I love the smell of democracy in the evening

[annathepiper]

I voted tonight, of course. I came home from work to do my duty by my country and my cat, picking up the car and going right back out again to go and vote and then to pick up thyroid meds for Polly. And on the way home, I grabbed some green apple Smirnoff's on the grounds that no matter how the election results went, I figured I pretty much needed some booze tonight.

I haven't written a word on Nanowrimo tonight, but that's okay. 'Cause I'm watching the election results on TV, and I figure, y'know, that's a tad bit more important. Also, the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert teamup of the Midterm Midtacular took a big part of the sting out of the entire process. ;)

So does the incoming word that it's looking like the Dems are taking the House. I'm particularly pleased that Rick Santorum has gone down in flames, because, well, y'know, fuck him. There are rumblings coming out of South Dakota that the proposed measure to ban virtually all abortions--y'know, the one that makes no exceptions for the health and life of the mother, or for rape or incest? That one?--is going to be defeated. On the other hand, it's looking like maybe eight states are going to pass same-sex marriage bans. Sigh.

CNN's got the Senate count running neck and neck, 48 to 48, with 4 more seats left to call. And apparently over in Virginia, George "Every Time I Open My Mouth Racial Slurs Fall Out" Allen is in the fight of his life. I'd definitely like to see him taken down--and ooh look, Webb's pulled ahead of him. That's going to be a recount scenario for sure. And it looks like a majority of Democratic governors are getting elected, too.

More locally, looks like we have the initiatives that suck (920 and 933) going down, but 937 looks like it's going down too. Damn. But at least we're keeping Cantwell and Inslee.

And there have been the obligatory stories about voter intimidation, though honestly less than I was expecting. And you'd know it'd be my very own birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky that had the news item about the poll worker trying to choke a voter and throwing him out the door--though surprisingly, this was apparently over a dispute about filling out all of the ballot rather than a Democrat vs. Republican thing.

On MSNBC as I write this, they're starting to use the word "tsunami" in describing the situation tonight. Nobody's committing to calling the Senate yet, but there are quite a few surprised noises being made by the commentators.

Interesting evening all around. It'll be fun to see how many recount challenges kick in starting tomorrow.

ETA 9:27pm: Whoops, wait, 937 is pulling ahead. Go, 937, go!

ETA 9:29pm: And oh yeah; there was a syndicated editorial column on seattletimes.com today that I really appreciated. To wit: a letter to the Dems telling them what they need to do with their victory. EARN IT.

Comments

[zeekar.livejournal.com]

At least the same-sex marriage ban in AZ is close, and might lose. Ditto the Oregonian parental notification/waiting period for minor abortions. And where the same-sex marriage ban did pass, it did so with generally closer margins than the similar measures two years ago. These small things give me hope for the future, however much the present may suck.

Heck, Nevada may legalize marijuana. Wouldn't that be a kick in the head?

[annathepiper]

Hrmm, CNN's page about the issues has the AZ measure still processing. So we'll see what happens there. But Nevada shot down legalizing marijuana. I'm almost disappointed, since that would have totally been a kick in the head. ;)

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

937 is actually ahead at 51.5% right now...

[annathepiper]

Yeah, I just got corrected on that by Dara. I doublechecked seattletimes.com's live feed of the results. :)

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

I use vote.wa.gov for this stuff.

I'm fretting about our house race in the 8th. Stupid Pierce county people voting for Reichert.

[annathepiper]

Looks like he's still hanging in there, too. This may be a bit. O.o

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

they're starting to use the word "tsunami" in describing the situation tonight

But is that the election, or the local weather?

Squee, I'm sure liking this election better than the one in 2004!

[annathepiper]

But is that the election, or the local weather?

HAH! ;)

[spenceraloysius.livejournal.com]

I helped take down Santorum. Bwahahahaha!

[annathepiper]

Thank you!

Re: Louisville

[rosepurr.livejournal.com]

Northrup went DOWN!

Re: Louisville

[annathepiper]

Woot!

[ravyngyngvar.livejournal.com]

Just watched the whole Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert teamup, which has been put up on the Comedy Central website. Pity I couldn't watch it live. But for "Midterm elections, they come right in the middle/Midterm elections, they matter quite a little," they do in fact matter a wee lot. Especially if the Senate changes hands too.

The hope, the hope.

Had to tie in with that subject of yours *somehow.* :)

[annathepiper]

The AP is now calling the Senate for the Dems, yeah. CNN isn't committing to it yet since they say it's too close to call still for them. And Allen hasn't conceded yet. But on the other hand, Allen's people are also saying that he doesn't intend to drag things out, either. Which is refreshing and surprising.