The Stonecipher Report

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

8:45 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

Some interesting victory and concession speeches. In FL Sen.-Elect Marco Rubio’s talk marking his win, he slammed Republicans nearly as much as Democrats. Looks like there will be some struggles – at least on the Senate side – over who controls the Grand Old Party’s soul and platform-direction…

And, over in DE, big LOSER (down 17 percentage points) Christine O’Donnell says she really wins…and, oh, by the way, we gotta lot of food and the room for the night, so…let’s party! Woo-hoo!

Hey, anytime a righty candidate THAT moronic and pointless loses, I’m gonna party like it’s 1999 (well, maybe not the BEST metaphor there; perhaps more like it’s 2008)…

 

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

8:15 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

The third – and completely expected – GOP Senate pick-up was just tallied, with John Hoeven winning in North Dakota.

…But, the more impactful news that just hit is that with the 9PM Eastern / 8PM Central poll closings, the major news orgs are calling the GOP takeover of the House of Representatives a done deal. Looks like about a 30+ seat new majority, meaning a 70+ seat swing – about the best case scenario for the Elephants in the Lower Chamber.

Oh, great – some history was struck here in the US! We’re going from the first woman Speaker of the House…to the first motherfucking unnaturally orange one! Just terrific!, I typed, dripping with semi-bitter sarcasm…

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

 

8:00 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

Ooh – worst news so far of the night for Liberals / Progressives: In Florida, the crusading and outspoken Dem Rep. Alan Grayson loses. Goddamn it!



Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

7:45 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

…And a second Senate pick-up for the GOP: John Boozman beats beleaguered Dem Blanche Lincoln down in Arkansas. OK…not much surprise there. She was lucky to manage to limp to her primary win…

 

 

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

7:30 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

Top of the hour results rolled in…and, in the Florida Senate race, far-right Repub Marco Rubio beats sitting GOP Gov. Charlie Crist (who ran as an Independent) in a 3-way battle. And, it looks to be a BIG win for Rubio; even had the Dem, Rep. Kendrick Meek, pulled out and endorsed Crist (as had been called for), it doesn’t look like that coulda or woulda swung the election…

In Delaware, ding-dong, the "witch" is dead! Dem Chris Coons looks like the clear winner…and GOP / Tea Bagger candidate Christine O’Donnell looks to be headed to the next season of "Dancing With the Stars." Break a leg there, Chrissy! (And I mean that literally!)

A couple of "too early to call" races have the Dems ahead (holding seats their party previously had) - Blumenthal in Connecticut [note: just as I post this, he was declared a BIG winner there] and Manchin in West Virginia [...and, a few minutes later, HE wins fairly big, too].

…And, polls have closed in Illinois and Pennsylvania, but the Senate races of Sestak / Toomey (PA) and Giannoulias / Kirk (IL) are considered "too CLOSE to call." Gonna be a long night…

(And, in AL, OK, and GA (for the GOP) and MD (for the Dems), as expected, the incumbents hold their seats. So far, NO new pick-ups; just the one (IN) for the night…)

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

6:45 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

First Coats in IN, now Rob Portman in Ohio – WTF is this with warmed-over, Bush-era (the FIRST Prez. Bush, even in some cases) Republicans also winning 2010? Ooh, I’ll bet the 2011 GOP Senate Caucus will be an interesting battle between Tea Baggers and greyer, more-traditional Repubs…

Watch for the trads to roll their eyes and check their watches every time the Tea Baggers whip out a pocket copy o’ the Constitution and try to get preachy over something they (likely) misunderstand…

 

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

6:15 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

Projected first (official) Tea Bagger Senator: The People’s Ophthalmologist, Rand Paul in Kentucky. Ugh. But…it was already a GOP seat (held by nutso-crazy Baseball Hall-of-Famer Jim Bunning), so…at least it is NOT a swing-over for the attempted Repub takeover of the Upper Chamber…

On the other hand, as expected, the Indiana seat IS switching. Welcome back to the US Senate, Dan Coats, about the most "exciting" Indy GOPer since…uh, Dan Quayle? And, finding a semi-silver lining, that’s a big get-the-hell-outta-here kiss-off for one of the most self-centered, non-team-player Dem Senators – Evan Bayh. Buh-Bayh!

Up next - results from West Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio...

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

5:45 PM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

Out and about in the city on Election Day…and I already voted early (if not often!) last week. Saw polling places in public (and even private) schools, libraries, retirement homes, apartment buildings, and even in a health club facility.

Political signs are everywhere – in yards, windows, cars; on buildings and billboards. Including a crumpled sign for indie IL Gubernatorial candidate (and former pawn broker with an alleged hooker girlfriend) Scott Lee Cohen in a gutter on Western Avenue. Cohen may have spent personal millions on his campaign (I was getting mailers from him every other day; no exaggeration!), but…it appears that the tribe has already spoken about him. I peg him for a fourth-place finish, behind the Quinn / Brady winner (gonna be a close one there), the runner-up, and Green Party (protest-vote-absorber) Rich Whitney. Oh well…at least printers, mailers, and various consultants appreciate Cohen spending all that cash…

 

Election Day – November 2nd, 2010 Live-Blog!

10:15 AM:

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 2, 2010

It’s a chilly, but sunny day here in Chicago…and it is predicted to get up into the 50s - which is possibly good news for Illinois Democrats Alexi Giannoulias (for Senate) and Pat Quinn (for Governor). Those two close races may well be decided by turnout…and decent weather in Dem-heavy Chicago and surrounding Cook County could well tip the balance over the downstate numbers expected to favor the Republican challengers.

I will have a few updates during the day, as any other relevant news breaks…and then I’ll be back out here full-time as the results start rolling in tonight. So…check me out here later, on and off…and, of course, if you haven’t yet, be sure to go out and VOTE!

 

Come Back Tuesday Night For Live-Blogging Here on the Mid-Term Election Returns!

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Nov. 1, 2010

It’s gonna be a long and historic – and likely some up and some down – Election Night tomorrow, November 2nd. So, head back here then as I will be live-blogging about the results - and my reactions to them - as they break across the country. Brew a pot of coffee, nuke up some popcorn, and join me for The Stonecipher Report’s full, unique, and Liberally smart-assed coverage of Decision 2010! It’s sure to be…uh, something. See ya then…