Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Reports from the Front   [Jonah Goldberg]

From Minnesota:

Jonah,
Huge lines here in the deepest red district (go John Kline!) in this blue state.  It didn't help that the optical scanner was malfunctioning, but even without that issue, it was still overwhelming.  (My dear wife reported that they got it fixed within about twenty minutes of opening.  It was what we in the IT business call a PEBKAC error.)  Lots of Minnesotans are lining up to vote for McCain-Palin and Normy Coleman (yes, we all think he's a squish, but he's OUR squish, darn it).

Columbus, Ohio:

My voting anecdote.  I live in the City of Columbus, Ohio.  My ward is very Democratic and minority (African-American).  In 2004, I waited for one hour and the line was probably 95% African-American.  Today I waited 1 hour, 45 minutes and the line was only 85% African-American.  I have no clue what that predicts, but in my little corner of the world, turnout seems to be high all across the board.  Even saw one old dude standing in line reading the WSJ.  There's still hope!!

Upstate New York:

For what it's worth, I voted at 10 and I was the only one in the room besides the poll workers.  The parking lot had maybe ten cars, three precincts vote here (two in another room).  This is about average for the last 20 years, even Presidential years.  I usually vote mid-morning.  As an employee of the local government I get the day off. 

Vestigial organs are dangerous, vestigial holidays rock.

[Greece NY, suburb of Rochester, I live in the old people's part of town, weird when we bought the house in '86, getting to be far too appropriate]

Michigan:

Here in Michigan, where we've been ignored by the candidates because we're
surely going Democratic (and sadly, we likely will), the polls were an
interesting place at 6:50 a.m.

I was 83rd (!) in line, and within 15 minutes there were at least 100
people behind me.  This from a polling place that had < 100 votes in the
primary.  The guy behind me was calling friends and reminding / exhorting
them to get out and vote for. . . McCain!

Everyone in our office is voting, and only 2 for Obama that I'm aware of.

The turnout they're talking about might be all of us bitter, clinging,
afraid Americans who don't want to become socialists.

Side Note:  I started to feel optimistic on Sunday when the cashier at
Target made a mistake and started handing me someone else's purchases (the
guy behind me).  "Hey!" he laughed.  "You must be a Democrat.  Can you wait
until Tuesday to take my stuff and give it to someone else?"

When it's that much in the public square, it means something, and I'm
praying it means a win for McCain.

Thanks for all of your hard work — the Corner has kept me sane these last
few weeks.

11/04 12:04 PMShare