election 2008

[mellybrelly]

I kind of wonder if Obama will win the popular vote but McCain will win the electoral votes, but I hope that isn't the case. This is probably the most interested I've ever been in a USA election.

Comments

[mysterygal11.livejournal.com]

Heh. If that happens, be prepared for a whole lot of pissed off people. And that's putting it mildly.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I think so too, especially after the last election.

[mysterygal11.livejournal.com]

But, too, keep in mind that some states have more pull then others (like PA, which Obama is projected to win). It depends on population, and I think that's fair. Some states have tons of people living in them; others, very few.

Historically, the electoral votes reflect the desires of the public. Some people disagree that the electoral college should exist, but it reflects the general U.S. principle that no one person or group should have too much power or influence (which is one reason Bush is so unpopular - he took too much power from the executive branch of the government.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Tim was just explaining it to me a little. Interesting stuff.

[rachelk121.livejournal.com]

i honestly believe that if that happens, it will be the end of the electoral college

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I know so little about how your election process works, it's interesting. So far Obama looks like he's doing well, still a long way to go though.

[rachelk121.livejournal.com]

you probably have more knowledge of it than most people voting...

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

hahah, sad!

[jennygel7.livejournal.com]

I don't have a tonne of faith in the Americans. I wouldn't be surprised if McCain pulls it and Obama takes the popular vote.

I was much more into the Bush/Gore election in 2001. Gore should have won (did win) but of course, things in the States are never as they seem.

CORRUPTION ABOUNDS!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

That's what I was thinking too. I'm so curious what will happen tonight. I wasn't that into the Bush/Gore election though, I mean, I watched it, but I didn't have as much curiosity about it.

[mysterygal11.livejournal.com]

I think people need to have more faith in the people of the U.S. The problem with the 2000 and 2004 elections was that our alternatives weren't that good, and it was really frustrating because we felt we were choosing amongst a bunch of morons (Gore's a good guy, but I can't say he had a lot of influence, especially in terms of reaching out to conservatives; Kerry was just not in touch with the public at all).

Also, yes, a lot of people in this country are swayed by scare tactics, which Bush used heavily in the 2004 election (back when people were still extremely freaked out about the prospects of terrorism). As you can see, they were not as swayed by such tactics in this election.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I know that I know a lot of amazing americans with awesome heads on their shoulders, but then I see people here driving around with signs that say things like "vote for a pure blooded american" and it makes me cringe. I know that all the people I know online rock, but the ones who don't interact with me make me worried ;)

I do think that people were ready for change with this election, and Obama looks like he's doing well so far. 163 to 81 at the moment.

[mysterygal11.livejournal.com]

Ooooh trust me...that makes a LOT of us cringe. You might have noticed that the ultra-conservative, blindly patriotic, fanatical religious right has enormous power here, and they say many, many stupid things that make the rest of us look uneducated and flippant (here's hoping I didn't just offend someone). That's just my perspective; I realize I, too, am biased. Also, I would like to note that my mother is one of those people. LOL.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

heheh.. I know what you mean. I was glad to hear my mom was not worshiping Palin anymore, once I talked to her about how professing to be christian does not equal being a christian and does not mean someone would necessarily make a good politician...

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

Y'know, it's entirely possible that the next president could institute immigration reform that will actually affect you, assuming you're looking for a green card.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com, my boyfriend's favorite statistics porn site, seems to think that McCain will actually get MORE of the popular vote than he will of the electoral vote. (Check out the charts on the side of the page. 189.4 electoral votes is 35-ish percent, if I did the math right. My brain is totally buzzing.)

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

oh interesting, I'll go look, even though it still confuses me quite a bit!

And I think that looking at my visas and eventually my green card are what are making me more interested in the election, even though I have no idea where either of them stand on immigration. Just living here makes it all so much more interesting.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

Most Americans didn't really understand the electoral college until 2000, and probably we still don't. I have given up trying because I am now both buzzed by beer and still all wound up.

My impression is that you're OK with either candidate on the immigration front. McCain's from a border state and not as far to the right on immigration as some Republicans, though he had to tack to the right during this campaign to win over the dittoheads.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wasn't hearing anything about a fence to keep Canadians out or anything ;)

[failureface.livejournal.com]

Oh, thats coming. We're just trying to get our favorite ones over here first.

:-)

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I'm here now, they can start building ;)

[alena-griffiths.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. we're watching it too.. so far, so good!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It's looking like a win for Obama!

[skydivergirl77.livejournal.com]

Personally, as happy as I am that America finally has made a change in history and voted for a different color, I am scared that our military is going to go even more downhill. I just hope Obama doesn't decide to cut defense spending like I've been hearing he would.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I think the talks about cuts are probably just fear mongering from the other side. I think that stepping away from the war will be beneficial.