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Before I get to my BORING story, I just have to share this obligatory gorgeous baby pic of my new granddaughter, Lauren:
Too, too cute, huh?
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My BORING Election Day Story
Yes, I mean it - Election Day 2008 was, for me, totally boring. Watching the results was fabulous but the day itself? Not so fabulous.
I'm a veteran official of Virginia elections at my local precinct and had considered several potential problems. A week before, I was thrilled to learn that our request for two additional workers (total of 10) had been approved; whew! what a relief. In 1992 AND '96, turnout at our reliably Republican precinct hit 90%+. Our county registrar told us that registrations were 'up,' requests for absentee ballots were 'way, way up,' so we guess-timated at least 85% if the good weather forecast held up. I was ready, primed even, for excitement and long lines if not high drama, considering the racist rhetoric I'd heard during the VA primary.
But none of it happened. After a brief flurry when the polls first opened, we spent the rest of the day yawning and offering to give each other meal / rest breaks. I actually spent most of the day reading the mandatory copy of Virginia election law that was packed in our 'tool kit.'
What happened? With over 2,500 registered voters in the precinct, only 54% turned out (60% overall county turnout).
Sad, huh? I've had some time to think about it - it's a lesson in Appalachian politics where folks vote with their feet - and a lot of MY neighbors chose not to move those feet toward the polling place.
Moderate, Republican-leaning voters stayed home, embarrassed by McCain-Palin and accepting the inevitability of an Obama win. Curiously, some McCain supporters willingly crossed party lines. Look at these results:
Barack Obama and Joe Biden 374 - 28.20%
John McCain and Sarah Palin 934 - 70.43%
Party loyalty? Meh, not so much for Senate:
Mark R. Warner 755 - 58.21%
James S. "Jim" Gilmore III 532 - 41.01%
Our Democratic Congressman had no opposition:
Rick C. Boucher 960 - 97.85%
Write In 21 - 2.14%
For the first time, Virginia allowed write-in votes for the Presidency. In addition to Mickey Mouse (3) and Grizzly Adams (1), Tina Fey got TWO votes. And, no, mine wasn't one of them - heh!
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How did you keep your sanity during 2008? Well, for me it's guilty pleasures in the form of junk TV. Mostly from ABC's Entertainment division.
I know, I know - ABC News is bad and I never watch it. But I confess to tuning in regularly for primetime election relief.
My most secret pleasure has to be 'Dancing With The Stars,' okay? You betcha, also. Everybody wants to appear on the show. On last night's results show, helping to announce the finalists, were Aretha Franklin and John Legend. Last week, it was Brad Paisley. The show is a marketing triumph for ABC.
Watching Cloris Leachman this season reminds me that I have to get offa my ass and get into shape if I want to live long enough to be a saucy baudy old crone like Cloris. You had to love her spunk. The finals are next week and I'm rooting for Lance Bass - he's by far the most improved and Brooke is too cocky. (If you don't know what this means, never mind.)
Another favorite is 'Boston Legal,' now in its final season. For five years, producer / head-writer David E. Kelley has used the show to skewer BushCo and to consistently bedevil the nation's 'conservative backside' (I should trademark that phrase). The right-wing noise machine HATES the show, as shown in this review of Monday night's program:
McCain/Palin supporters are idiots. So said the scribes of ABC's Boston Legal who scripted a show that went out of its way to trash Sarah Palin and elevate the election of Barack Obama to mythical status. ..
The thrust of the storyline was a lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed she was fired from her job because she voted for McCain. As it turns out her Republican boss fired her because he thought she was stupid and based his conclusion on the fact that the woman was an ardent Hillary supporter who voted for McCain because of Sarah Palin. A double slam from the left-loving writers of Boston Legal.
The Obama-supporting characters "Alan Shore" and "Shirley Schmidt" played by James Spader and Candice Bergen represented the Hillary/Palin-supporting woman [Martha] even though they did think she was stupid...
Here's some of what got the reviewer so upset:
SCHMIDT: Do you think... Martha and Sarah and Joe the... is he an electrician? "
ALAN SHORE: Plumber, unlicensed. (Chuckles)
SCHMIDT: are-- are they the real Americans?
SHORE: Not necessarily. I think that's what this election just proved, that real Americans aren't just rural and white. The portrait of real Americans has been redrawn in this election. Real Americans are of all ages, races, ethnicities. They live in cities and apartments as well as... farms. I... we have a president-elect who fits into no category or demographic whatsoever other than he's an American.
SCHMIDT: God, I wept that night. (Chuckles) did you?
SHORE: No, I just... watched and watched and... didn't want the night to end. I already miss Sarah Palin, though. (Laughs) she was fun while she lasted. I hope they let her keep the wardrobe.
SCHMIDT: I still have to say, though, as heartened as I am by the election and by America...
SHORE: What? (Laughs)
SCHMIDT: Martha's a little bit of an idiot.
ALAN SHORE: Shirley, almost 47% of this country didn't vote for Obama, perhaps because they disagreed with him on the issues, which is fine. But some, no doubt, because they thought he was Muslim with terrorists on his speed dial, and others because they were convinced he was not only socialist, but even worse, a bad bowler, and others still because they simply loved those cream-colored jackets Sarah may have to give back. (Laughs) But there's one thing all those idiots have in common.
SHIRLEY SCHMIDT: What?
SHORE: They still get to vote.
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On to TOP COMMENTS!
From AmnesiaProletariat:
After news of Zawahri's attack on Obama hits the news, journeyman sums it up perfectly.
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From noweasels:
I was amazed at the reaction to my diary today (both in good and not so good ways). There were a lot of very thoughtful comments, but the one that touched my heart was this one from Magnifico.
And thanks to umasslefty for recognizing these unsung heroes and launching an interesting thread.
PBCLiberal on the treatment of our GLTB brothers and sisters by the Nazis, and, shockingly, by the Liberators as well.
In dday's amazing diary on the brief filed by God in the case challenging Prop 8, horsefeathers waxes poetic.
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From OrangeClouds115:
omg funny! this comment and the one below it: Ted's career just went....
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Nommed by Abe Frohman:
Cartwrightdale celebrates Ted Stevens' concession by getting punny with Stevens' infamous "The Internet is a series of tubes" gaffe: Ah, Teddy.
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From Eddie C:
A tip jar to a progressive diary by nailbender. is called excuse me while I put on my flack jacket
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From sardonyx:
In Abe Frohman's diary CA Supreme Ct. to take on Prop 8...in March., Cassandra Waites has a description of what happens if Prop 8 is ruled to be a revision rather than an amendment to the California constitution, and thus invalid.
JoeW on how the Big Orange can stay more relevant.
Mote Dai on union wages. (NOTE from va dare - I also selected this one, below.)
Front Toward Enemy turns Mike Huckabee's argument on cracked skulls against him and his.
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My own picks:
Simply because I too remember Roy and Dale and, yes, I too sang the song: No, karmsy: by Dar Nirron.
Very astute summary of Obama, his 'change' meme, and Lieberman-style paradoxes: I agree with much of this by david mizner.
What do US industrial workers earn? Two comments: Definitely not even $27 now by Mote Dai and I'm a retired union carpenter in 0hio and by 0hio.
The downside of Al Queda mocking Obama as a 'house slave': What's particularly laughable is by LeftyAce.
Love this comment: Governing is not all just politicking. by inclusiveheart.
Should Daily Kos change formats? Maybe not: I like Daily Kos fine as it is, and frankly have by kate mckinnon and I also think we'd stay more relevant by JoeW.
On Tom Daschle: This pick is a severe blow to the Arabian Horse by crystal eyes (for fun) and (in all seriousness) maybe so by kck.
These two have high enough numbers to make Top Mojo but just in case, don't miss: This is not fair. by GreenSooner and Here's the thing by wmtriallawyer.
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TOP MOJO - thank you, sardonyx!
Top Mojo (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and Cheers and Jeers:
1) Here's the thing by wmtriallawyer — 238
2) I also think we'd stay more relevant by JoeW — 212
3) I think people outside the legal field... by Angry Mouse — 153
4) really, I was cool with the guys protesting... by JR — 127
5) This is not fair. by GreenSooner — 112
6) Yes - until they need them! by pinkbunny — 107
7) BRAVO noweasels by VClib — 98
8) Thank you, VClib by noweasels — 94
9) Regarding Lieberman, by mjd in florida — 94
10) Wow, slinkerwink, by JoeW — 89
11) This is an EXCEPTIONAL diary by c — 88
12) I saw this on HuffPo this morning by writerswrite — 77
13) And might even keep us from feeling by ldvisavis — 74
14) I suspect... by mayan — 70
15) Hey, I may be washed up... by JR — 69
16) this is incorrect by thsisnotanexit — 66
17) Insightful and true. by Mother of Zeus — 65
18) WRONG! by Ivan — 64
19) The Huckster's Panties Seem To All Bunch Up by leonard145b — 64
20) Go Against the Bosses: Fired or Fired Upon. by Into The Woods — 62
21) it does seem to be getting a bit silly by Delirium — 62
22) They have ethics in Alaska? by sallym — 61
23) Great job by ReEnergizer — 61
24) Actually, you're not preaching only to ... by Meteor Blades — 59
25) You know, these are some pretty bright minds by Bobs Telecaster — 58
26) where to start? by thsisnotanexit — 56
27) This pick is a severe blow to the Arabian Horse by crystal eyes — 55
28) Ted's career just went... by sea2008 — 55
29) Oh crap, another Clintonite by samantha in oregon — 54
30) And we complain about single-issue voters? by Ed G — 52
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) I am so grateful for the chance by noweasels — 737
2) I understand if there are no tips by dansac — 533
3) And that's my story for the day. n/t by JR — 493
4) tip jar for a discussion thread by slinkerwink — 465
5) tips for CEO in-fighting by thsisnotanexit — 440
6) Tips by John Campanelli — 390
7) tip jar n/t by Kula2316 — 310
8) Traditional tip jar n/t by occams hatchet — 271
9) Got Your Back, General Holder by The Field — 264
10) Tips for a look back by droogie6655321 — 247
11) Here's the thing by wmtriallawyer — 238
12) I also think we'd stay more relevant by JoeW — 212
13) This is a great diary. Thank you. by ragged claws scuttling — 201
14) Technically, I guess I'm breaking diary rules... by wmtriallawyer — 195
15) I think people outside the legal field... by Angry Mouse — 153
16) Tip Jar by Blue Star Mama — 131
17) really, I was cool with the guys protesting... by JR — 127
18) This is not fair. by GreenSooner — 112
19) Yes - until they need them! by pinkbunny — 107
20) BRAVO noweasels by VClib — 98
21) Regarding Lieberman, by mjd in florida — 94
22) Thank you, VClib by noweasels — 94
23) Tips for blowing out candles! by pinkbunny — 93
24) Wow, slinkerwink, by JoeW — 89
25) This is an EXCEPTIONAL diary by c — 88
26) I saw this on HuffPo this morning by writerswrite — 77
27) Tip Jar by MikeMinCT — 75
28) And might even keep us from feeling by ldvisavis — 74
29) tips by thereisnospoon — 74
30) May they rest in peace by a girl in MI — 73
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Always the mountains,
va dare