Baron Dave Romm
2008 Election Aftermath Part II
By Baron Dave Romm
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Three Senate Races
Really, I want the election to be over so we can get on with our lives and I can go back to reviewing music. But no. In the immortal words of Monty Python's Mary Queen of Scots, "Not dead yet." Missouri hasn't been officially called, and a few House races remain in limbo, but I mainly want to talk about the three Senate races that are, as yet, undecided. Interestingly, at least for me, all three are undecided in different ways.
If the Democrats win all three, which is possible but not likely then President Obama will have a fillibuster proof Senate. If all the Democrats stay in line. And if Lieberman is still a Democrat. And if no Republican decides to switch parties. Possibilities abound, and we won't be sure for weeks, possibly months, just how the Senate will play out.
Franken vs. Coleman
I live in Minnesota and voted for Franken. I've been following the counting fairly closely, and will pay attention to the recount. According to the lastest report by the Mpls StarTribune, Coleman vs. Franken: The Recount, Coleman is ahead by 206 votes, out of nearly 2.9 million votes cast. That will trigger an automatic recount, which will be much more thorough than the unofficial hand count done so far.
Obama beat McCain by ten percentage points in Minnesota, winning by nearly 300,000 votes. McCain, in losing, got more votes than either Sentate candidate. What happened?
Many people came out to vote for Obama and the downticket races were an afterthought, or at least not as important. I suspect that Franken will pick up undervotes and discarded ballots that get a second look.
Meanwhile, kudos to the Clintons. Both Bill and Hillary came and campaigned for Franken as well as Obama. I was at the rally where Bill held forth on the need to get out all the vote for all Democrats. Given the attempts at voter suppression by the Republicans, for a Democrats to win, they have to overcome the cheating with a larger effort.
The recount will last until mid-December.
Begich vs. Stevens
Something's rotten in the state of Alaska. No, not Gov. Sarah Palin. I should say, not only Gov. Sarah Palin. It's not much of a story as yet, but pre-election polls were pretty accurate almost everywhere... except Alaska, where polls were waaaaaay off. By about 10%. Fewer people voted than said they would, a win for the Democrat in the House race turned into a win for the Republican, and a big win for the Democrat in the Senate race has turned into a squeaker. The votes are sill being counted, but it smells bad.
Alaska's a big state, and many citizens vote by mail. Not only are some of the precincts far away, but the state has to allow all the ballots with a correct postmark to arrive. And then count them all.
Fivethirtyeight.com's report from yesterday morning (Sat. Nov. 14) was already out of date as of yesterday afternoon. As of the report from 5:14pm, Begich is leading by 1,022 votes cast. Ten days after the election, some Stevens-leaning counties have yet to be fully counted, and some Begich-leaning absentee ballots are still out. Begich has gained more than 4200 votes since the absentee and questioned ballots started to be counted. If Begich wins by a large enough margin, a recount would not happen automatically. Steven would, most likely, ask for a recount that Republicans pay for.
We political humorists are rooting for convicted felon Stevens to win so we can watch the fun. He may resign, and Gov. Palin would appoint his successor (which can't be her). He could try to bull his way through, like other convicted Republicans, and the Senate could censure him. Or he could be impeached, led by members of his own party. Any one of anumber of hilarious scenarios can play out.
But we political pragmatists want Begich to win outright.
And we want Obama to appoint honest people to be US attorneys to investigate what's going on up in Alaska.
Martin vs. Chambliss
Of all the repugnant Republicans in Congress, Sen. Saxby Chambliss can best be described as "evil" for his mean-spirited and shameful ads comparing war hero Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden. Even John McCain was disgusted... a the time. In 2002, the ads were "worse than disgraceful," said McCain. "It's reprehensible." Now, in an abrupt flip-flop, McCain is putting America Second and his party above all else.
Meanwhile, right now, Chambliss has been subpoenaed over the Feb. 7 Imperial Sugar explosion and fire, and is refusing to respond. So much for personal responsibility.
Georgia law says that if no candidate gets 50% of the vote, it's a redo. The election was close, with Chambliss leading, but he didn't get to 50%. Now, both candidates are stumping for votes for the Dec. 2 runoff. Almost certainly, fewer people will vote in the runoff than voted in the presidential election. Whether that will help or hurt Martin is an interesting question. McCain won Georgia, so the whatever coattails McCain had will be gone. On the other hand, 97% of African-Americans voted for Obama, and fewer of them might show up.
Right now, Obama has sent his Ohio organization to help in Georgia, which bodes well. McCain, who didn't have much of an organization in Georgia, is sending McCain. Given his condemnation of Chambliss' previous campaign, this may not be a complete plus for the incumbent.
Obama won and Democrats won, but the two weren't closely linked
On one hand, this election, coupled with the 2006 election, shows a huge shift to Democrats and to liberals. More than just a referendum on the failed policies and lack of moral compass in the Bush administration, voters have soundly rejected conservative policies that began with Reagan and have now shown to be literally bankrupt. On the other, the Democrats can't crow too loudly right now. Obama's personal magnetism did not have the coattails for the whole party. While Obama is in a significantly better position than Ronald Reagan after the 1980 election, the Democrats still need to rally around a central core of ideas and policies.
Obama may yet pull this off and become the leader of the Democratic Party as well as the leader of the nation, but he has a precarious balancing act: He has to govern from the weakened position that Bush left him, and campaign from the strengthened position that the election gave him. Reagan was the beneficiary of Carter's policies, which took a while to work, but did work. Gingrich/Bush/Cheney left a mess for Obama, and whoever follows Obama, and probably several presidents after that.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia who produces Shockwave Radio Theater, writes in a Live Journal demi-blog, plays with a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. Dave Romm reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E. Podcasts of Shockwave Radio Theater. Permanent archive. More radio programs, interviews and science fiction humor plays can be accessed on the Shockwave Radio audio page.
Thanks to everyone who has sent me music to play on the air.
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Tim Harford: Only the Good Buy Young (slate.com)
Why 20-year-olds should invest way more in the stock market, and 50-year-olds, way less.
Daniel Gross: "Save! (But Not Too Much.)" (slate.com)
Americans are getting thrifty just when we should be spending more.
Susan Estrich: Sarah Palin Mattered (creators.com)
For years I've been dining out on the story of the 1988 vice presidential debate, where Lloyd Bentsen literally cleaned Dan Quayle's clock - "You're no Jack Kennedy" - resulting in a huge increase in his own approval ratings and virtually no bump at all for the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket.
Froma Harrop: America Doesn't Need 'Rebranding' (creators.com)
I'm delighted that Barack Obama has been elected president and that foreigners are delighted, too. But I never viewed eliciting delight from non-Americans a reason for choosing a president, including one of color. No other people so fervently seek the admiration of others as do Americans.
Sally Lodge: Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl" Inspires Societies (publishersweekly.com)
In his 2000 "Stargirl," Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli introduced a creative, free-spirited teenager whose acts of kindness affected many. Readers clearly connected with "Stargirl": the Knopf novel has sold more than a million copies in North America alone and has been published in 27 countries. This character, in fact, has so deeply touched some teens that they've been inspired to start Stargirl Societies, school groups with the goal of emulating Stargirl's values.
SUZANNE FRIEDMAN: Stargirl Shines On (timeforkids.com)
... Newbery Award-winning author Jerry Spinelli introduced readers to Stargirl Caraway. The ruffled-skirt-wearing, ukulele-strumming, rat-owning teenager won readers' hearts. She dared to be different at a school full of cliques, where everyone else strove to be the same. Stargirl's narrator, Leo, accepts Stargirl at first, but later urges her to be more like everybody else.
"Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers" by Don Letts: A review by Gerry Donaghy
You may not know who Don Letts is, but you've probably felt his impact in a variety of ways. As a film director, he has directed documentaries on punk rock and music videos by the likes of The Clash, The Pretenders, and Elvis Costello. As a tastemaker, he bridged racial differences and helped shaped the political and musical consciousness of young punks like Johnny Rotten and Joe Strummer by turning them onto reggae.
Audra D.S. Burch: "Prince of style: Book captures the fashion genius of a pop-culture icon" (McClatchy Newspapers)
After 30 years in the music business, Prince finally has released his first book. It is bathed, of course, in shades of purple.
Roger Ebert: "Dolly Parton: 'The real truth would curl your hair'"
Update, 2008: This 1980 interview is all quite true, but it entirely misses something. It must have happened at a different time, and I can't track down the piece. Here's what I remember. I had a one-on-one interview with Parton in a hotel suite. As we spoke, I found myself enveloped by her presence. This had nothing to do with sex appeal. Far from it. It was as if I were being mesmerized by a benevolent power. I left the room in a cloud of good feeling. Next day, Siskel and I were sitting next to each other on an airplane. "This will sound crazy," he said, "but when I was interviewing Dolly Parton, I almost felt like she had healing powers."
Virginia Madsen: "Robert Altman (1925 - 2006): His dangerous angel remembers" (suntimes.com)
Working with Robert Altman was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. Each day on "A Prairie Home Companion," I would come to work at call time, get half-way ready with make-up and hair and just sit next to Bob or hang out watching Lily and Meryl, or the guys singing with the band in between takes, and wait to see if he needed me.
Is that a spanner in your pocket ... (guardian.co.uk)
From mourners in a funeral parlour to a delivery boy and his 'big sausage' pizza, why is it so easy to spot the opening scenes of porn films, asks Tim Dowling.
Roger Ebert: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (R; 3 1/2 stars)
I look at young people who affect the Goth look. I assume they want to keep a distance and make a statement. The leather can be taken off, the tattoos not so easily. It is relatively painless to pierce many body areas, not all. But what would it feel like to be pierced by a vampire's fangs? That would be more than a Look, wouldn't it? And you wouldn't want to advertise yourself as a vampire.
The Weekly Poll
Current Question
Has there been a particular book or movie that you can say truly changed your life?
Send your response, and a (short) reason why, to BadToTheBoneBob ( BCEpoll 'at' aol.com )
Results Tuesday
Charlie replied:
Reader Suggestion
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics, allows us to think really, REALLY big by looking at
things that are very, very small.
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Hot and hazy with intermittent ash.
Unveils Matta Mural
Chile
Chile's military dictatorship of the 1970s so hated a mural by painter Roberto Matta that it covered the work with 16 coats of paint.
Now the surrealist mural is back on display at the La Granja city hall outside Santiago after three years of restoration work.
It cost about $43,000 to repair the 4-by-24-metre mural titled "The First Goal of the Chilean People."
The painting that officially went on public display Sunday celebrates the 1971 victory of Socialist president Salvador Allende. He was toppled by a military coup in 1973 led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until 1990.
Chile
'Carnival of Light'
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney says it's time an experimental Beatles track saw the light of day.
McCartney says he wants to release "Carnival of Light," a 14-minute experimental track the Fab Four recorded in 1967 but never released.
The band played the recording for an audience just once, at an electronic music festival in London. It reportedly includes distorted guitar, organ sounds, gargling and shouts of "Barcelona!" and "Are you all right?" from McCartney and John Lennon.
"I like it because it's The Beatles free, going off piste," McCartney told the BBC in a radio interview to be broadcast Thursday. Extracts of the interview were published Sunday in The Observer newspaper.
Paul McCartney
Won't Return To 'ER'
Julianna Margulies
The final "ER" season is bringing back some of its original stars for guest shots, but Julianna Margulies won't be among them. She was invited, she says, but declined.
Margulies, who played nurse Carol Hathaway on the NBC hospital drama from its 1994 premiere, exited after six seasons. Her character left Chicago's County General for Seattle, settling down with Dr. Doug Ross, who had been played by George Clooney.
"I feel like I left Carol Hathaway in the best scenario possible," Margulies said Saturday, laying to rest speculation about her return. "I can't imagine making it any better than that."
In the farewell lap of its 15-season run, "ER" last week featured Anthony Edwards reprising his role of Dr. Mark Greene. NBC has announced upcoming appearances by fellow alums Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle, who will also direct an episode.
Julianna Margulies
Hits 'SNL' Big Time
Janet Napolitano
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has hit a milestone in any politician's career - she was parodied on "Saturday Night Live."
The brief impersonation by cast member Kristen Wiig came during host Paul Rudd's opening monologue.
Rudd discussed the show's popular political impersonations and assured the audience there were plenty of good impressions left to do.
Wiig then came out donning Napolitano's hairstyle - short and black with a gray spot in the front. She walked offstage awkwardly after giving an oversimplified answer on how she would secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Janet Napolitano
First 'Green' Billboard
Times Square
This winter, New Year's Eve revelers will have a close-up view of Times Square's first environmentally friendly billboard powered entirely by wind and sun.
Construction on the 35,000-pound sign advertising Ricoh Americas Corp. is to begin this month across the avenue from the building where the ball drops on New Year's Eve.
Powered by 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels, the sign is expected to save $12,000 to $15,000 per month in electricity costs. Ricoh, an office equipment and document storage supplier, estimates the sign will also keep 18 tons of carbon out of the environment.
The billboard will be lit by floodlights rather than light-emitting diodes. It won't have a backup generator, so it could go dark during a long period with little wind or sun.
Times Square
Fire Sale For Oil Men
Delicate Arch
The view of Delicate Arch natural bridge - an unspoiled landmark so iconic it's on Utah's license plates - could one day include a drilling platform under a proposal that environmentalists call a Bush administration "fire sale" for the oil and gas industry.
Late on Election Day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a Dec. 19 auction of more than 50,000 acres of oil and gas parcels alongside or within view of Arches National Park and two other redrock national parks in Utah: Dinosaur and Canyonlands.
The National Park Service's top official in the state calls it "shocking and disturbing" and says his agency wasn't properly notified. Environmentalists call it a "fire sale" for the oil and gas industry by a departing administration.
Officials of the BLM, which oversees millions of acres of public land in the West, say the sale is nothing unusual, and one is "puzzled" that the Park Service is upset.
Delicate Arch
Silencing Opposition
Burma
In a devastating week for Myanmar's democracy movement, dozens of its members have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, as the military-ruled government locks away writers and Buddhist monks - as well as musicians, a poet and at least one journalist.
By the weekend, more than 80 had received sentences of up to 65 years - a move that seemed designed to keep them jailed long past upcoming elections, activists and analysts said Sunday.
News of the sentences came mostly through activists and analysts. The military junta that has ruled Myanmar since 1962 did not comment on the sentences, most of which were handed down in closed-door proceedings. It was not known why the prisoners were sentenced now, although many analysts concluded the move was made to eliminate opposition ahead of the election that the junta has described as part of its "roadmap to democracy." Opposition groups and other critics dismiss it as a sham meant to perpetuate military rule.
Burma
Blasts Attitudes
Rupert
Rupert Murdoch (R-Fascist) on Sunday dismissed the suggestion that newspapers are a dying breed, but the global medial mogul said the ideas of some editors and journalists were obsolete in the digital age.
The Australian-born Murdoch, whose News Corp empire includes The Times in Britain and the Wall Street Journal, said media companies, like other businesses, faced new competition from the Internet.
But while other industries saw the web as a potential boon, "among our journalistic friends are some misguided cynics who are too busy writing their own obituary to be excited by the opportunity."
Murdoch, who was 22 when he inherited his first paper in Australia, acknowledged that traditional sources of revenue such as classified adverts were drying up, but refused to accept that papers would die.
Rupert
Survey Finds Many Bugs Can't Be Fixed
Gadgets
Gadget makers love to sell us on all the things their devices can do, whether it's letting us chat with distant friends at any time or watch movies on our commute. But can anyone fix this stuff when it breaks?
That's a question raised by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which discovered in a survey released Sunday that 15 percent of people who had some piece of technology break down in the previous year were never able to get it repaired.
The figure was even higher for certain products. Almost a quarter of cell phone users said they never managed to get their device fixed. And among those who did resolve an issue, a higher percentage either corrected the problem themselves or sought help from friends or relatives rather than call customer service.
Gadgets
Weekend Box Office
'Quantum of Solace'
James Bond's quantum of the weekend box office: $70.4 million. "Quantum of Solace," with Daniel Craig returning as Bond for the first direct sequel in the spy franchise, pulled in nearly $30 million more over opening weekend than its predecessor, 2006's "Casino Royale," according to studio estimates Sunday.
DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which debuted at No. 1 the previous weekend, slipped to second place with $36.1 million, raising its 10-day total to $118 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Quantum of Solace," $70.4 million.
2. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," $36.1 million.
3. "Role Models," $11.7 million.
4. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," $5.9 million.
5. "Changeling," $4.2 million.
6. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," $3.2 million.
7. "Soul Men," $2.43 million.
8. "The Secret Life of Bees," $2.4 million.
9. "Saw V," $1.8 million.
10. "The Haunting of Molly Hartley," $1.6 million.
'Quantum of Solace'
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