Voting day
When I was a child my grade school would close on Election Day because it was used as a polling place. A day or two earlier, the booths would arrive and were set up in the gym, so we got to see them. They were large and had somber brown curtains, exuding the unmistakable whiff of grownupness, serious and mysterious.
I seem to recall that they had mechanical voting machines in New York even back then (it turns out I’m correct about that), which looked like enormous typewriters or perhaps the innards of a grand piano, with a series of little levers and hammers. It was impressed on us just how important the whole process was, although for us kids it was first and foremost a cause for celebrating because of the day off.
And now I suppose we can celebrate the fact that we’ve come to the end of the longest election campaign ever, or so it seems. One thing that’s clear is that some large portion of the United States, bordering on half, will be hopping mad and even depressed come this evening. We just don’t know if it will be the blue half or the red.
I voted this morning. There was no wait whatsoever at my polling place. The entire enterprise would have taken a mere thirty seconds from start to finish if I hadn’t stood in the voting booth for a few extra moments, overwhelmed by the gravity of the occasion.
What now? I’m prepared for the announcement of exit poll results that sound very bad for McCain. I’m prepared for the MSM to call states on the East Coast for Obama as soon as they possibly can, in order to discourage those in the West from voting for McCain at all (somehow I’d thought that no news of results in the East could be given before polls closed in the West, but this appears to be wrong. Didn’t there used to be a law like that, though? Or am I dreaming?) I’m even prepared—at least I think I am—for an Obama victory.
In the meantime, although I’m not a drinking person (see this), I plan to do a bit tonight as the returns roll in, or maybe even sooner. I’ve been advised by my consultant expert on the subject that the best way to go about it for us nondrinkers is to: (a) place some vodka and a shot glass in the freezer (b) quickly down a shot of the cold stuff in one fell swoop, and (c) follow it immediately with a full-glass-of water chaser.
I got the idea even before I read a similar one at Rachel Lucas’. Rachel puts it a trifle more bluntly than I do:
I know not everyone drinks, but I figure a lot of people who normally don’t, might anyway next Tuesday. I, for one, intend to be shitfaced as the voting data comes in.
I don’t plan to be shirfaced. Just ever-so-slightly buzzed.
[NOTE: Oh, and whoever wins, I plan to do a followup on the perils of Obama Derangement Syndrome. Watch for it.]
I’d put the cold vodka in something like coke / diet coke or juice (lots of people like grapefruit).
I have similar plans.
I will not be drinking tonight. One martini would be nice, however, I tend to be a person who cannot stop at one. And five is four too many. Oh well, I will take the news, good or bad, clear eyed and in control.
Should Obama win it will become very important for those of us who do not share his ideas to be quite vocal in countering them. Not in a mean or vindictive way through character assasination or ad hominem, but with rational argument and as many facts as we can marshal. The Republicans in Congress, as a minority, are going to need all the encouragement and support we can give them.
As long as we have free speech, e-mail, telephones, and the Internet our ideas and policies cannot be suppressed. Contacting members of Congress will be more important than ever. So, while we may feel let down if Obama wins, it is not a time to shut down and slink away. No, stand up and fight for our ideas and policies. To paraphrase from a well known quote: All that is necessary for the left wing to triumph is for conservatives to do nothing. Tomorrow is another day.
Mmmm, good advice, but my method is to put the Vodka bottle is a plastic container with water, freeze, remove plastic bucket, have a nice bottle with a 2 or 3 inch ice sheath, get glass, sit, pour, etc.
determined not to whine, but in the past when my candidate lost I was always able to say, “Well, I hope he does a good job, give him a chance, unite behind the people’s decision”, not this time. Actually worried we may elect a truly bad man.
Thanks, neo…. I very rarely drink (I’m the joke of my family…I come from a long line of regular Scotch drinkers and to me it all tastes awful..)
Okay…freeze it, down it, big glass of water. Got it.
As for ODS — too late. I’m infected*. But maybe you can provide some “innoculation” that can lesson the effects…?
*It’s not so much the socialism stuff because the man has switched his position, and spent so little time on direct issues and specifics. It’s more the arrogance of this man, my mystification at the American public’s complete pass on his morality, judgement and ethics, and maybe the MOST difficult to swallow: the MSM complete abdication of journalistic integrity. Hope my fever has peaked and will settle at a low-grade temp. if I must suffer.
(I SHALL hope to be proven wrong……but no great hopes).
Off to the polls!
The rush to Obama reminds me (in a bad way) about what happens to many people upon getting out of a bad relationship. Don’t ask me how I know this, the wounds have finally healed. The liberated soul frequently chooses a partner that is everything the old one wasn’t. Days of wine and roses follow, only to be succeeded by an emotional catastrophe even worse than the original debacle. They don’t call it being on the rebound for nothing. Let’s not debate the successes and failures of the Bush administration right now. Suffice to say that enough people wanted to put him in the rear view mirror so badly that anything seemed better. We aren’t going to appreciate fully how mistaken the urge was until a few years down the road, when the Social Security, Medicare and new Obama created entitlements bankrupt the country.
Don’t worry. Even after Obama wins Sarah Palin will still be able to see Russia from Alaska. She will still be there, keeping us safe. lol
I’m a drinker. I’ll be drinking tonight.
My 10yo step daughter asked what was so important about this election and I told her that when Obama cancels the defense program I work on, electricity skyrockets and I have to paymore taxes for a civilian defense force, there will be no trip to Disneyworld next year. No trips to build-a-bear and much less fun….
No she is sweating a McCain victory tonight too.
There’s just no reason, none, to hope for the best. We are doomed to repeat history. This is a bad, very bad, corrupt mass manipulator. To paraphrase slightly: The lights are going out all across the USA, and we shall not see them relit in our lifetime. Just wait until the “civilian national security force” proposed by the O comes to your door.
She will still be there, keeping us safe. lol
In snarking about the Alaska Governor, you betrayed your ignorance: You don’t even know that the Alaskan governor is Commander in Chief of the Alaskan National Guard–which includes the Eskimo Scouts:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEED9103CF933A15751C0A96E948260
They will be out there keeping us safe just as they were during the Cold War, dummy.
Just wait until the “civilian national security force” proposed by the O comes to your door.
Really, what good is a Strongman without Dignity Battallions, Tonton Macoutes, Red Brigades or Fedayeen Hussein.
Remember, Gray. To dunce Obamabots like Jim, none of it is real. There is no threat in their minds except a threat from the American center or the right that may prevent them from seizing power, by hook or crook.
The Constitution of the US is the largest obstacle that the mass movement of cult followers must face. If Barack gets enough help from the voters in the way of a steamroller cult-congress, that bit of parchment may be in trouble.
I don’t know that there was ever a law prohibiting announcement of Eastern election results before the Western polls closed but I do seem to remember that after some election (one of the Nixon ones, maybe?) the networks called the election early and voter turnout in some Western states fell to record lows. There was such an outcry that the networks voluntarily agreed to not do that. Obviously they’re not agreeing to that any longer so my memory may be faulty.
Heck, this time around the networks are practically calling the election based on exit polls of people who voted a week ago.
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Moscato
Yep. It’s a sweet desert wine. Please don’t look down on me ! 🙂
Sheesh,
I didn’t think it was appropiate to sit Shiva until the person had actually passed on.
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet, and Act III may just not end the way everyone thinks. There has been a lot more going on than the media has reported, because they only see the superficial–they refuse to plumb the depths.
Want some inspiration? Read the polling analyses of DJ Durummond who posts at Wizbang (start w/ his Oct 15 post). His conclusion is that the polls are absolutely non-predictive this year.
At any rate, we will probably know within the next 12 hours.
LIke Jimmy J, I can’t stop at one drink, so no booze for me tonight. In fact, no TV, radio or net, either, once I leave work. Like you, neo, I’m expecting an Obama victory, and have resigned myself to it. So if McCain actually does win, I’ll have four years to enjoy myself; I’m not going to deny myself a good night’s sleep just to see either one win.
But should McCain pull it out, I’ll be toasting him on Friday!
Nene,
That R key is perilously close to that T key isn’t it?
Or, have you already started? Hilarious, either way.
My fave all time is SmiriFresca, Yummy!
I’m going to buy the biggest stinkin’ pizza for me and the woman I must obey when Mac n’ Cudda win. I’m going to wait until after the riots subside though.
Semper Fi,
gm
obamas security force waiting at the voting booths.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU
basically new black panthers member at a voting center with a baton…
why are they allowed to stand in front with weaponry? (and regalia)
the news will be interesting…
Drinking already?
“to call states on the East Coast for Obama as soon as they possibly can, in order to discourage those in the West from voting for him at all ”
If it stops one voter from voting for Obama I’m for it!
Well this is all very cheering as you lot seem depressed before the hangover. Come on Obama lets have a change from the Republican disaster of the last eight years. If they have been that brilliant why have we seen so little of Bush? If McCain is so good why was Bush so cutting about him in those Primaries so many years ago.
So cheers to you all. Drinkers and not. Here’s hoping for a Democrat win to improve all your lives.
I’m confused by this sentence:
“I’m prepared for the MSM to call states on the East Coast for Obama as soon as they possibly can, in order to discourage those in the West from voting for him at all.”
Is that what you meant to say? It sounds like you are saying the MSM wants to discourage people from voting for Obama in the western states, and having been a reader of yours fro awhile, I doubt you mean to imply the MSM would work against Obama.
As far as calling states earlier, I’m always quite confused on how it hurts one candidate or the other. It discourages voter turn out in the west, but if the election is called early, won’t voters for both McCain and Obama in the west stop turning out, figuring the thing is over anyway? It seems no shows on both sides cancel each other out.
Here’s hoping for a Democrat win to improve all your lives.
I don’t understand that at all. I work for a living and pay my way. How is he going to do something to improve my life when I just want them to leave me alone to succeed.
Yes, I had debated the drink of choice after reading that post @Rachel. The Irish Bomb sounded tempting, but then adfter asking a Genuine Irish Person to describe the effect, I returned to the classical chouce.
Vodka. Preferably Absolut; if not available – Grey Goose will do. [I suspect the licquer stores will get rich today].
Your recipe sounds fine, Neo, except I’d put the whole bottle into the freezer – and no water chasers. It’ll give you a headache in the morning. The Russian way is to chase the shot with a morsel of good appetiser – a bit of caviar on a buttered toast, a marinated mushroom, a hot meat pastry or even a piece smoked salmon.
Never thought our former life will give us competitive advantage here, but where you need an expert on “How to make yourself forget a socialist reality”, ask an ex-SU resident…
Artfldgr Says:
“why are they allowed to stand in front with weaponry? (and regalia)”
I read the police took the guy with the baton away but let the other guy stay since he was not armed.
Also, a republican poll watcher stayed to keep an eye on the unarmed panther to keep him from stopping voters…
So, an outrage? Yes. Not dealt with? No.
T Says:
“Sheesh,
I didn’t think it was appropiate to sit Shiva until the person had actually passed on.”
Actually, I still think we might win. I’m just going to be ready. 🙂
Also, I’ll have a couple beers even if we do win. 🙂
If Mac takes Ohio, Florida, and one other O leaning state he should wrap it up. Those states were less than + 2% leaning towards Obama and the polls usually have a pro dem slant by more than that… so, I’m not at all thinking it is over yet…
reddog Says:
“It won’t make his losing easier to take.”
You must already be on crack, because of course it will!
Tatyana,
Advice from one who knows. Priceless!
“Come on Obama lets have a change from the Republican disaster of the last eight years.”
Yes, let’s have a Democrat mega-disaster for four!
Remember your history. Democrats create disasters twice as bad in half the time.
Jimmy, the trick is to put some fat in your stomach before the alcohol hits it; that way you won’t be knocked down immediately.
Start with a plate of cold cuts (not lean), and proceed accordingly. Russian norm: a .75 bottle of vodka per three.
Never thought our former life will give us competitive advantage here, but where you need an expert on “How to make yourself forget a socialist reality”, ask an ex-SU resident…
Well, wait a minute…
Were the sovs drinking vodka for its unique ability to “make yourself forget a socialist reality”, or just because it was the local, readily available hooch to “make yourself forget a socialist reality”?
Specifically, should I turn specifically to vodka for my needs, or simply the cheap local hooch, which happened to be vodka, as the Russians did under the Soviet?
I’m hoping vodka has some, as yet unknow and unneeded in the US, secret virtue to deaden the spirit and mind to socialist reality, ‘cuz I think I’m gonna need it.
I’ve been enjoying American “Spudka” potato(e) vodka. Vodka made from potatoes is superior, I think
this election night i am off to work-
i am an emergency room rn.
i am really looking forward to the distraction of a chaotic, busy shift.
i expect er’s all across the country will become even busier, as has been the trend, with the economy going south, with layoff’s, etc.
unfortunately, we have observed the best health insurance is medicaid, or no insurance. i am glad i am not sick, i certainly can’t afford to be. about a third of my pay goes to taxes now, as it is. there are many people in this society that are riding on the shoulders of working professionals like me, and the contributors in this forum.
my prayer’s go out to sen. mccain and gov. palin, and their families, to you all and your families and to this united states of america.
whatever the result, when i get off work tomorrow am, it will be a different world.
Combination of a society that tolerates alcohol for underaged kids (Chinese) combined with my natural biological tendency to refuse to eat or drink in excess, resulted in an interesting condition. Even if I want to get drunk, I can’t. And if I don’t want to get drunk, there’s not much point to alcohol except as a slight depressant.
Not sure it is wise to take a depressant when you are facing depressive issues. Much better to drink coffee instead or energy drinks or chai tea or various other such things as ACAI fruit punch.
Well, Americans have two solutions to socialism. The Russian model or the American model. The Russian model drinks vodka and just toughs it out.
Americans go and buys munitions, firearms, and starts training in the use of violence.
Gray, it’ll take a few years for me to write a tractat on this topic – unnecessary, as one already exist. I’m not sure if translation exist; try to find a novel by Viktor Erofeev “Moscow-Petushki”.
Nobody came to encompass the subject fuller.
correction: apaprently, the book was published in English under different title.
We need more of this:
Schoolhouse Rock.
correction #2 (no, I haven’t started drinking yet…sigh):
It’s Venedict Erofeev, not Viktor (although there is an author with the latter name, too).
High profit.
High productivity.
Not been shared? We’ve have some of the lowest unemployment in the world, and our lowest since records have been kept, excluding WWII and the war economy. I think it’s been shared. It’s been spread around quite nicely, to people who would otherwise have been unemployed.
By the way, a modern version of the mechanical lever machine with the right safeguards and electrical/electronic readouts (like those on remote water meters) would answer most of the problems we are seeing with unreliable machines and the lack of hard records of votes cast.
kungfu: Thanks for the heads up. By “him,” I meant McCain. It’s been corrected.
There are any number of websites who will call the election as soon as they have information to do so, and the networks will feel like idiots if they have to pretend they don’t know the outcome for the hours before the western polls close. And I expect Proposition 8 in California will draw their voters regardless of whether the presidential outcome is known.
A law preventing the networks from calling races early would very likely be unconstitutional. Like the Fairness Doctrine.
My first votes were on the mechanical voting machines. Bring them Back! They can’t be hacked!
In the meantime, although I’m not a drinking person (see this), I plan to do a bit tonight as the returns roll in, or maybe even sooner.
neo-neocon,
I am hopeful that we will all be drinking champagne late tonight or sometime tomorrow!
hey cheers for that… very informative – i’ve added your blog to my netvibes account – thanks 🙂