Stop the H8

Emi and I stumbled on a giant gay marriage rally at city hall.

I love this town.

Mak'n sausage

As I've said elsewhere, I came out of this presidential election with a desire to better understand what really happened the last couple decades. One aspect of that questioning is wanting to understand what it was that brought the Republican party to the state that would lead to the past eight years and to such a damaging defeat?

Tonight's Frontline begin to put those pieces into place in my search for this explanation as it focused on Lee Atwater and his arc through the Republican party starting in the 70's and ending with his death shortly before Clinton took office.

Sure this is a look into a politics of disgust that I and others have grown to hate intensely, but more striking then that for me was how this child of the South had to say about my own upbringing. Quite frankly, the South that Atwarter used so deftly in his career was the south that I grew up in.

One more piece in a puzzle that I shake my head in bafflement looking back to even before Regan's win in 1980. Looking into the eyes of the beast is not so easy when even in some small way you feel you see yourself looking back.

For those hungry to understand our current politics and the politics of the last eight years, this is a good place to start.

FRONTLINE: boogie man: the lee atwater story | PBS

via www.pbs.org on 11/11/08

The rise and fall of the charming, Machiavellian godfather of modern take-no-prisoners Republican political campaigns.

NPR Coverage of Frugality

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(click title for original page and audio)

Google Gets Frugal

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Weekend Edition Sunday, November 9, 2008 · Internet giant Google is known for its workplace perks. Google employees, called Googlers, have been able to take advantage of on-site massages, a concierge service and three gourmet meals a day.

But in these belt-tightening times, the company is slicing through the food budget. Now there are shorter hours for the company's cafeterias, and no more afternoon tea on Tuesdays. Host Liane Hansen speaks with technology columnist Farhad Manjoo of Slate Magazine about what else Google's cutting.

6:30 am Nov. 5th - Out Of Coffee

This morning's walk into work felt very different from yesterday.

At risk of gloating, I wore the same Obama buttons I've been wearing in anticipation of election day.

Picking up both the Wall Street Journal (my neighborhood paper) and the New York Times (my local paper) I scanned for news on Senate seats and other important votes from yesterday, but given their printing times I'd have to wait for the office and the computer for the most recent details. Those'll go into the memory box though.

There is a lot to contemplate from last night.

McCain's concession speech is what I had seen and respected in him from years past. How far he let his party and efforts stray. At the end of the day it was his leadership that lead to this failure and I still wait for a comprehensive history/analysis of the implosion the GOP has gone through. There is more going on here worth understanding.

Some commentators (PBS's Jim Lehrer's News Hour was our show of choice) pointed to the close elections in 2000 and 2004 as proof of the ground swell against the politics of hate, division and fear mongering. David Brooks (a conservative columnist I respect greatly) wasn't ready to label that sea change just yet. The important take away is that Obama and Democrats in general cannot assume too much. Diligence and hard work are still ahead and that is on top of the craps sandwich that Bushes is passing off.

Briefly on Palin, many Democrats will try and preemptive take her down. Such strength in the Democratic party should be encouraged especially since it has long been non-existent or subdued. That said, to me Palin represents the far Right of the Republican party and it is that portion that is splitting that party and contributed to this loss. The McCain / Palin ticket loosing so resoundingly risks making anyone who touched that campaign (even a Governor from Alaska) somewhat of a tainted product.

It is still too close to call 60 Senatorial seats yet and this battle may come down to runoffs in Georgia. This photo finish does point to the challenges ahead and should encourage those who won not to rest on their laurels. This will be unfolding.

No on Prop 8 in California looked to be struggling last night before I went to bed and a scan of LA Times confirms that a miracle is still needed to change this. It saddens me greatly that Prop 8 could pass in this day in age. But that battle will go on (fingers still crossed until it is official though).

Obama's victory speech last night was amazing. It was not rhetoric of a gloating victor. No arrogance could be found in his tone. There were some grumblings about the length though it was nothing like what Clinton was known for. Mentions of race and the achievements of Black America will definitely be picked on, but criticism on that point is open to labels of veiled racism. Put it another way, our country has waited a long time for this day and a few extra words on the topic seem wholly appropriate. Illusions and quotes from some America's finest moments could be found in this speech. FDR, JFK, and the not the least of which was another great President from Illinois.

It was obviously a late night in the office yesterday as evident by all the coffee beans having been used up by the revilers. I walked across the street to Chelsea Market where Ninth Street Espresso had just opened up. Putting a lid on my drink a security guard next to me seeing my Obama button said "We made history last night."

I agreed and mentioned that next year was the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. This just feels right.

One last comment before going to bed...

Emi woke up on his own a few minutes before the speech. Chris and I cheered him up quickly with the news. With stoic joy, just as our new president, this little kid sat and watched the speech in its entirety.

My son woke from a nightmare and I believe with all my heart that America has too woken.

I've never been a prouder American then I am today.

All that's left now...

...is figuring out when to wake up Emi for the victory speech!

Help me Obama-kenobi. Your our only hope!

CNN has stooped to new dorky lows...

Bedtime...for the kids...

I had to promise the boy I'd wake him up if Obama wins the election.

The subtlety of electoral college and many other reporting are lost on a young mind.

He has been inspired over the last couple weeks with us reading about the candidates, watching coverage and speeches.

On the walk home from dinner we peeked in at a couple polling stations. 

If he stays in bed through 9pm I'll be surprised, but if I wake him up with news before 11pm I'll be thrilled.

Google (almost) to the rescue!

Walking down Hudson to meet the family for dinner a random woodbe voter approached me (Obama button being on display) and asked if I knew where the nearest voting station was. I pulled out my iPhone and eventually my tester Google Phone only in the end to call Aaron in CA and have him to a quick web search for the polling station.

Oh well. At least it made me feel a little less lazy for not driving to Pennsylvania or Ohio to help get the vote.

Google at (is) the ballot box

Notice how the "G" causes the ballot box to bulge.

Did I mention you should go vote now if you haven't?

Georgia On My Mind

My colleague who votes in NYC but works out of our Atlanta office came up just to vote.

She's excited but couldn't stand the thought of being in Georgia as if Obama looses. She seemed concerned by the attitude of some racist folks down there.

I'm guessing she is way over concerned on this point, but wouldn't it be an amazing accomplishment if Georgia went blue?

Lets focus on Pennsylvania and Virgina first I guess.

6am November 4th 2008

Passing PS89 this morning there was already a gathering of a few voters getting in their early morning ballots.

Having been pretty quite the last few weeks on LoMa for a variety of reasons, some of which included a crescendoing additions to campaign coverage, I'm excited. I'm very excited. Today will likely be one of the most (if not THE most) historic election of my lifetime.

Taking a moment to hearken back to a previous famous election I read this 1860 post from The Atlantic. It references a hole bunch of details that have faded through history, but the key points you get. As a little motivation for folks laking the energy to vote...

"The theory of democracy presupposes something of these results of official position in the individual voter, since in exercising his right he becomes for the moment an integral part of the governing power."


A vote like today only comes around once. Vote.