Obama Wins; McCain Concedes

And I'm depressed. But, it happens. You win some, you lose some. We lost this one.

I watched McCain's concession speech. Profoundly inspiring and depressing at the same time. McCain was very gracious. Sounds like Obama was also a gracious winner. So, good.

Democrats are picking up seats in the House and the Senate. Not filibuster proof, but not good news, either.

It's going to be a tough, unpleasant, expensive ride until 2010.

Unfortunately, I was more optimistic about this thing than I really let myself believe. I've got no liquor in the house. This would be the perfect time to get a little sauced, and I did not plan ahead.

It's not all bad news. We got Sarah Palin. She may never be president, but I don't think she's just going to wither up and float away, either.

And I think the economy has serious problems which have been exacerbated by the bailout bill, rather than fixed. While, yes, the Democrats were actually to blame for most of this in the first place, there won't be any place to put it but right at their door. They'll have the Whitehouse. They'll have the congress and the senate. They will not be able to blame further market collapses on the Republicans.

And, believe it or not, it could have been worse. I'm thinking particularly of John Edwards or Dennis Kucinich. Either of these guys would have been much easier for McCain to beat, but, if elected, almost certainly worse for the country.

And, um, Obama speaks well. Um. I'm running out things. Guys, help me out.

There are a few unpleasant things to face. The judiciary and federal bureaucracy are going to be infected with radicals and liberals. However, we've been there, done that. It's a constant problem. I think this will be as bad as it has ever been, if not worse. But still, better than most of Europe.

Taxes are going to go up. For everybody. The economy is going to slow down. Our National Security may be jeopardized. Which will, at least, establish without a doubt that Democrats really are, after all, weak on defense. New energy sources will not be explored. Money will be thrown at alternative energies that produce no results, and drive the prices of fuel and food up.

Other stuff will be harder for Obama to do. Bankrupting the coal industry might be in his plan, but he's going to have a hard time getting all the Democrats he will need to make that happen to sign on. Legislation that will make national energy prices go up at every level will be less popular than Clinton's proposed VAT tax. Trying to silence Fox News and Rush Limbaugh will backfire. Majorly.

Still, I'm girding myself. This is going to be a bumpy ride.

Based on historical trends, an Obama victory was almost inevitable. I hoped that the American people, collectively, would be smarter than history. But you know what? They almost never are. C'est la vie.

Still, at the end of the day, I can understand Obama's appeal. I can find a lot to like about him. Sure, he's done some very questionable things and supports some suspect policies, but he never called 5 brave and innocent Marines murderers and rapists in a press conference, and elsewhere. He never referred to his own constituents as racists and ignorant. Meaning, I can understand why Barack Obama is our president elect. But I can't understand why John Murtha's constituents returned that worthless sack of excrement to the house. I really can't. I also can't understand Dick Durbin being rewarded for being a complete and utter jackass.

Barack Obama may loathe the military, but I don't know it. If he does, he at least has the good sense to keep it to himself.

That's it. I'm rambling. Walker's gonna revoke my posting privileges.

I'll finish it thusly: like it or not, Obama is now the President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief. His past does not bode well for his wise and responsible use of this revered office. But I hope, since then, he has changed.

-- Kevin

Obama Staffer Registers to Vote in 3 States; Votes in Two

You gotta admire that Obama campaign staff creativity. Now, that's confidence.

And, apparently other staffers are doing likewise. But I'm sure Obama doesn't approve.

I thought this was a guaranteed landslide. Why go to the trouble and expense of state hopping just to add your vote to an already guaranteed landslide?

Jimmy Carter Was Polling Better than Reagan in 1980

Not that it means anything today. The New York Times doesn't think it does. But the pullquote here is still interesting:

Since Gallup began presidential polling in 1936, only one candidate has overcome a deficit that large, and this late, to win the White House: Ronald Reagan, who trailed President Jimmy Carter 47 percent to 39 percent in a survey completed on Oct. 26, 1980.

So, go forth and vote. You never do know.

Obama Wins Dixville Notch in a Landslide

Dixville Notch, which hasn't gone for the Democrat since 1968, cast their ballots for Barack Obama in a Dixville Notch landslide early this morning. Obama took it handily, 15 to 6. That's 15 votes to 6 votes, to be clear.

Although I'm preparing myself for a day of exquisite political depression--and, if you have to be depressed about the direction of the country, you might as well plan on savoring it--it is worth noting that in 1968, the Democrat that Dixville Notch went for was Hubert Humphrey. Richard Nixon ended up winning the general election, in a close contest, by just 500,000 votes. 

Vote Palin/McCain! I'm planning on hitting the polls just around 11:30. A short drive, a little Rush Limbaugh on the radio, and I will cast my vote for the guy and gal the pollsters and the MSM are sure are going to lose, and lose big.

Ah, well. If no one ever stood athwart history shouting "Stop!", we never would have gotten The National Review or the legacy of William F. Buckley. So, this time, it might as well be us.