Wednesday, November 8 @ 12:00 p.m.: I hope you conservatives didn’t spend the morning crying in your porridge. If anyone deserves to cry, it’s me. I stayed up too late last night and was reminded why I gave up drinking. I feel hung over (I’m usually in bed before 10:00 p.m. because I get up at 4:00 a.m.) and I had a column deadline today.
But no more complaining! I’m disappointed by Republican losses, despite my efforts to be casual. But as I wrote in my column, which will be published tomorrow, our system of government is still the best around. Democrats wanted a chance to govern, now they have it. Campaigning for 2008 begins now. So spend the day, if you must, moaning in this thread about last night’s losses. My take on the elections? My comments will appear in tomorrow’s Washington Examiner.
Thanks to CNN for inviting me to a great party and to liberal bloggers for being gracious enough not to gloat. 
“Analysis” and photos below the fold:
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You guys may want to sign up for a free 14-day trial of CNN Pipeline. You can watch blogger interviews there. I don’t know how much face time we’ll get on CNN.
7:15 p.m.: I’m blogging the results up here; photos will be posted below. I “heard” that the “gay marriage” ban passed in Virginia.
7:45 p.m.: Haven’t got a link for the Virginia call, but I saw it scroll across the monitor I’m watching. Hopefully, I’ll appear on camera to talk about it.
Pat Hynes took some video and I’m in a shot talking about the anti-race preferences initiative in Michigan.
8:53 p.m.: I WAS ON TV! Well, it was recorded, to be shown later. They wanted to talk about my defense of Kerry post, the Haggard post, and the VA same-sex so-called marriage ban. I’m getting a lot of hits, so I know people are reading this post. We are the commenters? Tell me what’s going on out there. Yes, I’m watching two different monitors (FOX and CNN), but I want to hear from you.
Predictions at Wizbang!
I just heard the homosexual “marriage” ban also passed in South Carolina and Tennessee.
Deval Patrick becomes the first black governor of Massachusetts. Hello, Las Vegas of same-sex marriage!
9:38: Republican senators Rick Santorum and Mike DeWine lost. Durham County DA Mike Nifong wins.
Michael Steele is leading, but CNN is calling it for Ben Cardin. Huh?
The measure to ban race preferences in government hiring and admissions Michigan leads 65 percent to 35 percent, with 10 percent precincts reporting. “Bad” news for me. The interview I did was piped in over the Pipeline. It won’t be shown on TV. I’m disappointed. 
Wisconsin votes to ban homosexual “marriage,” joining SC, Tennessee, Virginia. Anti-race preferences measure still leading.
11:15 : CNN is reporting that the Democrats have gained control of the House of Representatives. The people have spoken.
12:06 a.m.: My silver lining: Michigan joins California in banning skin color preferences. One state at a time.
I agree with Pat Hynes. When conservatives run on social issues, they win. When they don’t, they don’t. I think I’ll call it a night. Sweet dreams, everybody.
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I’m live-blogging from the Tryst Coffeehouse in the nation’s capital. I’m pictured above with blogger Lorie Byrd of Byrd Droppings and Wizbang. Most polls stay open until 7:00 p.m., so there’s not much to do but meet bloggers and take pictures. I’m not into making predictions, so…
Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend in the photo. As you may know, Pam and I are on different sides of the aisle. Our values couldn’t be more different, but it’s funny how people get along better in person than online. I’m definitely one of those “black fundies” she always blogs about. (”black fundamentalists”)
Me and John Amato of Crooks and Liars.
This is Alex Wellen, CNN producer. We went to Temple law school together.
Me and Ann Althouse.
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La Shawn how totally cool what you’re doing! I love Pam’s blog even though I don’t agree with her either. Tell her this “fundie” as she’s referred to me on her blog, says “Hi and I hope the Dems lose
”
I told her! She laughed and said something about Guy somebody.
Sounds like lot of fun. Good luck!
I wish I didn’t have to work today. With my laptop keeping me busy with blogs during commercials and other uninteresting stuff, I will be glued to the TV when I get home this evening…around 6 pm PST. Can’t wait to hear what Americans say today.
Yes, that would be the infamous Guy Adams who has made a total fool of himself…;0
By the way, I’m waiting for the communist news network to put you gals on television
IF I see you I’ll wave at you 
I know I promised, but you said, “Help!” Anyway, I feel the opposite, evens as a Dem. I feel that the Republicans are not going to lose that many seats, if any.
And for the first time I have to agree with conservatives (at least for tonight) that the media: CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, and the local NYC media really have a slant for the Dems today.
BTW: there’s something cool about you in that pic with Pam. Woman to Woman–dare I say—you took a nice pic!
La Shawn,
The next time that you talk to Lorie Byrd, ask her if one of her Okie fans can get an autographed photo of her. Lorie once linked to a fish photo that I posted on my now-closed blog Dodo World. [Her husband is from my state, by the way.]
I’m praying for you, especially since you are in D.C.
I went out and voted today. Apparently, voting is not going well in the city of Denver. It was fine where I was in the ‘burbs. The line was long, but it always is out here.
Yes, my polling place changed. Yes, identification was required. Yes, I had to stand in line for 45 minutes. Yes, I did have to ask one of the workers a question about something the machine did. In spite of all those challenges(!), I managed to vote.
They sent out notice after notice concerning all the changes. Many notices seemed to be repeats, but because voting is important to me, I read them and was prepared.
So far it seems like a lot of folks are whining about a whole lot of problems that they could have prevented themselves. No, power outages are not the voters’ fault. No, broken machines are not the voters’ fault. Not knowing where you are going, or being prepared, is a voters’ fault.
We are so blessed to live in a land that is free. We are so blessed to be able to vote. America is an amazing place. I consider myself blessed to live here~even when I may not like who is in power.
Thanks for being willing to be out there in the middle of it all. Thanks for for being willing to make your voice heard. Thanks for for being willing to put up with all the garbage people who disagree toss out there.
While my blog is not political in nature, at all, I do enjoy reading yours. Have fun tonight! Be a light.
Hey, La Shawn, you’re looking good!!!! Wish I was there!
Hey US citizen residing 19 yrs in Amsterdam NL. Reading you guys, watching CNN, FOX, BBC.. great way to follow the action ….and as a marketing communication consultant here in teh domestic market, and being two years or more behind USA still when it comes to political, social and business blogging… this is pretty cool and inspiring…
La Shawn, unless you’re making a hella lot of money hating on gays while cruising girls at night, you’re not one of Pam’s fundies:)
It is over down here in Durham. Nifong won with 49% of the vote to Cheek 39% and Monks 12%. I knew that was going to happen. Monks split the anti-Nifong vote to enable Mikey to win…
Hi La Shawn! While you are at the CNN.com blog party, and I’m at the CNN Center in Atlanta (where I work) with the rest of the IT team working on the CNN election coverage! I feel like we’re one right now!
Have fun!
thanks for the photos La Shawn. So in the first photo it looks like you and Lorie aer both happy to be there. In the 2nd it looks like Pam can’t wait to get away from you. and in the 3rd it looks like you can’t wait to get away from John =p.
tell Lorie I said Hi
Hey LaShawn, Fox News, CNN are all calling the Steele race for the other guy. For the life of me I can’t understand why they keep calling it for the other guy who has 40 something % to Steele’s 53%…I think these wackos are wishing Steele has lost.
I even called Fox News up and reported their error and yet after two hours there is still no change.
Great job Lashawn. Nice photos. You look great!
We lost. Thanks to the idiots spending like drunk sailors. I’m not a Republican next year. Changing to an Independent. I have an enough. It’s depressing. We can thank Bush, Rove, and our DOD Sec. In addition, our congressmen..spending like drunk sailors. We can thank all of them for caring about Americans. Caring about our border security. Thanks to all of our great Republicans. What a bunch of awful leaders….
Good Night
Great post, I see racial self-segregation all the time, and I want to investigate the issue more thoroughly.
I always find something new and interesting every time I come around here – thanks.
Sparky – Hope you managed to get some sleep. Just remember how much Reagan was able to accomplish with a Democratically controlled Congress. Maybe W. can do the same thing? If he gets that overdue resignation letter from Rumsfeld, then maybe some true bipartisan governance can begin.
Ever hopeful,
AC
I should feel worse about this than I do. It is a good thing that voters are intolerant of scandal in Republicans. They would do the Democrats a favor if they were just as intolerant of scandal in their party. {I always felt that the reason many older women, including my mother, loved Bill Clinton so much was that he was the wayward son they never got to indulge.] When we don’t tolerate bad behavior in someone we are asking her/him to be an adult. When I heard on TV last night for the first time that Hastert’s son had quit his job to become a lobbyist I had a bad feeling. In spite of what they ran on in 1994, Republicans have “gone Washington.” Happily, many of them will be out of office come 2007. Look for those who were voted out to become lobbyists and TV commentators. They won’t be hurting for money.
It looks like there will be Democrat conservative senators in congress with Webb of Virginia and the man running against Burns in Montana whose name escapes at the moment. Also, if Ford would of won in Tennessee – same thing.
John
I just don’t want to live in a loser country, so I hope that our leaders will continue (or start) to encourage people to be productive and to realize that we have a lot to lose if this nation becomes/remains trashy.
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w061106&s=clarke110806
Interesting article on why black Republicans lose. I don’t know the slant of this particular publication but it caught my eye.
I will say this: Despite what many white votes say, I still don’t think that they are comfortable voting for a black person, even if that black person has values similar to theirs. Look at Blackwell and Steele, who were conservative darlings. Why didn’t that appeal translate into a win???
This Republican is not particularly surprised or even disappointed. Unfortunately, some good people got run over in the sweep for change, but the Republicans had grown fat and lazy and too imperious for my taste.
I voted to bar gay marriage in Virginia and for George Allen. Allen has been so busy positioning for ‘08 that he has been AWOL in representing us. Now we have six years to get someone up and running who really wants the seat and is connected with the home folks. I would like to get Warner out of the way as well. He is one hair away from being the Republican version of John Kerry. Sometimes these guys have to lose for the party to advance.
I must say that it will be entertaining to watch the power follies that will come out of the House in particular.
The Clinton Machine will be very busy trying to keep a lid on Pelosi and friends and Harry Reid. The headiness of power can clown up the atmosphere to the point that Hillary will have a miserable slog in 2008. Bring on the internecine war among the self annointed democrats each of whom will be demanding star billing. Pay particular attention to the Pelosi/Hillary “love fest.”
Tiffany, you said;
“Despite what many white votes say, I still don’t think that they are comfortable voting for a black person, even if that black person has values similar to theirs. Look at Blackwell and Steele, who were conservative darlings. Why didn’t that appeal translate into a win???”
Steele was in an uphill battle in state that if I remember right is way over 50% Democrat regisration. He also faced “race baiting” from the democrats, he had Oreo Cookies thrown at him during campaign stops. Workers for his opponent Cardin conspired to illegally get his credit card information. He probably did as well as any white candidate would have done
The black senate democrat candidate Ford Jr from Tennesse did very well in a state that Bush has won the last 2 presidential elections. In fact Ford was leading up until he had a bad week or two not too long ago.
I strongly disagree with your statement
Our system is awesome, but I bet there are idiots around the world who are like “Bush is defeated! Those evil Republicans are gone, and now the angelic Democrats are in!” and/or “America is weak!” People in enslaved, corrupt countries have no idea what a democratic process is like, that we can respond to our lawmakers by voting them out.
What’s unfortunate is that it’s either/or here–if one party has the majority in Congress, then they set the tone. It’s too bad that conservatives have to latch on to the Republican party and have to put their hopes on that party to represent them, to the point that if the Republicans lose, then their “team” loses, as if it’s just one big football game.
So then people get wrapped up in the power play: the politicians care about keeping power for their party, but the average person has to go along with it–but what do they really gain if their “team” wins or loses? The entire party doesn’t represent the same values. The politicians will gain everything via power, but the average person won’t. And the media doesn’t help–they feed the idea of competition, so that people are despondent when their “team” loses, when people should be looking at the corrosion of our country via individuals.
I remember when President Bush won for the second time, there was such desperation in the liberal blogosphere, with bloggers saying they felt like committing suicide, or deciding to go back to therapy and renew their Prozac prescriptions! I remember thinking “Oh, shut up and stop the crocodile tears! This is a democracy and in four years, you get to try again and have another chance. Nothing is forever.”
Yeah, I am disappointed in the election results but I sort of saw it coming. I worry about Israel, and I worry about the America that I grew up in and that I loved so much (still do). In my heart of hearts, I can’t be completely casual about it, because we do live in dangerous times and if the libs continue caving into Islam or sinking further into moral degeneracy, then the world as we know it is going to be finished. However, I’m not renewing any antidepressant prescriptions, not seeing a therapist, and I’m not feeling suicidal. I don’t want to take this news the way the whiney, melodramatic leftists took the news of Bush’s win. We will regroup, keep our eyes on G-d, and prepare for the next elections. That’s all we can do. It’s really not a bad plan.
Black leaders have continued to sell-out the black community for the past 30 years .We spent multi-billions of $$$ on failed busing programs , destroyed Cleveland and other cities and still blacks cannot read/write/talk or graduate from high school!50% fail –why ? Black won’t support school choice ! why ? Blacks need to change leaders and change course or be mired in the basement for another 30 years !
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