I think. If we wind up with four more years of Republicans in the White House I fear I will be drinking the hub's whiskey. But what really matters is the congressional percentage, and whether or not we wind up with a Dem or Rep congress. Obama could get elected, but even with all the good intention in the world, a Republican congress could stonewall him and keep him from doing much of anything.
Something else that will be interesting is seeing what percentage of voters turn out. I had a US history prof who once made us look at voter turnout in relation to what was going on politically, and generally speaking, the more people vote, the more pissed off the general populace is.
So. We'll see. For those overseas who are vaguely curious, there's an election map available here. Though I won't believe anything until the polls are closed and the votes counted. Maybe not even then, in states using Diebold voting machines. (Like South Carolina.)
Otherwise, I'm trying to catch up on all the knitting I missed with that killer migraine. Won't happen, but it's worth a try.
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"had a US history prof who once made us look at voter turnout in relation to what was going on politically, and generally speaking, the more people vote, the more pissed off the general populace is."
That seems very simplistic to me. No matter how pissed off people are they need to have the opportunity to vote with out intimidation and the opportunity to vote easily. Look at the numbers for the states with early voting and Oregon that has mail in voting.
It was simplistic. That's why the statement contains the words "generally speaking", implying that there are more details at work. But the bottom line is, looking at numbers alone back through US history, the more upset the general public, the higher percentage of registered voters, vote. The last time we had voter turnout like this was the Gilded Age, right before TR broke the trusts and income tax was legislated.
TR for president. Vote Bull Moose Party.
I definitely agree with your generalisation, but how's the weather been in the key states? In the UK, if it rains we're more likely to get a right-leaning government, if it's fine a left-leaning one. Which is pretty pathetic, but has been the case time after time
Hope you (and we all) get the government you deserve at the end of the night... I'm wondering quite how late I can stay up tonight (our election coverage doesn't start til midnight...)
Goodness, it's been a while since such election fever has spread throughout the world as for this US presidential election.
Like Liz I live in the UK - and I hope for VERY fine weather in the US, just in case our peculiarities work on you too. :)
Okay--I'm just curious about that D.C. poll--what does it say when 82% of DC is polled in favor of one candidate? Seriously--I'd like to see a study done on THAT. (Just saw a thing on John Stewart that said our guys play safe and sane compared to the founding fathers... Adams accused Jefferson of being an atheist and Jefferson accused Adams of being a 'howling hermaphrodite'-- fun stuff:-)
Here's hoping it IS a happy election day. We're all watching closely here. I have friends who've taken teh day off to watch CNN.
Thanks for the map. I'll check it out.
Gah, I'm trying not to look at results. But the NY Times map
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html
at least gives me the option to see how counties voted - click on "County leaders" on the upper left. Really more informative than solid-colored states.
The weather here was incredible: 71 degrees! (22 C!) in November! Last time I stood in line outdoors in sleet.
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