Election Day 2008

The morning after

2008-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well the United States has elected its first black president, the Democrats have won back the White House, and America is headed for a new era.

I watched the results unfold on the internet for the first time. Websites for MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and the Courier Post Online unfolded the results pretty much simultaneously, with the Courier Post leading in the local elections.

The battle between Adler and Myers was the most bizarre of all the races, first Myers was ahead, then he conceded, then Adler gave a victory speech, then when I awoke this mornng, ABC said it was too close to call. 122 years of republican control still up in the air.

I enjoyed the widget and the instant information, but with the tv in the background, the NJN beat online to the punch on area results, however the Courier Online was the most comprehensive.

With all of the very helpful and valid information my most touching moment came when John McCain gave his concession speech on network television. I supported him until he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. I felt the choice was not only ignorant, but really showed how ignorant he thought women and voters were. I found it condescending and I started to check into Obama more and more, and eventually he won my formerly Hillary vote.

I couldn't help but spring up this morning and be overjoyed by the events of the night, not just because my candidate won, but because I really believe we are taking a historic turn and change has come to America.

I don't care that Obama is the first black American President, but I respect it for him and for African Americans. This country has put our battered hearts and souls in his hands, and I pray to God that he is the political messiah that we need.

BBC across the world

2008-11-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Wow the BBC has stories that said "Race not an Issue for Americans" That headline brought tears to my eyes. Wow, race not an issue. Gavin Hewitt wrote that in his blog.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/

French News Agencies

http://www.france24.com/en/france

MSNBC website reports at 11:11 pm John McCain has conceded via telephone to Obama, and suddenly it feels real.

Obama has won.

BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT

2008-11-04T20:02:00.001-08:00

MSNBC, CNN, Fox news websites project Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States of America. BBC reports cheers in taverns and pubs across England.

Right now there are no words, just comepletly overwhelmed with hope and pride.

Results rolling in

2008-11-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am awe of two items that have been reported on local and national websites and neither of them have to do with the presidential election.

NJN website confirms that Myers has conceded to Adler, although he is ahead right now 51% to 47%. Why because the only county not reporting yet is Camden County, Adler is from there and Democrats always win big there. So for the first time I have ever seen, candidate Myers concedes even though he is ahead because he knows once Camden County reports he will be done.
All the way home from school I heard about how Adler was way behind, well he came back and is poised to win.

MSNBC website is reporting that the state of Mass. has decriminalized marijuana. Wow that is something I did not see coming. However the government can still intervene.

Well the Democrats have gotten some strongly held seats. so far tonight they have 55 to 38.

Obama has won Pennsylvania and Ohio, and McCain is hanging in there. The next hour should makes things much more clear.

First results in

2008-11-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

McCain get Kentucky and 8 electoral votes, Obama wins Vermont and three electoral votes.

This cannot get started fast enough for me, I am at Rutgers and the excitement is palpable.

The following states should be the next to report:
7:00 p.m.Georgia (15) Indiana (11)Kentucky (8)South Carolina (8)Vermont (3)Virginia (13)7:30 p.m. North Carolina (15)Ohio (20) West Virginia (5)8 p.m. Alabama (9)

The Photos of the voters show a diverse group

2008-11-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

MSNBC
In Pittsburgh side by side in cubicle voting stations stood a 6 foot African American man alongside a 5 feet Amish woman. Both claimed to have voted for the same person, Obama.
CNN
Long lines of African Americans in Philadephia, one young man holding his new voter registration card, alongside his grandfather who also had a new card. The grandson 18 years old, the grandfather 84 years old, both voting for the first time.

FOX news
The photographs on Fox News appear to be a photo of Grand Central Station in NYC on the busiest travel day of the year. When it was actually a polling station line in Illinois.

Now that many of the glitches have been worked out, it appears that the election is running smoothly.

My excitement is building for a historic night.

Ghosts of elections past?

2008-11-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

MSNBC is reporting that polling places in Pennsylvania and Virginia are illegally closed and they are handing out illegal provisional ballots.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1634499.aspx
When I read that it got my blood boiling. I will never forget the 2000 and 2004 elections, and I cannot believe that it may be happening again. I have been on the phone with my sister and friends discussing it and asking, is this really going to happen to us again.

I have voted in elections when the person I voted for was not elected, but there is no greater aggravation than feeling as though someone is tampering with our constitutional rights because of what they want. It makes me sick and angry. Hopefully tonight will not be a repeat of Ghosts of Elections past, only time will tell.

2008-11-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

MSNBC, FOX, CNN, and many other sites are providing up to the minute voter information services to keep voters aware of traffic, and polling station delays. In addition, they are offering human interest stories for anxious voters trying to make time fly before the results start coming in. This includes important information voters may need in order to get out and vote.

Examples from this hour:
CNN political ticker reports that Republicans removed from polling places.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/04/paphiladelphia-republican-reps-removed/

MSNBC allows citizens under the voting age to share their frustration and desire to be a part of history.

http://onthescene.msnbc.com/witnessing_history/

BCT reports on voting machine flaws an how long to expect to wait in line.

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/long-lines-reported-at-burlington-county-polls-machine-malfunction-in-willingboro/

Election Day 2008

2008-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Debbie Gibbs
(04-Nov-2008 08:30:41)
I stood in line in Mount Laurel for about an hour before I was able to cast my vote. The lines were out hte door at 6:45 am.
CNN is reporting that the machines are down in Willingboro New Jersey and they have had to go to paper ballots.

In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the first town that gets to vote on election day, cast their ballots at 12AM. Obama won the district 15-6, giving the Democrats the vistory in the distrcit for the first time since 1968.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/dixville.notch/index.html
CNN is offering uninterrupted coverage here
http://www.cnn.com/live/
MSNBC is offering the widget updater that you can download on your computer to give you instant results. You can learn more here.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27227813
Fox News is offering the On the Scene link with up to the minute blog on the election.
http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/category/2008-election/
All channels/websites have reported the same things that are listed above.
WPVI has a link with up to the minute information on polling places, photo galleries, and wait times.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news&id=6486840&photo=1
Burlington County Times is reporting county turnout and updating readers on the status of the voting machines in Willingboro.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-11042008-1615892.html

Yahoo is offering this article that alerts readers where the problem polling places are. Everything from the Willingboro voting machines, to the Virgian librian that overslept and didn't open the polls on time.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_el_pr/voting_problems