Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Second rate reporter says what?

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2010 / Scenes From a Hotel Bar

Scenes From a Hotel Bar

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    Me: “Do you have wireless?”

    Barkeep: “Yes.”

    Me: “Ok, then. Lemme get two double shots of Don Julio and two fingers of your best scotch.”

    Barkeep: “Will there be anyone joining you?”

    Me: “No.”

    Barkeep: “Are you on vacation?”

    Me: “No. I’m a Democrat.”

Consider this the first of many election night open threads.

*** Update ***

BTW- I go to this same conference every year. I was two doors down, same floor, when Obama won in 2008. I enjoyed it more then.

Also, I am in Disney Hell, so no MSNBC. CNN FTL.

Reader Interactions

305Comments

  7. 7.

    andrea

    Decisions, decisions… absolut and pomegranate juice on the rocks, something from my red wine stash or bubbly?

  9. 9.

    wmd

    Scotch and Tequila?

    Look for the mother of all hangover posts tomorrow. Just maybe a “I miss Lily” post at +14 later tonight too.

  11. 11.

    beltane

    The VT senate race was called for Pat Leahy at precisely 7:01. A teabagger just can’t get any respect in this state.

  15. 15.

    dmsilev

    Having given the matter due consideration, I’ve decided to avoid the TV and most of the Internet this evening, and will instead continue my current Civ V game.

    That way, I can be completely depressed tomorrow morning when I catch up with the news. Always nice to start the day off on a low note.

    dms

  16. 16.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Look I said this during 2008, I hate these fucking “projection” things two seconds after the polls have closed. I hated it when my guy was winning in 2008 and I hate it now. Let the fucking votes be counted for FSM’s sake. I know that the result might be the same but you cannot call a race two seconds after the polls have closed (unless the opponent concedes of course), damn. This pisses me off. So many races are so damn razor thin close this year it will be foolhardy to call races the second the polls close. Rant off.

  17. 17.

    LarsThorwald

    I am finishing some chili, I have MSNBC on, my laptop is at the ready, the wife is at book club, and the kids are in bed.

    And I have a 12 pack of Heineken Light in the fridge that will be obliterated in about three hours.

  18. 18.

    Bella Q

    Having seen the power of Aqua Buddha, I think I’ll go finish that fuckin’ Flowers book for the rest of the evening. With some Macallan to keep me warm.

  21. 21.

    South of I-10

    I’ve got a bottle of Pinot Noir and leftover Halloween candy. I am prepared. I did pick the wrong week to quit smoking.

  24. 24.

    Keith G

    @Alex S.: The results of today’s silliness is not all that bad for the Democratic Party*. It will, however, really screw over the country for the next couple of years.

    *Assuming lessons are learned.

  25. 25.

    LarsThorwald

    Anyone else thinking, “Well fuck you, take the Senate, too. That way I won’t have to listen to Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman wax philosophic about this or that for two years. Take the whole goddamned thing so these fucking idiot American apathetic fucks can have a clear choice in two years after you, once again, jellydick the whole goddamned thing.”

    Anyone?

    Goddamnit, where are those beers?

  28. 28.

    General Stuck

    I expect the wingnuts to declare at midnight that we have officially seceded from France, and nobody panic because President McCain will be in charge, soon as Sarah gets off his face.

  29. 29.

    d.s.

    Look I said this during 2008, I hate these fucking “projection” things two seconds after the polls have closed. I hated it when my guy was winning in 2008 and I hate it now. Let the fucking votes be counted for FSM’s sake. I know that the result might be the same but you cannot call a race two seconds after the polls have closed (unless the opponent concedes of course), damn. This pisses me off. So many races are so damn razor thin close this year it will be foolhardy to call races the second the polls close. Rant off.

    They don’t call close races the second the polls close.

  30. 30.

    morzer

    @merrinc:

    Really, the remarkable thing is that Rand Paul has hit full, slobbering Bunning dementia levels so early in his career. Heckuva job, Rand Daddy!

  31. 31.

    lamh32

    I am actually glad that I don’t have cable right now, cause reading about the results online, I’m much more calm than if I had to listen to the MSM idiots.

  32. 32.

    morzer

    @suzanne:

    I rather think she licks them. Bad for the brain, but good for your chances of being stuffed, mounted and hung on a gallery wall in the near future.

  33. 33.

    Brick Oven Bill

    My barkeep is hotter. How do I know this? It is because even if I were a Democrat, being a Democrat is not something any rational person would admit to in the presence of a truly hot barkeep these days, most especially this one. Now, I have not had anything to drink, although she has offered. A brunette. Teabaggers do not allow their means of refreshment to lead to observable excess, at least when operating alone in public.

    Refreshment will begin shortly as we gather. Hey, way to go Kentucky.

    BoB +0

  35. 35.

    John O

    @LarsThorwald:

    *raising and waving hand*

    Count me in. Give ’em the keys again. It’ll only take a generation or two for the electorate to figure it out, which is faster than we’re going to correct as things stand now.

    Party on, John!

    J +3, but going down soon

  38. 38.

    elmo

    In honor of our new Confederate Party overlords, it will be Firefly sweet-tea flavored vodka for me tonight. Straight up, no ice.

  39. 39.

    matoko_chan

    @suzanne: whats ur problem, cranky old person?
    im in colorado.
    Bennet and Hickenlooper are win.

    Intrade just dropped Angle from 77 to 35.
    i think cellphone penetration has spoofed the national polls.
    why is that equivalent to sniffing markers?

  40. 40.

    mss

    @Keith G:

    “Assuming the Democrats learn the correct lessons.” Hahaha. Haha.

    Sigh. If that’s our basis for hope, I should’ve picked up more than one lime for tonight’s vodka & tonics.

  41. 41.

    Unabogie

    Well, allow me to just say I’m really glad for this blog. It’s been a dose of sanity for two years and tonight it’ll be a real source of respite.

    And @LarsThorwald: :yes, in some ways it would be better. For example, if you hate the filibuster, look for the R’s to scrap it if they take the Senate by a vote. The Dems could never get that done.

  44. 44.

    singfoom

    Not watching TV returns or internet returns tonight. I think the conventional wisdom is sorta wrong and while the democrats will lose governships, senate seats and house seats, I have hope that they retain control of the house.

    Listening to the stupid talking heads spout out numbers that have little to do with reality seems to be a course towards misery.

    So I’m gonna read the newest Wheel of Time book and chill. Y’all have fun.

  45. 45.

    gbear

    When you told him you were a democrat did he demand some ID to prove you were eligible to drink?

  46. 46.

    drew42

    I’m drinking Seagram’s 7. Neat. With Miller Lite chasers.

    On a night such as this, drinking must be endured, not enjoyed.

  47. 47.

    lamh32

    Portman projected winner in Ohio for Voinivich seat so GOP still +1.

    No call on Guv race gonna be close!

  48. 48.

    Calming Influence

    Tonight we’re going to be grilling steaks, working our way through a selection of Cakebread reds, and watching “The Thin Man” and “Bringing Up Baby”. And tomorrow morning, if I find out that Dino Rossi is going to be our senator for the next six years, I’m going to start reading the “Left Behind” series.

  49. 49.

    gbear

    I am about to celebrate 26 years of sobriety but tonight I’m going to eat pizza and leftover Milky Way bars until I pass out.

  53. 53.

    uila

    I’ve been thinking all day how relieved I was in 2006 that the Dems finally regained control of congress, thinking it was a clear mandate from the american people to end the fucking wars. And then… nothing. So frustrating.

  54. 54.

    uila

    I’ve been thinking all day how relieved I was in 2006 that the Dems finally regained control of congress, thinking it was a clear mandate from the american people to end the fucking wars. And then… nothing. So frustrating.

  55. 55.

    merrinc

    @LarsThorwald:

    Yes. But they would still find a way to blame everything on Obama, you know they would.

    BTW, I had to practically force my 18 year old to go vote this evening. He finally gave in after I reminded him that I will likely be dead in 30 years and won’t care how much Republicans, Inc. fuck up the country but he might want to start paying some goddamned attention.

  56. 56.

    South of I-10

    @tkogrumpy: Thanks! I needed that. I turned 40 in September, time to quit. I haven’t had a cigarette since October 25. I have some nicorette if tonight gets too bad.

  58. 58.

    soonergrunt

    I’m sure that many of you have seen this:
    ABC cuts Breitbart from election night coverage.
    It seems that Breitbart’s relationship with the truth regarding his own role and position in this mess is very much like his relationship with the truth regarding, well, pretty much everything:

    We have spent the past several days trying to make clear to you your limited role as a participant in our digital town hall to be streamed on ABCNews.com and Facebook. The post on your blog last Friday created a widespread impression that you would be analyzing the election on ABC News. We made it as clear as possible as quickly as possible that you had been invited along with numerous others to participate in our digital town hall. Instead of clarifying your role, you posted a blog on Sunday evening in which you continued to claim a bigger role in our coverage. As we are still unable to agree on your role, we feel it best for you not to participate.

  59. 59.

    suzanne

    @matoko_chan:

    why is that equivalent to sniffing markers?

    Because you write like a smack-addled baboon. For someone who purports to have an education, you come off like a special-needs third-grader.

    BTW, I ain’t old. I’ll cop to cranky, though.

  60. 60.

    James E. Powell

    @LarsThorwald:

    I get what you are saying on the clear choice thing, but I cannot imagine a clearer choice than we have right here, right now. I am, no doubt, blinded by a lifetime of loathing for Republicans. But I cannot for the life of me come up with a good reason why anyone earning less than, say $150K, would vote for Republicans. What did the Republicans ever do for them? What did Democrats ever do to hurt them?

  61. 61.

    DonkeyKong

    Me: “Do you have wireless?”

    Barkeep: “Yes.”

    Me: “Ok, then. Lemme get two double shots of Don Julio and two fingers of your best scotch.”

    Barkeep: “Will there be anyone joining you?”

    Me: “No.”

    Barkeep: “Are you on vacation?”

    Me: “No. I’m a Democrat.”

    Me again: Oh, do you have an Elvis wig and a .357 Magnum so I can shoot the TV when Sharon Angle wins in Nevada?

    You forgot that last part Cole.

  62. 62.

    Violet

    I’m watching the MSNBC coverage and they’re really funny. Rachel Maddow wonders what the Tea Party stands for when they elect a bunch of Washington insiders and lobbyists. Eugene Robinson replies, “Rachel, Rachel, banks and corporations are people too!” Bwahaha.

  63. 63.

    KyCole

    I went and bought some vodka as soon as the Kentucky polls closed- was quite a line. When Rand Paul was projected to win I texted my daughter “remind me why we live here anyway?”. Answer was “I don’t f-ing know”. At least Yarmuth is ahead. I’m watching that new zombie show on AMC- seems appropriate right now.

  64. 64.

    soonergrunt

    @South of I-10: Good for you! I quit just about a year ago, and I’m so glad I did! I used chantix. It cost half again what cigarrettes cost, but it was worth every penny. Took the drug for about four months. Stopped smoking after two weeks.
    YOU CAN DO IT!

  68. 68.

    Mako

    @MattR:
    Whatever. Cole’s fucking up, he should be questioning cab drivers, not boring bartenders. We the people need to know what cabdrivers think. It is no wonder blogs are not taken seriously.

  69. 69.

    lamh32

    On CNN election results list, early voting totals does NOT look good for Dems, but I still think we will eek out win in Governor’s race!

  74. 74.

    MikeJ

    @South of I-10: Good luck. I quit a few years ago. I had tried before with the patch and with gum. Never worked until I used nothing. Just put up with a week of feeling like shit physically and three or four months of wanting a cig every waking hour of every day. Now I only want one for about ten minutes every three or four months.

    YMMV. Different things work for different people, and there’s no such thing as a wrong way to quit.

  75. 75.

    Southern Beale

    Right after the 2004 election the Mr. and I went on vacation to Costa Rica. I had worked my ASS off to elect John Kerry, was a precinct captain organizing GOTV and voter registration for the previous 5 months it was fucking insane. I was so depressed because I was SURE Kerry was going to win.

    So here we are in Costa Rica and my husband is wearing his Kerryy/Edwards T-shirt by the pool and I’m still drinking myself into oblivion and an American walks up to us and says “yeah, election sure sucked, didn’t it?”

    I mean, every FUCKING election it’s like this. The drama. The agita. The angst. I’m just over it. I can’t do the National Death Watch every 2 years. We need to fix what’s really wrong or just say fuck it and move to goddamn Norway.

  76. 76.

    matoko_chan

    @suzanne: ill rite as i plz. this a combox on the intertubes, dimbo, not an english comp class.
    ill rite haxxor or l33tspk if i wantz.
    :)
    pie meh if it bugs u.
    an im not smack-addled ……im smokin a blunt with a limoncello in honor of 19.

  77. 77.

    Larkspur

    @South of I-10: You can totally do this. Then you will have this whole big thing in your life that you no longer have to stress over. Just keep picturing bazillionaire tobacco corporation-persons, and the subsidies what love ’em… and how you don’t have to give them any more money, ever. You will not believe how light and bouncy and good you’re gonna feel before long.

    Well, I don’t have cable, so I think it’s supper and maybe a Firefly vidfest for me tonight.

  78. 78.

    Mark

    In singapore right now. The TV is full of the conventional wisdom. The BBC was gushing over Paul and Palin and Angle, so I switched to CNN. Eliot Spitzer is a breath of fresh air.

    You’d think the Brits would recognize fascism and call it out.

  79. 79.

    LarsThorwald

    Oh, I don’t really want the Republicans to take the Senate.

    As an attorney for the Department of Justice, however, I am anticipating that I will be getting a two-week pay-free vacation come budget time. Shutdowns happen. With these fuckers in, we’re about due, nes pas?

  80. 80.

    Tsulagi

    Now you’re showing some decent discerning taste in drinking. However, I’ve never mixed tequila and scotch. At least not that I remember.

  81. 81.

    morzer

    @Mark:

    To be fair, the British newspapers are generally better at this, especially the Independent, and the Guardian on its better days. The BBC really doesn’t hire good journalists for US politics, and I have no idea why.

  83. 83.

    Michael

    On one hand, I’m just ashamed of being from here in KY. We’re so fucking stupid. On the other, we are no predictor of national trends, having joined the Confederacy after it lost the war.

    This is only going to be resolved by a lenthy occupation by French and Chinese troops, and a 50 year denial of the franchise to white people.

  89. 89.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Mako:

    Whatever. Cole’s fucking up, he should be questioning cab drivers, not boring bartenders. We the people need to know what cabdrivers think. It is no wonder blogs are not taken seriously.

    The mirth is flat.

  90. 90.

    Southern Beale

    @MikeJ:

    J

    ust put up with a week of feeling like shit physically and three or four months of wanting a cig every waking hour of every day. Now I only want one for about ten minutes every three or four months.

    Yeah, that’s about how it worked for me too. I had to stop buying packs of cigs, I’d buy singles at this specialty tobacco store. That was the only way I could cut back. And the thing is, I wanted those two or three cigs a day as desperately as I wanted that pack a day back when I allowed myself to buy it.

    What I figured out is, the cravings come less frequently, and don’t last as long, but they are more intense. I quit smoking 15 years ago and I still get cravings: exactly twice a year, in the spring and fall. It lasts for about 30 seconds, this fleeting thought which I thought I had banished years ago, that a cigarette would be REALLY REALLY great right now. And then it’s gone and I can go on with my life, never thinking about cigarettes again.

    That’s how I figured out that I could really never ever bum a cigarette, or take a puff off of a friend’s cigarette, again. That’s what always got me in the past: I’d quit for a year or two, then I’d be out drinking with the buds, and I’d bum one from a friend, and it would all be over. I’d pick right up where I left off.

    It’s weird. I wonder if all addictions are like that or if this is unique to tobacco.

  92. 92.

    lamh32

    Good Lord, I’m glad the Dem beat that Nazi-renactor dude.

    If the Dems can’t beat a guy dressed as a Nazi, then tonight we would deserve a bloodbath!

  96. 96.

    GregB

    Nikki Haley will lose the GOP governor’s seat in South Carolina.

    The racist vote will trump party affiliation in the dark of the ballot booth.

  97. 97.

    Ash Can

    We’re having pizzas here — a broccoli and pepperoni, and an anchovy and green olive. I refer to the latter as a martini pizza, and I think I’ll make myself a martini to go with it.

  98. 98.

    celticdragonchick

    @BottyGuy:

    What was the best scotch?
    I’m drinking Dalmore tonight.

    I think I’m hitting the Lismore Speyside single malt tonight…

    And chocolate.

  100. 100.

    SIA

    Also, I am in Disney Hell, so no MSNBC. CNN FTL.

    Yeah, and I bet they have 2000 sports channels and Fox. I get so ticked off when I’m traveling and get stuck with Fox or Fox-Lite.

    Just watched a few minutes of the round table at MSNBC. Do all of those people pretty much despise each other, except maybe Rachel & Gene? Brrrrr. At least Morning Ho isn’t there, but they have O’Donnell to make up for it.

    I gave up the booze 30+ years ago. Should have waited till this election was over. I keed, I keed.

  101. 101.

    Martin

    Heh, mysteries of calling elections. Portman is down by 9% in Ohio Senate and is the projected winner. Rational people would not be faulted for believing the system is rigged.

  102. 102.

    morzer

    @suzanne:

    I am thinking of instituting the JaMarcus Russell Award for Most Disappointing Troll of the Year. So far I have change, Bender and matoko_chan as candidates.

  103. 103.

    Restrung

    “…jellydick the whole goddamned thing”

    Exactly! That verb made me laugh out loud. I even drooled cheap beer on my chin. The keyboard is undamaged.
    I’m somewhat sad that everyone I voted for today is going to win. Awww, I know. I’ll get over it.

  105. 105.

    gbear

    @Lojasmo: I’m not going to tune in to election coverage to check that out, but I hope to gawd you’re right. My fantasy for the evening is a loss for Bachman.

    After all, we did elect Mondale president here.

  106. 106.

    Texas Dem

    My boss is going to win her election, so I’ll still have a job tomorrow. Reserved my spot on the life boat, in other words. Then again, I work for a Republican.

  107. 107.

    celticdragonchick

    @SIA:

    I gave up the booze 30+ years ago. Should have waited till this election was over. I keed, I keed.

    I guess I picked the wrong night to stop sniffing glue.

  109. 109.

    sven

    @GregB: Here in Idaho most people are expecting Walt Minnick to hold on to his seat. One year ago I would have bet every last cent that an R would win this year but then they nominated Raul Labrador and all bets were off. The perceived bias is so strong that the Republicans literally arranged for Joe Arpaio to cut an add endorsing Labrador. I hate to be the beneficiary of that sort of behavior but it is their own damn fault!

  112. 112.

    Mike in NC

    They’re already calling DE for Coons, but Big Jim Bob DeMint will carry crazy SC with 110% of the vote!

  114. 114.

    lamh32

    And no surprise really,

    Fl- Rubio
    DE-Coons
    NH-Ayotte

    No gain or change of power in Senate yet.

    Looks like we will hold Senate!

    I guess God don’t like witches!!

  115. 115.

    demkat620

    I just cracked another beer. So far it is looking just like what they were predicting.

    GOP gets the house. Dems keep the Senate.

    I can live with that for two years. It won’t be pretty but it gives us a litte bit of leverage.

  116. 116.

    John O

    @Southern Beale:

    Smoking is the last thing I hate myself for. The only drug that won’t leave me alone. I haven’t found an antidote for the rationalizations of, “I’m working the retirement angle from both ends,” “I don’t want to live in a nursing home,” and “I understand that I’m going to die, which is better than being broke, and sick to boot.” Suggestions welcome and appreciated.

    FYI, FWIW, IMHO, Infinite Jest is the definitive academic work on addiction. Also, too, I don’t care how anyone writes out here if I can understand them.

  118. 118.

    AhabTRuler

    I think you meant: “I’m a Democrat. FML.”

    Also, too: voting mission accomplished, including extending middle finger to ambulance fees. Fuck, at least I get to vote for Van Hollen, and not Hoyer.

  119. 119.

    celticdragonchick

    @Brick Oven Bill:

    My barkeep is hotter. How do I know this? It is because even if I were a Democrat, being a Democrat is not something any rational person would admit to in the presence of a truly hot barkeep these days, most especially this one. Now, I have not had anything to drink, although she has offered. A brunette. Teabaggers do not allow their means of refreshment to lead to observable excess, at least when operating alone in public.

    I wonder what the hottie barkeeps in NV think of village idiot Sharon Angle who wants to go back to banning booze…

  123. 123.

    asiangrrlMN

    Rand Fucking Paul. I may need to break out the bourbon tonight. Or, ignore all politics and just concentrate on my NaNoWriMo novel. Yeah, I think I like the latter idea better.

    Wait a minute. What fucking time do polls close in Kentucky that they can already call it?

  124. 124.

    MattR

    @lamh32: Republicans picked up Indiana (though it was previously Evan Bayh). Of the 28 House races the NY Times has called there have been no pickups. (EDIT: Oops, there has actually been one Dem pickup of Mike Castle’s seat in Delaware.)

  127. 127.

    Elizabelle

    @GregB:

    FWIW, The State — Columbia, SC daily — endorsed Hailey’s challenger, Sheheen. Because Hailey is so erratic.

    Suspect it’s Hailey’s to lose, but rooting for Sheheen.

    9% of the vote in, and Sheheen, the Democrat, is up 51%.

  130. 130.

    Elizabelle

    No Senator Teabag from Delaware.

    She doesn’t pass GO, but can go straight to Fox News. Maybe be one of their constitutional experts.

  131. 131.

    KDP

    @Litlebritdifrnt: What you said!

    I’ve got class tonight (Organizational Theory for my MPA program) so I’ll be able to stay detached until I get home at around 9:30-10:00. Happily, it looks like Boxer and Brown will carry California. I find it hard to believe Rand won. Interestingly, in my Public Admin class last night someone asked if the Republicans would be able to just mandate the changes they are promising. I pointed out that any moves they may want to make would:

    a) have to go through a legislative process, including super-majority cloture vote and then a majority of house and senate and maybe house again
    b) it would then have to be signed by Obama, who has veto power
    c) if vetoed, they would have to get 2/3 vote in both houses to override the veto

    Right now, these are comforting thoughts. I am also hopeful that the Democrats will have the good sense to stand up against efforts to defund health care reform.

    @South of I-10:You can do it! It’s been 12 years for me, and I live with a smoker who won’t even try to quit. AT least he goes outside. Every so often, I’ll dream that I’m smoking, and I don’t think I’ve done that in 4-5 years now.

  134. 134.

    LarsThorwald

    Tea Party asshole loses in Delaware. Mike Castle lost his seat to a Democrat. He has got to be wishing cold death on his party.

    Tea Party is not really doing well in the Small Wonder.

  136. 136.

    lamh32

    Well since Rubio won in FL, I guess it time for the “this loss is Kendrick Meeks fault” meme to begin. Totally exonerating Crist of any snake-oil tomfoolery of course.

    It was ALL Meeks!

  140. 140.

    D.N. Nation

    @celticdragonchick:

    Georgia boils down to this:

    Atlanta vs.
    Everyone Else

    Everyone Else votes. All the time. Atlanta, well, there were some clouds today, maybe some raindrops, traffic was difficult, work was hard, my butt hurts.

    I swear, Everyone Else could get a referendum on the ballot calling for the execution of everyone within I-285 and I’d put it even money of passing.

  141. 141.

    merrinc

    @GregB:

    I don’t agree with anything Haley stands for but the way she’s been treated has been shameful. In addition to the racism, the good ole boy network has been out against her in full force.

  142. 142.

    freelancer

    @matoko_chan:

    Note to you, madam. This isn’t Neuromancer, nor is it Blade Runner, nor is it Firefly or any other jargon-filled cyberpunk mishmash of sci-fi genres. Your enthusiasm is admirable, but your constant incoherence is boo-tai jung-tzahng-duh and comes across as very annoying.

  143. 143.

    debit

    @Southern Beale:

    That’s what always got me in the past: I’d quit for a year or two, then I’d be out drinking with the buds, and I’d bum one from a friend, and it would all be over. I’d pick right up where I left off.

    That’s me. I’d quit a couple of times, then got together with friends who smoked and I’d be back to a pack a day in a week.

    What keeps me from smoking now, oddly enough, is a combination of being active (biking and running) and that I work in an office of smokers who smoke in the freaking office. I hate the smell and have no desire at all to have one myself.

  144. 144.

    Amanda in the South Bay

    So far I’m not too depressed, considering most of the GOP gains have been rather obvious and expected. I think people are getting depressed reading articles that are still posted on news blogs that are hours old and are predicting Dem doom well before any results are in. Personally, I’m sticking with TPM and Steve Benen.

    Now for some cheap ass red wine, dicking around with Perl, and probably sneaking out for a smoke break or two (don’t tell my doctor).

  145. 145.

    gwangung

    Right now, these are comforting thoughts. I am also hopeful that the Democrats will have the good sense to stand up against efforts to defund health care reform.

    Isn’t that going to need some support from grassroots efforts to put pressure from below? Seems to me that relying on pressure from above is not a winner.

  151. 151.

    celticdragonchick

    @stuckinred:

    Yeah, but I noticed the margins were identical to the racial ratio of the state.

    That means virtually every white prson who wasn’t a stone cold liberal went for the uber conservative white guy.

    I can’t say I’m surprised. I lived there.

  152. 152.

    PeakVT

    Trafficant is pulling down 20% so far in OH-17.

    ETA: NH Senate called for Ayotte. I can’t believe NH went for such a naked opportunist.

  156. 156.

    lamh32

    @Martin:

    I’ve suspected that Rubio was going to win, cause if voters truly trusted Crist, Meeks would not have been an issue. This was Crist’s to lose in my opinion, but I have always been an “outlier”.

    Wont’ matter though Martin, here’s a bet that there Meeks WILL be the scapegoat.

  160. 160.

    morzer

    @lamh32:

    If people point out that Meeks made an idiot of himself and wrecked his career by stubbornly limping on in a race no-one imagined he could win, except his wife, this is not scapegoating, it is telling the truth.

  161. 161.

    Anya

    Why does Chuck Todd look like someone flushed his head in the toilet? Also too, does anyone else find MSNBC’s promos annoying?

  162. 162.

    celticdragonchick

    @freelancer:

    Well, at least it would b more stylishly interesting if it was Blade Runner…

    I want one of those VSTOL police spinner cars…and an artificial owl with creepy glow eyes.

  164. 164.

    LarsThorwald

    John, my favorite joke about Atlanta is that I only drink at bars on streets named Peachtree.

  166. 166.

    morzer

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I rather liked the line about the Clay Matthews jersey and bottle of scotch. Also about going around with bags over their heads, like the Saints used to.

  168. 168.

    curious

    strictly coffee tonight as a personal protest against all things tea.

    thanks to all the commenters here for the laughs and commiseration. no one in my real life can bear to watch this nonsense yet i cannot look away.

  172. 172.

    matoko_chan

    @Omnes Omnibus: not if means u pompous old gasbags skoolin’ me on grammer and combox ettiquette,
    i guess not really.
    im not interested in your community, only in Cole, cuz i Once Was Refuglican.
    besides you are mostly oldish conventional christian bioluddites and quantum biology is now my life.
    ive been up to my hips in biotribology all week an’ i just wanted a nice snarky/emo/lighthearted election analysis.
    i was jus’ gunna hang out for the returns and split.
    so no.
    i dont care to communicate with u.
    u dont spk my language.
    :)

  175. 175.

    MattR

    @asiangrrlMN: Get me a Clay Matthews jersey and a bottle of scotch. (EDIT: D’oh. Late again)

    In other important news – Arkansas State 20, Middle Tennessee State 17 with Arkansas State knocking on the door again a bit before halftime.

    What? Is there something other than football worth watching tonight?

  176. 176.

    morzer

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    It’s been a strange day – Randy Moss being waived, the Redskins trying out JaMarcus Russell, and the American people bringing in the Moron Jihad for a do-over.

  182. 182.

    freelancer

    @celticdragonchick:

    Favorite all around flick. I think I have it in every format currently available.

    Director’s Cut DVD
    Final Cut DVD
    Final Cut Blu-ray
    Final Cut HD-DVD (I had an Xbox and was an early adopter, sue me.)
    Netflix Instant
    iTunes m4v for Ipod.

    Doesn’t mean I try to talk like Gaff or pretend I’m hunting Nexus 6’s.

  183. 183.

    celticdragonchick

    @SIA:

    Beats the hell out of me.

    Anybody else here if Senator whatsisname from Bumfunked Georgia has done anything besides fellate Jim DeMint??

  184. 184.

    gbear

    @MattR: I’m guessing that she wanted to be close to the airport so that the coprorations she serves wouldn’t have to drive so far.

  187. 187.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    @gbear:

    She really does see her voters as fucking chumps.

    Because they are? I read somewhere on the internetzezezzzz that her district was gerrymandered specifically to get her the fucking chump vote.

  190. 190.

    lamh32

    So am I to assume that all the GOP pickups will be coming out of the larger states, FL, TX, CA, VA, where else?

  191. 191.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Lojasmo: Evidence, please? I certainly hope so, but I am not so confident.

    And, I am now reading comments after commenting. Deal.

    @morzer: Don’t forget change. But, s/he’s mostly just boring.

    @General Stuck: I dunno, General. Charlie looks a little nervous. He’s also as cute as hell.

  193. 193.

    Mike in NC

    @celticdragonchick:

    Go an read “Confederates in the Attic” and you will know all you need about South Carolina.

    Thanks. Read it back when I lived in VA some years ago. Great book, as is anything by Tony Horwitz.

  195. 195.

    celticdragonchick

    @freelancer: \\

    Doesn’t mean I try to talk like Gaff or pretend I’m hunting Nexus 6’s.

    You mean hunting skinjobs.

    LOL, It’s one of my favorite movies as well (no 2 just after Casablanca)

    I have the 5 DVD special edition director’s cut with all the previous versions and a gazillion documentaries.

  197. 197.

    jwb

    @comrade scott’s agenda of rage: And if the voters are stupid enough to vote for her they are getting just exactly what they deserve. It’s not like at this point she’s an unknown commodity. Therefore, you have to presume that she in fact represents what her district wants.

  198. 198.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Hey, the Floridians have a plan for their Representative Grayson:

    “Go away quickly.”

    Ha ha.

  199. 199.

    SIA

    @stuckinred: Oooh. No thanks. I did have the pleasure of early voting for Rep John Lewis last week. I am sorry you’ve got that nut Broun “up in Athens”.

    Blumenthal wins Connecticut.

    Blanche, kiss my ass you weak assed cracker. You’re going down.

    John Cole’s in ATL? Hey SiubhanDuinne & ex-demo woman, let’s go find him – bet he’s downtown. (Not really, will match my misanthropy to his any day).

  201. 201.

    morzer

    @asiangrrlMN:

    So far I have change, Bender and matoko_chan as candidates.

    Fear not, change has been included. It’s really quite an impressive group. Three minds and not a single original thought between them.

  203. 203.

    Suffern ACE

    @Martin: I’d have to laugh it that held. I mean, even if a candidate dies a month before an election he or she still pulls down 1/2 of the party faithful, just in case that news wasn’t true…

  206. 206.

    Texas Dem

    I think I’m going to sign off for a while and watch “Black Sunday” on Cinemax. Israeli agent Robert Shaw almost allowed two terrorist nut jobs to shoot up the Super Bowl because he didn’t want to kill terrorist hottie Marthe Keller. And who could blame him. She was pretty damned good looking back then (and still looks good, by the way).

  207. 207.

    LarsThorwald

    Alan Grayson lost because he wasn’t progressive enough! Er…

    Hard for FDL to spin that one away.

  209. 209.

    celticdragonchick

    @stuckinred:

    Yah, I finally found it as well. I took long enough for Vangelis to release Blade Runner.

    The version by the New American Orchestra was an abomination upon the face of the earth.

  211. 211.

    South of I-10

    Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have quit for years before, but I am hoping it “takes” this time.

    Now, we have about half an hour until the polls close in La. I am still unreasonably hoping to see Vitter lose.

  213. 213.

    freelancer

    @comrade scott’s agenda of rage:

    How do you do that geographically? I’m serious. I mean considering there’s like at least one in every family, do they corral all the chumps and are like “You live here now, cause we say so, and that’s what makes you the most free people in America!”
    “Duuuuuuh, yay we’re free!”
    What defines a stupid wingnut neighborhood? Do you really draw a line to where you get angry white retirees living on SS benefits but draw around the librul college professor’s house?

    Fucking gerrymandering, how does it work? (No really, I’m dying to know.)

  214. 214.

    Martin

    @lamh32: I wouldn’t count CA too quickly. We’re looking at a strong Democratic showing at the state level. I haven’t seen a lot of polling for House races out here, and we’ve got 12% of all representatives here.

  216. 216.

    Southern Beale

    @debit: @John O:

    What keeps me from smoking now, oddly enough, is a combination of being active (biking and running) and that I work in an office of smokers who smoke in the freaking office. I hate the smell …

    I can totally relate. I think everyone needs to find that one thing which makes smoking personally a liability to them. That personal “yuk” you can lean on when you get those cravings. It’s different for everyone.

    I’ve always been a runner, even when I smoked a pack a day — I somehow even convinced myself that the running “cleaned” my lungs from the smoking! Silly the things we tell ourselves! So what did it for me was sleep. I never slept as well, as deeply, as restfully, or dreamt as much when I was smoking. I really missed a good night’s sleep.

  217. 217.

    Josie

    I can’t believe what I just heard on MSNBC. Chris Matthews was talking about people who want the government to do less, but they ask, and I quote, “Where’s my fucking job?” I laughed out loud when I heard it. We have to find humor wherever we can.

  219. 219.

    Cacti

    Just got home from work, voted by mail 2 weeks ago.

    Anything unexpected so far?

    As for Rand Paul, did anyone but the most pie-eyed optimists among us think he was going to lose? It’s Kentucky, people!

  224. 224.

    LarsThorwald

    Pretty sure based on the MSNBC picture that newly elected Arkansas Senator John Boozman has a touch of the Downs.

  229. 229.

    Martin

    Boucher is down by 7 in VA and NYT has the race called for him. Gotta toss a WTF on that one.

  230. 230.

    Restrung

    @gbear:
    Prestigious West Bloomington? When I was in Bloomington, it was rep’d by Martin Olav Sabo, a fine workhorse Dem. Not sure about the district lines because I saw a ton of Betty signs in WSP. I thought the Ramsey/Dakota boundary was the district line– Meaning Annapolis.
    (gbear, I think we are in very close prox. I vote at Riverview Elementary.)

  234. 234.

    LarsThorwald

    Hooray! Senator Shoot Me Some Healthcare Legislation with a Rifle just won in West By God.

  246. 246.

    Cacti

    @celticdragonchick:

    Yeah, but, but…

    Just because the Dems may end up controlling 1.5 of the two political branches of government doesn’t mean it’s not a center-right country!

  247. 247.

    FlipYrWhig

    Grayson can’t have lost! He drew sharp contrasts with his opponent rather than running as Republican-lite, and that’s a prescription for electoral success wherever you are on the map!

  248. 248.

    debit

    @Martin: That just breaks my heart. He’s such a good man, and one of the most truly passionate progressives I’ve ever seen.

  249. 249.

    gbear

    @Restrung: I’m on the other side of the river over by the old Schmidt Brewery.

    I worked in West Bloomington in the late 80’s. The only thing I liked about the area was hitting garage sales during the lunch hour on thursday and friday.

  250. 250.

    tammanycall

    @lamh32:

    Local political blogs project that California will buck the national trend. The big races are polling blue, but there are a couple of races, notably Attorney General and Insurance Commissioner, that will be very close. And there are a couple of propositions, like Prop 21 and Prop 19, that everyone’s watching closely.

    http://calitics.com/

  254. 254.

    lamh32

    @Martin:

    Whoa. If Grayson loses, did he lose cause he wasn’t “liberal enough”?

    What probably did him in was the Taliban Dan ad.

    Same with Conway and the Aqua Buddha ad.

    Not bad ads, but did not have the effect they wanted!

    but he could still pull it out

  256. 256.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    @freelancer:

    If the state makes you register by party, that’s a start. Everybody has access to the registration rolls.

    If you’re in a state like mine, Misery, where there is no registration by party affiliation, there’s copious voter pattern data to draw on. For example, my county voted 73% for McCain. The only blue county here, Boone where Mizzou is located, is only marginally blue, thus, when carving up Congressional districts, it’s very easy these days with the data and computers to gerrymander districts that only Eldridge Gerry could have dreamed about.

  258. 258.

    Anne Laurie

    @suzanne:
    __

    Because you write like a smack-addled baboon. For someone who purports to have an education, you come off like a special-needs third-grader.

    To be fair, many of us geeks like matoko-chan are, shall we say, non-neurotypical. Or, as an ancient tribal elder once said, “It has yet to be proven that ‘high IQ’ is an evolutionary advantage.”

  259. 259.

    MikeJ

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I will dance nekkid in the streets of St. Paul if she loses (by more than ten percent).

    Can we get video?

    You should have told us earlier so we could have dispatched some Black Panthers and ACORN volunteers. We could make this happen, we just need the proper motivation.

  260. 260.

    morzer

    We won the open House seat in Delaware btw, so the Scrotal Jihad now need 40 gains to take the House.

  261. 261.

    merrinc

    @Martin:

    This is breaking my heart. Seriously. WTF is wrong with those people?

    Cole, aren’t you there right now? Please express our extreme displeasure to random residents you may encounter.

  263. 263.

    kazheel

    Damn John, thats a 60 buck bartab already. On my 2nd manhattan watching MSNBC at home.

    BTW you really don’t want MSNBC either.

  266. 266.

    morzer

    @Anne Laurie:

    Given that even average IQ has yet to be proven for Special Agent Matoko, I’d hold off on classifying yourself with her. For the nonce, at least.

  269. 269.

    Martin

    @merrinc: Grayson is too polarizing a figure from the majority party. Voters are distrustful of people that act like radicals from the group in power.

  270. 270.

    asiangrrlMN

    @MikeJ: Ha! That’s why I carefully included the ten percent bit. Remember when she made her whackadoodle appearance on Hardball and said that there were Commies in the Congress? She was ahead by 20% when she said that. Her lead disappeared, but she won by less than 10% (there’s our healthy third-party voting again). Even if she were to lose, there is no way in hell she’ll lose by ten percentage points.

  272. 272.

    Restrung

    @gbear:
    Bloomington is BIG. Pop and geographically. Economically, too, with the airport and 494… Michele Bachmann is going down! maybe.

  273. 273.

    Baroness

    Michael Steele on MSNBC asking Obama to take the GOP agenda seriously.

    OH WAIT LET ME GET MY COPY OF “RIGHT NOW” OFF THE SHELF. BROTHER STILL HERE, NOW IT’S PERSONAL.

  274. 274.

    asiangrrlMN

    FYWP. No permission to edit, my flat ass.

    @Martin: Only if it’s a Democrat, though. Anything goes with the GOP.

    @morzer: Too late! Nothing can be done now (pleaseletBachmannlosebylessthantenpercentagepoints).

  275. 275.

    morzer

    @Baroness:

    Michael Steele on MSNBC asking Obama to take the GOP agenda seriously.

    So that’s the punchline – but how does he set the joke up?

  276. 276.

    merrinc

    @Martin:

    I might be able to see that if the Dems ever acted like they were the party in power.

    And MikeJ, I wasn’t aware Jon Stewart had dissed Grayson. Kinda ironic considering that Stewart used to room with Anthony Weiner.

  278. 278.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @matoko_chan:

    besides you are mostly oldish conventional christian bioluddites and quantum biology is now my life.
    ive been up to my hips in biotribology all week an’ i just wanted a nice snarky/emo/lighthearted election analysis.

    Shorter Makeatoke_chan: Fuckin’ broad brush straw men, how do they work?

    ETA: “a nice snarky/emo/lighthearted election analysis.” This is a liberal/progressive/democratic blog, and you’re expecting *that* tonight?

  284. 284.

    asiangrrlMN

    @morzer: Ha. Good luck with that. And, it’s not like there aren’t nekkid pics of me floa–never mind.

    @gbear: Oh, come on. Join me! It’ll be liberating! Up and down Grand Ave., dancing our little hearts out. Wheeee!

    @arguingwithsignposts: Heh. Now that I see her excerpted, I can chortle. Still banging the same damn drum, isn’t she?

  286. 286.

    Restrung

    @gbear:
    Well, no, not for real but oooh, would that be sweet? haha! haha!

    Bears are never really naked. But they can dance without clothing.

  287. 287.

    morzer

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Now that I see her excerpted, I can chortle. Still banging the same damn drum, isn’t she?

    She is NOT a witch, she is.. oh never mind!

  288. 288.

    soonergrunt

    @asiangrrlMN:

    And, it’s not like there aren’t nekkid pics of me floa—never mind.

    [looks up] Could you backtrack just a little bit and repeat that and everything you would have said a little bit louder, please.

  291. 291.

    asiangrrlMN

    @soonergrunt: Nothing. I said nothing. I stand by my re-amended statement. Sometimes, you just have to walk on by.

    @MikeJ: How can there be URLs of nothing? And, it was a one-time offer, compadre (spinning really quickly in order to widen the loophole).

  295. 295.

    matoko_chan

    @Anne Laurie:

    “It has yet to be proven that ‘high IQ’ is an evolutionary advantage.”

    it is actually apparently a huge disadvantage in the combox, where how u say sumpin’ is more important than what u actually say, not to mention predisposing one to nastly genetic tendencies like aspergers, schizophrenia and a lifetime of bfs that say i’d be their ideal woman if only i were pithed..
    Like i care.

    AWS, my random sample of the commentariat here is 100% pure unadulterated bioluddite…..no believers in the genetic basis of cognitive ability. Since the genetic basis of cognitive ability is now my fulltime academic life, i have EXTREMELY little in common with the current cohort of juicers.

  297. 297.

    snarkyspice

    @John O:

    Try imagining being the people who love you, watching you die a horribly painful and early death.

    My dad died at 59 from lung cancer. His demise was slow and tortuous. If he could have seen how distraught we all were at losing him, I feel sure he would never have put us through that. He loved us so much and yet he hurt us so badly. Don’t do that to the people who love you. They deserve better.

  298. 298.

    soonergrunt

    @MikeJ: Which Bachmann? I was hoping from earlier in thread that Michele Bachmann was going to be defeated.
    Has anyone heard about Joe “You Lie” Wilson? I saw something somewhere to the effect that he was going down hard.

  299. 299.

    soonergrunt

    @snarkyspice: My mom died of lung cancer at age 64. It was horrible to watch.

    Apparently OK State Question 756, opting Oklahomans out of compulsory health care, has passed. That’s how it was sold to the people, but the ads never mentioned the clause of the SQ that stated that there is a Supremacy Clause in the US Constitution and so federal laws take precedence in any event.

  300. 300.

    asiangrrlMN

    @soonergrunt: Sorrrrry! For once, I have decided that discretion is the better part of valor and all that.

    @soonergrunt: That one. There seems to be a chance she may lose. For realz. I am hoping it’s by less than ten percent. However, I just want her to lose. If that means me dancing nekkid in the streets of St. Paul, then so be it.

  302. 302.

    Mako

    re: update
    HBO. A good hotel should have HBO. If you are staying in a hotel without HBO you are not staying in a good hotel.
    Also, that bartender you confused before? He could probably hook you up with an escort.

  304. 304.

    Mako

    @snarkyspice:
    When my children get all “You really should quit smoking cuz it will hurt us when you die” I tell them to shut-the-fuck up. Everyone dies and it hurts the people that loved them.

  305. 305.

    Mako

    @John O:
    Suggestions welcome and appreciated
    Chewing gum and lots of it. Become a chewer. The annoying person chomping away in the background. Make the gum your cigarette. Get some of that nasty nicotine gum, keep a pack in your pocket and make a production out of unwrapping it and rolling it into your mouth, chew the fuck out of it. Chew and chew somemore. Go to sleep chewing, wake up with gum on your pillow. Two, three years max and you are cured.

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