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Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Open election thread
Everything I have to say about the election before the returns come in, I'd already said — probably ten times — before the polls opened today.
But if you have something you'd like to say, here's a new thread for it! (Please be civil and nonprofane, as always.)
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Update (Tue Nov 2 @ 6:10pm): Actually, I do have something to say before any significant returns have come in — something that I think may express a genuinely widespread and bipartisan sentiment:
Thank you, men and women of the United States Armed Forces, and of the military forces from our gallant allies in the Global War on Terror, for putting your lives on the line — and in some cases giving up life or limb — to protect our freedom.
If anyone had asked me on 9/11/01 what the odds would be that Americans could go to the polls today without having suffered another major terrorist attack here sometime in the interim, I'd have confidently and grimly predicted more disasters. Certainly our enemies would have attacked us, if they could have. That they couldn't, and therefore didn't, we owe to you. Regardless of the outcome of this election, you all have my profound gratitude and admiration and respect.
Posted by Beldar at 06:00 PM in Politics (2006 & earlier) | Permalink
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Comments
(1) Opinionated Vogon made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 6:13:03 PM | Permalink
(2) Beldar made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 6:15:44 PM | Permalink
Great picture, Opinionated, and I agree!
(3) Phil/North Carolina USA made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 6:33:05 PM | Permalink
Beautiful! Enemies of the United States focus on death, Americans focus on life! Many have sacrificed and we owe them much.
(4) MeTooThen made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 6:48:34 PM | Permalink
Beldar,
After all, what more can I add after your declaration of thanks and heartfelt appreciation for our men and women in our Armed Services.
If not for them, there would be no voting today.
As always, well done Beldar.
(5) thebronze made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 6:58:25 PM | Permalink
Beldar,
Your welcome.
thebronze
USAF
(6) Narniaman made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 7:06:53 PM | Permalink
The US Military. . . . .
The organization that brought Democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan and keeps Democracy alive and well in the United States.
Thanks Again.
And I hope we all get to keep the Commander-in-Chief.
(7) mshyde made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 7:30:32 PM | Permalink
I just looked over at the blogads on your site.
And this is what I saw that is so relevant. :)
America's founders said look to yourself for security...
And that still stands today.
I too have nothing but admiration and appreciation for the service our military gives for it's sovereignty and citizens. They are the symbol of our freedoms.
(8) Jake made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 8:02:02 PM | Permalink
Beldar...your track record in support of the Swiftees is archived for all to see and, in that regard, you have few peers. When the MSM finally overcomes it's primal aversion to reporting on an unvarnished John Kerry, both your reportage and the historical triumph of a small group of courageous and honorable veterans will be illuminated.
Well done Beldar. Well done.
(9) Roofer made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 8:37:27 PM | Permalink
I only hope that, come tomorrow morning, Americans have demonstrated that they still have the collective wisdom to designate a commander-in-chief worthy of the troops he commands.
I do not wear a uniform, and never had the opportunity to do so. However, it takes more than one hand to count the number of men with whom I went to college who have lost their lives while serving in the military. And not a one saw combat. [hyperbole]Kerry isn't fit to clean the toilets of men such as they[/hyperbole], and the fact that so many Americans would willingly choose to be led by a man so long on criticism, vitriol and hindsight and so short on honor, character, and integrity, is going to leave me depressed no matter how tonight turns out.
(10) RodgerS made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 9:06:04 PM | Permalink
I went out to the store at 4:00pm pacific time and bought a bottle of "French" champaign to celebrate Bush's win tonight. At that time in my conversations, in Vallejo, California, most people I talked to were for Kerry. I said I thought Bush had a 65% chance of winning (though not Ca), but 90% if you considered all the undeserved "Sh.." he has taken this year...ignoring all the right and thoughtful "reasons" I have been usually focused on.
(11) polyphon made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 9:22:29 PM | Permalink
As a strong Republican supporter and a big fan of Bush, I am unfortunately of the very strong opinion that this election will be won by the socialist John F(for Fraud) Kerry. We've lost this election because there are just too many young know-nothing kids voting, too many un-educated denizens of slums and ghettos, too many mentally-retarded Hollywood "celebrities" spewing off to influence primitives like these. There will always be many more "pre-humans" like these than well-educated, well-read, financially-established, reality-based folks like most Republicans.
If the world were run by a popular vote, we would all be catering to the ghetto-dwellers of Calcutta, GuangDong, Lagos. Just so, with the media whores desperately forcing the Communist Leftist world view on us, we will for the next four years be catering to the infinite and irresponsible appetites of the primal ghetto bums of our largest cities. Thus begins the fall of the American Empire. "For thine is the..."
(12) SteveoBrien made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 9:47:37 PM | Permalink
Non-news
No big surprises. Don't think there will be. Tomorrow night this time may prove to be more exciting tonight.
Good PBS program on volcanoes followed by one on Thomas Jefferson and his generation. Two interested hours not wasted on the elections. ;)
Thanks for the opportunity to post. Enjoy your blog and wish you the best.
(13) RodgerS made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 10:29:36 PM | Permalink
Response to Polyphon believing Kerry will win because of "...young know-nothing kids voting, too many un-educated denizens of slums and ghettos, too many mentally-retarded Hollywood "celebrities"..."
The kids have astutely stayed home today. The denizens and celebs are mostly in CA, which you can ignor, since CA is gonna go blue anyway you slice and dice it, which means Polyphon's needs to get out of town more and look around to see what is going on from a national perspective.
(14) Boger made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 11:08:05 PM | Permalink
Count me one of those who thought Al Queda would get in another hit here at home between 9/11 and the election. They have not, and I do credit the organization and leadership of the President. Also, I think, you have to mention Tom Ridge. My impression is that he is on top of his job. There is something about him that I very much like. He was on Leno several months ago, very affable, frank and tough minded. Anyway, Leno asked him, words to the effect: OK, Mr. Secretary, lets say I am Joe Blow citizen and I wake up one day and the threat level has gone from orange to red. What should I do. Ridge: "Change your underwear."
But you have to believe, Osama, wanted to hit us in the worst way on or before the election. I think the whole homeland securtiy team (Pres, Ridge, FBI, CIA, INS, etc) should get a terrific pat on the back. Of course, my next comment to them would be, What have you done for us lately?
(15) polyphon made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 11:21:02 PM | Permalink
I'm feeling slightly better with early Florida results, but I don't know how anybody pro-Bush could feel comfortable with how close the polls and votes are in Ohio and NM and NV.
(16) David Blue made the following comment | Nov 2, 2004 11:37:31 PM | Permalink
My hopeful expectations for this election were wrong, and America is still a fifty-fifty nation.
Provisionally at least, power is shifting away from the people, who weren't able to reach a decision beyond the reach of cheating and lawsuits.
The voters have done what they can. Intimidation and fraud have done what they can. Now all the preliminaries are done and the ultimate power begins to be felt. The lawyers are fighting for Ohio.
Beldar, depending on how things go, your blog may become more important than ever.
(17) RodgerS made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 12:06:43 AM | Permalink
I'm feeling slightly better with early Florida results, but I don't know how anybody pro-Bush could feel comfortable with how close the polls and votes are in Ohio and NM and NV.
Answer: Well, all the 2000 Bush states are staying Bush and Kerry is getting less votes than Al Gore...
(18) RodgerS made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 12:09:14 AM | Permalink
My hopeful expectations for this election were wrong, and America is still a fifty-fifty nation.
Provisionally at least, power is shifting away from the people, who weren't able to reach a decision beyond the reach of cheating and lawsuits.
Response: the people are actually taking their power back as shown by the record voter turnouts...
(19) The Old Coot made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 12:22:04 AM | Permalink
It looks like Mr. Bush will lead us for another four years. Thank God.
(20) polyphon made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 12:28:33 AM | Permalink
I'm shocked. Maybe there's hope for the country yet. I was reading dailykos.com for some good Schadenfreude - lots of it to enjoy there. Congratulations to the old towel-snapper.
(21) AH made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 12:51:50 AM | Permalink
It's not over at 12:45 am CST Nov. 3, but it's lookin' darn good. I was lucky enough to be checking states as Iowa flipped. No doubt the gremlins will try to stir up dust, but it will surely be over relatively soon.
Amazing, no tv or print, I only checked a few blogs and the c-span and cnn maps, and was on top minute by minute. A new world with data at our fingertips.
Congratulations to my countrymen on {y}our good sense. And, in my strong opinion, the protection of Divine Providence.
By the way, Viet Vets, welcome home. And thank you.
(22) Kent made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 1:12:23 AM | Permalink
"By the way, Viet Vets, welcome home. And thank you."
Geez, don't say things like that. Now you've got me crying like a baby.
(23) David Blue made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 1:48:53 AM | Permalink
David Blue: "Provisionally at least, power is shifting away from the people, who weren't able to reach a decision beyond the reach of cheating and lawsuits."
RodgerS: "Response: the people are actually taking their power back as shown by the record voter turnouts..."
That's a point. I'm glad to acknowledge it. :) I don't like the story "Lawyers rule OK" - it just looked for a while there things might head in that direction.
Also the scope for crooked lawyering seems to be diminishing.
And one of the factors that will make it harder to drag this through the courts forever is that George W. Bush clearly won the popular vote. Which means everyone who voted for George W. Bush did their country and the world a huge service, even if they were in a state where it seemed like their vote was "wasted".
Bush voters everywhere: THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!
(24) SteveoBrien made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 2:57:55 AM | Permalink
He lied in 1971. He lied in 2004.
There is a God. :)
(25) SemiPundit made the following comment | Nov 3, 2004 7:17:23 AM | Permalink
And now this administration's downward spiral of self-destruction begins...
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