Wednesday, November 5, 2008

And they're racing in the U.S.

OK punters, here we go.

Voting has just closed in the eastern U.S. states, with the first results expected after 11 AM, Melbourne time and there are a couple of points to keep in mind.

1. As the 2000 election made clear, the winner of the popular vote does not necessarily become Prez. The successful candidate must achieve a majority of delegates (271) in the Electoral College. Each state has a number of votes in the EC, based on the number of seats it holds in the Congress, with the more populous states having more votes. Thus large states like Florida have 27 votes and smaller states like Alaska have three.

2. The vast majority of states operate on a “winner take all basis”. Even if McCain gets 49 per cent of the popular vote in say, California, Obama would still take all of California’s 55 votes to the EC.

3. Voting is not compulsory, so the parties devote vast resources into getting people to vote.

4. The U.S doesn’t have anything like our Australian Electoral Commission. Voting methods are determined by the state in question. This can lead to voting methods varying wildly from state to state and sometimes within states.

5. The seppos are also voting for 538 House of Representatives and Senate seats.

6. In the U.S, the Democrats are blue and the Republicans are red. Annoying I know, but there you are.

7. Keep your eye on key eastern states, like Virginia, Ohio and Florida. If they go heavily for the Dems early on, McCain is most likely toast.

8. U.S. beer is largely crap.

51 comments:

homesick said...

According to CNN, Virginia is going blue.

Kentucky is McCains's but no big surprise there.

Seems the pundits here are anxiously awaiting for Ohio's results (about 1/2 hour away.

Stubb you may be right but as history dictates, it aint over 'till the last vote is counted. With torrential rains and 3 hour long queues in Florida it may not be as clear cut as many had predicted.

Anonymous said...

Bloody Americans, being behind the rest of the world, in more ways than one.

I want to know now whether Obama gets 400+ EVs or just manages mid 350s.

Also, I'm itching to spend Perseus's money. I've already eyed some stock options in BHP.

Also, I want to order my Palin 2012 t-shirt for the lolironies.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

I'm eating BBQed chicken pieces from last night, if that's any help.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

They're calling Florida for Obama.

Perseus said...

The Age reports that 'White Men Abandon Obama' (according to exit polls).

Not that the Age would use emotive and knee-jerk headlines.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

BBC is saying McCain 34, Obama 103!!??

homesick said...

Flicking between CNN, FOX and BBC World (Hitchens is on the panel there...) the networks seem to be vying for the position of first to call and are projecting States that only have 5% votes in.

Hitchens is light relief from the American political pundits on the other networks.

homesick said...

Obama 81
McCain 39

Natasha said...

Janice from Darwin (SBS forum), I love you:

"A McCain presidency would change the world in the way that only having an ageing POW at the head of a gigantic military super-power with a chip on its shoulder and an unfounded fear of communism, Islam, funny-coloured people and vegetarians could"

Hilarious!

Stubbadub said...

8. U.S. beer is largely crap.

You would think that a country with access to such an abundance of natural resources would be able to get a fundamental like beer right.

Natasha said...

Thank all the gods that the US have a crap voting system! This means Alaska, the home to the lovely (*vomit*) Sarah Palin is right down where it belongs, in the toilet!

wari lasi said...

They can't get a fundamental like democracy right Stubb, or economics, or gun laws, or frivolous litigation, or ...

They even get the beer right in this godforsaken place.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Pundits are calling Pennsylvania for Obama now.

homesick said...

Yep CNN is calling Pennsylvania for Obama.

Now that the mid-west State's polls have just closed this race be all over before midnight (my time).

Things are looking very sedate at Republican's party in Phoenix at the moment.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Ah McCain, you've been done over again.

Look forward to Palin, S in 2012.

Natasha said...

'S' for shit right Ramon?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Shh, you'll upset Perseus.

Perseus said...

I only want to have sex with her is all.

Anonymous said...

Persues is already looking forward to the "Sarah for prez 2012" wet t-shirt contests.

I see Obama already has Ohio as well, another big (potential) swing state.

Anonymous said...

And I'll bet Hillary is crying over her coffee right about now:

"It was mine! It was supposed to be mine!"

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

I only want to have sex with her is all.

Yeah, suuuure Pers.

You're itching to shoot a moose right now, aren't you?

Perseus said...

I'll leave the shooting to Wari.
I still don't know any of Obama's policies... all I know is that we have to trust him and go on a ride with him or something, and there's some 'change' to be had. But in what?

Obama is just a sex toy with a deep voice.

At least we knew what we were getting with Palin: A half-witted psychopath who'd bring on the apcalypse.

Natasha said...

So Pers, you like your women plastic & fantastically lacking in the intelligence department? I expected so much more from you!

catlick said...

I'm just waiting for the Tina Fey piece where "she" scolds McCain for being a limp dick. Says she should have known the 'blue' pills wouldn't work. Seem to have inflated the vote in the blue states. etc etc etc....

Perseus said...

Aesophia, I like my women full stop.

(It's been a while)

Find me a wife and I'll drop the Palin-lovin'.

homesick said...

So Pers, you like your women plastic & fantastically lacking in the intelligence department? I expected so much more from you!

You forgot to add 'fertile' Aesop, Palin has a working womb in which appeals greatly to our Pers.

Not wanting to rock any boats but there is no way Palin will be the Republican candidate for 2012...

but you all knew that right?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

First Dog on the Moon has called it for Obama.

Oh and so has Ch.9, and the ABC (U.S version)

Stubbadub said...

I still don't know any of Obama's policies... all I know is that we have to trust him and go on a ride with him or something, and there's some 'change' to be had. But in what?

Sorry to agree with you Perseus, but I was thinking exactly the same thing this morning as I was walking to work. I want Obama to win, but why? I know nothing about either party or their policies, but I have been totally sold on his image. I’m ashamed of myself for being such a sheep.

homesick said...

CNN, BBC World and even Fox have all called Obama the Presidient Elect with 297 EV's.

Now we're just awaiting the conceding/acceptance speeches.

patchouligirl said...

I want Obama to win, but why? because he's the least like Bush?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

McCain has just conceeded.

wari lasi said...

because he's the least like Bush?

Certainly is from a melanin perspective anyway.

Anonymous said...

Perseus, if you book a plane ticket to the US right now, there's an Alaskan governor who needs some comfortin' right about now.

Natasha said...

Oh yeah, fertile... Well, Palin is I suppose. And no, I will not help you look for a wife. If something goes wrong, it'll be my fault cos she was my idea!

PS: Never been this excited about politics EVER! *dancing round the room cos not all Americans are retarded* OH YEAH!

Anonymous said...

Which political pundit on this site once said, "Americans won't vote in a smart-ass black lawyer over a white war hero"?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Couldn't have been me, Boogey.

I'd never say "ass".

Stubbadub said...

Boogeyman, in all fairness to however said it, I’m guessing the comment was made per-Palin.

Perseus said...

It was a typo! I meant to say 'Texans'.

So I owe you $2.

Double or nothing on the next Ukrainian general election?

squib said...

Boogey no one said it, according to T.S.F.K.A's search bar in the top left hand corner

Not that I was gonna cheat

Anonymous said...

It was Ramon that said it.

Squib, the search thing only searches posts, not comments.

Perseus, the Ukraine Prime Minister is hawt!!! Forget Sarah Palindrone.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Boogey, I made that comment pre-crash and pre-Palin.

patchouligirl said...

Even my 19 mth old son was excited watching Obamas speech. He heard the 'yes we can' and thought it was Bob the builder.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

"Obama the builder.

"Can we fix it?

"Obama the builder.

"Yes we can!"

Anonymous said...

I made that comment pre-crash and pre-Palin.

You know, even without Palin and the crash, Obama might still have won, but perhaps not by such a huge margin. For most of the election and primaries even before that, the focus seemed to be either Obama or not-Obama. McCain would have won only by being not-Obama. But he would still have had to contend with a) not having Obama's well organised volunteer machine, b) an un-enthusiastic Republican base, c) having nothing noticeable to say, and d) being a Republican and thus associated with George Bush.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

All good points Boogey, but I'd argue that having Palin foist upon him killed McCain's campaign stone-cold, motherless dead.

Anonymous said...

For sure. She was an absolute gift to Democrats, comedians, and seaside goths running low on spank-bank material.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Tina Fey must be disconsolate.

Fad MD said...

The London Times has a really good article on McCain. I'd link, butI'm a retard

Anonymous said...

Ramon - I'm sure she'll get plenty of work between here and Palin 2012.

Of course, if Obama had a sense of humour, he'd give Tina Fey a Whitehouse post as his Alaskan liason.

Fad - at least cut 'n paste the url from your browser's location bar, so we don't have to google it.

Fad MD said...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article5084049.ece

Louche said...

Why can't we have a Times online or NYTimes? Media in this country is so shit.

Unfortunately McCain signed his death sentence when electing Palin. Obama's approval ratings only started to go up after Palin's disastrous interview with Katie Couric. He seemed very gracious and humble in defeat, and no doubt hew would have been an improvement on Bush.

I don't know the fine details on Obama's policies either, but his intelligence, passion and preference for diplomacy over force make him the right choice for me (if I could vote!)

PG - Finn was clapping and yelling out 'Bama' during the speech. I have indoctrinated him well.