Newscoma

It’s good to see Roger Abramson blogging this election. I like him. Always have.

Now with that said, this is what was in my reader this morning.

In his post he speaks of Barack Obama being more well received by the American Public.  As Abramson is to the right and I’m from the left, he’s not endorsing by any means but doing a critical analysis of this two year marathon for the White House.

The only thing I can add here to what Glenn Reynolds wrote, and this is my opinion, that the GOP’s “bizarre death wish” came around Hurricane Katrina. I also believe that things go in cycles. The Democrats and the Republicans tend to surge and fall. As is the nature of the political beast, things go in circles. McCain and Palin, who I still believe was a knee-jerk choice, are not to be blamed really. The blame lies with the current administration and those people behind the scenes who forgot about the American People.

In Fatal Attraction, wasn’t it Glenn Close’s character who said “I won’t be ignored.”

Yeah, kinda like that.

Here’s Roger:

2. George W. Bush beat John McCain in 2000. He did it again this year.

3.

SO IF, AS SEEMS LIKELY, MCCAIN LOSES TOMORROW, people will be blaming him and Sarah Palin. But let me point out that the Republican Party has been exhibiting a bizarre death wish since 2005. And you can’t blame either of them for that. . . . — Glenn Reynolds

From the right:

Kate is not a fan of Barack Obama. But the cartoons are funny.

From the left:

Captain Kona breaks down the last eight years.

I keep trying to retain my sense of humor about this race although it sometimes has been difficult. With that said, we all have to live together come Nov. 5. And it’s good to keep smiling no matter what happens.

This election has repeatedly surprised me. Now there is this:

Just when you thought it was safe to focus on the issues in this historic election season, a chain of sex toy shops has joined retailers, restaurateurs and other businesses across the nation in the time-honored tradition of rewarding Americans who go to the polls.

Babeland, with stores in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, is offering a pair of self-gratifying incentives for voters who present their registration cards, ballot stubs or “word of honor” that they voted next Tuesday.

And you can also get a free beer in Baltimore.

Voters can get a beer on the house at Todd Conner’s pub in Baltimore’s historic Fells Point neighborhood.

I wrote yesterday that I wish there was something going on here but I think we are looking at sweet tea and homemade pie at the Harmon and Lucille McWherter Civic Center.

This sort of stuff tickles me to no end.

Jack Lail has this over at his personal blog, Random Mumblings.

Nearly three times as many people ages 18 to 29 mention the internet as mention newspapers as a main source of election news (49% vs. 17%). Nearly the opposite is true among those over age 50: some 22% rely on the internet for election news while 39% look to newspapers. Compared with 2004, use of the internet for election news has increased across all age groups. Among the youngest cohort (age 18-29), TV has lost significant ground to the internet.
That’s from a new Pew Center for the People and the Press survey.

I think the Internet has dominated this election. In 2004 we saw the rise and fall of Howard Dean but his race was revolutionary as it helped mold what we have seen today. All of the presidential candidates have benefited well with fund raising, viral videos and grassroots Internet interest. Bear with me the next two days, because I for one see a lot of history being made and not for the obvious reasons you might think.

My only hope though is that the presidential race for 2012 doesn’t start on Nov. 5.

This weekend, I’ve been prepping for Tuesday’s General Election. I’ve been getting some sleep, writing about something or another that’s not political, and taking vitamins (if you call beer vitamins. It is liquid bread, so there.)

I’ve already early voted so on Tuesday, there are a few things I’m going to have to pack up in my knapsack for survival purposes and a few rules you might want to follow. I report on these things so you don’t have to. I’m decent that way.

• A four-pack of Monster. The green kind, of course, to make sure I can go from one poll to the next one.
• Three packs of cigarettes. Not only for myself, but to give voters who need a quick smoke break after getting that ecstatic voters’ high. Nothing like a quick smoke when one feels all passionate and American.
• My cellphone and my laptop because I have no doubt where ever I end up, people will want to know results first. Of course, they will turn to the Internet.
• Remember, no campaign buttons, shirts, backpacks, signs, Dogs painted red, white and blue in voting precincts. This is important to remember as you don’t want precinct bouncers to toss you out, thus losing your right to vote.
• A stick. One never knows if you will need it.
• Turn off Twitter if you don’t want to hear about the election. I suggest this as it will be overflowing with either cheers or jeers, depending on whom your candidate may be.
• Whiskey. I don’t drink whiskey as it makes me vomit but it is good to be prepared for voters who aren’t too happy with the results, no matter what side of the political aisle may be.
• Suggestion: Do not yell ANARCHY at the voting booth. It upsets people.
• Suggestion: Do not yell TERRORIST at the voting booth. It upsets people.
• Showing up drunk to vote is never a good idea. Get drunk later every time you hear John King say “battleground state.” You’ll be plastered within about 20 minutes, I assure you.
• If someone cancels your vote out, just smile pleasantly and move on. If they get testy, find the stick.
• Bring food. No one knows what the lines are going to be like.

These are just a few helpful hints from me. I could be wrong. I could be right.

I just know I have a busy week ahead of us, but on the upside. This damned election is almost over.

Thank goodness.

UPDATE: Joe Lance also has a list of survival skills that adds necessities like food, books and other vital needs. In Hoots, the lines won’t be too bad but in metropolitan areas, you might be in for a long wait.

Aunt B. wrote about a couple of things that made me do that crazy thing called introspection and the like so I’d write about it here. She points to a story about an elderly woman who voted just moments before she died.

The news story, via Shakesville, is here.

Then she also wrote about her personal reaction to early voting and how it was filled with a great deal of emotion.

First of all, I want to say that this election cycle has been incredibly amazing. We have seen so many different things happening from new technology, a long election process and, on a personal level, in Hoots how this has been so much in the forefront of what we do here everyday.

But, as blogs are about a bit of navelgazing, we all have a personal story on why we are voting in this race. And how it’s become so ingrained that I can’t help but wonder if this is how my mother felt about Kennedy. I know we are in historical times. I wonder about how politics will change from this cycle.

But, and it shouldn’t be discounted, the emotions are real. Whether we lean right or left, there is an urgency regarding these times. My favorite Republican, Bob, who used to be an alderman here in Hoots and I have talked repeatedly about that this election will change some things. Good, bad, indifferent.

All of it.

“I don’t understand why people can’t sit down and have a conversation about the election and politics without it become a battleground,” He said earlier this week. “I’ve tried to have a sense of humor about it all.”

Bob is 69-years-old. I’m 43. He was friends with my mother. He collects antiques, has a very full social life with the ladies and sometimes it confuses some of my friends why I’m quite smitten with him. He lost more money on Wall Street a few weeks back than I will probably see in my whole life. He like PBR because he thinks it tastes good and he always puts a little salt in his beer. (My father used to do that too.)

Everyone in life needs a good conversation even when we don’t agree on who the right guy for the job is. And, yes, he does bring up lovely memories of my mom. I own that. And we are buddies.

Bob and I agree there is not anything we can do now but see how things play out next week.

But they won’t play out for the lady named Dora although she voted before he life ended. And it made me think of my mother who has been dead for nearly 11 years. I wonder what she would have thought about this race. And I bet she would laugh that for the first time in my adult life, I won’t be canceling out my father’s vote. She always canceled his out too.

So, yes Virginia, the election is wrought with emotion because the bottom line is that we are living in some very strange and odd times. And we can only hope that the times that we are going through right now will be corrected for the next generation.

Dora believed that her vote mattered. Sometimes I’m torn on whether or not my vote will make a difference but that’s when I get bogged down thinking.

And sometimes I actually seek Bob out just to hear his take on politics from his perspective.

There is always something out there to learn. And it’s more than all right to feel personally invested.

Bob And Mabel

According to results from yesterday post by Christian at Nashville Is Talking, the county of Hoots (which is Weakley) has already had roughly 1,700 early votes and that doesn’t include votes from yesterday.

For the first time in a few years, we might just have a turnout.

That, my friends, is of the good.

I had forgotten about Terry Tate.
He’s baaack.

He’s endorsing Barack Obama.

If you haven’t seen the video of what Powell had to say, go here. It’s pretty compelling.

Because you know you need it, finger puppets of the three remaining candidates for president.

The FoldUSCandidate site.

I’m trying it out right now.

I think everyone should do this craft right now. I am not a craft kind of person, but this is one I think children far and wide will love.

Hat Tip To Neatorama and photo credit here.

A couple of things this morning.

First of all, as one of my favorite bloggers/news guys, I just wanted to say that Michael Silence’s new role at Knox News is inspired. I think this is a great move and he’s on my “must” list daily. If you break it down further, it’s interesting to watch progressive news organizations embracing the online community.

Katie Allison Granju wrote recently about the changes in newsrooms which is a must read as well. I’ve written before about personality driven blogging. I think it’s important.

I think we are seeing that happen although it could be said that Nashville is Talking began it with Brittney and a plethora of guest bloggers (I was one and it was an amazing honor) which began some of the trends here in Tennessee.

But it is evolving. We are seeing a lot of blogging activity out of the Knoxville area. We are also witnessing a shift in the way things are happening online. Joe Lance and Alice are keeping it interesting in Chattanooga with some insightful and targeted blogging which are also must reads. In Memphis, we see a community of folks blogging who have created an amazing network of not only information but who are also friends. Everyone needs to swing by Drinking Liberally on Thursday nights at Dish on the corner of Cooper and Young. It’s always some of the most insightful conversation on a weekly basis. The Drinking Liberally don’t update their site too often, but are very active on Facebook.

Also, I’m eagerly waiting for Kleinheider’s daily return at The Nashville Post. I hope it’s not behind a subscription wall. We bloggers vote but we be poor. So far, so good.

It’s an interesting time here in Tennessee when it comes to your daily dose of politics. If politics isn’t your thing, then here is a picture that I think Lindsey and Killa will appreciate. There is a lot more going on than I listed here. I guess I’m thinking of location today outside of the state’s capital.

I’ve spoken to several of you around the state about an experimental project that I’m working on with some fantastic bloggers around the state. In trying to explain it, I found that when you are a part of something cutting edge, it’s hard to break it down simply. If you notice on the right hand sidebar of this blog, there is a RSS feed that is constantly linking the stories we find. You can see, you guys have a lot to say.

This morning, Jack Lail did break it down for folks which was greatly appreciated. I asked him if I could post this in it’s entirety but I’m only going to post the explanation under the jump as it very long yet very comprehensive because I want you to go see the site.

Read Lail’s take of what we are doing in Tennessee. And then head to the site to see who’s been spotlighted. It’s been a combination of traditional news outlets as well as bloggers who are discussing their perceptions of Super Tuesday.

Here is what Mr. Lail says:

Here’s the best Tennessee election coverage that can be found on the Internet.

A bold statement, but arguably true.

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