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DEL.ICIO.USShort lines not good for GOP
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just ran into a GOP strategist, who agreed that these reports of short lines at the polls today — while good news for Secretary of State Karen Handel — could be a portent of trouble for the Republican campaigns of John McCain and Saxby Chambliss.
The assumption — as posted here earlier — is that Democrats won early voting, and that it’s the GOP task to play catch-up today. No-wait voting could well be a sign that the Republican base may not be showing up. At least not in the numbers needed.
A few notations from elsewhere:
— NYT’s The Caucus has this bit of background:
Voting experts predicted a record [national] turnout of 130 million voters, which would be the highest percentage turnout in a century. It could shatter the previous record of 123.5 million who cast ballots four years ago. If 64 percent of registered voters make their way to the polls, as some predict, it would be the highest percentage since 1908.
— A Washington Post piece on Republicans in Congress trying to stem the tide has this paragraph:
Girding for large losses, Republicans said their incumbents could win if they succeed in establishing an identity independent of President Bush, Sen. John McCain and congressional GOP leaders. “Republican candidates that have established their own personal brand and have framed their races around a personal choice will survive this,” said Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Republicans trying to distance themselves from Bush isn’t news. But McCain?
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Comments
By MaxieGrrrl
November 4, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Turn-out may be light in some areas, but intown Atlanta and strong African American precincts have 2 hour waits.
By O-Dumba
November 4, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
THIS JUST IN:
Short IQs for Obama Voters are not good for the GOP, either.
By Basic
November 4, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
The notion of early voting favoring one party over another isn’t absolute. Citizens on both sides have been compelled to participate. Issues of economy, war, presidential and legislative leadership along with the state of the US have been enough to increase the numbers of citizens involved.
If those issues are enough, then the 700+ Billion dollar bailout is enough reason to have everyone come out and vote.
By Robert H.
November 4, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Hey Noah, one word; ‘WHY’? Why do you think anyone needs to hear any of the garbage you posted?
By Joe Poverty
November 4, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
This election was over B4 it began. There is no intelligent person that is going to vote for 4 more years of the same Republican leadership. The Republican strategy of FEAR failed against a strategy of HOPE.
By Basic
November 4, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
The notion of early voting favoring one party over another isn’t absolute. Citizens on both sides have been compelled to participate. Issues of economy, war, presidential and legislative leadership along with the state of the US have been enough to increase the numbers of citizens involved.
If those issues are enough, then the 700+ Billion dollar bailout is enough reason to have everyone come out and vote.
By Chief
November 4, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
This is newsworthy? Long lines means something. Short lines means something. Medium size lines means something. I guess it all means something.
My questions is this: how many illegal or dead voters cast their ballots today? Oh yeah, one more - a show of hands please for those who voted more than once.
By Octavious Bubba
November 4, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Joe Poverty, what is your hope? A bigger welfare check? Free housing? Free medical care? More food stamps?
How much do you “contribute” in the form of taxes to support these programs of hope?
By RL
November 4, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Note to my Republican friends…
Try to figure out a strategy that does not involve insulting the intelligence of Democrats. If that is all you have then your cause is more sorry than I thought it was.
Go get a clue…
By Fred G. Sanford
November 4, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
The “G” stands for Georgia, you big dummy!
AJC, can you not screen some of the posts such as Noah Jigaboo? Good grief.
By RL
November 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
One more note to my Republican friends…
The poverty welfare BS is so 1980’s and completely LAME… why don’t you join the rest of us in the 21st century.
By Gary
November 4, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Hmmm….its funny but aren’t there waits in Gwinnett, North Fulton, Cobb, and Cherokee counties which are Republican areas? I heard reports of this today and read the same thing and saw photos on this very website. Face it folks. John McCain will win GA. He probably wont win the election, but he will win this state.
By southern hope
November 4, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
I voted in midtown (included Atlantic Station) and it was a solid 2-hours….but it went by so fast….everyone in a great mood…my guess (based on a couple of emails…so no science behind this ) is that voting is low in the suburbs…..so I guess that portends poorly for McCain (of course, I was wrong in 04 so don’t plan any parties around my predictions!)
(agree with “fred” 100% that the AJC really needs to screen comments….why the 5-minute delay if you’re not going to read them first…its embarassing to see comments like that.)
By Octavious Bubba
November 4, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
RL, I doubt you actually have any Republican friends. “Insulting the intelligence of Democrats”? Hmmm, let’s see:
I sat in the pew for 20 years and NEVER heard any racial or inflammatory remarks from my Pastor, mentor, and spiritual advisor. Copies of these racial and inflammatory “sermons” were for sale on DVD in the lobby of the church. In a nutshell, Obama needed the street cred.
A stump speech promise of a tax cut for those earning unders $250K per year. Later, in the infomercial, a tax cut for those earning under $200K per year. Then, Joe the Biden says tax cuts for those earning under $150K per year. And finally, Dennis Richardson (an Obama surrogate) said tax cuts for those making under $120K per year. It’s like the old limbo dance…..how low can you go!
Bill Ayers is just someone in the neighborhood.
I’ll “bankrupt” any company building a new coal plant.
The list goes on. If Obama is elected President, he will have any army of surrogates who will go around saying “what the President meant to say was”….
I’m registered with neither the Republican or Democrat party. Instead, I just like to hear someone not insult MY intelligence with doublespeak.
Get off your intellectual high horse. Or as Joe the Biden once said to a reporter, I’ll by my IQ is higher than your IQ.
By Trudy
November 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Fred Sanford: I agree with you regarding this discussion being moderated and jerks like jigaboo should be filtered out. We can’t have an intelligent blog for the schmucks.
By Senator John Blutarsky
November 4, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
To my intellectually deficient colleague “RL”……TOGA!!!!!!
Hey bright boy, the “BS” you refer to is dragging this country down. You may long for an entitlement laden Socialist society and may well get it. Of course, you’re probably tenured somewhere and can say anything foolish and then hide behind your tenure. Either that, or you’re a union boss. You know, guaranteed wages (even when you’re not working), no secret ballots and such.
I don’t know what your vision is for the 21st century, but my “so 1980’s” outlook is that I get what I earn. Nothing more, nothing less. Handouts are a once a year thing on Halloween. My children have been raised to understand that NOTHING is free. Except, of course, the free and ridiculous comments of someone like you.
By Melissa
November 4, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
I agree—-there have been so many completely ignorant comments on these boards that seem to just pass right on by the “screeners”. It’s interesting how election topics bring out the bigotry that some claim no longer exists.
By RL
November 4, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
“Bubba” look in the mirror buddy… YOU are on the “high horse”
What are you FOR?
By Fred G. Sanford
November 4, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
The “G” stands for Georgia, you big dummy!
To “Southern Hope”.
I live in the burbs and the lines were long where I live. I can’t speak for the rest of the surrounding area.
My guess is that McCain and Chambliss will win GA, but McCain will lose the election.
By O Bubba
November 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
RL, I’ll share a few things that I’m for and I suggest you do the same.
A strong Military. The greatest social program we can offer our citizens is a free society and we simply cannot do so without a strong Military. Barney Frank wants to cut military spending by 25%. We are presently engaged in two wars. That type of comment is outrageous.
Low taxes. I don’t consider it “selfish” (as Obama stated) for me to want to keep what I earn. My wife and I are very benevelent and WE want to decide where our money goes, not the government.
A balanced budget, or darn near close. I’m not for raising taxes, but I’m okay with it as long as there is reduced spending in other areas.
Social Security needs to be reworked. The concept of privatizing it was interesting, but may not be the actual solution. I don’t have the answer, but if we sit back and do nothing then the program is doomed.
Freedom of Speech. I may not like what I hear from others, but I accept it as a true “right” in our society. The “Fairness Doctrine” that is being pumped by some Democrats is nothing short of censorship.
Health care reform. Notice I said “reform”. Not socialized medicine. I work in the health care industry and am convinced it is the greatest in the world. Let’s assume it’s 20% broken. You don’t throw out the whole program and replace it with a government run program. Instead, you try to fix the 20% that’s broken. If we go to Obama’s socialized program then the best and brightest will no longer be interested in pursuing health care as a profession.
I am against gay marriage. I don’t believe gay people should be discriminated against, but the institution of marriage is between one mand and one woman.
I want a judicial branch that interprets the law, not one that makes law.
I could go on, but I’m curious to see if you decide so share your views of some of the things you are FOR.
By Yeah, okay
November 4, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Is this article a right wing conspiracy to scare the republicans into going to the polls?
LOL!
Obama-Biden 08’
Learn it, live it, LOVE IT!
By O Bubba
November 4, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
By the way RL, which of my comments in my first post were inaccurate?
By Joe Biden
November 4, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
As Senator Obama said, this election is about one three letter word - jobs!
That’s J - O - B - S!
By Joe Biden
November 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
When trouble comes, America looks to it’s leaders. Back in ‘29 when the depression hit, President FDR immediately got on TV and calmed the American public.
By RL
November 4, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Bubba, you are NOT CORRECT when you state Obama’s health care plan is socialized… it is not it is as you state a REFORM plan. Maybe you should actually try to find some FACTS
By Joe Biden
November 4, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
My wife is hot.
By O Bubba
November 4, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Good, RL, good. You actually read and responded to one part of my post.
The facts are Obama’s plan IS socialized medicine. Read his plan (not the commercial soundbites) then look up Socialism in the dictionary. You’ll have your answer.
By the way, I responded to your question of what I am FOR. Are you man, or woman, enough to do the same?
By Joe Biden
November 4, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
As macho man Joe Biden said to a reporter:
You need to work on those pecs!
By O bubba
November 4, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
What song will be played at Obama’s party tonight if he wins?
“Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits!