quarter23cd

O: 318 M: 220 Closer than what I'm hoping for, but this feels realistic to me. I'm giving Obama Virginia and Florida, but McCain Ohio, Missou, and NC. (though any of those could easily go the other way) Really, given that McCain seems to be pinning everything on winning PA (which still seems insane to me), if that one doesn't flip for him, I think he's toast because Obama will almost certainly be able to pick up some combination of states to get past 270. Then I think it just becomes a question of how far beyond?

If I ever have the energy to create a VC pseudonym, that'll be my name. I know what you mean, though. When I lived in New Milford, it was pretty solidily Republican, too. That area of the state is a little pocket of conservatism in an otherwise pretty blue state. Of course, a "conservative" in CT would probably be viewed as pretty much a centrist anywhere else in the country.

But if the process is a mockery already... As a fan of one of the higher-profile schools opposing the playoff, I have to say its time for them to give in. Its true, tradition is a big deal here in BigTen country. (it reminds us, for instance, of times not so long ago when the conference didn't suck) Sure, the Rose Bowl is neat, but really, who cares all that much? More pressing is the fact that the annual end of season OSU/UM game is a bigger deal than Christmas in this part of the country and the argument goes that a playoff could diminish the importance of games like this. I don't

Yeah, but you're in Connecticut. Is McCain even on the ballot there or is it just a runoff between Obama and Nader?

YES WE ARE? TM Whatever happens today, I want to say that I'm grateful for this moment. Driving to work today under sunny skies, my vote already cast 2 weeks ago. Watching people pile into the polling places. Whatever happens today, I really want to feel like we're turning a page. After eight long years of gnashing teeth and going through varying cycles of anger, disbelief, outrage, activism and voluntary bouts of head-in-the-sand apathy in order to preserve my sanity, this moment feels sweet. Whatever happens, there is at least a chance that something could change today. It has to..

keeps the therapists in business, anyway...

Well, this just knocked me off my seat: I'm waiting for the follow-up headline announcing: GOP files suit to classify early votes as "practice votes" and purge them from totals. I've said all through this thing that my gut feeling is that Ohio will not go blue, but I'd be happy to be wrong.

Good luck. I hope to never have to test that theory. Although recent seasons have tested other areas--such as 2006, where an otherwise spectacular season quickly become "The year that has been expunged from our collective memory for the sake of our emotional wellbeing."

The thing is, on the left-leaning side of this question, I've encountered very few people who really, really like abortion and think we should keep it around because it is great fun for everybody involved. It is not. I would love to see the number of abortions go way, way down--due to being mostly unnecessary. From a philosophical standpoint, my problems with the anti-abortion groups lie mostly with the ones who work to limit eduction and and/or access to contraceptives. Talk about exacerbating the problem!

Toll booths every 5 feet. Make sure you sign up for EZ-Pass or you'll be screwed.

The old saying goes (at least in Columbus) that any season is a good season as long as the Bucks beat Michigan. I guess we'll find out if the reverse is true for UM fans.

Bloom County was the greatest strip ever. I still have all the books somewhere. (not sure where that Billy &the Boingers record is) Haven't read in years. Is this "Opus" strip the same as Outland, or whatever the one that immediately followed BC was called? Never could get into that one.

It has come to my attention that Michigan has nothing left to play for this season except beating OSU, so I expect a better than usual game out of them. Hey, at least they scored some touchdowns on Purdue. Hopefully Pryor spent his week off recruiting a new offensive coordinator...

Since the last presidential election, I have moved from a solidly-blue state (CT) to an iffy flip-flopper (OH). Shhhhh, its a movement, people--we call it redistributing the socialismTM (still working on that title)--but lets keep it on the downlow. I have it from several reputable sources that my vote shifted to OH will change the face of the election. You heard it here first. Another thought: Since voting almost 2 weeks ago, it feels almost surreal that this thing isn't over yet. Jeebus, can we just end this?

Aw, hell. I read Working sometime probably during my freshman year of college and it was definitely a watershed moment for me to realize books like this even exist. The stories he was able to draw out of people just amazed me. I've read a lot of his stuff since then, but that one remains a sentimental favorite. You'll be missed, Studs.

It doesn't?

Joe the Biden! Palin could go a lot of different directions after this, but I think (hope, at least) that the White House is unlikely. She has already been singled out by countless sources as the single biggest drag on the GOP ticket. There is a small pocket of people who love her, but this doesn't even seem to make up a majority of her own party. It would imagine it would be hard for her to be taken seriously on a national scale. I really can't (or don't want to) imagine her making it out of the primaries if she chooses to run next time. Her political career very well could be toas

Dear Santa: Same wish again this year. Either Angelos sells the O's or world peace. Pick one. This is the same wish I've had for 10+ years and you keep holding out on me. WTF is wrong with you, you sadistic bastard?? I love you and I still believe in you, Santa. Don't let me down. love, q23

Please. Have you been reading these threads? Your post fits in just fine. I've seen an uptick in these "end times/evil one" references in these closing weeks. Maybe its just a reflection of the increased tension and underlying fears--people's darkest fears manifesting themselves in nutty ways. If that's all that's left to motivate the otherwise unmotivatable--blind fear on the grandest of scales--well, at least hopefully we only have another week or so to endure it. (hopefully it will calm down after that) I mean, it makes so little sense to me that I don't even know how to respond to

That's kind of their shtick. If they didn't boo, people would boo them for their lack of booing. Or maybe they were saying "Booo-urns?" I dunno. Anyway, congrats to the Phils. And to the DeviledEggs (because you'll always be Devils in my heart): if you just had to go and quit acting as the cushion that has kept my O's out of the division cellar all these years, at least you could have finished the job and given me some hope that it might someday happen to my team, too. No, seriously, congrats to the Rays on a great season, too. Just please go back to sucking next year, okay?

Only if you assume she didn't realize the different spellings and thought she meant "I'm not doing this for not." Which is entirely possible.

Yeah, but that was like almost 40 years ago, man. I don't see how that is relevant now. Lieberman? Besides, every four years Ohio gets to feel all important. There's no drama in CT--you already know who's going to win and you have, what, like .5 electoral votes? Where's the fun in that? Its way more fun to be here and see two of my neighbors that I invited to a Halloween party for our kids last weekend almost get in a fistfight in my kitchen over the one guy's Obama yard sign. Democracy in action!!!

Just so you know, I'm ashamed that Joe the Plumber is from Ohio. (Please don't DixieChick me and start burning trashcans full of my posts. Thank you. ) also, this:

Anyone else enjoying watching the race in Arizona get close? Heh. 2 points. I missed the TV thing. Hopefully the TV exposure helped the undecideds realize there is an election this year.

This is a much more concise version of the incoherent pile of poo I just left in the other thread. Thanks.