CafeChatNoir

The advantage of voting in the middle of the day is no lines.  The downside is no bake sales, either.

Virginia is back to paper ballots, and I can’t say that I mind.  As much as electronic voting is cool and easy and I’d love someday to be able to vote from home, there is still something nice about having a piece of paper to back up my vote.

I’ll be interested to see what the statewide turnout is – I would think it would be fairly decent as we are electing a governor, but who knows.  The Democrats seem to have lost a lot of momentum with getting out the youth and minority vote, so I suspect that it will be down quite a bit from last year.  If the plethora of yard signs is any indicator, our district will again have a good turnout.  (We tend to have a high turnout every year anyway.)

One thing that has perplexed me a bit is that I keep hearing that these elections are a “referendum on Obama” – which I hope they are not, since it seems a touch shortsighted to me.  Call me crazy, but I tend to vote for candidates that will best represent me, regardless of who is sitting in the Oval Office.  Then again, I could just be talking out my ass, cause I’ll admit I don’t understand political strategy for crap.

It’s what all the pundits are telling me on TV.  However, looking at what has gone through the house so far, I see no mention of grandma-offing.  (Nor do I see anything particularly egregious that is going to make the world come to an end.)

Now, if the President is going to kill my grandmother as I keep hearing, I am going to sell tickets and take bets.  I give it 10 minutes before he’s in the fetal position in the corner crying and saying, “Make the mean lady go away!”  Besides, if the government was going to take out my grandmother over her cost to the government, they would have hired a hitman years ago over her survivor benefit pension.

I realize there are people who aren’t in favor of these bills.  But come up with something better than “we’ll end up euthanizing the elderly” as your sound bite.

In today’s White House press conference, the press decided to beat up the new press secretary a bit on it with, “Well, if he took the oath again, why didn’t he sign his first executive orders again?”

Now folks, I think we ALL know why they did the oath again.  Not out of “an abundance of caution” as is the party line at the moment.

They did it to get people to STFU about the “OMG, he’s not really the president!” hollering.

He’s president.  He’s been the president since the 20th.  He will be for the next 4 years, goofed oath or not.

Please be aware that you need to download form RNBW-UNC-2009 from Change.gov, fully complete the form and return it to the White House, or your local chapter of the Democratic National Committee.

Bear in mind that these are live animals and can’t just be sent out willy-nilly across the country like a slew of tax stimulus checks.  There is also the issue that only so many unicorns can be fit in a standard USPS delivery truck, and trained animal handlers are still being dispatched to the regional post offices.  Delivery addresses need to be confirmed as well as verification that zoning laws allow unicorns in residences in your area.  If you rent your home, a note from your landlord indicating that unicorns are allowed as pets will be required as well.

Additionally, it has been brought to light that many people are planning on naming their unicorn “Hope” or “Change”…  You may wish to seriously consider alternate names, as you could end up with half a dozen unicorns at your back door when you go out to call “Hope” inside for the evening.

Finally, please do not be duped by those claiming that they can “expedite” your unicorn delivery for a “small administrative fee” – these are not legitimate government officials, and often can also be found selling “marijuana farming licenses” as well as “jackalope hunting permits”  Be aware!

Enjoy your unicorn, and be sure to follow the care and feeding instructions that will be provided at delivery.

Between the DCist updates and CNBC coverage, I’d say Obamapalooza is in full swing.  As of 10 AM, the Mall is at capacity.  One Metro line has been shut down.  Several Metro stations are holding trains because you can’t get *out* of the station.  Cell phone service is spotty at best as everyone tries to send cell phone camera pictures back home.

I’d say my decision to stay home and watch from the comfort of home wasn’t the worst idea in the world, but the energy of the crowds is evident, even through the TV.

Word has it that Cheney will be attending in a wheelchair because he threw his back out trying to move things…  Mr. Cheney, didn’t anyone tell you they will provide help for that?  You shouldn’t be trying to move a man sized safe by yourself.

While I don’t think there is enough money in the world for me to want to be the President of the United States, there is one aspect of it all that I do envy:  The moving staff.

Between the time that the Bushes and Obamas leave the White House after their morning coffee and the Obamas return back home this evening, all the old items will be packed up and moved out, and all of the new items will be moved in – AND UNPACKED.  Who wouldn’t want that crew the next time they have to move?

In all seriousness, it’s a pretty nifty day today, and I am enjoying how chuffed people are about it all.  It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of electing someone into our highest office who *wasn’t* a white male (and probably a somewhat older one to boot) was well, inconceivable.

I don’t expect that at 12:01 this afternoon that the world will be filled with unicorns and rainbows.  President Obama will have his share of screwups.  Every President does.  And he’s walking into a bit of a mess to put it mildly, and trying to fix it all without at least a few missteps will be virtually impossible.

However, I’m looking forward to something different.  Maybe it will be better, maybe it will be worse.  But I think a new approach won’t be the worst thing for the country by any means.

Welcome to DC, Mr. President.

It would seem that the Blair House is booked for the inauguration – except the Obamas aren’t on the reservation list.

Seriously??  How is there not a permanent hold on rooms for the President Elect and the entourage for every election year?  If it’s a year where the incumbent wins, release the rooms the day after the election.  Not that hard!

While the President Elect isn’t the most important person on the planet, for inauguration weekend I really can’t think of a more important guest at the Blair House.  Honestly, I can only think of one other person in the US that could trump the President Elect, and frankly, if that family is involved – it’s kind of a jerk move.

Or, WOW, what a screwup on the part of the Blair House.

Well, there’s always Craigslist for the incoming First Family.  I’d offer up our guest rooms, but the little one’s allergies wouldn’t go well with the Moxley dog.

Virginia went Blue.  Well done.  And yes, I was on CNN.com hitting refresh every minute last night watching those returns come in.

I’m still fumbling about for words.

I wish my Mom had been alive to see this.  She would have loved it.  When she moved to Atlanta as a child, there were still separate water fountains.  And look how far we’ve come.

I was amazed it was over and done so early – I really thought we’d be up half the night counting and watching and waiting.

McCain’s concession speech was exceptionally classy.  Little bro & I went up to the pub and watched Obama’s acceptance speech.  Though the pub leans a little more right than left, there were a few teary eyes and a fair amount of smiles.  The shot of the throngs of people celebrating in front of the White House had me grinning from ear to ear.  I have never seen an election where people were so downright joyous at the outcome.

Congratulations President-Elect Obama.

By calling the Virginia Senate race – WITH ZERO PRECINCTS REPORTING.

I hate exit polling.

The Virginia polls are closed (or more likely in some places, the last person in line has been told they will be the last person allowed in) and soon we’ll be on our way to knowing who our new President is.

I love elections.  The campaigns usually drive me nuts, but I do love to go and vote and sometimes who I pick actually wins to boot.

And yes, I’ll be up all night watching the returns come in.