I voted by mail, so I don't have much to say about my voting experience except that I hope they don't lose my ballot!

Yesterday at around 5 p.m., the intersection at Nees and Blackstone was filled with Prop 8 people -- two corners for Yes, two for No. At around 9:15, in the pouring rain, there was still a handful of people -- on both sides -- waving signs at passing cars that probably couldn't see them in the rainy darkness.

It looked like a game of chicken to see who would give up first. I didn't wait around to see who won (though I know which side I hope wins today).

Um, Obama's baseball card is getting a nice increase in value today.

http://cardboardicons.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/obama.jpg

This is pretty cool: NY Times Election Day Word Train

At 7:15 am I got to my polling station (St. Tereas Church in Tower). The line was too long (about 30 people out the door) and I needed to be to work. So I haven't voted yet. I'm going to go again after work when I have time to wait.

Also my twitter is blowing up this morning.

I voted at my Tower District polling place this morning, then went to Starbucks (I don't drink coffee, boo, had to pay for my soy latte). I thought it was hilarious that I recognized about five people there I'd just seen at the polling place. It's Tower, so they're freaky and easily recognizable. :)

That word train is cool. I typed in my word, saw it pop up and then noticed a bunch of synonyms in the train ahead of it -- I think the overwhelming feeling for the day is nervous, anxious, apprehensive, excited ...

That Ron Paul got two write-in votes in the first two NH towns to tally their votes makes me laugh.

Today i was a little mad because i didnt realize i live in the darn county island of fresno therefore i wasnt able to vote for henry perea for city of fresno mayor!! but not for long cause i was happy to vote for obama and i was also happy to vote "NO ON PROP 8". BUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT!! AND MAKE HISTORY WITH THIS NO ON 8 PROP. I HAVE TO WAIT TILL 2PM TO GET MY FREE CHICKEN SANDWHICH....

THERE SHOULDNT BE A PROP 8 ON THE BALLOT!!! IT'S HATEFUL

*PEOPLE ARE HIDING THEIR HATE BY SAYIN THEY WANT TO PROTECT MARRAIGE....
PROTECT IT FROM WHO? THE BOOGYMAN?

*PROTECT IT FROM CHEATERS AND HUSBAND AND WIFE BEATERS.
STRAIGHT OR GAY OR BI...IF U CHEAT OR ABUSE NO MARRAIGE 4 U.

IF THAT WAS THE CASE HALF THE PEOPLE IN TOWN WOULD KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT.

DUDE REALLY! HATE IN AMERICA? STILL!!

TODAY VOTE "NO ON 8"

WE ARENT IN 1960 ANYMORE DNT DRAG AMERICA DOWN.

VOTE NO ON HATE & DISCRIMINATION

*NO SCHOOL TEACHES ANY MARRAIGE TO KIDS, ARE YOU SERIOUSLY BELIEVING THAT? PEOPLE ARE STILL THAT GULLABLE? WOW

*PASTORS AND OTHER LEADERS ARE USING LIES TO SCARE YOU. THATS SAD! PASTORS ARE LYING??? WHAT ABOUT THE BIBLE! LYING IS A SIN.

*U CANT PICK AND CHOOSE BIBLE LAWS YOU WANT TO FOLLOW,WHEN THEY DNT AFFECT U.
ABSURD

*GET UR HEAD OUTTA THE 60'S & STOP HATRED

*DNT SAY YES ON 8 CAUSE RELIGIOUS REASONS, WHEN MOST OF YOU LOST UR VIRGINITY B4 MARRAIGE AND STILL HAVE SEX WITH OUT MARRAIGE, SO DNT GIVE ME THAT.

*NO ON 8 IS ABOUT CIVAL RIGHTS IN A "FREE COUNTRY"..

*YES ON 8 IS "NOT" ABOUT MARRAIGE, ITS ABOUT HATE.

*PROTECT MARRAIGE FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE AFFAIRS/& CHEAT
OR ABUSE THEIR WIVES OR HUSBANDS GAY OR STRAIGHT.

*MARRAIGE DOSENT AFFECT ME NO MATTER WHO DOES IT.

*PROP 8 ELIMINATES RIGHTS TO NOT ONE BUT TWO PEOPLE EACH TIME ITS UPHELD IF PASSED. WHAT? IN AMERICA?THATS JUST CRAZY....BY FREDDIE

Henry T. was standing on the corner of L and Kern St. about an hour ago. Just outside the limit from a voting station I presume as the County Registrar's building is located on Kern between M and L.

Henry T. Perea was on the corner of Kern & L this morning, caddy corner from the elections office (keeping his 100ft away). I turned in my absentee ballot this morning before work and got my fancy "I voted" sticker that I'm wearing proudly. I might even walk down to Starbucks and get my free cup of coffee later. Too bad Chik-fil-A isn't downtown because I would so like a free chicken sandwich for lunch!

I was in three arguments last night with people who really thought they could change my mind...

I watch the proposition clips on Comcast On-Demand...pretty entertaining. Going to vote at 2PM...

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M YELLING ABOUT!" Sorry, that just reminded me of Anchorman.

I was watching the live City Council feed...Henry wasn't at work today...Hmmmmm

You can watch celebrities, like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, report to their election polls throughout the day in La La Land via pesky tmz.com.

Also, check out google.com's cute "google" logo marking presidential Election Day 2008.

On Twitvote -- where people on Twitter vote -- Obama is currently winning 17,494 to 2,993.

A lot of newspapers, including The Bee, and media Web sites have published "how to" guides on following today's election results as the polls close from East Coast to West Coast.

I found this one on politico.com: it's got a humorous bent, though it seems to predict a McCain loss. It includes titles like "Sign McCain Is In Hot Water" and "Sign McCain Is Toast" and "Obamapocalypse."

i'm going to smoke a doobie before i go to the polls!! Green party representing!!!

Here's a nifty little voting story. Kinda warms the heart.

1) Got to my polling place at 5 'till 7. Already about 10 people in line.

2) There was a girl behind me in line with her mom (so I'm guessing, she looked no more than 15) and was wearing a Palin shirt. The problem wasn't the shirt (okay, maybe some of it was), but the fact she was wearing it at the polls. Yeah, you're not supposed to do that. After I voted, I looked back and she was just standing off to the side while her mom voted.

3) Driving to work, saw a guy with NO OBAMA painted on his windows. Classy, Fresno. Classy.

4) Walking to work (I work downtown, at the Plaza building), Henry T. and his daddy were on the corner across the street from the county clerk's offices. It was cutting it pretty close.

5) Last, but not least, my Obama sign was stolen from my lawn yesterday. And here is what is on my lawn today:
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8177/obamasign2001gl3.jpg

I got to turn in my ballot first at the Armenian Church on First and Huntington, where I got a pleasant wave from the KSEE Great Day folks, whom I had just watched while prepping.

Having volunteered on the Obama campaign for 12 of the last 15 months, I could barely sleep last night for the excitement to finally fill in my little oval box. I also have a lot of anxiety about the Prop 8 (Prop H8) going down.

I then listened to Jim Costa pontificate for a spell at the Obama office, where I was profusely thanking those who took up the battle after the primary win, and who have been tirelessly making REAL phone calls since I left the campaign in August.

Now I go to SF, because I want to watch the glitter fly (good or bad) after Prop 8 is decided. I'm bringing bail money in case it passes. No, seriously.

Forget it folks, it's all over. We've just been subjected to a Terminator style takeover!. This just in from the good folks at The Onion:

"Voting Machines Elect One Of Their Own As President:

Voting machine DRE700 came out of nowhere to defeat Barack Obama and John McCain and become the first machine president."

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/voting_machines_elect_one_of

I love tanya's homemade obama sign!

It took me a while to get to it, but I wanted to second what Adam said about the link he posted a few comments up.

That was a nice read.

with all the acts by supporters of all sides, i.e taking away signs, spray painting signs, death threats, etc, i wouldn't be surprised if one side tomorrow took actions to start a civil war in this country or state.

I voted. Now people can try to get me to change my mind.

Based on the Washington Redskins Predictor, the presidential outcome was decided on the football field:
"If the Washington Redskins win their last home game before election, it means the incumbent party will get to stay in the White House." (from CBS News)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/15/earlyshow/main4522983.shtml

Oh, wow. That really is a good story, Adam. Brought tears to my eyes.

Crazy thing I saw: this weekend on Blackstone at River Park there were people on both sides of the street with "Yes on 8" signs and "vote the bible". Which is fine, I'm a Christian, but I vote my convictions so I can understand their need to push their ideal.

I was intrigued to see a guy in the midst of them with a hand-written "No on 8" sign. Cool. Democracy in action. Until some lady literally got in his face. From my car I could see she was extremely angry and confrontational. He was obviously voicing his opinion back loudly but with a "hey I've got a right to be here too" look. He turned to keep on moving with his sign when I saw something that appalled me.

The woman tripped him. Seriously stuck her foot out and tried to knock him down. WTH? Lady, you made me sad to say I'm a Christian. You make me want to vote against ANYTHING you stand for. Where is the Love, that the very Bible you say to vote with preaches?

Sorry, violence does NOT lead to votes or respect for any culture or religion.

After 22 months of some pretty "high grade stuff" what are political junkies to do? Know of any rehab centers or 12 step programs? They'll be walking around in a stupor like extras from "Night of the Living Dead" after Wednesday.

11 Fictional Presidents You’d Likely Vote For Over Obama & McCain

Me -- I'm going with David Palmer.

i'm curious to know what these Christians will say tomorrow when No on 8 wins. They have been praying to God for the Yes vote to pass, but I'm interested in what they will say when No wins. That's the ultimate test of faith if there ever was one.

And from the Don't Believe All Your Email Department:

Hackers broke into the email account of the George Mason University provost in Virginia early this morning and sent out the following email to the entire student body -- more than 30,000 students -- and about 5000 faculty and staff:

Subject: Election Day Update To the Mason Community:
Please note that election day has been moved to November 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

Mmmmm...attempted voter disenfranchisement. Yummy. Nothing says lack of confidence in your candidate and blatant power grabbing like messing with the numbers, whichever side you're on.

I have received two robocalls using Obama to convince me to vote on proposition 8: One YES and one No

I decided to go get one last 2008 campaign laugh at JibJab this morning.

I would have normally gotten up this morning and walked down to the fire station here at West and Herndon to vote, but I went absentee this year instead!

However, I did call the county clerk two months ago to volunteer on election day and I guess what, I was rejected! Or at least... they never called me back for today. Imagine that, a 20-something who actually wants to volunteer and be involved in the election process, and they already have too many volunteers! (I'm guessing). That's new!

Some cool links for y'all....

Ha! @ ismccainpresident.com

Morning updates from The Bee, including an anti-Prop 8 group getting too close to a polling place

Oh, and check out the makeover on FresnoBee.com

What makeover? All I see is some stupid ad for Trisha Yearwood at Table Mountain.

i just got back from voting. just like my life, my polling station wasn't really exciting. no long lines, just in and out. i did overhear a republican state that the people at the table should be checking IDs. That's about as exciting as it got.

Gotcha beat on that one mdub. When I told the (old) person at the table my last name, they thought I was my dad.

This was pretty amusing:
Joe the Plumber vs. CNN's Rick Sanchez

Today while at Walgreens on Bullard and palm Ashley Swearingen was in line behind me. She has the same blackberry as me. That makes me smile. HA

When I arrived at the Fort Miller polling station, I was able to easily find a parking spot even though the designated parking area was rather full. I was surprised, however, to find that there was no line and only one person inside actually voting. I did overhear the staff talking about how busy it had been and so I wondered if the earlier voters had trouble finding parking in the voter parking lot.

My visit was unremarkable except for when I was initially told that they couldn't find my name. Yeah, I kinda freaked out for a moment.

As I have a hyphenated last name, they kept going back and forth checking under 2 different names and finally I was the one who spotted my name alphabetized correctly but on the top of the page. Once they found my name, everything went smoothly and I was in and out of there rather quickly.

"What makeover? All I see is some stupid ad for Trisha Yearwood at Table Mountain."

Word. Yeah, what's new Mike?

There's a big ol' thing that says "ELECTION '08" in the middle of the page with all kinds of election headlines and links ...

I voted this morning at 7am.
I let my 13-year-old fill in my Obama and No on 8 vote. She deserves to make a difference because she knows better than to yell in someones face and trip them if they disagree with her beliefs.

Am i the only one who's stomach is in knots?

I always get flowers from my husband on election day 'cause he knows how much I love my job on this day. Plus he knows I'll be here working on the site for the next 12-14 hours.

This year's quote on the flowers:
"Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it." -- Thomas Jefferson

I'm a big fan of Vote Report today. And One Word on the nytimes site.

Tonight we'll break out the big state by state map, a county map of California with state race results and our Build Your Own Ballot app again.

If you can't find something on the site you need -- let me know at jward@fresnobee.com

Probably 30-40 people waiting to vote outside the downtown voter registrar's office about an hour ago.

ODE TO JOE THE PLUMBER
By Anonymous

My name is really Sam,
But you can call me Joe,
I met Barack Obama,
Near my home in Toledo,

He said let's spread the wealth,
But I said I don't know,
And now I am more famous,
Than a builder named Tito.

Yes, I am Joe the plumber,
And I've got a dream,
To make a quarter-million,
Fixing your latrine.

I want to own a business,
And be something more,
But I don't have a license
To be a contractor.

But John McCain he likes me,
And often cites my name,
So now I have a publicist,
To help me with my fame.

Yes I am Joe the plumber,
And it's a short, wild ride I've rode,
I'll be in a high tax bracket,
By snaking your commode.

Sarah Palin says my name,
And boy she does it sweet,
Now, I've got Republicans,
Bowing at my feet

So, I will keep on wishing,
And maybe get a show,
To act just like Rush,
And bash the guy from Chicago.

Yes, I am Joe the plumber,
My 15 minutes will soon be shot,
But, I will be around,
So you can still pee in your pot.

Yes, I am Joe the plumber,
And I've got a dream,
To make a quarter-million,
Fixing your latrine.

i voted its in the mail
and its a special DAY MY B-DAY

RE: Adam's heartwarming story link...

I took my 7-year old son to the polling place with me this morning and they made him sit on a chair at the opposite end of the room from me while I voted.

I wonder what states let a voter's 5-year-old son actually do the voting. Sounds illegal to me, but maybe I'm a cynic.

(I'm all about sharing the experience though, which is why I brought my son with me in the first place.)

I waited for the kids to be finished with school so that I could take them to the voting precinct with me. It was important that I involved all four of them, on such a day of historic proportions. Sarah/14 and Tyler/13 hung out with me in the booth (ha). They sang "The Star Spangled Banner" as I filled out the ballot...I didn't tell them to do that, but I didn't stop them either. I just told them to keep it on the D.L.

Nobody asked for my I.D. There was no line. When it was all said and done, I had the volunteer take a picture of me with the kids as I put the ballot in the machine...and then we went to Starbucks to collect my free coffee, and to get them hot chocolate.

We're all watching the returns in the living room together, and the older ones are staying up as late as they want to tonight...time to celebrate the right to vote!!

Clare, you seem like the coolest mom ever.

East Coaster living here for ages...but the election is really bringing back memories of watching the first gen Irish side of my family feel SO enfranchised with the election of Kennedy...his picture on the wall as if part of the family; it meant that much. You kind of have to know the history of East Coast Irish disenfranchisement to get the full import of that election... and tonight, I find myself SO hoping to see that day again for others.

Oldest called from uni to consult on her ballot; she's voting for the first time and so serious about it! Makes me happy to see her participate for the first time.

Obama so has this under control.

Overheard by my wife at her polling place:
"Let's go vote for John McCain so we don't have to vote for that Muslim."

"There's a big ol' thing that says "ELECTION '08" in the middle of the page with all kinds of election headlines and links ..."

Ah, I see it. My bad!

Wow there's a lot to read here! That's great. I voted at about 4 p.m. at the Arbor Faire complex on Feland off Shaw, and it was very smooth. I was worried because I'm on crutches and haven't gotten my handicapped parking thing yet, and there were cars parked along Feland, but it wasn't too bad, and I had no line at all. Another precinct was also voting there and I'd say there was a line of about 20 people on that side of the room.

I just heard something on the news about possible voter fraud in Orange Cove - not sure what all that's about but I'm sure we'll hear more about it. That's too bad.

I can't believe Pa. was called so early - at least by NBC and the Wash. Post - not sure who else. That's huge for Obama.

I'm taking advantage of new (to me) technology, tweeting on Twitter, texting and being texted, checking out all kinds of stuff on the Internet. Twitter was more useful earlier when people were talking about their voting experiences; more recently it seems to be a rehash of what the various news channels are saying, or results with no attribution, but I can get that stuff myself just as quickly if not moreso. But I'll keep surfing and if I find something cool, I'll post/tweet/text/e-mail about it. What a world.

I'm proud to announce I did not let the Bradly Effect get to me in the booth tonight. I voted for Henry-T instead of Pat Hill's FuManchu. I felt like a true badass leaving the polling place tonight. Fun night.

On ABC they just showed the town square in Kegalo, Kenya, which is packed with people watching election news from the U.S. Awesome!

would love to see what's going down in the OC (Orange Cove)... I smell a conspiracy theory!

Thanks, Heather. =)

YES ON 8!

Someone on ABC just said, "The fat lady hasn't sung, but she's warming up." Amen.

yes on 8!!! if no on 8 wins, then thats Gods will, and he wants it to be that way. YES ON 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you guys want to talk about violence, talk about all the signs saying YES ON 8 that were ruined, slashed, spray- paited.! now thats violence

ABC just said, "Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States." I've got chills!

Obama wins. The U.S. just got awesome! Congrats America. Amazing day, no matter what party you are in.

Congratulations, President Obama!!!!

And McCain has conceded. A great day for America! No matter who you support, you have to appreciate the history of it.

they're multiplyin. (And I'm los-ing control)

MSNBC is focused on Jesse Jackson in Grant Park. He's openly weeping. And here comes McCain to concede. What a historic moment.

I'm going to miss making fun of Sarah Palin.

Oh well.

She can't get her flourescent, CARTOON self back up to Alaska fast enought to suit me.
I'm just sayin'...

Nancy - You betcha!

Didn't catch her name, but the ABC-30 correspondent reporting live from the Fresno Republican party at a restaurant just a few minutes ago actually had flames coming out of her head. (She was standing in front of a giant torchiere.) Good going, camera person!

McCain's concession speech was beautiful, by the way. His crowd might have been a little ugly, but the McCain on display was first-class all the way. If we'd seen him a little more of him during the campaign, things might have been closer.

Very interesting to see the difference in age at the McCain speech vs. the Obama speech.

I just saw the report that the High Speed Rail is behind slightly. What are people so afraid of? Europe has had safe, high speed rail for years. We can get from Fresno to SFO in just under an hour. And this is behind????

Sure is fun watching all this unfold.

I just have to add, as a born-and-raised Delawarean, I never thought I'd see the day someone from Del. would be the veep-elect. I mean, we/they only have 3 little electoral votes. Joe Biden was one of my senators for most of my life, and on a personal note, his office - always known for its constituent service - tried to help my family when things were tough. I just wish my parents, who worked for the Democratic Party my whole life, were around to see this. Glad I am!

I don't ever recall seeing huge crowds in the streets of NY or elsewhere celebrating on election night. It's like New Year's Eve!

A polling place volunteer hit on me while I voted at 7:30 this morning. Voting for Obama, yes on 2, no on 8, catching a gentleman's eye --- a great way to start the day!

And Obama's victory an excellent way to wrap up the night!!!
(McCain showed pure class during his speech, btw, very dignified.)

Wow, if one thinks the slashing of signs is violence, one needs to take off the bubblewrap.
The beating and killing of young men because they're gay... that's violence.
Let's not forget that the H8 prop. was built on lies. Lies paid for by a church that protects priests that molest children (btw, men who molest young boys are straight... look it up)
But, a wise woman in Mich. made a great point a couple of years ago when she said "it doesn't matter if I am able to get married tomorrow or not, we've already changed the future."
I know the day will come when my daughter will look back and think of how ignorant and hateful a time it was when men and women were denied the rights that are given to others simply because they loved an adult of the same sex. I know the day will come when pictures of the hateful 8 signs will be next to pictures of seperate water fountains.
For those who wish to continue to hate and use God's name.... it's the beginning of the end.
Winning a battle does not equal victory of war.
My friends who are fighting to join my right in marriage... do not give up... this too shall pass.

Some downtime in keeping the site up to date tonight. So we present you with some Wordles:

McCain's concession speech

Obama's acceptance speech

Heather, you may yet have Sarah Palin to kick around. They're saying on CNN that Ted Stevens may "do the honorable thing" and resign his seat, and that SP could be named to succeed him. Just think of the possibilities - Sen. Caribou Barbie!

@ Suzanne!! Wow! You did have one hell of a morning! I'm sincerely jealous! Way to go!

"Wordle?" Are you sure that's a - word? What is that? Why do I get the feeling there is this whole world out there I just have no idea about?

Here's another way that change has come to America with this election: Relying on TV news coverage for election updates seems positively dinosaur-like. I'm sitting right now listening to the local news anchors mumbling through vote totals on Prop 8 that are WAY behind the newspaper Web sites. And there's absolutely no context involved: Channel 30's anchors are dutifully reporting that about a third of the precincts have reported on Prop 8. But the important piece of info they neglect to mention is that only 16.2% of the votes in Los Angeles County have been counted so far, while conservative inland counties are more than 80% in. My prediction: In a couple of election cycles, local TV won't even bother trying to cover the races. We'll all just sit down in front of our computers.

...when I was in school in philadelphia, and also working as a private patrolman, Mayor Rizzo had just been voted out of office. The new Mayor was Wilson Goode.
I worked with a lot of (city) cops, (Philly was a very crooked and very violent town then... and you know what they referred to Mayor Goode as?
'Top Nigger.'

I hated that.

I was raised in NJ in a town and an era in the sixties where the blacks lived in the lower part of town, and the whites in another.
There were riots in nearby towns when I was a boy at one point, and it was pretty scarey. We had tanks rolling through the streets and shots were fired and such.

Growing up though, cause it was the late sixties and seventies and all, it was like society really tried to blend, and me and the rest of the kids were like, 'if you were cool, you were cool, it wasn't about your color.'

There was a time when I lived with my Father and Step Mother but my little sister lived with my Mom (different towns about an hour apart.)
One of my buddies who was black, (Skipper) made it a point to keep an eye out on my younger sister for me, (she told me about it, after highschool, he never said anything, until I asked him later. That's just how he was. She was safe.)

In college? one of my roomies was from section 8 housing in a very poor penna. town,
he was going to be a Doctor, his sister a lawyer, His dad was a janitor, his mom did some odd jobs, they were really poor. He was one of the greatest guys I've ever known, and (as far as I know,) he made an excellent doctor. (He's actually one of the reasons why I want to be a nurse, who knows, maybe a Doctor, and when I think I have it tough? I just think of Fran.)

I had two roomies in another college who went on to be Pastors, great pastors. (Trevor and Byrd)

I had a crush on a girl when I was in kindergarten, she liked me back, we didn't tell anybody because we were both shy. Her name was Christie, and she was from (somewhere) in California, god she was a cutie.

All of the above?
All people of color.
All 'Black.'
---and all of them, at times not long ago, would NOT be allowed to be who they were in my life, for so many ignorant and hateful reasons.

It's been 45 years, but I finally got to see all that garbage laid to rest tonight.

I admit, initially I wanted Hillary, but Obama suits me just fine.

When I went through that card today, and made my little marks and fed that thing into the machine?
For the first time since I started voting, I felt like I was finally a part of something, that I was proud of,
like I was doing something that mattered, and for the first time, maybe like, ever?
I think I felt a genuine sense of civic pride on a national level, and like maybe for a little while?
I was one small but very significant part of doing something right.
I've never felt that before.

I can't begin to tell you how good that felt.

A lot of people of color tonight, when we talked about who they voted for and why, and how it felt, got emotional.
Though I can't completely understand why, like they do?
I am so moved, myself, -and am so very happy for them, because I know all the people of color who I've had the privilige to know and be raised with, ALL of them, looked at that screen tonight and tears welled up for all the right reasons.

Just yesterday, on campus a woman said to me, '..do you really think the United States is ready and is going to accept a Black Man for president?!, (like there was something wrong with that.)

It's nice to dignify the answer to that question, with the truth.

(Yes we did.)

I thought McCain's speech was better

Did anyone catch the 11:00 news last night on 24? They intervied a "Republican" woman and she said she was fearful that Obama was going to take God out of this country because he is a Socialist and a Muslim at heart. My God that terrifies me. People like her are one of the reasons I switched to being a Democrat.

This was an election won by the youth and for people who are tired of the old rheortic that is the Republican party. You think with the way the country spoke with they way it voted, Republicans would get in in their narrow minded, ignorant head that we are tired of the crap they pull? But I doubt they got the message.

Speaking of quotes from local folks, did anyone see these two in The Bee today?

"I believe Obama is the anti-Christ" -- Stephen Anderson, Jr., 27, a registered Republican from Clovis.

"I wrote in Sarah Palin. I like her more than any of the others. I think she's really intelligent when she speaks. She's very put together." -- Kameron Harris, 18, of Kingsburg.

I find that quote about Sarah Palin being intelligent to be the funniest thing I've read in a while.

...what is so weird about this 'obama is the anti-christ' thing, is,
---if you look at any Biblical references, any of the 'forcasted views'
--any interpretations of Scripture,
---ANY of the 'end-times' 'facts,'
and criteria that the church has had for the last, mmm, 50 years?

-There is basically NOTHING about Barack Obama that fulfils any of that bill...

it's like the same people who bent over backwards to see Bush as some great Spiritual leader (publishing his devotional, having full sized cardboard cut-outs of the president holding his bible in Christian Book Stores (etc.)

--have completely thrown any (even remote) Biblical references to determine 'AntiChrist' out the window and are now 100% convinced that this guy is it... (the only reasons I'm hearing given?
'he has muslim roots,'
or
'he 'campaigned in Germany.'

I've never seen such stupidity.

As someone else commented to me today, it will take a while for Barack Obama's history-making victory to sink in, all the historical context of it and gravity of it. It's a massive turning-of-the-page moment in America that others far more eloquent than I are writing about.

But here's what else I'll remember from Tuesday:

• The impromptu, huge crowd that gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, where President Bush resides, to cheer on Obama.
• The sea of people who jammed into Chicago's Grant Park to greet the new President-elect. And the sea of people in New York City's Times Square.
• The tears in Jesse Jackson's eyes. And Oprah's.
• ABC's Steve Osunsami -- reporting from Morehouse College in Atlanta -- choking up as he said that “my father used to tell us that there's no way this country would elect a black President,” but “this evening, the country has proved my old man wrong -- and we're the better for it.”
• John McCain's gracious concession speech.
• A Channel 24 reporter covering Henry T. Perea's gathering and telling viewers during the 11 p.m. broadcast -- when it was clear he had lost the Fresno mayor's race to Ashley Swearengin -- that she planned to interview him but he apparently had left the scene.
• A Channel 30 reporter telling viewers that she was standing outside Perea's gathering because they were not being allowed in. Reason? The reporter said he didn't like the way Channel 30 covered his campaign.
• That freaky hologram gizmo that CNN unveiled Tuesday. Example: Anderson Cooper interviewing rapper Will.I.am, who was in Chicago, seemingly in CNN's studios. It reminded me of scenes from the first "Star Wars" movie.
• Several networks quickly moving to stories on speculating who will be in Obama's cabinet and other high-profile jobs.

yeah, that anti-christ comment is out of left field, or should I say right field, haha. anyways, i thought the anti-christ was someone who was revealed after the rapture and people who are non-believers are left on the earth to witness armageddon. then a person will rise up for people to follow as if this person was a savior, which the person doesn't turn out to be. then Jesus Christ will return to defeat the anti-christ.

that's my understanding of it, so you never know, the guy who made the comment could be right. the rapture could happen any second and who do you think the people will turn to for help? if Bush was in office during the rapture, nobody would turn to him right?

i'm just throwing that out there. i can see why the younger generation is saying screw religion and it's teachings because it requires so much faith in something that is from a book. it's just easier to have faith in obama. i don't have faith in no man, but i don't have faith in God either. i'm a lost soul, and turning to a politician for comfort and relief isn't something that I will do.

"Did anyone catch the 11:00 news last night on 24? They intervied a "Republican" woman and she said she was fearful that Obama was going to take God out of this country because he is a Socialist and a Muslim at heart. My God that terrifies me. People like her are one of the reasons I switched to being a Democrat." ~Michael

I saw that. I had to laugh ( that uneasy laughter), she was just this side of straight jacket hysterical.

I brought this up several months ago ... a slogan for this election. "I want my mommy." The phrase really says it all. This is not an election where the American voters were looking for someone to protect their freedoms. Instead, it was an election where people were looking for someone to take care of them. Self-sufficiency seems a bit old-fashioned right now. Why work so hard to be self-sufficient when candidates are falling all over themselves to provide the American people with womb-to-tomb or, if you will, cradle-to-grave paternalism. The voters who put Barack Obama into office bear little resemblance to the people who fought for independence 224 years ago. Colonists fighting for our independence actually left their bloody footprints along the icy roads of New York and Pennsylvania while marching to engage the British troops. Today we can't even drum of a decent plurality of voters who will vote for liberty, let alone fight for it.

This has been a "what's in it for me" vote. Are you going to give me health care? Are you going to make sure my job is guaranteed? Are you going to cover my child care costs? You aren't going to make me pay taxes, are you? How about all those evil rich people? Aren't you going to take some of their money away from them and give it to me? After all ... I work for my money, they cheated and stole for theirs. Make them pay their fair share of taxes. Me? I'm tired of paying any share.

The big question for me today is whether or not freedom, economic liberty and self-sufficiency can make a comeback in America. Right now it seems that a dismaying number of Americans think that they are owed a living; that it is the government's job to guarantee their economic security.
Can we ever turn that around and return to a time when people accept the responsibility for their own lives and eschew the idea of using government as a tool of legalized plunder?

Here we are my friends. We're at the point where virtually every voter out there understands that they can use their ballot as an instrument of plunder. For those of you who went to government schools, that means they can use their vote to take money away from other citizens. That would be the difference between a Democracy (rule of man) and a Republic (rule of law).