Our Long National Nightmare is Over

…or is just beginning depending on your point of view and how many lawsuits get filed tomorrow. My intention is to maintain a little journal (most of which will be on paper and then uploaded later) of today’s events just for fun recording purposes. I don’t expect things to be settled until after midnight so there will be lots of updates I imagine.

9:00 AM – Mrs. X arrives at polls and discovers a really long line at our polling place. I have already voted absentee.

9:25 AM - I was just thinking that if Mr. Obama loses, the PUMAs are going to come out with the long knives and slaughter the Obama supporters wholesale. There will be a political bloodbath the likes we haven't seen in more than 30 years.

9:40 AM - Mrs. X finishes voting. Despite getting a "I Voted" sticker, Toddler X did not vote.

12:20 PM - Early voting reports indicate voting problems in scattered locations in Philadelphia as well as other parts of the country. Also reports of lower than expected turnout so far in Manhattan, although other locations around the country are exceeding turnout expectations. Mr. McCain has also filed a lawsuit in VA requesting a 10-day extention for arrival times of military ballots. It seems the Pentagon sent them out late (typical military efficiency) and they are coming back behind the filing deadline. No word on any ruling.

12:50 PM - Mrs. X found a better one that had pretty pictures last night, but here's a quick and dirty schedule of poll closing times and EV totals.

1:55 PM - I have no objection to this.

3:30 PM - I have seen a couple of conservative commentators suggest that the MSM will call one or two states early for Mr. Obama and then be forced to reverse themselves when the actual vote totals come in. I disagree. The last two elections have been illuminating on how to get made a fool of and I think the MSM has no wish to repeat that mistake. Plus, if the MSM truly believes that Mr. Obama will win in a landslide, it is in their best interest to keep the process as drawn out as possible to drive up ratings. If a state has been ruled a toss-up or even a leaner, I fully expect all news networks to wait as long as humanly possible to make the call.

I switched to paper here so this is a transcript of what I wrote at the time:
6:00 PM - First closings in KY and IN. No declarations will be made until at least 7.

6:07 PM - CNN is showing a happy Obama and a fighting McCain. I imagine this suits the narrative they want to portray.

6:21 PM - 60-38 McCain with 0% in KY

6:29 PM - 55-44 Obama with 1% in IN

6:42 PM - According to CNN's exit polling data, all those who identified themselves primarily as white evangelicals favored McCain in all 50 states.

7:00 PM - All networks call KY for McCain and VT for Obama. No surprises there.

7:05 PM - Warner (D) declared winner in VA's Senate race. CNN calls IN governor's race for Daniels (R).

7:19 PM - FL votes coming in. All polls won't close until 8.

7:30 PM - Polls close in OH and WV. No calls.

7:37 PM - Fox calls WV for McCain.

7:47 PM - Bath time for Toddler X to be followed by bed.

8:07 PM - Returned from bath while Mrs. X puts Toddler X to bed. OK, SC, TN called for McCain. NJ, IL, DC, MD, DE, MA, CT, and ME called for Obama. No real surprises, although CNN is not giving Obama all 4 of Maine's votes, just the first 3.

8:21 PM - Fox calls NH for Obama. That's earlier that I anticipated. Not a good sign.

8:26 PM - Sununu (R) defeated in NH. Collins (R) wins in ME.

8:28 PM - CNN calls NH for Obama.

8:31 PM - Kerry (D) wins reelection. Fox projects PA for Obama. Very bad sign for McCain.

8:39 PM - CNN projects PA for Obama. Must be some damning evidence beyond the exit polls.

8:45 PM - Fox calls GA for McCain.

8:55 PM - Fox calls AR for McCain.

8:58 PM - CNN calls AL for McCain.

9:00 PM - Obama wins RI, MN, MI, WI, NY. McCain wins WY and ND.

9:20 PM - McConnell (R) wins KY senate race.

9:22 PM - Fox projects NM and Ohio to Obama. That's the death knell if it stands.

9:24 PM - CBS calls LA for McCain.

9:36 PM - KS called for McCain.

9:55 PM - TX called for McCain.

10:00 PM - Switching over to Comedy Central to watch Daily Show Election Special. IA to Obama, UT to McCain.

10:17 PM - MS to McCain.

10:52 PM - Fox calls VA for Obama. First time since 1964 its gone Democrat.

11:00 PM - CA, OR, WA, HI called for Obama. All networks declare Obama President-Elect.

11:18 PM - McCain concedes. I'll be curious to check Israeli reaction tomorrow.

11:23 PM - FL and CO called for Obama.

11:30 PM - I can't help but think about a sermon I heard once how Psalm 107 began the Deuteronomy section of the Psalms, which also coincides with the end of Israel's last 40 year test. If even half of the accusations that Republicans threw at Mr. Obama are true, Israel will be standing on her own and we will suffer for it (Gen. 12:3). I shall be very curious to see what Israel does in the next two months and especially if Bibi is elected.

11:33 PM - NV called for Obama.

11:34 PM - Only IN, NC, MO, MT, AK not called.

11:36 PM - Off to bed; much earlier than I expected.

Nov 5, 7:00 AM - AK, MT called for McCain. IN called for Obama. NC not called but looks Obama. MO not called but looks McCain. Coleman (R) ahead in MN senate race by 2,000 votes. Recount to be conducted.