Republicans, You're Doing It Wrong

As Nation and Parties Change, Republicans Are at an Electoral College Disadvantage by Nate Silver

The media reported that Ohio won the election. When Ohio was called it was over as I blogged earlier in the week. Silver says actually it was Colorado that put Obama over the top. Ohio was about the auto bailout but  Colorado is about demographics.

Don’t Credit Us, Obama’s Tacticians Say

They say it was Obama and his message that inspired the ground game. Or in Barone-speak, the fundamentals helped boost the "mechanics." The demographics were part and parcel of the fundamentals.

Biden will be on Parks and Rec in one week.

Moneyball & Modern Family

Big year for the "Moneyball" and "Modern Family" types in the culture wars.

Nate Silver gains prominence and Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly lesbian U.S. Senator.

Is there a flaming gay data nerd who combines the two?*

As Victories Pile Up, Gay Rights Advocates Cheer ‘Milestone Year’

States’ Votes for Gay Marriage Are Timely, With Justices Ready to Weigh Cases

Election Result Proves a Victory for Pollsters and Other Data Devotees

A Record Latino Turnout, Solidly Backing Obama

Senate Races Expose Extent of Republicans’ Gender Gap

I'm reading Chris Hayes book on the failure of U.S. elites and "Meritocracy" and it's pretty good except for his Arab Spring blind-spot and insistence that Saddam Hussein and foreign dictators "aren't that bad." Its a common thing for anti-war liberals. But he's totally right about the lack of trust and respect in authority and the failure of institutions.

I was struck about how on election night Chris Matthews was disappointed in Obama's victory speech in that he didn't thank Clinton or really mention the Democrats, both of who were essential to his victory. As Hayes reports people don't respect institutions and the Democratic Party is an institution that often fails to deliver. Congress has had abysmal approval ratings.

In a way Matthews is right, but maybe Obama won in part by not being so closely identified with the Democratic Party. I don't know.

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*He isn't flaming, but the New Yorker reports Silver is openly gay.

2012

Ron Swanson, Jack Donaghy, pundit Stephen Colbert, and Charles Montgomery "Monty" Burns are bummed.

Potheads everywhere are happy as Colorado and Washington legalize marijuana.

Wall Street’s Bad Investment Decision by Krugman

Get What You Pay For? Not Always by Eduardo Porter

The Five Stages of Fox News Grief

Begun, These Marijuana Wars Have by Yglesias

Bloodbuzz Ohio

Ohio decides election. Obama supporters turned out to vote as they did in 2008 but didn't in 2010.




On a personal trivial note, the papers said Obama played a superstitious basketball game yesterday while waiting for the results. His team included Alexi Ginnoulias and Scottie Pippen. I volunteered for Ginnoulias's Senate camgaign and met him a couple times. At one of his fund raisers I met David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager in 2008 and 2012. Well done, Plouffe.

Waiting on the results of the election which could be hours or weeks away, I checked out my linked Tweeters. It's enjoyable when the famous and politics mix especially when I agree with them.

via Silverman:


Sarah Silverman on WhoSay

Wilde and Franke-Ruta RT Rashida Jones:

"The following states allow election day registration: ID, IA, ME, MN, MT, NH, ND, RI, DC, WI, WY."

This message was retweeted 1,248 times!  Wilde RTs Elizabeth Banks:

"Me and @oliviawilde are voting for@BarackObama TOMORROW"

Banks RTs Josh Hutcherson.

"Participate in our democracy. America is a great country. Vote to keep it that way."

They were in The Hunger Game together. Probably made or are making the sequels together. Hutcherson is in the new Red Dawn movie. He seems to get a lot of work. He was also in the saddest movie ever in the history of film.

AV Club reviews The Walking Dead "Killer Within"