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Election Night Special

AIR DATE: Tuesday, November 4th 2008

POSTED BY: DAVID MILLER

Download the mp3 for this show.

What races or measures, bonds or levies, have you biting your fingernails?

It's taken nearly two years and more than five billion dollars -- not to mention endless SNL skits, blog posts, YouTube videos, attack ads, campaign promises, kissed babies, and plenty of Joes (the Plumber, the Senator, the Sixpack Drinker, the Average) -- but Election Day is finally here!

Join us tonight for a live Think Out Loud election night special from 9-11pm. We'll talk to OPB political analyst Bill Lunch and bring in your reactions to the news of the day.

You can post them as the results come in, or right now.

What are you celebrating tonight, or lamenting? What races or measures, bonds or levies, had you biting your fingernails? The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes has a list of the ten things he's watching for today. What about you?

And are you ready to say now, two years later, what the defining moments of the 2008 elections were?

Tagged as: 2008 · election

No results this early, but I can say that there have been a few defining moments for how I saw the national and state campaigns:

Sen. Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC (positive);
Gov. Palin's addition as Sen. McCain's running-mate (positive);
Rep. Palosi's speech before the first bailout vote (very negative);
the first patriotism attack ad I heard that the Republican's ran against Obama (very negative).

Obama got my vote in the end, but Speaker Palosi and her hypocrisy insured that I voted against any attempt to create a Democratic super-majority anywhere (I voted Republican in all but the house race, where I could not vote for Erickson and went third party).

I would like to ask the rhetorical question for anyone/everyone: can we (as Americans) ever get back to the place we were when Kennedy was president? What I mean is the sense that whichever candidate is elected, he is "our" president? Maybe Johnson was thought of that way too, but since Nixon, we have been a polarizing country... we need to stop that if we want to be leaders again. Let?s all try to remember that he will be a symbol of the fact that our democracy works. Can we at least try to work with whomever before we start running to kick him out in 2012? imho, of course...

tpohara — Tue Nov. 4th 7:26p.m.

Lincolns, Kennedys and Obamas don't come along too often. Instead of looking for people to lead us, why don't we repair our behaviour? We have allowed ourselves to become polarized. Our leaders come from us. We the people are largely responsible for our problems. We must fix ourselves.

trurl9 — Wed Nov. 5th 12:55a.m.

I think you missed that I mean America be the leader (as in "a world leader"), not our president, per se. And the rhetorical was about our willingness to accept democracy has succeeded (again). A lot of folks have treated the past several presidents whom they did not vote for as if they were someone else?s president... I see that as a problem.

Perhaps I misunderstand what you are trying to say. Care to explain a bit? From where I sit, it reads more like a non sequitur; you aren't answering or commenting on what I posted... have to wonder why you posted there, seems odd.

tpohara — Wed Nov. 5th 1:12a.m.

5.3 Billion and the best we could do aws these two... And BHO is the winner.

We lost all the way around on this one.

Desolation — Tue Nov. 4th 11:37p.m.

I'm really happy about the outcome. I feel found. Good luck to you, Desolation, have a Happy New Life.

trurl9 — Wed Nov. 5th 12:57a.m.

I never thought I would see this day - a multi-racial president of the U.S. I'm eight days older than Obama. I'm multi-racial like Obama. We have a president that is really like me! That tickles me somewhat. I wish my mother and father were alive to experience this moment. Obama is a symbol and catalyst for a more fruitful future. We've got to help him get it done. I'm really proud of all the people that got involved and supported Obama's campaign. Job well done. Thank you all.

trurl9 — Wed Nov. 5th 12:48a.m.

My 79yo mother-in-law passed away in August. As she anticipated her death, she said that her only regret was that she would not live long enough to cast her vote for Obama. I know she's smiling tonight.

apbates — Wed Nov. 5th 1:45a.m.

Two questions for Bill Lunch, and then a comment:

1) Fake Question: Considering Mr. Mike Ericsson's talent for shooting himself in the foot, could he have been elected to Congress, even if he ran unopposed? I don't think so.

2) Real question: President Obama & the Supreme Court. this is a pet issue for me. Here's my suggestion: What about re-appointing Sandra Day O'Connor? She left the Court to help care for her husband, but that's no longer an issue. Her health & brain are still good, and she was the most vocal opponent on the Court against Justice Scalia's view of the consitution. Until recently, the average length of time as a Justice was ten to fifteen years. I think Justice Cardozo was only on the court for nine. But I think re-appointing O'Connor would speak volumes about fighting the Scalia block--and Justice O'Connor would carry a lot more weight than some forty-something kid of a federal judge.

3. Comment: Re: Sec. of State Bradbury crying--I was an aide during the 1987 session of the legislature, when then Senator Bradbury was majority leader. Bill Bradbury was always a big crybaby, but in the good way.

Oh--and THANK YOU for the having the courage to call Jesse Helms a racist.

Bill Abendroth billaben(@)teleport.com

Bill Abendroth — Wed Nov. 5th 1:51a.m.

Just a quick comment on m64:

I have worked at several Oregon state agencies (during my IT career, I was first at Transportation and later at Revenue). I was offended by the state employees union's political actions and objected to having any of my money going to those activities. Twenty years later, I'm still angry about it... guess which way I voted on this one.

tpohara — Wed Nov. 5th 1:53a.m.

I voted today for Liberty and democracy, but not for Barack Obama.

I am excited to see what kind of change the two entrenched major parties will concoct under the leadership of President Elect Barack Obama (kudos to him). However, I must submit that I voted my conscience for Ralph Nader and would have chosen Cynthia McKinney if Nader was not running.

Nader, unlike Senator Obama, is the true progressive on the following issues: restoration of habeas corpus and protection of the U.S. Constitution with its accompanying Bill of Rights; repealing the so-called 'Patriot Act'; establishing a financial bail out for home owners instead of stockholders; initiating global nuclear disarmament; ending ALL imperialist wars of aggression; worker protection for union organizing; negotiating true fair trade instead of 'free' trade; removing corporate control of politics by establishing publicly financed elections; opposition to the death penalty... must I go on? Obama fell short on all the above issues, so I voted with my core democratic values in mind.

When will our beloved country and its government be free of the moneyed interests which put profit before people? We can take back our country by shining a bright light of reform into the dark corners of our state and federal governments. Let the uprising begin!

cxrfreeman — Wed Nov. 5th 2:12a.m.

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