FL

Most networks are calling Florida for the moron, but there are between 1,000,000 and 1,600,000 absentee ballots out there, sealed, which aren't counted yet. They get counted by Thursday, apparently. So Bush's 300,000 vote lead could actually disappear. Who knows.

Useful Map

For those of you still awake, and paying attention, you'll find this map incredibly handy. Self-updating too, just leave it open while you surf.

Ugh.

I get so worked up over elections, and I get so excited to watch the results, and it's always such a letdown at the end. Even when the end is actually a definitive result, it's anticlimactic. With the likely result of Four More Years/Wars with Bush (Iran, Syria, ?, ?) -- it's just sad.

I'm gonna be cranky about this in the morning, I bet.

Sad, but true.

...at least we know that Jon Stewart will have lots to talk about, and the Canadian Dollar will continue going up. Don't bet on our exporters, all ye kids with money.

http://weblogs.macleans.ca/paulwells/

Hmmm...

( We are... )

Legitimacy

I don't understand it. If we work on the basis that the voting machines worked properly and all that, then Bush is now legitimate. The Republicans increased the number of Senate seats, increased the number of House seats, they have a majority of the state Governors, and Bush even won the popular vote.

How is it that the entire western world, minus the USA, has one incredibly strong opinion about the facts and the direction of policy, and the USA has one that's so different? And more importantly, how will the world look four years from now? Bush's team has already dismantled 30 years of environmental protection laws, destroyed the fiscal stability of their country, destroyed the political stability of Iraq, ... again and again, reality outpaces satire.

It's Time for Positives

Please only comment to add something positive. If you're looking for negatives, there are plenty already floating around. I'm writing this from my perspective, so obviously some of these things might not apply to you.

1. The election advertising is over.
2. I'm in Canada.
3. I'm a Canadian citizen.
4. The Canadian political process, while ridiculous in many ways, is not as corrupt, deadlocked, nor as downhill-oriented as the one south of the 49th parallel.
5. The Amazing Race premieres in 13 days.
6. There are three potential hotties on it. (good for looking at)
7. There are two professional wrestlers on it. (good for mocking)
8. The Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Solstice holidays are approaching soon, which means food, friends, and family. Also pretty snow and lights.
9. The Canadian dollar is still rising, and will likely continue to do so.
10. Bush, despite his Mad Cow and Softwood Lumber blind spots (mostly due to Congress), is actually less protectionist and more pro-trade than Kerry, meaning Canada is plausibly in a better position.
11. I'm healthy and I have a wonderful husband and we have a place to live and we have jobs. Millions of people in North America alone have none of those.
12. Jon Stewart and the Daily Show are just going to keep riding this wave for another couple years, leading to much laughter.