I have no problem "pre" judging based on what the candidate pledged to do while campaigning. If people had issues with what Bush pledged to do upon entering office, that was fair game. I am talking about the attacks against him personally that started, literally, the day after the election. Saying, "I am worried Bush will appoint justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade" is totally fine with me. Saying, "Bush is a moron, and he stole the election" is a different matter. I have not pre-judged any of Obama's actions. I have judged what he has said he will do. Two different things. I don't know how successful his election will be. I don't like a lot of the bills he has said he would sign - card check, Freedom of Choice Act, another stimulus package, tax increases on those making $250,000 and above. I have also judged him on what he has already done. Opposing the surge. Opposing the Born Alive Infants Protection Act in Illinois. None of that is pre-judging.
I think that if Obama doesn't do anything too stupid he will be considered successful just because I am sure the recession will end during his presidency (hopefully), just as Bush will take the blame for the start of the recession. I didn't want Obama as president, but I hope he does better than I think he is.
Never claimed we were any better, but our election this year was also VERY unpopular up here. Not a single person up here wanted it beyond the ruling party, and the results of the election was practically the same as we had last time. Our politics up here is rather uninspired these days.. so I am not surprised it was a record low.
It was on a news ticker today when I was in the elevator.. so it was simply quick blurb. I am sure once all the counting is done, the analysis will be done to death and we'll know regardless.
I've started to see it popping up in a couple other places. It is an estimate by a professor at George Mason University, based on his exit poll projections, not actual official numbers. I think we need to wait and see, but as I said, the numbers I posted earlier were lower than '04, and we are not likely to see a huge influx of numbers near the end here, based on what areas have not yet reported. All the big population centers have already reported, and the remainders now tend to be from smaller, more remote precincts. This number is floating out there of historic turnout, but I think we are going to see it differently once the final official numbers are out. Not to undermine his victory, but I don't think Obama won this election by getting so many new people out to vote, so much as a situation of switching demographics in some areas, and changing minds in others. He pulled some key states away from Republicans, making it too hard to overcome - Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, Florida. And McCain made no inroads in traditionally Democratic strongholds. It is as simple as that. Young voter percentages were only up, it appears, 1% higher than four years ago.
I honestly like seeing the 95% civilized debate about this issue. I have learned a great deal that I didnt know. Everyone was either dem, rep, or other. I would have voted for Jimmy Buffett but he was on the ballot. He wasnt though even though I had the bumper sticker on the back of my car. No controversy and everyone would be happy!
