Yeah, I’m out too. I still have to work tomorrow… damn my eyes. Victory!
Michelle Bachman got reelected? That district deserves her, then. :rolleyes:
:dubious:
New Mexico? I thought foreigners couldn’t vote in American elections.
- d&r *
As big a win as this is for American minorities, I hope to God that Obama has what it takes to actually pull this off…
Google map shows Obama up by ~12,000 votes in NC w/100% reporting, but has not called it…WTF?
Congratulations! This really does raise my opinion of the US - it’s been lagging pretty low this last 8 years.
So, how many seats does Obama need for it to be considered a ‘mandate’? Or is that not based on the presidential race?
Here is the bit that made me cry:
I just lost it. That and the brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand part.
Technically, by winning by such a large margin, he’s got his mandate. However, having a majority in both houses (as it appears the Dems will) aids him in getting bills passed to a large degree.
OK, now I’m thoroughly confused. The folks at 538 are saying that Gallatin County should favor McCain, and the numbers that are now trickling in on the Montana Sec. of State page show an edge to him, too… But here on the ground, it’s looked overwhelmingly in favor of Obama. Are the Republicans around here just really, really quiet?
[EDIT]
A “mandate” is based on whatever the talking head talking about it says it’s based on. The term has no official meaning, and Bush claimed a mandate even while losing the popular vote and just barely squeezing out the electoral.
358 precincts remaining in MN, and Coleman is up by 172 votes. This is trending towards Franken.
Unfortunately, MO looks to go McCain by a toasted cunt hair – by my calculations, Obama is likely to pick up another 8667 votes in St. Louis and Jackson Counties, and he’s down 17711.
Stevens leading (Senate AK) by ~4500 with 36% reporting. F**ker.
The U.S. Congress and President are elected entirely separately from each other. The Democrats already controlled both the Senate and House of Representatives (also elected separately from each other), but they have increased their majorities in both houses.
A bill must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the President to become law; if the President vetoes it, Congress can override the veto if both houses vote to do so by a two-thirds majority. (And a Democratic President could conceivably veto legislation passed by a Democratic Congress; in theory as members of the same party they should share a common governing philosophy if not a common agenda, but the President, each of the 100 Senators, and each of the 435 Representatives each runs his or her own individual campaign for office for a fixed term, so it’s not like there are any “no confidence votes” that would force them all to face the electorate. Thus, all 536 of them are to a certain extent free agents, seeking to advance their particular individual political careers.) Additionally, for many votes in the Senate the actual requirement is 60 votes, not 51; 40 Senators can stage a “fillibuster”–technically, refusing to end debate on a bill–which is something not found anywhere in the Constitution, it’s just the rules the Senate has chosen to adopt, but each house pretty much sets its own rules of procedure and debate. The Democrats probably won’t get the magic 60 but–see above–some moderate Republicans might vote to end debate on a Democratic bill if it isn’t too over the top in partisan or ideological terms.
But hey, at least we don’t still have a Queen.
One county got its ballots wet, I heard. That messed up the machines.
Holy fuck, am I glad to be proven wrong. Obama down only 554 in MO, with 1% remaining, all in Jackson County. There should be a recount, but it looks like he’ll win.
And in MN, 417 precincts left, Franken down 3401. Also probably a recount, but he may well pull it out.
(re. North Carolina not yet called.)
Thanks. I don’t have cable TV, and the broadcast networks ended thier coverage a couple of hours ago.
A surprising number of people I know tuned into this election. Australian politics tends to be to the left of US politics, so even my conservative friends are pro Obama. I was impressed at the crowds that turned out for both candidates - you’d never get a crowd like that for an Australian politician. Your campaigning lows are really low and vicious, but your highs are just awe-inspiring.
A few days ago I watched on YouTube Obama’s speech about his pastor and race. There was certainly some political rhetoric there, but I was surprised to hear a politician speak with such thoughtfulness and such nuance. I’m envious of those who had the opportunity to be a part of this historic event. What an amazing candidate. What an amazing election.
You sure about that measurement? Because, judging by the looks of them, I’d say that both Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin probably shave them off.
We just won Indiana!
Really? Who called it?
Thank you, for everything you have done. I have been but a donating observer, but it takes committed people willing to pick up the phone to get things done.
Let’s not fuck this up.