Other electoral vote predictions

Here's the results from me haphazardly collecting electoral college predictions from various TV pundits for the last few days. Note that all the results below are all predicting a Barack Obama win. I haven't seen one pundit predicting a McCain win willing to put a number on it. That leads me to believe that they're doing a lot more wishing than real analysis. I think if they'd spend a few minutes with a map and a calculator they'd get a big dose of reality.

Karl Rove 338

George Stephanopoulos 353

Mark Halperin 349

Matthew Dowd 338

Donna Brazile 343

James Carville 365

Alex Castellanos 318

David Gergen 328

Paul Begala 325

George Will 378

Larry Sabato 364

And just for fun:

Mrs. Parkhopper 352

Minima 353

Poll closing times

More useful info at Swing State Project

Vote for Lando Calrissian!

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Don't vote early

...if you're wishy washy on the issues. A lesson in the perils of early voting for those not having firm convictions.

“I voted early just because I could, but I think it’s ridiculous," said Alice Richards, 65, of Wheaton, Illinois. “I was at a mall– the Stratford Square Mall– and there was a place where people could vote early while they were shopping, so I did.”

In retrospect, she’s not happy about it, because she didn’t think that she was required to show enough documentation– and, although she still is solidly behind the candidate for whom she voted for president, she has since changed her mind on one of the local issues for which she cast a ballot. On that issue, even though today is Election Day, it's not Election Day for her– her vote is gone, and she can’t get it back.

Poor Alice. She's a victim of a voting system that is far too convenient and easy.

Random observation on Election 2008

My neighborhood and the surrounding area looks like a helicopter dropped hundreds of McCain/Palin yard signs. The second most popular yard sign is "Yes on 2".

I have little doubt how things will turn out in my precinct. I just hope that isn't indicative of the State results.

Another "That's it!" momement for me and the GOP

In the last four years I've had many moments where my fellow Republicans have caused me to say, "That's it, I've had enough!" Not the least of these was when John McCain won the nomination in March of this year. Since then it seems that the party has been led even further and further down a pretty steep slope right into a mud pit. Sadly, some people that I've admired for years, like Elizabeth Dole, have been happy to jump right in.

Now the California GOP has filed an FEC complaint over Barack Obama's trip recent trip to Hawaii to visit his dying grandmother. One sentence in the post reads in part "...filing the complaint today [Nov. 3rd] now seems to have been ill-advised, if not legally, then certainly politically."

Yep, leave it to the Republicans to do something so incredibly petty and mean spirited AND on the day the man's grandmother dies, too. Idiots.

(No word yet on how that FEC investigation into the $150,000 spent on Sarah Palin's wardrobe is going. Again, idiots.)

Sex toys for votes

Honestly, this is a real news story: Free sex toys - and much more - for voting

Just when you thought it was safe to focus on the issues in this historic election season, a chain of sex toy shops has joined retailers, restaurateurs and other businesses across the nation in the time-honored tradition of rewarding Americans who go to the polls.

Babeland, with stores in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, is offering a pair of self-gratifying incentives for voters who present their registration cards, ballot stubs or “word of honor” that they voted next Tuesday.

The rewards are no-so-subtle reminders of this year’s campaign rhetoric. For men, it’s the “Maverick,” a "sleeve" for self-pleasuring. According to a press release, “He’s always there to lend a hand, he works for every man, and he bucks the status quo.” Women can choose the “Silver Bullet” mini-vibrator, which is “a magical solution to difficult problems” and “a great stress-reliever during these troubled economic times!”

Gee, I voted and all I got was a lousy sticker.

UPDATED: Good news! Starbucks is giving out free coffee to voters tomorrow. I hear the new Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate is amazing.

My Election Predictions for 2008

That's 353 electoral votes for Barack Obama. Try as I might I couldn't stretch his lead any larger than that for a humiliating landslide. Apparently there's nothing more vengeful than a bitter Republican.

While I'm prognosticating I'll go out on a limb and predict that Obama also wins the popular vote (duh) and that the Democrats gain 8 seats in the Senate and 29 in the House.

So what will this mean? Does it mean that President Barack Obama and the Democrats will claim a political mandate to enact their liberal ("socialist") agenda the way President Bush claimed his mandate in 2004? Remember this statement?

"I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it," Bush told reporters. "It is my style."

Whether you remember the comment or not I'm certain you're familiar with the results.

No matter how the next four years turn out there's one thing I'm fairly certain of - Barack Obama will govern with a completely different style.

Here's wishing him - and us - the very best.

I have a girl crush on Donna Brazile

Yeah, I know. I'm married. And straight. And yeah, I'm a Republican. But that doesn't mean that I can't be in love with Donna Brazile. And why not? She's just lovely, she's uber smart, she's funny and she speaks her mind (when it suits her).

What prompted this confession? I was in the kitchen just now doing dishes when a CNN talking head introduced a "behind the scenes at the DNC convention" segment featuring Donna. I just about broke my neck getting to the TV. Yep, that's a sure sign of a fangirl. The segment sucked only because it was too short. (Hey, CNN! If you have access to such an awesome resource why not utilize it more rather than focusing on those lame no name commentators who have nothing better to do than offer their lame opinions of your coverage of the convention? Most industries save the back patting for a post-event staff party.)

Here's another confession: I tune into This Week with George Stephanopoulos each Sunday to watch only the round table. I have it timed perfectly, I flip the TV on just in time to watch Stephanopoulos introduce the weekly participants. Let me tell you, if Stephanopoulos doesn't announce George Will and Donna Brazile I am sorely disappointed. I don't know what it is about their debate but I find it calming and soothing; it gets my week started on the right foot.

Golf Guy has even learned that a 15 minute dose of the round table = a week of a more happy, well grounded Minima. He'll interrupt what he's watching to make certain I get to catch the show. Why? I can't really put my finger on it. Maybe it's just the idea that there are people in the world who can disagree civilly on the fundamentals. Maybe it's the idea that not everyone associated with politics has lost their damned minds. Maybe it's the idea that the adults may still be in charge.

Anyway, Donna Brazile? She's one of my heroes.

If you're interested in politics, biographies or behind the scenes of the 2000 election I suggest you read her book, Cooking with Grease.

John McCain outsmarted by Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton's response to John McCain's ad.

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How weird is it that I now like Paris better than McCain? Hell, I'd certainly vote for her before I'd ever vote for him. Maybe I should start a list of people I'd vote for for president before I'd vote for John McCain? Nah, too long, waste of paper. Just rest assured that you're on there.

Maybe next John McCain could make an ad insulting David Hasselhoff? I'd love to hear the Hoff's take on economic policy.

Good riddance to bad rubbish

Alaska Senator Ted Stephens has been indicted on corruption charges.
It's about damned time. Resign now, Ted!

Oh, did you notice the lack of respect in the way that addressed him not just by his first name but ignoring his title as well? Lack. Of. Respect.

Do the decent thing, Ted, resign now and give your party time to put up a good candidate for November.

People like Senator Stephens (he of the Bridge to Nowhere fame) have been pushing fiscally conservative voters like me out of the Republican party for some time now. I fully expect Senator John McCain (a fiscal conservative himself) to jump on excoriating Stephens, and if/when he does, good for him.

Shocked because I sorta complimented McCain? I don't blame you. But although I'm not a fan of Senator McCain I will give him credit where credit is due. He does talk a good game when it comes to fiscal conservatism.

Here's wishing the people of Alaska the best of luck in filling Ted's seat with a decent human being. Whether a Republican or Democrat, I'll be happy with more fiscal conservatives in Congress. I'm not partial to any particular party at this point.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" - Fail

An extreme home makeover, a mortgage pay off and $100,000 cash? But 3 years later they're facing foreclosure.

Oh, please! And yeah, take my tax dollars to finance their mortgage bailout. Misled, my ass.

Italy to run Alligator Alley?

Charlie Crist has lost his damned mind.

As a life long Florida resident, and formerly proud Republican, I STG if John McCain picks Crist as his running mate I will:

1. Change my registration to something other than Republican (to what, I have no idea),
   
2. Personally campaign (door to freaking door) for Barack Obama,
3. Do everything I can as a former Republican blogger to defeat John McCain in November

No, seriously. I'm not joking.

We may as well run the whole damned party into the wall if it's a McCain/Crist ticket.

Hit it hard! I don't want to walk away from this one.

Charlie Crist "says" he's getting married?

That's a weird way to announce an engagement, don't you think? But it's the actual phrasing of the headline on TampaBay.com the website of the St. Pete Times: " Florida Gov. Crist says he's getting married". Gee, you'd think that they're suspicious that it's some jaded political ploy or something. In their defense Charlie is frequently a fiance and rarely a groom. Crist has been engaged 5 times and married only once (and that lasted a short 6 months).

Though I wish the couple happy many happy years together I can't help but wonder Charlie will get another case of cold feet if John McCain is defeated in November.

Sorry, do I sound like I think it's a foregone conclusion that Crist will be McCain's VP pick?

I do.

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