We asked our editors to send in their reflections as the returns came in. What we got tracks ebbs and flows of the evening's events in personal and unique ways.
Tuesday, 4:04 PM PST - Edward Patch
If the exit polls are to be believed, America's rightwing nightmare is over. This election was about many issues, Iraq, the economy, terrorism, ect., but fundamentally it was about whether our nation would continue to embrace Bush's cynical political calculus. Tonight, we are witnessing the loud roar of the American populace—and the sound we hear is a resounding repudiation of Rovian mathematics. Amen.
Our newly elected president, John Forbes Kerry, now has the opportunity of a political lifetime—to unite a deeply divided land. Kerry must now act like the president that our great republic deserves. The first thing he should do is bring Senator McCain into his cabinet as Secretary of Defense. The second thing is to keep the left wing lunatics out of government. This was not a left wing victory; this election was about repudiating extremism. My advice, for what it is worth, is don't commit a Bush and think that Americans will blindly follow an extremist agenda simply because your rhetoric is moderate. The American people will be watching you President-Elect Kerry.
Today is also a victory for Republicans, Democrats, and, more importantly, for all Americans. A record number of voters turned out the polls. Millions of Americans—many for the first time—were actively engaged in the political process. We did this all under the banner of peace—a remarkable feat considering the deep animosity that was splitting the country.
Now, let us begin anew. Let us put this abysmal campaign season behind us. Let us forget about whether we are blue or red, or whether we were for the war or against it. The fact is there are too many issues confronting our country. Whether we like it or not, we are in Iraq and there is no immediate end to that conflict. American troops will be there for a very long time whether or not there is help from our allies. We still must hunt down and destroy bin Laden's terrorist network. We still must resolve the situation between Israel and Palestine. These issues continue after tonight. Tomorrow is when we need to begin to address them not as Democrats, but as democrats.
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5:21 PM PST - Russell Brown
As I watch the returns come in, I can't help but think about the wave of depression that will wash over the electorate tomorrow.
Most of my friends have been stricken for the last six months with election fever. They've spend their weekends fundraising, attended rallies, made T-shirts, written letters to the editor, thrown debate watching parties, rocked at concerts — the election has been the lubricant for the social circuit. It makes me sad to think that it will all be over soon, and my pals will have to wrap up their banners and pull up their front lawn signs. Yes, of course, there's always that yahoo who leaves his election year sticker on his bumper way past the expiration date. But in general, we'll have to go back to arguing over the Oscars or hating Brittany Spears or whatever other opiate the mass media devises to keep us entertained and distracted. All those suddenly "politically active" friends will realize that now without parties or rallies, there's not much fun upside to being "political." But not to be a total cynic: I urge all my election year pundit friends to stay interested, no matter what happens. Keep writing letters and reading the paper and being involved. Attend a city council meeting... . Oh, who am I kidding?
Anyhow, I actually worry most for my Kerry friends. If he does win, I wonder how long it will take before they realize that life isn't going to change all that much. There's all this optimism and hope floating around. It seems so familiar, so much like when Clinton was elected in '92. The Clinton euphoria faded fast, and so it will, like an ecstasy hangover, for Kerry. The sad thing about hope is that once it is up, the coming down is harsh.
*** 10:36 PM PST - Bob Plain
Well, what can I say, as a Kerry supporter, this is an awful, awful night. Right now, there isn't much to say besides this sucks and I think 51% of the country has made a terrible mistake. Yeah, I know there's a few provisional ballots left in Ohio but lets face it: it's over. Evil has triumphed over good, Bush is about to go on a tear that could do irreparable harm to our country and Karl Rove... ugh, I can't say it, it's just too depressing.
Maybe a week from now, when this nightmare finally becomes a reality, we can look at the long view and spin this as a long term victory for the Democratic Party. Yes, GWB will have to deal with the shit sandwich he has served our country. Right now, though, I suspect it won't matter. If this joke of a President can get re-elected with his inept record, then maybe he truly is immune from the reckoning that is sorely due to him.
***
11:53 PM PST - Bryan Bishop
My 2004 election evening was spent at a sports bar on Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles. The same crappy college bar, in fact, where I watched the Lakers get schooled this past May. During that night so long ago, the place started off loud, raucous... then slowly and gently cooled into a low murmur of barely acknowledged despair.
Perhaps not coincidentally, tonight was also the night of the Lakers' season opener. The seven televisions over the bar were split up; three to NBC, one to CNN, and three to the Lakers game. The energy in the place was electric, and quite frankly I was amazed that people were this energized about the election. True, we'd heard much rhetoric about the newly energized youth vote, and the most impressive voter turnout in decades. Then NBC started projecting new states falling to Bush: Florida, perhaps New Mexico, and a significant lead in Ohio. The place went wild with applause!
Who would have thought it? Here in L.A., a place full of liberal young college students — Bush supporters! And I thought the 2000 election had been surreal.
Then I realized that Kobe had actually just scored three points.
By the time NBC gave Ohio and several other states to Bush — giving the incumbent an electoral total of 269 — nobody seemed to be reacting any longer. Every now and then the same drunken fool would let off with a "Go, Nader!", but for the most part there didn't seem to be anything. Not frustration, not excitement; the rerun of "Will & Grace" on the corner television seemed to get more of a reaction.
It seemed sad that in a time where our politics have ceased to have anything to do with vision, idealism, or leadership ability, and become strictly about the given candidates' ability to entertain — to provide a Freddy Vs. Jason-type showdown meant only to ensure a win across the some disenfranchising party lines — that even the entertainment value can't hold up much beyond a few hours. That the characters are so shallow that we don't even want to keep watching until the final buzzer sounds.
At the moment I write this, Ohio — and the presidential election — is still up in the air. I should keep watching, to see how things play out, but I'll change the channel anyway. I've got a Laker post-game wrap-up to catch.
***
Wednesday, 12:01 AM PST - Bob Plain
Here we go again. It's 2000 all over again, except this time the Democrats actually have a spine. I think, anyway — there is a report on CNN that says there are internal divisions within Democratic Party over how hard to push Ohio. If Kerry and company fail to demand that every vote is counted, then the Democratic Party should join the Whig party in the dustbin of deceased political parties.
Can Kerry pull off a miracle in Ohio? I doubt it, but one can hope. There's still a flicker of hope left, no matter how dim.
Just like 2000, this is going to be one nasty, brutish fight. It is, quite simply, a fight for the soul of the country. Let's hope the Democrats have the guts to fight it.
***
12:42 AM PST - Matt Hutaff
I have a question: if it will take another two weeks to accurately count the votes, why must we rely on half-baked guesses as to who won the goddamn election?
Maybe it's because we've been conditioned as a culture to demand instant gratification in every aspect in our lives, but electing the President of the United States isn't something that can be tallied in one day. There are roughly 120 million votes being calculated right now. There shouldn't be a rush to declare a victor by midnight Election Day. It wasn't kosher back in the 19th century and it's not cool now.
As a result, people are forced to sit and monitor vapid news anchors and talking heads spew the same data endlessly. Watching CNN tonight was slightly less painful that jamming a letter opener in my eye. Watching the glazed eyes of those paid muppets prance and stutter and attempt to maintain a 24-hour vigil on relevancy was soul-numbing.
Here's what I got out of 3 hours of election coverage: it's too close to call.
It's too close to fucking call. Hip. Hip. Hooray.
I will celebrate when the people realize this isn't a race, it's a battle of wills. Getting to the bottom of the box first won't win you a Cracker Jack prize this time around. Be patient. Let the precincts sort themselves out. I mean, sure, the exit polls showed Kerry pounding Bush like a prison bitch on his first day in the clink, but give the people perpetrating vote fraud a chance to corrupt e-voting machines, destroy provisional ballots and scare voters away from the polls before declaring a winner.
Give those tallying votes the full amount of time they have under law to present their results. Election Day doesn't need to be a premature ejaculation, but it sure isn't the money shot.
***
7:55 AM PST - Chad Fifer
Earlier today, I remarked to a friend that I feel like I'm in high school again. Everything is out of my control and nobody understands me.
Unfortunately, the feeling hasn't gone away. You'd think that at 30 I'd understand disappointment and be adequately prepared for it, but no. I got my hopes up — I was naïve — I allowed idealism to get the better of me, and now I've been let down. Like some kind of stupid kid.
See, I've always been in love with the America that Thomas Jefferson described — the Meritocracy in which the best and the brightest rise to the top because of their ability, regardless of family or wealth. Where leaders are truly exceptional, and the best minds determine our future. I suppose that's why I've always had it out for Bush, even before he started doing such a terrible job. As the privileged, underachieving son of a former President, he represents the opposite of a Meritocracy, and to me, a mockery of the American dream.
In the last year, I've harassed friends and family, written thousands of words, produced oodles of animated ads and even traveled to D.C. to talk strategy with a few of those newfangled Democratic organizations. All in the hopes of making a difference. And here we are — nothing's changed at all. The public has spoken, and I find myself back in high school, where intelligence was a liability, people were sheep, and another George Bush was president. Like then, I plan to retreat from this sad reality by spending most of my time with movies, good music, and my misfit friends. I will continue to vote and make contributions to the candidates I like, but I'm done with trying to change anybody's mind. To hell with politics.
Yes, I also swear off baseball every time the Cubs come close and lose, but I'm serious this time. All of my efforts will now be directed toward getting into that top percentage of earners that actually benefit from Bush's leadership. The poor, the sick, the left behind — you're on your own. And you young people, what the FUCK happened to you? You can lick it and suck it. Go play Grand Theft Auto some more you little bitches, you've successfully made sure that another four years pass without anybody caring about you, and that includes me.
