December 2008
1 post
The election is over.
Obama won and now we’re into the transition. Still haven’t thought what to do with this site yet. Tumblr clearly doesn’t need anymore political commentary. For now I’ll leave this here for posterity.
Thanks for stopping by.
November 2008
30 posts
WatchThe Obamas on 60 Mintues.
Taking a break
Taking a short break. Will start posting on politics, the transition, and the new administration in a couple weeks.
“President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone to move the country...”
– Stephanie Cutter, spokesperson for President-elect Obama, indicating that the new president isn’t interested in petty disputes or holding political grudges. I think the Democrats should do whatever they want and don’t care whether they keep him or let him go. I just don’t think...
“Yeah, and the only one who was calm was Obama. And he said, ‘You know...”
– David Axelrod on President-Elect Barack Obama’s response to the Jeremiah Wright flap during the primary. According to Robert Gibbs there was no discussion, he just did it.
“Although committed to their philosophy, they are incredibly pragmatic. They have...”
– Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, in an interview before he accepted his latest position. Obama isn’t going to be rolled by folks like Barney Frank. That’s just right-wing scary talking points.
Data That Helps Explain The Election: 68 million... →
The McCain/RNC turnout machine made direct contact with 30 million individual voters, including robocalls.
The Obama/DNC turnout machine contacted 68 million voters.
That explains it pretty well.
“My hat’s off to the leadership of the Obama campaign in the 2nd District....”
– Hal Daub, Nebraska State Director for McCain’s campaign, congratulating the Obama campaign for winning the one electoral vote in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district. The 2nd CD is centered on Omaha Nebraska. Nebraska, along with Maine, are the only two states to split their electoral...
“Senator Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s...”
– An aide to Sen. Joe Lieberman on what happens if Harry Reid strips Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee. Fuck him! Let him go. What’s he gonna do, vote against his own views? He already supports the Republicans on national security issues and Democrats on...
Obama Likely to Win Omaha Electoral Vote →
The counting of votes is in the presidential election isn’t quite done yet. But it looks like President-elect Barack Obama is going to pick up 1 more electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd CD (Omaha). Nebraska is one of two states that splits it’s electoral votes between state-wide and a couple of congressional districts. Maine is the other state.
If he ends up winning...
Gibbs to be White House Press Secretary →
Robert Gibbs, communication director for the Obama campaign, is going to be the White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was communications director for Obama’s Senate campaign and in his Senate office. This isn’t a surprise and he’ll probably be pretty good at his job.
Obama unoffical winner in North Carolina →
The News & Observer calls the unofficial win for Obama in North Carolina. The state still has some provisional ballots to count. Historically, the provisional ballots widen the leader’s gap. Results will be certified on Dec. 1, but the state is allowed to declare an unofficial winner.
North Carolina has 15 electoral votes moving Obama’s total to 364.
“Citizens with eyes, ears, and the ability to wake up and realize what truly...”
– The Onion telling it like it is on yesterday’s historic election in an article entitled, “Nation Finally Shitty Enough To Make Social Progress”
“I voted for John McCain because I admire him immensely as a person, and agree...”
– Mike Potemra, conservative blogger at National Review Online. Yes you can.
President-Elect Obama
Yes we did.
Barack Obama Wins Ohio →
As Sean at fivethrityeight.com said, Obama wins Ohio.
That’s the ballgame folks, It’s over.
Say it with me now, “President Obama”.
FiveThirtyEight.com: Final Election Projection:... →
fivethirtyeight.com predicts Obama 349, McCain 189. This projection shows Obama winning, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, Colorado, and Ohio, but probably not Missouri or Indiana.
“The journey ends but voting with my daughters, that was a big deal. I noticed...”
– Barack Obama, speaking to reporters after voting in Chicago. (via thedailywhat) (via xx2) I also voted with my girls today and it was a big deal. Go vote!
“It will be fun to see how the story ends.”
– Barack Obama on his campaing plane heading back to Chicago last night. It’s up to you to tell him how it ends. Go vote!!!!
First Results: Obama Takes Dixville Notch Away... →
Barack Obama won the first official vote in the general election by winnning in Dixville Notch, NH. Dixville has traditionally been the first voting to take place on election day with the polls opening at midnight. A practice that has been in place for 50 years.
Obama won the vote 15-6 in what is normally a GOP stronghold. Note, however, that Dixville Notch is in no way predictive of the outcome...
Obama's Grandmother Dies →
notthatkindagay:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A tragic turn of events for Sen. Barack Obama: his ailing grandmother died today.
Here’s a statement from Obama and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng:
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment,...
“I expect them to be incredibly pissed off.”
– Josh Simmons, chairman of Univ. of Florida Gators for McCain, commenting on how his colleagues will respond to the news that he voted early for Barack Obama. Simmons resigned on Sunday.
Obama's Nevada campaign director dies →
Terence Tolbert, Nevada state director for Barack Obama, died last night from a sudden heart attack. He was 44.
Las Vegas Sun reports:
“Terence was a strong force in this campaign, with a positive outlook that brought people together. He was much loved by his team, who often repeated his motto of ‘leave no stone unturned.’ His enthusiasm, talent, and warm heart will truly be...
WatchChuck Todd and the inevitability of math. 30% have voted early. Obama has a 19 point lead among early voters. McCain needs to win the remaining voters by 10 points in order to win. That’s not even remotely likely.
What states to watch →
Nate Silver, at fivethirtyeight.com, tells us what states matter. He gives McCain Florida and North Carolina, among others and reduces the election to this:
Win Pennsylvania and ANY ONE of Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, or Nevada (NV results in a 269-269 tie).
Win Ohio and EITHER Colorado OR Virginia.
Win Colorado AND Virginia AND Nevada.
If we give Obama Colorado, given his advantage in early...
Final USA TODAY/Gallup estimate: Obama, 53%;... →
The last USA Today/Gallup poll before the election gives Obama an 11 point lead among likely voters (both models). Here’s a nice historical nugget:
Obama’s favorable rating is 62% — the highest that any presidential candidate has registered in Gallup’s final pre-election polls going back to 1992.
Obama needs to win, not squeak by.
“Yesterday, Dick Cheney came out of his undisclosed location. He said that he is,...”
– Barack Obama on Dick Cheney’s endorsement of John McCain. Are the Republicans trying to lose? Is Cheney pissed that McCain has been attacking the Bush administration? Because with friends like this…
VoteForChange.com →
Find your polling place at VoteforChange.com. Don’t wait until the last minute, make sure you know where you have to be and that you’ve got all the necessary information. Vote!
“She was very on target. She didn’t kill her with hard questions. And when...”
– Geraldine Ferraro on Katie Couric’s interview with Sarah Palin.
WatchBrian Williams, NBC News, interviews Barack Obama. Obama makes it clear there isn’t going to be some huge lurch to the left. He handles the question about Supreme Court appointments well and gets in that he thinks the 2nd Amendment confers an individual right of own guns. It’s hard to square the guy in this interview with the terrorist-befriending socialist that John McCain keeps...
The Republican Traitors' List →
A list of conservatives and Republicans who have left the fold:
Susan Eisenhower, Christopher Buckley, Alison Goldwater Ross, C.C. Goldwater, Francis Fukuyama, Larry Hunter, William Weld, David Friedman, Charles Fried, Arne Carlson, Ken Adelman, Doug Kmiec, Wayne Gilchrest, Jim Leach, Lincoln Chafee, Lowell Weicker, Linwood Holton, Jim Whitaker, Bill Ruckelshaus, Dennis Sanders, Larry Pressler,...
“You know what most Americans I think realized is that you don’t offer a job, let...”
– Ken Duberstein, Ronald Reagan’s Chief of Staff, comments on McCain’s picking Sarah Palin and endorses Obama. If this keeps up there won’t be any Republicans left, except those that think Palin is great.
October 2008
204 posts
“I’m going to Washington and I’m going to bring Joe the Plumber with me!”
– John McCain. I really hope this is the last straw for people still wavering (via adamiss) (via mikehudack) (via redorangeorangeonred)
I ask again. What is the strategy here? This campaign has officially gone off the rails.(via oliviaisferosch)
It’s fine with me, just as long as Joe is gonna...
Election Day Weather Update: Sunny And Mild →
Marc Ambinder reports on the weather forecast for election day in some key states. Looks like good weather almost everywhere.
Philadelphia, PA: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Pittsburgh, PA: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Cleveland, OH: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Akron, OH: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Indianapolis, IN: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Gary, IN: Mostly sunny, with a high...
“The other folks are voting.”
– Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R=GA), urging his supporters to get out and vote. And by “other” he means black. Looks like heavy black turnout is threatening Chambliss’ chances.
“it’s not my team’s job to keep the score down. It’s the other...”
– Bobby Bowden, famed Florida State football coach. This seemed an appropriate quote to highlight the news that Obama is putting up ads in Georgia, North Dakota, and … Arizona! Obama’s campaign thinks they can eke out a win in McCain’s home state of Arizona. The Republicans are...
More news on 2008 Early Voting →
Prof. Michael McDonald is compiling statistics on early voting across the country. Some of the figures are staggering. Here are some highlights:
Colorado: Early voting is now 60% of 2004 total votes. 38.6% Dem, 36.7% Rep, 24.6% Other.
Florida: early voting is 44% of 2004 total votes. 45.6% Dem, 38.2% Rep, 16.2% other
Iowa: early voting is 26.3% of 2004 total votes. 48.3% Dem, 28.6% Rep, 23.1%...
“It’s time… He has earned it”
– The Economist, endorses Barack Obama for President. They end the endorsement with this “He has earned it: So Mr Obama in that respect is a gamble. But the same goes for Mr McCain on at least as many counts, not least the possibility of President Palin. And this cannot be another election where...
“Obama is asking people to vote for him. McCain is telling people they need to...”
– Doug Mataconis, at Donklephant, discussing the familiar themes of Obama and McCain in these final days. Will McCain’s tactics work?
169,050 vs 17,900 →
The number of attendees at North Carolina rallies during this election for Obama and McCain, respectively. A 9 to 1 advantage for Obama. Yet it’s still close.
“I’m voting for Barack Obama this November for a very simple reason. It is hard...”
– Francis Fukuyama, professor at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, neo-conservative and contributor to the Reagan Doctrine.
“…what kind of odds could you have gotten in 1908 that a black dude [from...”
– Nate Silver, “Road to 270: Illinois,” at FiveThirtyEight.com. Illinois is a lock for Obama, but Arizona seems to be a little tighter for John McCain. [Note: it’s not over, so go vote!]
Is McCaind done in Florida, Ohio, & Pennsylvania? →
Quinnipiac University has Obama up in all three battleground states (FL, OH, PA). They think McCain is done in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but has a chance in Florida. If the first two are true, then what difference does Florida make? None. McCain can’t win without all three. Here’s the details:
Florida: Obama 47 to McCain’s 45 percent, compared to 49 - 44 percent October 23;
...
“I’ll go ahead and agree with you on that.”
– Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher answering the question: do you believe “a vote for Barack Obama means death to Israel.” He later admitted he doesn’t know a fucking thing about foreign affairs. John McCain, liking what Joe had to say, said “Joe has offered some...
Laser Guided Missile vs. Kitchen Sink →
Halperin on McCain’s Wednesday message:
Obama would coddle Castro….Joe the Plumber is good….America needs a new energy policy…the LA Time coddles the PLO and Obama …McCain has the support of experienced military leaders….Obama would govern leftward with Pelosi and Reid….the pundits are wrong….
Obama’s Wednesday message:
McCain=Bush and...