Bruce Schneier will liveblog election results at Making Light
Watch the election results with Bruce Schneier on Tuesday, November 4, over at Making Light, the blog co-edited by Boing Boing's community manager Teresa Nielsen Hayden. Bruce Schneier explains, “Watching the results come in is fun, but it’s more fun in the right group.” Remember, the tattoos on Bruce Schneier's fists say "Alice" and "Bob". You don't want to make him exchange keys over your face.
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In less than 24 hours, this will be all over. No more need for political blogs, at least for a few days, lol!
I'm just looking forward to a McCain-Palin concession speech. The more the crying the better.
Seriously folks, go out and get your vote counted and verified.
Obama-Biden in 24 hours!
"While we await good tidings—knock on wood!—I am posting some Flickr related pics that I found appealing, interesting, neat, cute... If you 're out there busting your chops for the GOTV effort: thank you! Yes We Can!"
Rsns T B Chrfl, Prt 3 blg
I hate to talk polls but I saw KCAL LA yesterday and it seems like much more than the regular 30% turnout.
Quick question? How does Australia get such a high voter turnout?
#3 - I am taking the day off to vote, anticipating long lines (and a long ballot with confusing initiatives). I was told by an acquaintance that India has a holiday for voting. That seems like a good idea to me. Does Australia have a voting holiday?
#3: Australia has compulsory voting with fines for non-attendance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_electoral_system#Compulsory_voting
✔ - comfy shoes
✔ - light reading
✔ - knowledge of ballot questions
✔ - sense of civic responsibility
✔ - mental image of Lynndie England
ok, I'm ready to go vote.
Still waffling believe it or not. I want to push the button for Obama, but the whole health care initiative is off putting to me. On the other hand, Palin in the White House . . .
Any good arguments at the 11th hour are welcome. FYI - I'm a father of two young boys, married, and I own a townhouse in Maryland
Obama seems way more likely to actually reign in spending -- particularly on war -- than McCain.Obama will also finally put to rest the politics of fear over "terrorism" and focus on real problems.
JJ - if I may.
On January 22nd 2008 the next president will probably be in a position to appoint 3 Supreme Court judges.
Further - If either of your young sons forgets to wear protection 10 or 15 years from now, you may have a surprise daughter in law who is unready to be a mom - because not only will abortion be illegal, Sex-ed probably will be too.
Be selfish, think about your golden years, vote against changing diapers daily into your 60's.
Yeah, Jan 22, 2009.
remember to preview your ballot. ;)
JJ: the Republicans hold all the deficit records and the only president to balance the budget in my lifetime was Clinton. So, with regard to the economy, if you want a light at the end of the tunnel that isn't a train, don't vote for McCain. He materially helped get the country into this mess, and has no idea what to do about it.
Obama is not a socialist. He's very centrist (the US has two right wing parties). He's not particularly liberal, and if anything, the health insurance stuff is being driven by pragmatism--I think we can agree that the current system is sorely broken.
Finally, I'd like to pimp Permanent Absentee Voting. It's too late to sign up for this election, but next time, you can make life easier on yourself. I voted last week. (I'm just watching to see what happens now.) I voted in the comfort of my own home and had my computer to assist in research when those difficult questions came up (there weren't many, with the shenanigans of the last California budget war anything that says "bond measure" got a "no"). It's the same form you sign up with, just check an extra box. When you get a ballot, fill it out and mail it back. You never miss an election; you never stand in line. The only premium is a first class stamp for every ballot (about three per year out here).
that's a significant "g" Zuzu,sure you mean it?
Also JJ,
Obama (by way of his single mother, "funny name", etc) was born on first base and because he takes strong leads has made it to third. McCain (son and grandson of admirals) was born on second base (which was really third base since he chose to join the Navy), and has managed to stay exactly there for his entire life.
I just don't see that the GOP has either the hitters or the bullpen needed to extend the inning.
JJ: Obama's plan ensures that people without health insurance can buy into the same plan that members of Congress get. McCain's plan taxes employee health insurance benefits in exchange for an end-of-year tax credit that goes directly to an insurance company.
This election for me has ultimately boiled down to an issue of character. In the face of a crisis, I'd much rather have someone who reviews the situation calmly and rationally with the best advisors at hand than someone with a notoriously quick temper who jumps headlong into decisions without consulting the people around him. Obama FTW.
Indeed, I meant "rein" not "reign" (or "rain").
All good points, thanks to everyone for posting. The abortion issue is key to me, I'm Catholic and pro-choice, I think that choice should be left up to a person, not by the government.
I've been pummeled by various family members and friends with the whole "why Obama is going to run this country into the ground" and when I ask about McCain, I get "he's a war hero" "he has experience" "republicans are good for the economy" - Yes, someone really said that.
Then I remember my grandfather, who told me that thanks to the CCC during the Depression, he didn't starve to death. He always voted Dem. Maybe I'll do him proud and go old school.
However, it is indeed bullshit that the tax credit goes to insurance companies instead of to you. Neither major party really has a solid plan for pushing back against the graft of the medical-industrial complex (including the insurance / banking industries). Just as both parties caved to the fear-mongering of the investment banks for a harried bipartisan bailout.
Finally, I'm almost certain that McCain had to dredge up a healthcare plan from a free market thinktank because Republicans actually have no plan at all. It's a slap in the face that making healthcare affordable is only a political talking point for them, and not anything they'll ever actually do.
how much of the expense in American healthcare is directly graft related anyway? Bisphenol A apparently got FDA approval by bribery, what else has gone on? Will it turn out that poor Americans were actually always eligible in terms of resources,but corporate corruption made things otherwise?
JJ - The abortion issue is key to me, I'm Catholic and pro-choice,
Maybe you can find footing on the new 'plank' of the D-party platform that makes it a party goal to reduce the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies through education while guaranteeing private access.
The old plank was just about guaranteeing private access and fighting any prohibitions.
Re Threefjeff I find it so strange that 'socialist' is a dirty word in the USA. I come from Saskatchewan - home of the NDP and canadian made healthcare. It is now much further right there, but 'socialist' is still not a slur. I like govn't run health care from a very selfish - thinking of my kids standpoint. I know that I would be covered by my husbands healthcare - but who know what my someday kids will want to do. What if they end up with special needs? What aboout when I eventual get old and where out? I know I'm safe here.
JJ:
the whole health care initiative is off putting to me
That's because you have some.
Well? Where is it?
MDH - that's a great suggestion - at 40, I'm still unsure as to when "life" begins, but that doesn't have to effect anyone else's choice.
Tekna, I have health insurance because my wife and I work very hard. I worry that the problems experienced by the welfare system, social security, etc., will be replicated with a system of national health care.
AGF: I am anti-partisan--an independent's independent. So, not a socialist, but I, personally, don't think "Socialist" is a dirty word.
It is stupid that it is a dirty word, since it isn't evil. It's just a political philosophy, and a good intentioned one at that (for every reason you listed in your post).
I was just noting that Obama is most certainly not a socialist in any way shape or form. JJ seemed concerned about Obama's fiscal policy. I wanted to point out that there would be no cultural revolution under Obama, contrary to what the neocon hate machine has been spewing for the last many months. Mainstream democrats tend to be fiscal conservatives these days.
As far as socialized health care, I like the idea. The system we have is broken, and there are many countries that have working socialized systems out there.
JJ:
Take a look at FactCheck.org. It's a reliable place to cut through each candidate's bs. Healthcare is probably covered there, as well as other issues.
http://www.factcheck.org/
threefjeff. cool - and for the record i didn't think you thought it was a bad word. it's just something i've been wondering about.
fdeblauwe,
You've linked to your blog three times so far today. Please don't.
Take a look at FactCheck.org.
Teresa has pretty thoroughly proven that FactCheck is supported by huge contributors to conservative politicians. It's not an unbiased source.
jj. propublica has some great article about both candidates, and their issues. http://www.propublica.org/
I'll cite twotonkatruck's comment:
JJ - Tekna, I have health insurance because my wife and I work very hard.
So you're suggesting that all one has to do is work hard, and marry a hard-working spouse, to get health care?
HEALTH CARE APPLICATION
Please answer fully and completely. Attach additional information if required. Sign and return completed application.
1. Do you work hard? [ ] Yes [ ] No
2. Are you married? [ ] Yes [ ] No
3. If married, does your spouse work hard? [ ] Yes [ ] No
_____________________________
Signature
Antinous @28: Teresa has pretty thoroughly proven that FactCheck is supported by huge contributors to conservative politicians.
Well, no. Teresa has repeated her husband's claim that FactCheck is supported by a foundation (the Annenberg Foundation) that is headed by a person who generally leans Republican and supports Republican candidates. Not "huge contributors" plural.
Said foundation also funded the Chicago school reform initiative for which the grant had been co-written by William Ayers, and that hired Barack Obama as a co-chairman.
Antinous. I have no doubts of Teresa's diligence in forming her pov. Mr. Lessig seems to be a fan, at least in this post of a few weeks ago.
http://lessig.org/blog/2008/10/on_loving_factcheckorg.html
Observations I made this morning at my poll place: There were about triple the number of people waiting before 7am than usual. The voters were approx. 50% white, 50% black. The area I live in is about 85% Black and Hispanic. And, amazingly - there were 2-3 young voters! That's the first time I've seen teenagers waiting to vote. Make what you will of what I observed, but to me, it means a much higher amount of voters this time and maybe, finally, the youth may actually make themselves be heard this time.
Anyone care to quell my electoral college fears?
JJ-I suggest you read this earlier BB post that explored the health care territory:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/21/artits-taking-commis.html#comment-239725
I'm not sure what bad acid America dropped to fear socialism so much. Sometimes I think Mark Steyn's daddy hit him with a rolled-up Socialist Worker when he was a kid. How else does one explain his apparent belief that socialism is scarier than being burned alive? And that raising the top income tax bracket from 35% to 39.6% makes Obama a socialist? As Inigo Montoya said, "I don't think that word means what you think it means."
Contrary to the Cato Institute's regular predictions, Europe seems to be doing just fine. Even France, which seems to think that adding socialism to anything automatically makes it better, hasn't collapsed yet.
As for Factcheck.org...the proof is in the reading. All the claims of bias, I just don't see. The only people I hear complaining about it are the hard-core partisans that think ACORN is the end of democracy as we know it or that Palin is some kind of a crypto-theocrat Manchurian candidate.
As if there weren't enough reasons to send Sarah packing already.
--Devin
EPIC WIN!!! EPIC WIN!!! EPIC WIN!!!!
And, amazingly - there were 2-3 young voters!
What were they doing awake at 7am?