# It's Officially Election Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 4, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000 "2008-11-04T05:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/201 "2008-11-04T20:26:30Z")
I don’t think it’s going to be possible for Obama to live up to all of these expectations. He really isn’t the second coming. Still, let’s see what happens during his first term. Maybe I’ll be surprised! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/202 "2008-11-04T20:27:24Z")
[QUOTE=jadler] I see nothing I particularly like in either person and therefore exercise my rights to NOT VOTE for either choice. It’s better than giving my vote away to someone I don’t 100% support. [/QUOTE] If you can only get behind something that you support 100%, life is going to be a little disappointing for you, bud. I suspect the only way you’ll be able to vote for your perfect candidate is to vote for yourself as a write-in… and you probably won’t be happy then either. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/203 "2008-11-04T20:28:19Z")
> [@jadler](#): > > I am making a point now more than ever to NOT vote. > > The reason is simple. > > While we have millions of people jumping on the bandwagon of one political puppet or another we also have a lack of intelligence among the voters. Why should you jump behind either of these men? Because your friends are doing it? I see nothing I particularly like in either person and therefore exercise my rights to NOT VOTE for either choice. It’s better than giving my vote away to someone I don’t 100% support. Thank you for not voting. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/204 "2008-11-04T20:32:20Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > So slightly off-topic but all day today I’ve had U2’s “Beautiful Day” playing within my head… I’m going mostly with Jefferson Airplane _Volunteers of America_, but then, I’m kind of a traditionalist. And The Who, of course, _Won’t Get Fooled Again_. Classical music. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/205 "2008-11-04T20:33:36Z")
> [@jadler](#): > > I am making a point now more than ever to NOT vote. > > The reason is simple. > > While we have millions of people jumping on the bandwagon of one political puppet or another we also have a lack of intelligence among the voters. Why should you jump behind either of these men? Because your friends are doing it? I see nothing I particularly like in either person and therefore exercise my rights to NOT VOTE for either choice. It’s better than giving my vote away to someone I don’t 100% support. It’s your right to express yourself by refusing to vote. I mentioned previously that my wife got to vote for the first time today. She’s from Iran. In her old country candidates are allowed on the ballot only if they are Muslims, only if they support the revolution and only if they abide by the teachings of the Ayatollah Khomeini. If someone feels they pass muster on all that they can try to run, but nearly everyone who files for office is rejected by the Council of Guardians who decides who is holy enough for office and who is not. There are no primaries in Iran. What’s left for the final ballot is hard liners and ultra hard liners. And none of it matters much because the unelected Supreme Leader trumps the powers of the President by a wide margin (though McCain constantly refers to the Iranian President as a “dictator”). Having the vote in these elections (and the primaries) is a privilege I cherish. I will _never_ sit out an election day. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/206 "2008-11-04T20:34:33Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I don’t think it’s going to be possible for Obama to live up to all of these expectations. He really isn’t the second coming. Now this is all kinds of crazy right here. Of COURSE Obama’s the second coming. Where have you been? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/207 "2008-11-04T20:36:00Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I don’t think it’s going to be possible for Obama to live up to all of these expectations. He really isn’t the second coming. > > Still, let’s see what happens during his first term. Maybe I’ll be surprised! See, I think where the grey area is with Obama, in terms of him being the ‘second coming’; I think people see a young dynamic guy who’s smart as a whip and not afraid to show it. People gravitate towards that naturally. Some of his ideas are spot on in my opinion, mostly with domestic affairs, but in others I am sort of meh about. Then again we ought to be voting on which man has woven the right tapestry - because this country needs some serious work. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/208 "2008-11-04T20:36:22Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I don’t think it’s going to be possible for Obama to live up to all of these expectations. He really isn’t the second coming. > > Still, let’s see what happens during his first term. Maybe I’ll be surprised! Here’s the thing though: the expectations really aren’t that high. They just seem high _in comparison to the current administration_. A lot of us will be dancing in the streets over competent administration of the EPA, for example. Competent. Administration. That’s not exactly walking on water. I think you’re seeing a lot of hallelujahs (or will be, if all goes well) because of the relative difference, not the absolute level of expectations. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/209 "2008-11-04T20:41:04Z")
Voted this morning in Northern Virginia (the communist part). Arrived at the polling place at 6:45am and was done by 8:30am. Much longer line than during the primaries, but more machines and the option to use a paper ballot + scanner meant things moved much more quickly this time. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/210 "2008-11-04T20:42:26Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Here’s the thing though: the expectations really aren’t that high. They just seem high _in comparison to the current administration_. A lot of us will be dancing in the streets over competent administration of the EPA, for example. Competent. Administration. That’s not exactly walking on water. I think you’re seeing a lot of hallelujahs (or will be, if all goes well) because of the relative difference, not the absolute level of expectations. No kidding. My expectations are not that high. In fact, I have one. “Stop using the Constitution as toilet paper.” If Obama’s administration doesn’t try to kill the Constitution with a hundred tiny cuts, then my expectations will have been met. Everything after that is gravy. > [@](#): > > While we have millions of people jumping on the bandwagon of one political puppet or another we also have a lack of intelligence among the voters. Why should you jump behind either of these men? Because your friends are doing it? I see nothing I particularly like in either person and therefore exercise my rights to NOT VOTE for either choice. It’s better than giving my vote away to someone I don’t 100% support. I’ve long held that the best way to register a protest is to silence your own voice. ---
**Author:** ![mabes10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mabes10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mabes10)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/211 "2008-11-04T20:45:40Z")
[http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1634499.aspx](http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1634499.aspx) What do you know, major problems in Virginia and Pennsylvania. \*From Election Protection… Voters are reporting major obstacles to casting their ballot in polling locations across Virginia and Pennsylvania, which could disenfranchise thousands of voters in each state. Long lines, broken voting machines, ballot shortages and misused absentee ballots are just some of the problems that threaten voting. VIRGINIA: Dozens of polling places are experiencing varying degrees of machine malfunctions. Some polling places are either completely closed or have been closed for hours. Thousands of voters may have been turned away illegally by polling workers. Voters have illegally been issued with provisional ballets where machines have been broken. Students at Virginia Tech, previously the victims of misinformation, have seen their polling place suddenly and unexpectedly moved six miles to a location with little parking. PENNSYLVANIA: Voting machine malfunctions are widespread and at least a dozen locations, mainly focused on Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Election Protection has received reports of campaign materials being illegally distributed at polling locations in Pittsburgh. Voters across the state are reporting that they never received their absentee ballots, which is creating additional chaos at the polls. Several other states like Florida, Ohio, Colorado and Michigan are reporting long lines due to problems with registration lists and poll locations.\* For a month now I’ve been fully confident that Obama would win if all the votes were fairly counted. Nagging worry they could steal it but I didn’t think so, they need too many votes in too many states to pull it off. This story aside, I will continue to believe that. [Rachel Maddow] Talk me down. [/Rachel Maddow] ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/212 "2008-11-04T20:46:33Z")
I will of course be watching CNN tonight, but does anyone have a vote counting website to get better up-to-date information? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/213 "2008-11-04T20:46:45Z")
> [@jadler](#): > > Why should you jump behind either of these men? Because your friends are doing it? I see nothing I particularly like in either person and therefore exercise my rights to NOT VOTE for either choice. Are you genuinely under the impression that because YOU don’t particularly care for either candidate, \*no one \*does? **pepperlandgirl** , I’m with you. Should anything be accomplished above and beyond stopping the downward spiral, my expectations will have been wildly exceeded. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/214 "2008-11-04T20:47:43Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I’ve long held that the best way to register a protest is to silence your own voice. I agree, and conquering self is strength. This to me is the embodiment of a good campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/215 "2008-11-04T20:51:50Z")
Checking in from Santa Cruz, CA. Polls opened at 7AM and I got there about 6:58. I was voter #107, though they offer machines or paper, so I don’t know how well that corresponds to the number of voters. It was very busy and I expect a high turn out here. It was my son’s first chance to vote, and that was really cool for some reason. I voted for the light-rail bond. Oh, and a total overthrow of the current administration. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/216 "2008-11-04T20:52:24Z")
And its going to take some doing. These creeps have had 8 years to infiltrate and infect every branch of gov. God alone knows how many cereal box top law degree idjits they’ve implanted in the Justice Dept, just for one instance. To steal from Winnie Churchill, its not the beginning of the end, we can only hope its the end of the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/217 "2008-11-04T20:59:24Z")
Hey, sorry to ask an obvious question, but I’m finding conflicting information and I trust you guys to give me the straight dope, so to speak. When do results start coming in? 6 EST? 7? Or what? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/218 "2008-11-04T21:02:42Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Hey, sorry to ask an obvious question, but I’m finding conflicting information and I trust you guys to give me the straight dope, so to speak. When do results start coming in? 6 EST? 7? Or what? Depends. Some states close at 6PM EST, some at 7PM EST. You probably won’t have any actual results coming out until at least an hour after the polls close. So we’re looking at probably 7 or 8 PM EST before the first results start to trickle in. I’m guessing we won’t start getting west coast results until at least midnight eastern. I’m likely to be stumbling blearily into work tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I’ll be happily bleary and not utterly dejectedly bleary. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/219 "2008-11-04T21:03:55Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Hey, sorry to ask an obvious question, but I’m finding conflicting information and I trust you guys to give me the straight dope, so to speak. When do results start coming in? 6 EST? 7? Or what? I’ve heard from a few places that the initial results will start coming out at 7PM EST. ---
**Author:** ![jadler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jadler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jadler)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000/220 "2008-11-04T21:05:42Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Actually you are suppose to use your brain and read up on the politicians, listen to them speak and make an educated decision on which to vote for. In addition if you can point people in the right direction to help them educate themselves on the issues and the politicians positions all the better. > > Here is a \*\*sample \*\*of official sites that were often brought up on this board over the last year: > [http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/](http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/) > [Issues Archive - The Office of Hillary Rodham Clinton](http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/) > [http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/](http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/) > [http://www.mittromney.com/Issues/index](http://www.mittromney.com/Issues/index) > [johnedwards.com](http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/) > [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama\_vs\_mccain/](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/) > > So I think you pick the wrong board and wrong thread for your post. > > Jim Hi Jim glad to hear you think. If you had fully read into my post you would note that I stated that I dislike both party’s this year. Meaning that I did do my research, in fact perhaps more that most of you. It is unfair for you to assume ignorance at the first sign of a non-voter. That is a sign of group think and therefore ignorance on your part. Thanks for your time though. I suppose that’s worth something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-officially-election-day/471000.md?page=12)