I voted today and am glad we're at the end of this campaign. Seems like we've had people running for president for four years now. Thank God it's almost over. At this point, I was almost willing to vote for Hannibal Lecter if it meant I'd be spared from the seemingly endless barrage of TV ads and political coverage/opinions.
One thing I'm NOT doing tonight: watching any election coverage. I suspect it will be long, drawn out, and could even be inconclusive for quite awhile, and I don't want to subject myself to that torture. I'll tune in tomorrow morning, read a couple pieces, and get all the news I want that way.
The good news about whoever gets elected is this: we can stop talking about proposals and "what ifs" around taxes, health care, retirement funds/savings, etc. and get down to brass tacks. Then again, if all these go south, maybe I'll be hoping for the "good old days" of the election. ;-)
My husband and I just said the same thing. We voted early with just a 10 minute wait and we'll get the details in the morning.
Posted by: Amber C | November 04, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I voted early in Texas and I won't miss the coverage tonight. Too exciting. I am ready for the campaigns to be over too however.
Posted by: Todd | November 04, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Thats optimistic of you to say "I suspect it will be long, drawn out, and could even be inconclusive for quite awhile"
Posted by: Anom | November 04, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Anom --
By "quite awhile" I mean way into the evening -- not inconclusive for weeks or anything like that. Being on east coast time, even an "early" night when it comes to voting is 1 am -- and I have no intention of listening to political pundits talk for hours and hours late into the evening.
Posted by: FMF | November 04, 2008 at 01:53 PM
I will be in a large room surrounded by big-screen TVs and drinking with many like-minded people. Whether we're celebrating or commiserating of course remains to be seen.
Posted by: Noah | November 04, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Enjoy the interlude FMF. If Obama wins the GOP nomination race will start on 11/5. If McCain wins the Hillary Clinton campaign will begin anew on the same date.
Posted by: rwh | November 04, 2008 at 02:35 PM
I'll be doing the same as Noah and I don't even live in the US any more! Should have booked a day off work tomorrow .... But I haven't been seeking out much of the news coverage, and of course don't get the ads. Different horses, different course I guess.
Posted by: guinness416 | November 04, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Even once it is decided, who knows what will happen to health care, taxes, etc. No matter what happens, someone will have to break some of their promises, since it's impossible to add all the stuff they want to add and lower taxes at the same time.
Posted by: | November 04, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I am voting ASAP and then tooning out. X-Files marathon tonight. No TV and if I can manage it, no internet. It is out of my hands and I can finally look forward to non-political commercials to fast forward through. I have done my research and have made my decision (even for local issues).
I still remember Gore being declared the winner on live TV of Florida so I see no point in watching anything tonight.
Best to all.
Todd
Posted by: Todd | November 04, 2008 at 03:56 PM
The thing I'm hoping for, no matter who wins, is that the losing voters don't spend the next 4 years the same as the last 8 years. I could do without "president so-and-so is a miserable failure nazi scumbag liar fascist commie" comments. We're going to have a president a lot of people won't like, but that doesn't mean we have to act like children in our disagreements with him or his supporters.
Posted by: LotharBot | November 04, 2008 at 06:22 PM
... oh, and I'm spending the day reading sports news. My hometown team made some waves with a good trade, and me and the rest of the fans will be analyzing the ramifications almost as intently as the TV pundits will be analyzing exit polls.
Posted by: LotharBot | November 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM
"nazi scumbag liar fascist commie"
Sad, but he just may win! After all he spent so much more money I'm sure he bought enough votes.
Posted by: Rj | November 04, 2008 at 06:39 PM
I planned on watching DVRed shows tonight but I couldn't help myself, I logged on to CNN.COM and saw that my candidate won my state! Yeah! I hope the rest of the nation follows.
Posted by: Laura | November 04, 2008 at 07:58 PM
If anyone has DirecTV, check out channel 352 - it's got all 8 major networks coverage on one screen. You can switch audio to whichever "screen" you want to listen to.
Posted by: Kevin M | November 04, 2008 at 09:11 PM
LotharBot --
The dems treated bush without respect. The reps treated clinton without respect. I hope we can get away from that. I'm just glad to have a president who will be talking to me like I'm an adult. It's the one reason I always liked and respected Tony Blair even though I hated his policies.
Posted by: AdamCO | November 05, 2008 at 05:23 PM