agenda, the disaster in Iraq, and more than a few other things are making these people nervous. Many of them stand for election in two years; they won't let the far right wing freaks forget that.

So, no matter who wins this, we're going to continue to be a divided nation. We will also see an implosion of the Democratic Party, and a real power struggle in the Republican Party for philoshophical hegemony (that will be fun to watch).

The Dems are going to have to find themselves, and right after that, they have to find a person with SOUL. Mondale, Dukakis, Kerry - balh! Where did they find these people? I voted for Kerry, reminding myself all the while of the feeling I first had when I first saw him.

I grew up in a blue collar town. As hard as I've tried to escape my blue collar roots, I can't. One thing those roots have left me is an acute sense of when I'm being pandered to. That's how Kerry, Dukakis and Mondale always struck me. Clinton (a once in a lifetime political genius) was the exception.

The first time I saw Kerry thrust his fidt in the air - after winning the Democratic nomination I had an immediate intuition that said "this guy will not be seen as 'real' by most of the people in the states he will need to win. Cognitive dissonance crept in immediately after that intuition, and has only just disappeared (as the human tendency to rationalize every failing and disappointment is now centered ondealing with this lost election)

A few thoughts:

No matter who wins this, the neocon agenda has been thoroughly OUTED, for all to see. The press - most of which has endorsed Kerry (dozens of newpapers and periodicals that endorsed Bush in 2000, endorsed Kerry this time - including the conservative UK stallwarts Financial Times and The Economist.

The press will be watching this time. The neocon agenda will no longer be able to hide under the rubric of "national security" (or so-called). The jig is up. It's back towards the middle (admittedly, a right-leaning middle). I don't care if it leans slightly left, or slighly right - as long as it's away from the current extreme).

No matter who wins, if (god forbid) we are hit with a terrorist attack, there will be hell to pay for whose watch it happens on.

No matter who wins there will be a serious imbalance in foreign debt to resolve.

No matter who wins there will be a (depending on who is doing the measuring) a $45-$70 TRILLION dollar hole in payables to social security and other funds that will have to be secured. (Our total net worth as a nation is something like $40-45T).

No matter who wins, he will have to begin to repair the damage done to our reputation overseas, especially if we're going to be able to get a grip on dealing with distributed terrorism.

No matter who wins, he will have to do something about health care in this country. What's ironic about this is that it's the people in the "red" states who suffer from this lack more than any other. Fear and hate are powerful motivators - even against one's own economic or physical interests. (Incidentally, there's good social psychological research indicating that groups will sacrifice a significant degree of their general group well-being in order to deliver punishment to someone they hate). Whether consciously done or not, the Bush people have been spectacularly successful at creating fear, and manipulating that. (yes, it's also one of the first goals of oorganized terrorism; create fear in the populace, so we can in a very real way say that Bush has taken Usama's bait - hook, line, and sinker)

No matter who wins, he will have to reach out across a divided aisle to help repair 12 years of partisan divisivness.

No matter who wins, he will have to find some way to quickly extract America from its current Middle East adventure, or find a way to have other nations help us through it. The current path is domestically and internationally unsustainable. Even those who favor Bush largely think the Iraqi war was a mistake.

No matter who wins, he will have to thhink hard about choosing Supreme Court judges that are middle-moderate. Assuming a Bush win, he will not have the necessary 60 votes to stop a fillibuster. Socially conservative Dems and Repos will not let another Thomas or Scalia tilt the courts. It would be political suicide for either party.

No matter who wins, he is going to have to begin to show tolerance for difference, do his best to diminish partisan bickering, and be a leader - not only of his party and the Congress, but of the American people. He will have to lead in a way that helps us all to see that our fates are intertwined, our differences OK, and our destiny fragile.

No matter who wins, he will have to begin to find ways to unlock American ingenuity and diversity. That's our greatest strength. To fail to do this would be a massive failure in leadership. We are the ONLY country in the world with this kind of cultural diversity; instead of making it a problem, we must turn it into a strength.

We'll see...

Posted by: charlemagne at November 3, 2004 at 09:35 PM

And charlemagne's long and incoherent entry is just the cherry on the cake!

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 3, 2004 at 09:56 PM

Hey charlegmagne, "divided nation" my butt!
Huge popular vote win, something Bill Clinton never came close to.

Posted by: spitfire9 at November 3, 2004 at 10:30 PM

Aaaaahhh, a bit of 1972, and a bit of 1988... blended nicely...

Posted by: Uncle Milk at November 3, 2004 at 10:37 PM

Aaaaahhh, a bit of 1972, and a bit of 1988... blended nicely...

Posted by: Uncle Milk at November 3, 2004 at 10:38 PM

Charlemagne - F@*K OFF!!

Brevity is the soul of wit.

Bush wins - stick that in your crack pipe and sha-moke it!!!

Posted by: robw25 at November 3, 2004 at 10:43 PM

No matter who wins, he is going to have to begin to show tolerance for difference, do his best to diminish partisan bickering, and be a leader

I know, don't feed the trolls and all, but just one note: Considering who's done the dividing over the last four years, how about you rephrase that as "no matter who loses, they are going to have to begin to show tolerance for difference, do their best to diminish partisan bickering, and not mindlessly obstruct the leadership"?

Wait, I just realized I was talking about the Democratic Party there, so fat chance of any of that actually happening. And you, you just keep clinging to your "no matter who wins" mantra - I can see it's helping you through these troublesome times. Hehehehehehehe. Good thing we all have better things to do than dig up some of your particularly moronic posts from the last few weeks. Have a nice four years, Charlie Little!

Posted by: PW at November 3, 2004 at 10:46 PM

Regarding provisionable ballots, the majority of them likely will not count. It's really inconceivable that OH has 136,000+ people, all Dems, who didn't show up on any list of registered voters but are actually legally registered. You had to be registered by Oct 4th to vote in this one. Fraud is the only way to make this one even close.

So all these unregistered people show up anyway, cast a provisionable (b/c that's all they can do) and then cry "disenfranchisement!" when it's not counted. Hell, the election judge at the precinct where I was working (a Dem) was basically telling people that they could cast a provisionable, but that it wouldn't count.

Posted by: Brett at November 4, 2004 at 12:57 AM

Janice - You have to register in advance and go to the correct polling place. Some states may allow instant registration, but I\'m not sure. Provo ballots are more for covering screwups by the bureaucrats, like one guy in Chicago who had voted int he same place for years and then they didn\'t have his name on the list (along with other voters in the Republican party - I think it\'s linked in Instapundit).

Apologies for the extra slashes - I think it has to do with the security code.

Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 4, 2004 at 01:14 AM

ah, charlemagne's back!

kerry's really looking like a spoiled petulant fool by not concedeing. $20 says tuh-reh-suh dumps himwithin 2 years.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 4, 2004 at 01:16 AM

"California has all the things that Kerry was shooting for on his platform."

We shot down the repeal of Three Strikes.

Posted by: 13times at November 4, 2004 at 07:26 AM