Virtual Thought

Now that the election is over, it’s pretty clear where we live:

All I can do now is hope that George W. Bush doesn’t steer this country straight down the tubes. I can support the Democratic party as they re-organize and figure out why Kerry could be leading in the polls, Kerry could win three debates, but Kerry couldn’t get the votes; I think the issue is larger than two men (Kerry and Edwards). Maybe this is the kick in the pants that will make the Democratic party get up and figure out what they want to do, what they want to say, and how they can convince the American people that what they want is right. Meanwhile, please let me be wrong about Bush and please let me not have to move to Prague anytime soon.

“Where are we going and what am I doing in this handbasket?”

CNN is giving me hope. Even though Fox (which CNN doesn’t count as a network) and CBS are counting Ohio as belonging to Bush, CNN is starting to focus on the provisional ballots. Since Bush and Kerry are within 105,000 of each other these ballots could come in big. Apparently, the Ohio provisional ballots number at about 200,000 and won’t be counted until the 11th day after the election ends.

Who has cast these ballots that are provisional? Let’s do some fake math… almost 90% of the provisional ballots are accepted with no question. Bush and Kerry have split almost 50/50 so far, so what difference could it make? Well, given that Republicans were challenging registered voters at the polls and that, say, some sort of institutional racism could play a part… that might lean it over to the Democrat side. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

Interesting fact: apparently, if Ohio’s election results are within .25% a coin is flipped. The secretary of state calls it in the air and that decides the election.

It’s a little later… and it’s starting to look like Bush is going to take this one. Time to move to Prague.

I’d like to give a big ol’ wave to the county of Licking in Ohio for voting for Bush. You just make it too easy.

So, it’s about 11:35 pm and Bush is ahead 51% to 48% versus Kerry. We’re glued to the tube watching the MSNBC and CNN commentators carve up Ohio like John Madden during a replacement football game. C’mon, Colorado, can’t you step up and go Kerry? Ohio, Ohio… I can’t believe that you’re not a bigger supporter of Kerry. We knew a while ago that Florida wasn’t going Kerry’s way even if CNN was too burned to say it.

I gotta say: I’m considering calling in sick tomorrow, putting on my revolution boots, and looting Austin in the name of democracy if Bush wins.

A CNN commentator is saying that Kerry needs to make up 165,000 votes in Ohio. Christ.

The only saving grace for the election coverage at this point is that, occasionally, the Senate race that includes the Senators Crapo and Fingerhut scroll by on the Election Ticker. Before you make fun of Crapo too much, he’s got a 10 to 1 lead on his opponent… who, quite frankly, probably got his votes out of pity and the unwillingness to have a Senator Crapo.

CNN just gave Oregon to Kerry… but I like NBC’s numbers better because they make the race look closer. I don’t think we can watch CNN anymore.

I might post again later if there’s much better news.

And congratulations to Senator Elect Barack Obama in Illinois: good job, man. You rock.