• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

I really should read my own blog.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

After roe, women are no longer free.

This blog will pay for itself.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

Why did Dr. Oz lose? well, according to the exit polls, it’s because Fetterman won.

Bark louder, little dog.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

In my day, never was longer.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

The revolution will be supervised.

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Georgia Runoff Open Thread

Georgia Runoff Open Thread

by TaMara|  December 6, 20228:02 pm| 261 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics

FacebookTweetEmail

Looks like we could use one.

My little mom was watching tv and they interviewed a voter who said she voted for Walker because "he's a good Christian man" and she hurled her remote across the room with a gusto I haven't seen in decades #centrum #GArunoff

— Complain Jane🌊💙 (@CJane0123) December 6, 2022

Election Update: Georgia Senate runoff

Raphael Warnock
Herschel Walker

Too Close To Call#Election2022 #ElectionDay #GASen #GeorgiaRunoff Raphael Warnock Herschel Walker pic.twitter.com/lADMJ8aKzr

— The Election Center (@ElectionCenter_) December 7, 2022

Wow! Herschel Walker is about to go through some things.

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) December 7, 2022

Live feed here

Open thread.

I have a little bit of a kindness post I’m going to put up a bit later. I figured we could all use a bit of a smile.

 

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: «spy v. spy flyouts War for Ukraine Day 286: Another Day Another Strike on a Strategic Target Inside of Russia
Next Post: FINAL CHECK: Find Your Guys in 2023 Pets of Balloon Juice Calendar B! »

Reader Interactions

261Comments

  1. 1.

    H.E.Wolf

    December 6, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    All of us who wrote postcards to GA are hoping we helped put Warnock over the top!

  2. 2.

    rikyrah

    December 6, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    JUDGES!!!

    This is one of the main reasons we need this 51st Senator

     

    Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) tweeted at 5:37 PM on Tue, Dec 06, 2022:
    NEWS: We have confirmed 90 judicial nominees to serve lifetime appointments on the federal bench!
    (https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1600273194706821120?s=02)

  3. 3.

    Mowgli

    December 6, 2022 at 8:06 pm

    Ready for a party here in Georgia, let’s do this!

  4. 4.

    eachother

    December 6, 2022 at 8:08 pm

    I hope tonight is a repudiation of natzis and werewolves.

  5. 5.

    frosty

    December 6, 2022 at 8:08 pm

    @H.E.Wolf: 25 cards from me!

  6. 6.

    HinTN

    December 6, 2022 at 8:09 pm

    @H.E.Wolf: Ain’t dat de troot.

  7. 7.

    VFX Lurker

    December 6, 2022 at 8:11 pm

    I wrote 167 Postcards to Voters for Warnock. I hope they helped.

  8. 8.

    trnc

    December 6, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    @eachother: I hope tonight is a repudiation of natzis and werewolves.

    So you’re pro-vampire, then? :-D

  9. 9.

    Spanky

    December 6, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    Herschel Walker is about to go through some things.

    What, a wood chipper?

    After his loss I expect he’ll just hustle back to one of his Texas houses and we won’t have to hear from him again.

  10. 10.

    eachother

    December 6, 2022 at 8:16 pm

    @trnc:

    Yes and always.  Literarily.

  11. 11.

    brendancalling

    December 6, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    I hope Herschel loses and loses very very badly.
    At the same time, I feel bad for him. The GOP used the brain-damaged MF and will drop him like a hot potato if he loses. HW shouldn’t even be running—he’s unwell, not of sound mind, damaged. It’s disgusting the way the racist GOP used him. mind, I don’t feel 100% sorry—dude went along with it after all—but I have some pity.

  12. 12.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    MSNBC: Warnock HQ reports that Warnock is overperforming his early vote and mailed ballot numbers from November so they are feeling cautiously optimistic. Current statewide totals: Warnock 62.9% (676, 428) and Walker 36.8% 392,100. Same day turnout in Dekalb turnout was reportedly really high, may cancel out the same day vote for Republicans.

    So early good news

  13. 13.

    oatler

    December 6, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Good emissions for all! Walker was another GOP scare-toy.

  14. 14.

    Dangerman

    December 6, 2022 at 8:21 pm

    @Spanky: Horton Herschel will only hear a who’s he?

  15. 15.

    Eolirin

    December 6, 2022 at 8:24 pm

    @brendancalling: He’s not going to lose by much but it is looking like he’s going to lose.

  16. 16.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 8:25 pm

    @brendancalling: I believe Rs will drop him like a hot potato even if he wins.  Unless he just does whatever they tell him and votes they way they tell him, I think they will suddenly “discover” that he has mental health issues,  they will force him to resign and the R governor will appoint someone else in his place.

  17. 17.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    @Eolirin: I don’t think enough votes from all the right places are in yet – I don’t think we can extrapolate from the votes that have already been counted and get a good prediction of the winner.

    It’s sad and shocking and shameful that it’s even this close.

  18. 18.

    Quinerly

    December 6, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    It still infuriates me that it is even close. I tend to dwell.

  19. 19.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    Obama on the issues.

    So fucking good.

  20. 20.

    lowtechcyclist

    December 6, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    Been following the action via Josh Marshall’s Numbers Peeps list. Things are looking very good for Warnock: he’s doing better than his November numbers in most places, and Walker’s doing worse.

    https://twitter.com/i/lists/706696973345107968

  21. 21.

    Ripley

    December 6, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    America needs a Warnock in its life.

  22. 22.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 8:29 pm

    For whatever it’s worth, the NYT Needle ™ currently says “Warnock with an 80% chance of victory”.

  23. 23.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 8:29 pm

    @trnc: Hey, Walker made his choice.  We can make ours.

  24. 24.

    Nicole

    December 6, 2022 at 8:30 pm

    Election Center (author of the tweet embedded above) now projects Warnock as the winner.  Please, please, please…

    https://twitter.com/ElectionCenter_/status/1600300590328053760

  25. 25.

    DCrefugee

    December 6, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    My only thought is that by tomorrow morning the Crazification Factor will have a new, higher value than before.

  26. 26.

    PaulB

    December 6, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Two comments from Dave Wasserman on Twitter:

    “A pattern emerging: Walker (R) is hitting/getting close to the numbers he needs in the reddest, most rural counties. But he’s falling a good bit short of the numbers he needs in small/midsized cities.”

    “At this point, turnout in metro Atlanta would need to be unusually rough for Warnock (D) to lose. It’ll be a close margin, but he’s in the driver’s seat now.”

    He’s not calling it yet, though. With more votes in, the margin has shrunk considerably, now at 1.6%, with 57% of the vote in.

  27. 27.

    Spanky

    December 6, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    One possible wrinkle might be if Walker makes what is billed as a concession speech and it takes analysts a couple of days to figure out what the hell he said.

  28. 28.

    japa21

    December 6, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    There apparently is a delay in Fulton county numbers, both in early vote and same day. Those will be overwhelmingly for Warnock and should place him way on top. However, watch for a lot of cries of fraud because of the delay.

  29. 29.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    A pattern emerging: Walker (R) is hitting/getting close to the numbers he needs in the reddest, most rural counties. But he's falling a good bit short of the numbers he needs in small/midsized cities. #GASEN

    — Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 7, 2022

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  30. 30.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    @Spanky: Will it involve werewolves?

  31. 31.

    Eolirin

    December 6, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    @WaterGirl: Wasserman seems to think current data suggests a narrow Warnock win, unless Atlanta turnout is really bad.

  32. 32.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    December 6, 2022 at 8:36 pm

    @Quinerly:

    It still infuriates me that it is even close.

    You’re not alone.  If anyone deserves to lose in a landslide it’s Walker.

     

    @brendancalling:

    I hope Herschel loses and loses very very badly.
    At the same time, I feel bad for him.

    I’d love to see Walker get humiliated tonight.

    After hearing multiple accounts of his horrible treatment of women, I have absolutely zero sympathy for him.

    I can’t wait until this race is called for Warnock, so that Walker can get swept into the trash receptacle of history and never be seen or heard from ever again.

  33. 33.

    Kattails

    December 6, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    @VFX Lurker: Awesome!!

  34. 34.

    Splitting Image

    December 6, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    @DCrefugee:

    My only thought is that by tomorrow morning the Crazification Factor will have a new, higher value than before.

    This is a bad test for the Crazification Factor, since Walker has local appeal. Under the right conditions, a batshit insane moron in cognitive decline can hypothetically win 49 states.

  35. 35.

    UncleEbeneezer

    December 6, 2022 at 8:40 pm

    Looking great so far but we’ll see.

    Short night of work then going for Japanese BBQ with my wife to celebrate the 12 year anniversary of our first date 🥰

  36. 36.

    brendancalling

    December 6, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    @Wyatt Salamanca: yeah, i agree with that too. He’s a rotten piece of shit. The brain damage, as we say, is an explanation not an excuse. HW is an abuser. It’s still sad and pathetic though.

  37. 37.

    Spanky

    December 6, 2022 at 8:42 pm

    @dmsilev: Full moon is tomorrow night! If he can just hold out until then …

  38. 38.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    On of the metro Atlanta counties -Rockland – is 95% in. Kornacki reports  Warnock did over 2 points better than Nov.

    Very good trend.

    Here are two lists of good numbers to follow. One from Josh Marshall  One from me.

  39. 39.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    @Splitting Image: Yup.

    KFMonkey:

    Tyrone: 27%.

    John: … you said that immmediately, and with some authority.

    Tyrone: Obama vs. Alan Keyes. Keyes was from out of state, so you can eliminate any established political base; both candidates were black, so you can factor out racism; and Keyes was plainly, obviously, completely crazy. Batshit crazy. Head-trauma crazy. But 27% of the population of Illinois voted for him. They put party identification, personal prejudice, whatever ahead of rational judgement. Hell, even like 5% of Democrats voted for him. That’s crazy behaviour. I think you have to assume a 27% Crazification Factor in any population.

    John: Objectively crazy or crazy vis-a-vis my own inertial reference frame for rational behaviour? I mean, are you creating the Theory of Special Crazification or General Crazification?

    Tyrone: Hadn’t thought about it. Let’s split the difference. Half just have worldviews which lead them to disagree with what you consider rationality even though they arrive at their positions through rational means, and the other half are the core of the Crazification — either genuinely crazy; or so woefully misinformed about how the world works, the bases for their decision making is so flawed they may as well be crazy.

    John: You realize this leads to there being over 30 million crazy people in the US?

    Tyrone: Does that seem wrong?

    John: … a bit low, actually.

    HW has strong ties to Georgia. Keys didn’t have any ties at all to Illinois.

    Still, it’s a source of shame that he’s a candidate for Senate and is getting so many votes.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  40. 40.

    japa21

    December 6, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    DeKalb is just barely reporting. Big county.

  41. 41.

    Mousebumples

    December 6, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    Between the general election and the runoff, I wrote 75 #PostcardsToVoters that went to Georgia this year. I’m hoping that effort helped keep Senator Warnock in DC!

    Postcarders – I’m hoping we’ll be writing more postcards for Wisconsin’s April 2023 election – so probably sometime in March. And maybe more for #PostcardsToVoters before then, but Wisconsin is my (personal) focus and is 100% on my radar.

  42. 42.

    Mai Naem mobile

    December 6, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    Listening to the radio and they said Walker just pulled ahead.  I understand  Atlanta hasn’t come in yet but jeezus I am disappointed that Walker is ahead at any point.

  43. 43.

    moonbat

    December 6, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    @Spanky: ​

    @Spanky: ​
     
    Hahahahahahahaha! I needed that.

  44. 44.

    DCrefugee

    December 6, 2022 at 8:52 pm

    @Splitting Image: Yeah, but this is as close as we’re going to get to a rematch this cycle…

  45. 45.

    Alison Rose

    December 6, 2022 at 8:53 pm

    @UncleEbeneezer: According to some random site, the 12th anniversary gifts are either silk or linen, or home decor. So after dinner you could swing by the mall and either buy matching silk robes, new bed sheets, or like…a potted plant.

  46. 46.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    @DCrefugee: The comparison is Keyes to Walker.

  47. 47.

    Steeplejack

    December 6, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    @MazeDancer:

    Rockdale County.

  48. 48.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    @Alison Rose: Does he live in a state with legal weed?

  49. 49.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    It looks like Warnock got 35,083 more votes than HW in the November general election. I’ll be looking for that difference to be larger tonight.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  50. 50.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    I know the scoreboard is a lie. But… can’t… stop… scoreboard… watching………..

  51. 51.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:01 pm

    Election Betting Odds 8:38PM EST

    Warnock 96.8% of winning

    Walker 3.2% of winning

  52. 52.

    lowtechcyclist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    My favorite election tweet of the night, so far:

    https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1600308198073925632

  53. 53.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    he hasn’t seen enough yet, but…

    Dave Wasserman @Redistrict 42m

    At this point, turnout in metro Atlanta would need to be unusually rough for Warnock (D) to lose. It’ll be a close margin, but he’s in the driver’s seat now. #GASEN

  54. 54.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch: What quarter is it?

  55. 55.

    TriassicSands

    December 6, 2022 at 9:06 pm

    @Another Scott:

    The Libertarian candidate received some 80,000 votes in November, which is more than enough to offset Warnock’s November lead if all the same people vote and most Libertarians switch to their mindless cousins, the GOP.

    That is why ranked choice voting would hurt Democratic presidential candidates in some states. In 2020, if there had been ranked choice voting in Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin, TFG would probably be president today. There just aren’t enough actual Democrats voting in some states.

  56. 56.

    Elizabelle

    December 6, 2022 at 9:07 pm

    @brendancalling:  I  feel the same way.

    It is true that Herschel Walker has no business being a Senate candidate nominee; also true that he is a very badly damaged human being who has been used badly, most lately by the Republican party.

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:07 pm

    @Eolirin: Fingers crossed.

  58. 58.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:08 pm

     Taniel
    @Taniel
    ·
    7m
    Heavily blue DeKalb County reports a large chunk of votes for the first time, and Warnock retakes the lead — +0.6%.

    Most blue counties in the Atlanta region are significantly underreporting compared to the rest of the state (Fulton, Henry, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb).

  59. 59.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    Lot of Democratic votes left and not that many Republican votes still to come.

  60. 60.

    rikyrah

    December 6, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    If the number for Warnock’s win comes close to matching the Early Vote from that Saturday, when Blue counties did and Red counties didn’t..😒😒😒

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    @Eolirin: Fingers crossed!

  62. 62.

    Amir Khalid

    December 6, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    It just doesn’t make sense to me that the unfit-for-office candidate has a slight lead over his opponent.

  63. 63.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    This should tell you everything:

     
    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    14m
    CNN: special coverage of the GA runoff
    MSNBC: special coverage of the GA runoff
    Fox News: the backlash over asking men about botox

    It reminds me of when someone important died in the Soviet Union, state radio would start playing classical music. Here republican state TV is tuning out realty.

  64. 64.

    dr. bloor

    December 6, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    @Amir Khalid: No, it does not.  And it’s a real problem.

  65. 65.

    TriassicSands

    December 6, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    That’s because there are so many unfit-to-vote people living in this country generally and in Georgia specifically. But we don’t have a way to deny votes to racists, fascists, or complete brainwashed idiots. We want people to be able to vote, but that means a lot of very ignorant and nasty people are going to cast ballots.

  66. 66.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    December 6, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    It just doesn’t make sense to me that the unfit-for-office candidate has a slight lead over his opponent.

    Call it the revenge of the flat-earthers.

  67. 67.

    UncleEbeneezer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    @Alison Rose: We are going to the Yucatán in January so linen will be key.

  68. 68.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    @Steeplejack: Sorry. New York typo. Rockland is in NY.

  69. 69.

    lowtechcyclist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch:

    @steve_vladeck

    32m

    No one has “taken the lead” or “fallen behind.” The votes were all cast; now we’re just counting in no particular order.

  70. 70.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    Dave Wasserman tweeted:

    Dougherty Co. (Albany): Warnock +40.8 in November, Warnock +42.7 today. A great result for Warnock (D) there. #GASEN

    Dougherty County is the county list used at PostCard Patriots. Take a bow everyone.

  71. 71.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:18 pm

    Fuckin’ scoreboard watching is gonna be the death of me one of these days…

  72. 72.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    December 6, 2022 at 9:18 pm

    @Eolirin:

    Dave Wasserman is one of the best number crunchers in the business, but I find it deeply demoralizing that an absolute laughingstock like Walker is making this race highly competitive right now.

  73. 73.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    Clarke Co. (Athens): Warnock +44.2 in November, Warnock +47.5 tonight. Warnock (D) easily above his target numbers there. #GASEN

    — Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 7, 2022

    Good job, raven!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  74. 74.

    Steeplejack

    December 6, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    The three-step pattern is:

    1. Dems lead from early votes and mail votes.
    2. Reps catch up/overtake as Election Day votes are counted (many small shithole counties, which can tally/report quickly).
    3. Dems bounce back as gigantic counties (e.g., Fulton, DeKalb) finish reporting.

    I think we’re still in step 2.

  75. 75.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    #TrumpIsDone trending on Musker.

  76. 76.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    @MazeDancer:

    Dave Wasserman @Redistrict 1m,

    Paulding Co. (NW Atlanta suburbs): Walker +24.4 in November, Walker +23.7 tonight. A good result for Warnock (D) there. #GASEN

    those tiny shifts, and their significance, are wild to me

    and not so tiny

    Dave Wasserman  @Redistrict 2m

    Clarke Co. (Athens): Warnock +44.2 in November, Warnock +47.5 tonight. Warnock (D) easily above his target numbers there. #GASEN

  77. 77.

    HinTN

    December 6, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    @MazeDancer: I sent at least one to Albany!

  78. 78.

    Steeplejack

    December 6, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    @MazeDancer:

    No worries, mate.

  79. 79.

    Juju

    December 6, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    @lowtechcyclist: I bet he’s fun at parties.

  80. 80.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:24 pm

     Christopher Ingraham
    @_cingraham
    ·
    34m

    It’s wild comparing stuff like this from people who actually understand the election data with what’s happening on cable. On CNN right now they are pushing hard on “OMG Walker pulls ahead of Warnock!!!” without virtually no mention of what votes remain.

    News outlets long stop being informative, switching instead to entertainment.

  81. 81.

    Ken

    December 6, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    I must admit to mixed feelings. I’d been Eeyore-ing, and a friend bet me lunch that Warnock would win. So I get a free lunch if Walker wins. The only problem will be finding someplace that serves bitter ashes, which is all I’d be tasting anyway….

  82. 82.

    UncleEbeneezer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    @Wyatt Salamanca: W, Trump, Cruz, Graham etc.  White Supremacy is more important to their voters.

  83. 83.

    eclare

    December 6, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    @Steeplejack:   That makes sense to me, Fulton and DeKalb are huge, and with the exception of very northern Fulton should break heavily for Warnock.

  84. 84.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    G. Elliott Morris
    @gelliottmorris
    ·
    39s
    Surely the result in Athens (3 points more D in vote margin, turnout down 8%) will convince those who are uncertain about Warnock’s lead

    Oh. Yeah. Surely. [BEATS HEAD AGAINST BACK OF COUCH…]

  85. 85.

    Spanky

    December 6, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    @Wyatt Salamanca: It ain’t Walker, it’s the (R) after his name.

  86. 86.

    eachother

    December 6, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    @Spanky:

    Full moon throated Ha.

  87. 87.

    TheTruffle

    December 6, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    I’m skipping the scoreboard watching. Just gonna wait for the votes to be counted. Why do they need these silly runoffs anyway?

    I really am hopeful over GA at this point. Sure, I’m bummed Stacey Abrams didn’t win, but I think the Dems’ chances are better there than they have been in a long time.

  88. 88.

    kalakal

    December 6, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    @Steeplejack: I think so too. It’s disturbing that so many people have voted for Walker, he’s obviously unfit for office

  89. 89.

    lowtechcyclist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    Great county-by-county comparison of margins in November v. tonight. Looking real, real good.

  90. 90.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:28 pm

    My favorite part of Wasserman‘s feed is everyone begging him to “Say the line, Dave!”

  91. 91.

    dww44

    December 6, 2022 at 9:29 pm

    @Spanky: that’s it and that is ALL that it is. It’s the R and power.  That’s all that matters to them.

  92. 92.

    frosty

    December 6, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    @HinTN: All of my addresses were Albany!

  93. 93.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    I’m reminded that my mom told me that Georgia has more counties than any other state east of the Mississippi. (And is second only to Texas.)

    It's times like tonight when I feel like I deserve a lot of credit for not making up county names with fake results. To the residents of Itchicoochie county, I say, "You're welcome."

    — L O L G O P (@LOLGOP) December 7, 2022

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  94. 94.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    GOP operative throwing in the towel:

    Dianne Putnam, chair of the Whitfield County Republican Party, said voters are not turning out as heavily as she would like for the runoff in her county, which Walker won by 46 points in November.

    “The people just didn’t vote straight down like they should have and that’s usually what Republicans do,” she said of Walker trailing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp by 200,000 votes in November. “I don’t understand that, I really don’t. It’s a mystery to me.”

  95. 95.

    kalakal

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    @lowtechcyclist: Oh yeah, that looks good

  96. 96.

    Sister Golden Bear

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    Paging @Amir Khalid, paging Amir Khalid….

    I have a solution for your Guitar Acquisition Symdrome — a six-neck guitar. Yes, really.

  97. 97.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    @different-church-lady: ​
      I hear ya. I just can’t believe Aaron Judge is gonna leave the Yankees for the SF Giants. Mindbloggling!

  98. 98.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    those tiny shifts, and their significance, are wild to me

    It is wild, but it is the result of hard work by the Dems.

    Stacey Abrams, the boots on the ground funded by BJ, Four Directions, all the Dem volunteers working for year after year. It all pays off.

  99. 99.

    Dan B

    December 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    @UncleEbeneezer: In Costa Rica and India silk was key.  Everything else was too hot. And it still works for your 12th!

  100. 100.

    lowtechcyclist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:32 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    My favorite part of Wasserman‘s feed is everyone begging him to “Say the line, Dave!”

    But does he type it with his eyes closed?

  101. 101.

    StringOnAStick

    December 6, 2022 at 9:32 pm

    @HinTN: I think all the postcards I wrote went to Albany and I think they were college dorm addresses.

  102. 102.

    pajaro

    December 6, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    @TheTruffle:

    So this may be me misremembering, but I think that Southern states put runoffs in to make sure that the “right” kind of people ended up ahead in the end, no matter how the white vote was split in the general.

  103. 103.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    Joe Szymanski
    @JosephSzymanski
    Take a gander at which congresswoman’s district is seeing a slightly higher than average drop in turnout compared to the rest of the state of Georgia.

    You get one guess.

  104. 104.

    Skepticat

    December 6, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    I’m packing to move, and I have way more than I need of everything but money. However, I just saw Walker leading Warnock 1,312,167 (50.1%) to 1,309,528 (49.9%), and I now there’s one glass I won’t have to pack. (Yes, I drained the vodka first.) And yes, after years of marketing for political campaigns, I know perfectly well it ain’t over til it’s over, but this should never have been within shrieking distance. I’m doing the shrieking at this point, but I may have to find, fill, and drain another glass, as that’s stressing the cats.

  105. 105.

    eclare

    December 6, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    @Another Scott:   Gotta employ all the relatives in gubmint jobs!

  106. 106.

    dkinPa

    December 6, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    @Mousebumples:  Thanks for the heads up!  I wrote some postcards for Warnock, but not as many as you.

    Hope this isn’t going to be a long night.

  107. 107.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    @lowtechcyclist: That is excellent!

    Some ballots need to get the heck out of Dodge. pic.twitter.com/rF9XgOyL5w

    — Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) December 7, 2022

  108. 108.

    Dan B

    December 6, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    @Amir Khalid: There are many rural counties in the US where most residents have never been outside the county and believe terrors lurk in big cities and overseas.  The smart young ones get out so it never improves for the long term locals.

    I grew up 8n such a county.

  109. 109.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Stuart Rothenberg
    @StuPolitics

    Come on, David. Seen enough yet? The trend is clear. Make the call.

    Just saying, Stu is a pro.

  110. 110.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    Dave just said the line.

  111. 111.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    I've seen enough: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) defeats Herschel Walker (R) in the #GASEN runoff, giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate.— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 7, 2022

  112. 112.

    Kay

    December 6, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    Dave Wasserman
    @Redistrict
    I’ve seen enough: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) defeats Herschel Walker (R) in the #GASEN runoff, giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

  113. 113.

    H.E.Wolf

    December 6, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    I wrote to Democrats in these GA locations for the runoff:

    Atlanta, Auburn, Augusta, Austell, Cartersville, Columbus, Dallas, Decatur, Fayetteville, Folkston, Grayson, Hampton, Jesup, Jonesboro, Kathleen, Kennesaw, Lilburn, Lithonia, Marietta, McDonough, Murrayville, Perry, Pooler, Powder Springs, Rome, Savannah, Silver Creek, Stockbridge, Valdosta, Warner Robins.

    One of the things I love most about GOTV postcard writing is the chance to learn about different parts of the country. Wikipedia is an amazing resource.

  114. 114.

    Lyrebird

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    @kalakal:

    @brendancalling:

    I have some pity too.  Some other commenter – I don’t think it was Frankensteinbeck, but someone else with a clever nym – put it really well a day or two ago.  I can’t find it, but I agree that a person can 100% support Warnock, democracy, and the rule of law and still feel a bit sick about the way mostly-White Rs are using this Black man with obvious neurological problems.  He may have been a jackass even before all that head trauma in football, but that does not excuse what they are doing.

    It’s like the Sarah Palin problem only many times worse.

  115. 115.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    Election Betting Odds 9:24 PM EST

    Warnock 97.4% of winning

    Walker 2.6% of winning

  116. 116.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    I know what the politically tuned-in people are saying, that things are in our favor; I know logically we’re set up well, but watching it as a horse race flipping back and forth on MSNBC is driving me batshit.  This was the wrong damn show to watch after finishing 1899.

  117. 117.

    Juju

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    Apparently Dave Wasserman has seen enough. Warnock has won.

  118. 118.

    rikyrah

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    Racism, Amir.

    Pure-D Racism😠😠

  119. 119.

    2liberal

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    Dave Wasserman

    @Redistrict

    ·
    2m

    I’ve seen enough: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) defeats Herschel Walker (R) in the #GASEN runoff, giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

  120. 120.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    @different-church-lady: Enough has been said…

  121. 121.

    zhena gogolia

    December 6, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    @different-church-lady: Haha, I conveyed this news, and my husband is now on his knees by the bed. I kid you not.

  122. 122.

    Lyrebird

    December 6, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    @Kent: Click on MazeDancer’s twitter feed for some numbers.  They are sticking with Warnock!

  123. 123.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    NYT: “We’ve worked through some challenging issues with the needle that we think we have fixed, and we hope to turn it back on shortly. The version we have working internally suggests that Warnock has a commanding advantage, with most of the vote left in Democratic precincts.“

  124. 124.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    @different-church-lady: I have no idea.  Is it supposed to be obvious?  And there’s not even a link so we can find out.

  125. 125.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    @Juju: But Walker is still narrowly leading the NYT election totals.

     

    Whew….

  126. 126.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    Thank you Dave Wasserman, I can stop breathing into a paper bag.

  127. 127.

    Dadadadadadada

    December 6, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    538 has an adjustable table that I’ve been playing with. It’s such good news that I’m worried I’m reading it wrong.

    The table allows you to sort GA’s 159 counties various ways: alphabetically, by how much of the vote they’ve reported, and, most importantly, by how much today’s result differs from November’s.

    When you sort by the magnitude of the change, you see enormous reason for optimism. You have to go really deep into the list (around 40 places) to find one that changed in favor of Walker. That’s Dawson County, population 26,798, and it’s R+3.6. Above it are literally dozens of counties that changed more in favor of Warnock, including several of the state’s most populous, and these range from D+3.6 up to D+22.

    All Warnock needed was to hold; he was ahead in November, so if everyone votes the same, he’ll win tonight. But he’s not just holding; he’s surging ahead, in a tremendously impressive show of force.

  128. 128.

    H.E.Wolf

    December 6, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    @MazeDancer: ​”…it is the result of hard work by the Dems.

    Stacey Abrams, the boots on the ground funded by BJ, Four Directions, all the Dem volunteers working for year after year. It all pays off.”

     Amen. And let’s keep right on doing it.

  129. 129.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    @WaterGirl: ​
      Well, who would you most like it to be?

  130. 130.

    dww44

    December 6, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    @different-church-lady: Whitfield County is in far northwest corner of the state.  Very very white and Republican.   Maybe the lack of turnout on their part is attributable to their voters’  reluctance to vote for the R  candidate but they just can’t bring themselves to vote for the “D” one either.  Sort of like Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

  131. 131.

    hilts

    December 6, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Is it supposed to be obvious?

    Yes.

  132. 132.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    @Layer8Problem: I still have something like PTSD from watching the fucking needle on the NYT site in 2016.

  133. 133.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    🚨 SIX MORE YEARS! 🚨

    Rapheal Warnock (D-Balloon Juice)

    Dump/Walker sacked for loss by Obama/Warnock/Jackals

  134. 134.

    raven

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    @dww44: Cracker ass carpet weavers.

  135. 135.

    Kay

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    @Dadadadadadada:

    He’s a great candidate. A perfect fit for the place/time.

  136. 136.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    How the ‘eff do you get to 80% counted statewide and Walker has a “lead”, and it’s in the bag for Warnock?

    Rhetorical question: I know how it works, I just have a hard time getting my brain to understand my eyes are lying to me.

  137. 137.

    patrick II

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    It might be to the Republicans advantage to have Walker lose. Walker is clearly Trump’s candidate and it would be the clearest and most damaging loss for Trump and his reputation among the Republican base as a “winner”. It would diminish his chances of being the presidential nominee. Not as much as jail would though.

  138. 138.

    kalakal

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    @Layer8Problem: Hah, I’ve just finished watching the first episode. It’s interesting so far. Is it me or is their something odd with the soundtrack? It almost sounds like the cast are just reading the lines

  139. 139.

    Amir Khalid

    December 6, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    Hmm. That is, indeed, a musical instrument.

  140. 140.

    cain

    December 6, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    Yeeha! It fucking sucks that we couldn’t keep the house – but hey, there might still be a chance we might get some special elections. Regardless, we got some judiciary folks to fill so that we can make sure that we don’t get some stupid shit happening.

    Too bad the SCOTUS is out – maybe one of the conservative judges might do us all a favor and decide to retire.

  141. 141.

    Shalimar

    December 6, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch: I understand why people find Kornacki annoying, but he does dig deep on what areas are remaining and how the results compare to November.  MSNBC is informative on nights like tonight because of his team.

  142. 142.

    Matt McIrvin

    December 6, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    @different-church-lady: Metro Atlanta, which is massively Democratic, is most of what’s still out. It’s very much like elections in Virginia, where Fairfax County always reports late.

  143. 143.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    The Needle(tm) is back online and is slammed all the way up against the “blue wins” peg. Prediction for the final margin is Warnock +3 percentage points.

  144. 144.

    raven

    December 6, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    @different-church-lady: Because he doesn’t need to win by much, he just needs to win. . . and he will.

  145. 145.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    @different-church-lady: It must be Marge, then.

  146. 146.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:44 pm

     Sumter County (Jimmy Carter’s home) now all in.

    Warnock’s 53%-47% is about what he got in 2021, and up a few points from last month.

    Thanks, Jimmy 🦷🦷

  147. 147.

    kalakal

    December 6, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    @hilts: rhymes with margarine?

  148. 148.

    Ken

    December 6, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch: Dump/Walker sacked for loss by Obama/Warnock/Jackals

    Time for Balloon Juice to cash in its political favors. Let’s get a Georgia post office named after Cole.

  149. 149.

    jonas

    December 6, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    I think Warnock will squeak out a win tonight (inshalah), but the fact that Walker is even remotely in contention here simply proves that GA Republicans (like the rest) hate Democrats more than they love America. Walker was a joke/troll candidate with absolutely no qualifications for elected office (much less *Senator*) and whose personal life and values were (like Trump’s) a complete repudiation of what they claim to value. If they have to live in an America with the kinds of things that Raphael Warnock values, they’d rather just burn it all to the ground. Their love of country was only as deep as their love for their (white, evangelical) tribe.

  150. 150.

    Dan B

    December 6, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    Great news in a day filled with good news!  Now Biden and Schumer can fill the courts with good judges.

  151. 151.

    patrick II

    December 6, 2022 at 9:46 pm

    @Layer8Problem:

    Same exact thing here. It is hard to believe it isn’t totally unreal.

  152. 152.

    Steeplejack

    December 6, 2022 at 9:46 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Georgia has 159 counties. Example: Earlier tonight I was looking at one shithole county, Berrien, that went something like 80-85% for Walker. Population about 18,000 people, 79% white; 10,926 active voters, turnout 2,719. Quick and easy to tabulate and report. So about 2,200-2,300 white racists voting for Walker. A lot of Georgia counties are like that, contributing to the GQP step 2 bump.

    This map gives a good view of the Georgia county muddle. You can hover over each one to get some details.

  153. 153.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 9:46 pm

    Some trivia:

    With Warnock’s victory tonight, this election cycle is the first time in history that every incumbent senator seeking re-election has won re-election. https://t.co/f1ftlh01uM
    — Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) December 7, 2022

  154. 154.

    Juju

    December 6, 2022 at 9:46 pm

    @Kent: I check NYtimes if I feel the urge to be annoyed, otherwise I mostly ignore them.

  155. 155.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Beyond Dave Wasserman, thinking Walker team has known all night.

    Because Walker HQ is sparsely populated and depressed, and has been since 7:OO.

    Warnock HQ has been packed and partying from the jump.

  156. 156.

    Shalimar

    December 6, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    @different-church-lady: Most of the remaining 20% is in the Atlanta area.

  157. 157.

    eclare

    December 6, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    @cain:   No way a conservative justice retires, only hope is a dirt nap.

  158. 158.

    Jean

    December 6, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    @Layer8Problem: I just finished 1899, and I’m sorry I watched it.  The ending is VERY unsatisfying.  Generally, I don’t like sci-fi of any sort, but I wanted to know the resolution of the mystery.  Ugh.

  159. 159.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    @different-church-lady: ​
      On election day I canvass Chicago’s cemetery wards, and by custom we always report late.😉

  160. 160.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    Yeah, I mean Maddow sounds like she’s just phoning it in, and Kornacki has all the expressiveness of tapioca pudding . . .

    Oh, you meant 1899.  The sound is weird all over that show.

  161. 161.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    @Ken:  We have been waiting to do our post-election analysis until the GA runoff was over, but we’ll start that in a day or two.  But our $930,000 surely gets a small post office in a small GA county, right?

  162. 162.

    Ken

    December 6, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    @Matt McIrvin: It’s very much like elections in Virginia, where Fairfax County always reports late.

    Which is often spun as some sinister conspiracy, instead of the obvious difference between counting the quarter-million votes of a major city, versus the 400 or so from Taliaferro County.

  163. 163.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    Warnock FINALLY jumps back ahead in the vote count totals.  Hopefully for the last time.

  164. 164.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:50 pm

    So Warnock pulls away on the scoreboard now.
    Right?
    NOW, right?

  165. 165.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:50 pm

    @Jean:@Layer8Problem: I just finished 1899, and I’m sorry I watched it.  The ending is VERY unsatisfying.  Generally, I don’t like sci-fi of any sort, but I wanted to know the resolution of the mystery.  Ugh.

    My sentiments exactly.   I would have much preferred it to be just a standard period piece.  That is an interesting enough time period all on its own.

  166. 166.

    dmsilev

    December 6, 2022 at 9:51 pm

    @different-church-lady: Should be, yes.

  167. 167.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 9:52 pm

    FTNYT has declared it for Warnock.

  168. 168.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:52 pm

    Slate has up a very good article about how we won the WA-3rd with the help of Balloon Juice.  Remember when I begged you all to take a loot at that race and support it?

    Here you go if you want something inspirational to read while you wait for the GA numbers to come in.  TLDR?  Bottom line?  The secret sauce was in-person door knocking.  The only error in the article is that it isn’t a “largely rural” district except by area.  It is largely suburban by population.

    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/12/marie-gluesenkamp-perez-joe-kent-doorknocking.html

  169. 169.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 9:53 pm

    @dmsilev: Incumbency in the US federal government is a hellofa thing.

    And is yet another illustration of how much of an aberration Donnie Loser McLoserman was.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  170. 170.

    trollhattan

    December 6, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    Well good! Because it’s dinnertime and I don’t want to follow results, a month after following results.

  171. 171.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 9:55 pm

    Yup, just pulling away. Any second now…
    [DESK LOOKS COYLY AT FOREHEAD…]

  172. 172.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 9:55 pm

    @patrick II:  Let me put it this way, the music on my headphones right now is The Chambers Brothers doing “Time Has Come Today”.  The long version.  It suits my mindset.

  173. 173.

    trollhattan

    December 6, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    O/T Behold: Indonesia’s own goal. Tourism, schmourism.

    Tourism operators in Indonesia are still trying to recover from the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the country’s parliament has passed new laws that some fear could turn tourists away once again – because having sex out of wedlock is set to be outlawed.

    The controversial laws, which critics have labelled a “disaster” for human rights, also ban unmarried couples from living together and restrict political and religious freedoms. There were protests in Jakarta this week, and the laws are expected to be challenged in court.

    The new criminal codes are set to take effect in three years and apply to Indonesians and foreigners living in the country, as well as visitors.

    It has been widely reported in nearby Australia, where some newspapers have dubbed it the “Bali bonk ban”.

    Indonesia’s economy heavily relies on tourism from Australia, which was Indonesia’s number one tourist source before the pandemic. Thousands of people fly to the tropical island of Bali every month to bask in its warm weather, indulge in cheap Bintang beers and rave at all-night beach parties.

    Bali weddings are quite common, and thousands of Australia’s graduate students fly to Bali every year to celebrate finishing high school.

    For many young Australians, a trip to Bali is seen as a rite of passage. Others go there a few times a year for quick, cheap getaways. But as soon as news trickled through that the raft of new laws were becoming reality, after being mere rumours for years, doubt over future trips set in.

    I know where they could hire a few morality police.

  174. 174.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 6, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    Popehat @Popehat 17m

    This would be humiliating for the Republicans if they were capable of shame, and deeply disappointing for Herschel Walker if he understood where he was or what had happened.

    Seriously tho it’s entirely grotesque how the GOP took advantage of someone so clearly in need of ongoing help.

  175. 175.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    And I say, Balloon-Juice today! Balloon-Juice tomorrow! Balloon-Juice forever!

    Gawd, I can only imagine the neurotic fear, loathing and panic on the other sites.

  176. 176.

    jonas

    December 6, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    This is going largely as expected. Big urban districts/counties take longer to tally votes because 1. there are a lot more of them and 2. some polling places have to stay open late to accommodate people still standing in line when polls close which, natch, seems to always be a “problem” only afflicting high-minority precincts. This always happens, which is why Republicans start popping champagne corks around 8-9pm after the last votes in Weevil Co. have come in, and then always cry foul when the urban precincts start reporting later in the evening and the scales start to tip the other way.​
     

    ETA: or, what Ken upthread just wrote

  177. 177.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Honestly we are fucking lucky that they did.

    A good GOP candidate could have won this race.

  178. 178.

    topclimber

    December 6, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    @different-church-lady: Looks like  a 50 percent margin now vs. November, so please no tears Lady of the South. You still got one hell of a racist county there Diane.

  179. 179.

    SFAW

    December 6, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    @Anoniminous: ​
     
    I must be looking at a different version of the FTFTFNYT than you, or maybe I went back in time for an hour, because I don’t see that anyplace.

  180. 180.

    WaterGirl

    December 6, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    @Kent: I saw that article earlier today!  We’ll be talking about that  among other things – in our post-election look at what we funded this year and how things turned out.

  181. 181.

    Captain C

    December 6, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    @Anoniminous: “Almost Certainly” Warnock.

  182. 182.

    Matt McIrvin

    December 6, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    @different-church-lady: Washington Post’s tracker now has Warnock ahead, and if you look at the map, a lot of what’s still out is huge, urban, intensely blue counties like Fulton and DeKalb:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/2022/georgia-senate-runoff/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f003

  183. 183.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 6, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    @dmsilev:

    With Warnock’s victory tonight, this election cycle is the first time in history that every incumbent senator seeking re-election has won re-election

    that’s interesting, suprising, too

    @Kent: I think you’re right. Hopefully the purpling of GA continues between now and the next most important election of our lives

    ETA: kinda fun watching the MSNBC crew pretend they haven’t seen Wasserman (et al), and that they don’t know 90+% of their viewers have seen it too

  184. 184.

    cain

    December 6, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: dude is like some kind of political groundhog huh?

  185. 185.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    November results:

    Warnock: 1,520,451

    Walker: 1,513,392

    Current with 90% reporting:

    Warnock: 1,543,684

    Walker: 1,529,899

  186. 186.

    trnc

    December 6, 2022 at 10:04 pm

    “Raphael Warnock” is an anagram of “Ha! NO Walker CRAP”

    https://twitter.com/ConserveLetters/status/1600322685543645185

  187. 187.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    @Jean, @Kent: I liked it, it hit my weird buttons.  I thought they did a good job with the turn of the twentieth century liner setting, and trying to figure out all the screwy stuff (high-functioning wireless telegraphy in 1899, and other things), before the big reveal.  I am definitely looking forward to a second season.

  188. 188.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    @Anoniminous: ​
      How is that possible? Everyone’s saying turnout was at about 90% of November?

  189. 189.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    The Union forever,
    Hurrah! boys, hurrah!
    Down with the traitors,
    Up with the stars;
    While we rally round the flag, boys,
    Rally once again,
    Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

  190. 190.

    Splitting Image

    December 6, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    @Kent:

    Honestly we are fucking lucky that they did.

    A good GOP candidate could have won this race.

    It honestly may not make much of a difference anymore. So few Republican voters actually seem to care about the person they’re voting for, as long as they are on Team R, that Nathan Bedford Unbeatable might not have done better than Walker did.

    Remember, the idiot they ran in Pennsylvania also lost, but the idiot they ran in Ohio won. Candidate quality was not the difference there.

  191. 191.

    japa21

    December 6, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    @different-church-lady: ​
      Libertarian candidate.

  192. 192.

    cain

    December 6, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    @Ken: Cole? No dude, it should be Tammy-Lilly !

  193. 193.

    Joseph Patrick Lurker

    December 6, 2022 at 10:07 pm

    @Shalimar:

     I understand why people find Kornacki annoying

    @Layer8Problem:

     Kornacki has all the expressiveness of tapioca pudding . . .

    What’s the deal with someone always dissing Steve Kornacki on Election Day?  I can’t think of anyone else on the air who does a better job.

  194. 194.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 10:07 pm

    @japa21: ​
      Ah, right. Of course. Thank you.

  195. 195.

    cain

    December 6, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    @dmsilev: Thank you, Trump you stupid motherfucker!

  196. 196.

    dww44

    December 6, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    @TriassicSands:  The  closeness of this race is very much attributable to the voting restrictions put in place by the GOP controlled legislature in early 2021 that cut the time before runoffs in half and added in very strict bureaucratic steps to get an absentee ballot, which made it impossible to use that in this runoff election.   A report yesterday shows that there was an 82% drop in absentee ballot voting between 2020 and 2022 in Georgia, more than  any other state.  So if Warnock wins, it should be viewed as a real victory with the voting machinery stacked against him.    I hate Republicans.

  197. 197.

    Jean

    December 6, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    @Kent: I agree!  I wish it had been, and in the beginning, because I didn’t hear anything about the show yet, I thought it was a period mystery, but no, it had to be totally bizarre.

  198. 198.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ​
      you can’t call the election while there’s still an hour left in east coast prime time! Think of the ratings!

  199. 199.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:08 pm

    Kornacki just said Walker won a county in the Atlanta metro area by 400 votes.  Bush took the same county by 45% in 2004.

  200. 200.

    Suzanne

    December 6, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    @Splitting Image: Agreed. I don’t think candidates or “ideas” matter at all anymore. It’s just team sports now.

  201. 201.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    @Splitting Image: Candidate quality still makes a difference.

    Kemp ran way ahead of Walker in GA

    Oz ran way ahead of the completely insane Mastriano in PA

    Now Kemp and Oz weren’t that great of candidates, but they were certainly better than Walker and Mastriano.

  202. 202.

    cain

    December 6, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    @eclare: I didn’t want to imply that I was looking for death hence the more “innocent” response.

    Maybe John Roberts will want to screw the SCOTUS and quit! Hey it might happen, there is the legacy he would be looking for! Otherwise, he’s stuck with the loons!

  203. 203.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    Dear scoreboard: I would like to go to sleep some time tonight. Please add 30k votes to Warnock’s total. Now.

  204. 204.

    Ken

    December 6, 2022 at 10:10 pm

    This thread has reminded me of something I was going to ask a month ago, but forgot. Which article of the Constitution says that the election is over when Dave Wasserman calls it?

  205. 205.

    MazeDancer

    December 6, 2022 at 10:10 pm

    Taniel tweeted:

    Turnout in the two biggest *red* counties that are done reporting today (Hall and Paulding) is down 11-12% compared to November

    Wasserman says he thinks Warnock will win by 2 to 3 points. Which he considers in the current environment “a Democratic blowout”.

  206. 206.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:11 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  207. 207.

    James E Powell

    December 6, 2022 at 10:12 pm

    I’m not doubting Wasserman, he knows what he is doing. But the GA Sec’y of State only has Warnock ahead by ~12K with 87.42% counted.

    Assuming it’s all okay and I don’t need to worry, a gajillion thanks to all the people who worked their asses off in Georgia and all the people here & elsewhere who wrote, texted, donated, prayed, sent positive thoughts through the cosmos, danced, and sang.

  208. 208.

    Mousebumples

    December 6, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    @dkinPa: we all do what we can, when we can. And (for #PostcardsToVoters only), over 1 MILLION runoff postcards went out. I’m not sure how many Maze Dancer distributed.

    I love our pro-Democratic teamwork. 🤩

  209. 209.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    @dww44: +1

    When Democrats vote, Democrats win.

    That’s why the GQP is fighting so hard to keep Democrats from voting.

    That’s it.  That’s the whole ballgame.

    Congratulations to Senator Warnock and the good people of Georgia.

    Forward!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  210. 210.

    Steeplejack

    December 6, 2022 at 10:14 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Marjorie Taylor Greene.

  211. 211.

    TheronWare

    December 6, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    @TriassicSands: Oh so very true!

  212. 212.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    @Joseph Patrick Lurker:  Geez, man, I just compared an obviously highly caffeinated individual’s aspect to tapioca pudding.  I think it’s irony, definitely not litotes.

    I respect what he does, he’s the greatest Kornacki who ever Kornackied, but I find him slightly irritating and would prefer a little pull back to a broad overview of the political situation in the state and the prospects, not “Walker leads by 89%” in each low-vote red county that had all its votes counted and reported real soon after the polls closed.

  213. 213.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    Atlanta mayor, director Spike Lee confident Warnock on track to win

    When did Spike Lee become mayor of Atlanta?​

  214. 214.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    @SFAW:
    Technically they have it as “Almost Certainly Warnock” by +3.1​

  215. 215.

    TriassicSands

    December 6, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    @dww44:

    I’m with you in hating Republicans. And, yes, if Warnock wins, it’s a real victory.

    It’s still amazing that Herschel Walker was the best candidate the fascists could come up with. That’s what happens when all you care about is winning and, sadly, in this country, athletes have a credibility that is completely undeserved based on their athletic careers.

    Very few sports stars are likely to be truly viable elected officials. The biggest exception in my lifetime was Bill Bradley, but his background wasn’t anything like that of Walker. One could vote for Bradley precisely because he was intelligent, whereas the biggest stretch in the world would never get you there with Walker.

  216. 216.

    CaseyL

    December 6, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    I also sent postcards, and remember that some of them went to Albany.  But I didn’t send nearly as many as other BJers.

    I’m also holding off my dance of joy until more people besides Wasserman call the race.

  217. 217.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 10:19 pm

    @WaterGirl:  Same here.  I hated that needle.

  218. 218.

    Mike in NC

    December 6, 2022 at 10:20 pm

    @Kent: I gave up after two very boring episodes of “1899”.

  219. 219.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 10:20 pm

    Sheesh, just turned on MSNBC and they are still going with “too close to call”

    I guess they want to keep the eyeballs long as they can.

  220. 220.

    Skepticat

    December 6, 2022 at 10:21 pm

    Thanks to all you jackals who wrote postcards.

  221. 221.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:22 pm

    MSNBC calls it!

    Senator Warnock re-elected

  222. 222.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 10:23 pm

    Dave Wasserman aside, MSNBC puts a stop to the horse race and declares Warnock the winnah.

  223. 223.

    Timill

    December 6, 2022 at 10:23 pm

    @TriassicSands: Also, Gerald Ford, who IIRC was the starting center on the undefeated Michigan team of 1934(?).

  224. 224.

    eachother

    December 6, 2022 at 10:23 pm

    ✅ Warnock!!

  225. 225.

    dww44

    December 6, 2022 at 10:23 pm

    @Layer8Problem: I agree with you totally . Too much focus on numbers delivered far too energetically.

  226. 226.

    trnc

    December 6, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    @Ken: ​
     

    Which article of the Constitution says that the election is over when Dave Wasserman calls it?

    The BadAssnth

  227. 227.

    CaseyL

    December 6, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    @Anoniminous: WOO HOO!!

    I can do my Dance of Joy now.

  228. 228.

    TheronWare

    December 6, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    Warnock has won!!

  229. 229.

    James E Powell

    December 6, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    @Kent:

    At this moment, GA Sec’y of State shows Walker ahead by about 1700 votes. If they wanted to kill me, why didn’t they just stick a knife in my heart?

    Are we waiting for some big counties or something

    ETA – New numbers. Warnock now ahead 18K. I’m calmer now.

  230. 230.

    hueyplong

    December 6, 2022 at 10:25 pm

    It’s a good day for the Human Beings, and caps off a bad day for Trump.

  231. 231.

    Scout211

    December 6, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    Celebratory thread upstairs.

    CNN called it for Warnock.

  232. 232.

    hueyplong

    December 6, 2022 at 10:27 pm

    @James E Powell: It’s pretty much metro Atl to go.  Breathe into a bag, it’s over.

  233. 233.

    Anoniminous

    December 6, 2022 at 10:27 pm

    @James E Powell: ​
     
    Urban areas are, as usual, running behind rural counties. They are rock solid D. That plus the fact Walker ran out of places to get votes is why – I bet – MSNBC called

  234. 234.

    different-church-lady

    December 6, 2022 at 10:27 pm

    WaPo joins the consensus.

  235. 235.

    Kent

    December 6, 2022 at 10:28 pm

    @James E Powell: Yes, nearly all the outstanding vote is from metro Atlanta where Warnock is leading by around +65.

  236. 236.

    Another Scott

    December 6, 2022 at 10:28 pm

    @James E Powell: Public-facing government web sites are often slowly updated.  I don’t know how the news outfits get numbers faster, but they usually do have them quicker than the poor website coders.

    Breathe!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  237. 237.

    Layer8Problem

    December 6, 2022 at 10:28 pm

    @CaseyL:  “Numfar Republicans!  Do the Dance of Shame!”

  238. 238.

    Anotherlurker

    December 6, 2022 at 10:31 pm

    This has been a wonderful day!  First, I picked up my new adoptee, a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel. I named her Lucy.  My best friend and his family adopted her brother, Jack.

    Second, congratulations to Senator Warnock!     Wooo hoooooo!!

  239. 239.

    SFAW

    December 6, 2022 at 10:31 pm

    @Anoniminous: ​
     
    My point exactly. “Almost Certainly” is not the same as “Warnock declared winner” (or some variation thereof).

  240. 240.

    Burnspbesq

    December 6, 2022 at 10:32 pm

    AJC joins the chorus.

  241. 241.

    David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch

    December 6, 2022 at 10:33 pm

    It’s official, Porn Hub just projected Warnock the winner

  242. 242.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    December 6, 2022 at 10:33 pm

    Aaahh.  Today was a good day.  Warnock wins, Trump Org convicted, subpoenas issued by Jack Smith, and we can look forward to the ahem antics of the 118th Congress.  There is hope for the United States.

  243. 243.

    moonbat

    December 6, 2022 at 10:34 pm

    @Kent: That’s assuming there ARE any good GOP candidates any more.

  244. 244.

    Burnspbesq

    December 6, 2022 at 10:36 pm

    DeKalb County going 90-10 for Warnock.

  245. 245.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 6, 2022 at 10:46 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch:

    It’s official, Porn Hub just projected Warnock the winner

    it’s about time!

  246. 246.

    Kattails

    December 6, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    @Anotherlurker: Congrats on your new baby!

  247. 247.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    @Joseph Patrick Lurker: Hey, you’re back to tell us how we are doing it wrong.  How trite.

  248. 248.

    TriassicSands

    December 6, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    @Timill:

    Ford would rank somewhere far below Bradley and  above Walker. He was no great shakes as a politician and made the worst domestic political decision of any president (apart from Trump) in my lifetime: pardoning Nixon.

  249. 249.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 6, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    @Anotherlurker: Cocker Spaniels are the best.  Congrats.

  250. 250.

    TriassicSands

    December 6, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    Huge, gigantic, massive sigh of relief. The idea of Senator Herschel Walker is just too much to comprehend or even contemplate.

    Congratulations to Senator Warnock. SIX YEARS!

    And a big ef you to Mitchy. He can take his power sharing and…[hundreds, if not thousands, of expletives deleted].

  251. 251.

    🐾BillinGlendaleCA

    December 6, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch:

    It’s official, Porn Hub just projected Warnock the winner

    Good, now Baud knows the results.

  252. 252.

    tybee

    December 6, 2022 at 11:04 pm

    it was my vote that pushed Warnock to victory.

  253. 253.

    Mike in NC

    December 6, 2022 at 11:07 pm

    Looks like this Trump guy is a terrible judge of character and a yooouge loser. Who could have ever imagined?

  254. 254.

    Anotherlurker

    December 6, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    @Kattails: Thanks! She is settling in nicely, for a first day in which she traveled to Napa, from Reno. From there we went to my friend’s home in San Ramone to be reunited with her litter mate and then, finally to my apt. .  She is chill and adaptable.

    My sweet Addie would have loved her.

  255. 255.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    December 6, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    @Shalimar: I love Steve Kornacki.  Who are these people who find him annoying?  He gives intelligent analysis on a county-by-county basis for each state.  He has deep knowledge and can articulate it well.

  256. 256.

    Anotherlurker

    December 6, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Thanks!  She is a sweetie.

  257. 257.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    December 6, 2022 at 11:21 pm

    @Joseph Patrick Lurker: I agree! Kornacki is great.

  258. 258.

    H.E.Wolf

    December 6, 2022 at 11:37 pm

    @tybee: ​
     Thank you! :)

  259. 259.

    Sherlock Hound

    December 6, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    @David 🦃The Establishment🥧 Koch:

    When Trump passes, we’ll hear Lee Greenwood. On repeat.

  260. 260.

    Boris Rasputin (the evil twin)

    December 7, 2022 at 10:24 am

    @Spanky: Damn, I read that as “concussion speech” and realized we’re both right.

  261. 261.

    Miss Bianca

    December 7, 2022 at 10:29 am

    @Anotherlurker: late to the thread, just wanted to say yay for you! As well as, yay for Warnock! And yay for Georgia, and yay for the country!

    I went to bed super early last night and missed all the horse race drama.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

2023 Pet Calendars

Pet Calendar Preview: A
Pet Calendar Preview: B

*Calendars can not be ordered until Cafe Press gets their calendar paper in.

Recent Comments

  • Jim, Foolish Literalist on Friday Evening Open Thread: Spy-by Flyby (Feb 3, 2023 @ 9:53pm)
  • Wombat Probability Cloud on War for Ukraine Day 344: Bakhmut! (Feb 3, 2023 @ 9:53pm)
  • TaMara on Music Open Thread (Feb 3, 2023 @ 9:53pm)
  • frosty on Music Open Thread (Feb 3, 2023 @ 9:51pm)
  • Martin on Friday Evening Open Thread: Spy-by Flyby (Feb 3, 2023 @ 9:50pm)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Favorite Dogs & Cats
Classified Documents: A Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup

Front-pager Twitter

John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
ActualCitizensUnited

Shop Amazon via this link to support Balloon Juice   

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

5/14  The Apocalypse
5/20  Home Away from Home
5/29  We’re Back, Baby
7/21  Merging!

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!