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MODERATES & LIBERALS FWIW [Jonah Goldberg] I am actually a big believer in labels and I've written many times that I think people who say they don't believe in labels are essentially ashamed, embarrassed or otherwise uncomfortable with admitting they are liberals of one stripe or another. In Washington I meet scores of successful professionals (particularly journalists) who swear they are moderates or For these and related reasons I'm a bit dubious that all of these people who tell exit-pollsters that they're moderates are, in fact, moderates. Many probably are. Also there's the whole dull but complex issue of figuring out what a moderate actually is. But I'd bet a statistically super-significant chunk are just too ashamed to admit they're liberals. Posted at 06:15 PM THE JOY OF POLITICS [John Derbyshire] I'm getting a lot of e-mails from Republicans who are *happy*. Happy happy H-A-P-P-Y! It's a wonderful thing to behold. Posted at 06:09 PM HOW CAN BRITS STAND IT [Michael Graham] I'm listening to C-SPAN's simulcast of the Beeb, and in five minutes I've heard it called the "so-called War On Terror," and Americans described as "just as religious in their way as Middle Easterners are." I've heard Americans accused of killing more Iraqis than Saddam and the terrorists. All in FIVE minutes! And you Brits pay TAXES for this? You've got harbors. We can loan you the tea. Why don't you do something? Posted at 06:08 PM RE: JONAH'S UNFORTUNATE LAPSE [Rod Dreher] "Texas, Shmexas"?! Boys, git a rope. Posted at 06:06 PM MORAL OF THE STORY [Rod Dreher] Over at The New Republic campaign blog, Michelle Cottle writes: According to the voter breakdown that CNN is currently hawking, the top reason that Bush voters gave for supporting their guy was not the economy, not Iraq, not even the war on terrorism. It was "moral values." That's right, with American soldiers dying overseas, Al Qaeda still gunning for us at home, the deficit spiraling, the gap between rich and poor growing, Social Security on the brink, etc., etc., Bush's reelection was driven by a bunch of folks freaked out over the thought of gay marriage and stem-cell research. God save the republic. Um, sorry, but the prospect of having a basic and ancient social institution redefined for the nation by judicial fiat is a really big deal to a lot of us. As is the moral question of the exploitation of human life. Basic civilizational questions. Posted at 06:05 PM SCHEIBER, HE EXPLAINED [Jonah Goldberg] Everyone seems to think Scheiber means this. Sounds fair to me: I "think" what they mean is simply Bush made sure his base showed up. If the 4 million missing Christians theory was true, then, he just needed to get them to vote. Posted at 06:03 PM NEWSPAPER STORY [Michael Ledeen] You wanna hear a really great newspaper story? Of course you do. Yesterday afternoon in Rome, my buddy Giuliano Ferrara--the editor of the wonderful "il Foglio"--pondered his front page for Wednesday. He didn't know anything about the electoral outcome since it was late morning here and we were still voting and there weren't even exit polls. What to do? Well, he could duck the whole question, but, as he told his readers, that would have been professionally cowardly since this was the biggest story of our generation. So he went for it, and this morning in Rome--that is to say, at one in the morning our time, even before Michael Barone and his guys at Fox had awarded Ohio to Bush--"il Foglio" emerged with a nine-column headline in bright red: WHY GEORGE W. BUSH WON THE ELECTIONS Clear victory of the president who cuts taxes and wages war. And the rest of the paper explains--very well, by the way--how and why it happened. Eat your heart out, Zogby. Posted at 05:43 PM I DON'T GET IT [Jonah Goldberg] Noam Scheiber writes (and Sullivan posts): Not only did Kerry win by an 86-13 margin among self-described liberals, he also won by a 55-45 margin among self-described moderates. So how'd Bush pull it off? He won 84-15 among self-described conservatives, and, more importantly, he made sure conservatives comprised a much bigger chunk of the electorate than they did in 2000. (Conservatives comprised about 34 percent of the electorate yesterday, versus 29 percent in 2000 -- a huge shift, raw numbers-wise.) Anyone anticipating a conciliatory second Bush term should stop and consider how much Bush owes his base. Me: I'm not being cute. I can't link to his full piece and I'm tired. But I don't get it. How did Bush "make sure" that conservatives comprised a much bigger chunk of the electorate? Couldn't it be the case that electorate is becoming more conservative? Posted at 05:37 PM RE: THE ENVOY [Jonah Goldberg] (apologies to Warren Zevon). Fine Andrew, go ahead and make sensible points. Hmm....how about Ambassador Zell Miller? Or, more seriously, how about Ambassador Giuliani? Posted at 05:34 PM MICHAEL MOORE [KJL] is mad and morose Posted at 05:20 PM AMBASSADOR KERRY? [Andrew Stuttaford] Jonah, I do think that it’s important that Bush be seen to be a good winner and I do know that you were only sort of serious, but Kerry is not the guy to send to Europe. To be effective over there, any such envoy would have to be known to have the ear of the president. Somehow I don’t think that Kerry is that guy. Posted at 05:14 PM RE: UNITER [Jonah Goldberg] Yeah, the more I think about it the more I think approach is not only smart but right (though for the record, Mass Governors no longer appoint Senators). At minimum putting the pressure on Dems to make the war bipartisan makes sense. Put the ball in their court. Extend a hand. If the dems slap it, fine. Make hay. But I do agree with the pro-Kerry, pro-warriors that one appealing aspect of a Kerry win would have been making the Dems accountable on the war. I simply thought Kerry wouldn't rise to the challenge and that the price to be paid and risk involved in giving him a shot wasn't worth it. But that doesn't mean getting the Dems more on board wouldn't good for the Dems, the GOP, the war and the country. Posted at 05:12 PM PUBLIC GETS IT RIGHT [Rich Lowry] One reason I thought Bush was going to win all year long--with bouts of nervousness--is that the American public gets big questions right. On balance, this president just flat-out deserved to be re-elected, especially when compared to the alternative. It would have been distressing had the public rewarded the sort of (mostly) cheap, opportunistic, demagogic attacks to which he was subjected. Posted at 05:08 PM UNITER [Rich Lowry] Jonah, you are absloutely right. Create the Kerry Commission on European Diplomacy. Have Joe Biden in and out of the WH constantly, because his ideas are so irresistibly thoughtful. Appoint any high-profile Dem you can find to ambassadorships. Rip ideas out of the Kerry campaign playbook--bigger special forces, more spending on decent education in the Islamic world--and extravegently credit Kerry for advancing them so persuasively in this campaign. Use every soft-sell tactic possible and every bi-partisan blandishment out there to create more of a bi-partisan, consensus feel around the war on terror. Might not work, but every little bit will help. Posted at 05:08 PM "FANNEL HALL" [Jonah Goldberg] From Poppa G:
Posted at 04:49 PM BUSH SHOULD BE A UNITER [Jonah Goldberg] And I'm even kind of serious about this. Why not ask John Kerry to be his special envoy to Europe to ask for help and assistance from France, Germany etc. It puts Kerry's money where his mouth is (or at least some of it), makes Bush look magnanimous, Kerry gets to speak French at some nice hotel conferences and -- hey -- the Dems lose a Senate seat in Mass. Posted at 03:52 PM TEXAS, SHMEXAS [Jonah Goldberg] Folks, I have nothing against thanking Texas. I thought that was right and good. Heck I like Texas (one of the best summers of my childhood was spent in Temple, Texas). But i thought it was a weird way to end the speech. It just struck me as a discordant note to strike when you're trying to be a uniter of the whole United States. Posted at 03:45 PM CAN I VOTE FOR TONY BLAIR TOO? [KJL] He's speaking now about Bush victory. Posted at 03:33 PM GO MIDDLE? [John J. Miller] I try to avoid watching ABC News, but somehow my TV was stuck on that channel for Bush. Afterwards, Stephanopoulous and Halperin came on and both explained how Bush now has a mandate to go toward the middle. Halperin even labeled Bush a lame duck. Puh-leeze! Today, of all days, our president is anything but lame. And he won't be waddling over to the officially-approved political positions of ABC News anytime soon. Posted at 03:31 PM FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S TRUE [Michael Graham] I don't know of Dick Cheney was thinking of John Edwards when he told his joke about "delivering Wyoming's electoral votes for the Bush Cheney ticket." But I sure was. Posted at 03:30 PM MSM [John Podhoretz] On ABC, Mark Halperin of scandalous ABC media bias memo fame just called Bush a "lame duck." Two minutes after the president finished his speech. Here's a memo for Mark Halperin: Thank you for making our job so easy! Posted at 03:26 PM IN VICTORY... [KJL] The first 20 NRO readers and Bush voters from Ohio (you must currently live in Ohio) who email thecorner@nationalreview.com"> will get a FREE one-year NR Digital subscription courtesy of NRO contributor John Hillen. Posted at 03:25 PM HE GETS IT [Cliff May] “Our nation has shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war.” “We will help emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan.” “Families and faith.” “With good allies at our side, we will fight his war with every resource of our national power. So our children can live in freedom and in peace.” “There is no limit to the greatness of America.” “Sturdy and honest and as hopeful as the break of day.” “The United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith.” “God bless you and may God bless America.’ Posted at 03:19 PM BUSH HUGS [John Hillen] K-Lo, Bush-Cheney hugs on the rope line are more like hearty hand shakes or even Bob Dole grabs that are accompanied by a hearty clap on the back, shoulder squeeze, or even the rarely seen but highly prized forearm shiver. This is not kumbaya tell-me-about-your-inner-feelings hugs our man is talking about here. Posted at 03:18 PM BUSH'S VICTORY ANNOUNCEMENT [Jonah Goldberg] Ended very oddly. Thanking Texas? That's nice, but, um, not really a soaring presidential high note to end on. Posted at 03:18 PM MARSHALL'S AMERICA [Jonah Goldberg] From a reader: Hey Jonah: Posted at 03:16 PM OK, JUST THIS ONCE [Andrew Stuttaford] Don't speak too soon, Kathryn. Chris Matthews is just reporting that, in the immediate aftermath of victory, George Bush hugged Dick Cheney. Mr. Cheney’s response is not recorded. Posted at 03:13 PM FROM, YES, THE GUARDIAN [Andrew Stuttaford] “If this doesn't add up to a mandate, it is hard to know what the word means. Increased turnout. Narrow but decisive wins on all fronts. What more can you ask for from a single campaign? Bush and his party won fair (well, probably) and square.” Posted at 03:12 PM ASIDE [KJL] But you can't help but notice W. & Cheney don't do hugs. Too much hugging. Update: Bush just thanked people for their hugs on the ropelines. Oh well. Still... Posted at 03:12 PM BUSH WON? I WILL IF YOU WILL. [Tim Graham] It should be apparent now that the network projection process began as a mix of polling mathematics and diplomacy (let's avoid congressional hearings this time), and then in the wee hours of the morning, it became purely political -- from the minute Mary Beth Cahill said the Kerry camp would fight for every vote in Ohio. How weird was it that all of Ohio's votes were counted, with a 130,000-plus margin for Bush -- beyond the margin of litigation -- but some networks wouldn't call the state until news bubbled up that Kerry called Bush to concede? And that others failed to call Nevada until that moment? That's not straight-shooting, just the facts, ma'am journalism. That's playing it very political. Posted at 03:10 PM NEW BUSH SLOGAN [Drew Cline] W stands for "Winner" Posted at 03:10 PM ONE LAST THING [Rob Long] ...and then I promise to give myself a long time out. But it seems to me, as the brilliant Mark Steyn has observed, that the most powerful secret weapon in the Republican arsenal is the left wing media. So please, let's all take an oath: no more complaining about it. It's one of the reasons we won last night. Rob PS: Rich Lowry just used the word "nifty" on Fox a moment ago. Surely this won't go unremarked by his colleagues, right? Language like that just brings the whole team down, you know? Posted at 03:02 PM L'MEDIA EST MOI [Jonah Goldberg] I stopped cataloging instances of the cheese-eating surrender monkeys phrase propping up, but this one is too rich to pass up: PARIS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac, who led Western opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, said on Wednesday that strong transatlantic ties were essential if Paris and Washington were to overcome the challenges they faced. Posted at 02:53 PM HOWEVER.... [Jonah Goldberg] Dems with access to a time machine or a trans-dimensional portal might find this article soothing or descriptive of reality. Alas, residents of this particular spot in the multiversal space-time continuum may have a harder time grasping what he's getting at. Posted at 02:47 PM YESTERDAY A GOOD DAY FOR PRO-LIFERS [Jack Fowler] National Right to Life Committee calculating net pick-up of three votes in the U.S. Senate and three to five votes in the House. NRLC is holding press conference in DC tomorrow morning to give fuller look at impact of abortion issue on the presidential vote and Congressional races. Posted at 02:41 PM FOR DEMS [Jonah Goldberg] Josh Marshall's take on the election is about as cheery as a Finnish wake in January at which the caterer doesn't show and they run out of booze and the hearse runs over the widow. But it is interesting. Posted at 02:35 PM CONGRATS FROM PARIS [John J. Miller] John Edwards didn't congratulate President Bush, but Jacques Chirac did. Posted at 02:34 PM "THOSE 20 ELECTORAL VOTES GO TO JOHN KERRY" [KJL] Wolf Blitzer fatigue mistake right now. (Benefit of the doubt!) Posted at 02:26 PM YIKES [KJL] Red Line Metro collision in D.C. Posted at 02:26 PM CONCESSIONS [John J. Miller] Kerry was dignified, gracious, even likable. But Edwards? That was a 2008 speech. And an obnoxious one. The guy didn't even bother to congratulate the president. "This fight has just begun! ... The battle rages on!" No, pal -- the fight is over, the battle is ended. Your running mate recognizes this. You should, too. Posted at 02:25 PM P.S. ON ELECTION ESTHETICS [John Derbyshire] I'm aware, in fact, of a sort of emotional aftershock kicking in -- ignited, somehow, by contemplating that beautiful hall while Edwards was speaking. It's all-embracing and all-forgiving. What a country this is! What a country! What a people! For a moment here, I'll confess it freely, I even like John Kerry. Posted at 02:24 PM UM.... [Jonah Goldberg] John Kerry keeps saying "we're all Americans" etc. Fine, good, nice. But didn't his Veep just introduce him by insisting that "the battle rages on"? And didn't he buy his Veep's line that there are "two Americas"? Posted at 02:20 PM COLD WAR REDUX [Cliff May] During most of the Cold War it was not possible for a Democrat to be elected president. Democrats were not seen as credible on national security and in a time of national security crisis, that was disqualifying. From 1969, when Lyndon Johnson left office, until 1992 when Bill Clinton took office, a Democrat occupied the White House for only 4 years, and that was due to the Watergate scandal. This information was not lost on Democratic strategists, which perhaps explains why they attempted to engineer Halliburton, Valerie Plame, the al Qaaqa explosives and so many other issues into bona fide scandals. That effort did not succeed, at least not in the opinion of a majority of voters. Now, in a new era of national security crisis, Democrats face a choice: Pray for a new Republican scandal (or try again to engineer one), or become credible on national security; follow the lead of Sen. Joe Lieberman and Rep. Jim Marshall rather than Howard Dean, Michael Moore and George Soros. I sincerely hope Democrats pursue the second alternative. Posted at 02:19 PM JOHN KERRY [Cliff May] He already seems more sincere, more relaxed, more likeable. If he plays his cards right, I bet Bob Dole could get him a Viagra commercial. Posted at 02:17 PM I'M UNDERWHELMED BY THE SPEECH [Jonah Goldberg] but you've got to cut the guy some slack. It's got to be an awful speech to give and he's being as gracious he can be. Posted at 02:15 PM "WRAP EVERYBODY UP IN MY ARMS?" [John Hillen] This reference to wanting/needing to hug everyone who worked on his campaign I think gets to the root of the red/blue divide. Democrats want to hug everyone. Republicans hug those personally close to them, but have a firm hand-shake and friendly look into the eyes for the rest. So there’s your election summary. 55.2 million serial huggers and 58.8 hand-shakers. Posted at 02:12 PM POSTCARD FROM PARIS [Rod Dreher] A member of the French underground writes on this jour de gloire: Hi Rod: You should see the streets of Paris, you should listen to the conversations at restaurants and cafés. Les défaitistes are defeated! Hilarious! We'll holding a victory party at an Italian, Bush-friendly, restaurant tomorrow night. Edwards and Kerry are speaking right now. what a day! Posted at 02:11 PM ELECTION ESTHETICS [John Derbyshire] What a beautiful place Faneuil (sp?) Hall is, in that austere American republican style -- a style I suddenly realise I like very much. Posted at 02:10 PM NOT EGGS-ACTLY [John Derbyshire] Report on microwave poached egg recipe: 30 secs per egg not enough. Some runny white. Sorry to digress -- back to election. Posted at 02:08 PM HERE'S WHAT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING RIGHT NOW [John Hood] Why didn’t we run John Edwards this year? He doesn’t sound like a cold, distant, Massachusetts liberal. Plus, he’s a fighter. We have to fight, fight, fight! Other Democrats are thinking: But, hey, what did he do for us this year? What happened to Arkansas and Virginia? Posted at 02:07 PM EDWARDS [John Podhoretz] Not to be negative or anything at this time of unity, but why on earth did John Edwards speak today? When in the course of human events has the vice-presidential candidate of a losing ticket been given a co-starring role in the concession speech? Posted at 02:06 PM CLOSE TO TEN [KJL] The answer. Posted at 02:06 PM SENATOR EDWARDS [KJL] didn't get the "uniting" lecture from Kerry. Posted at 02:05 PM DO VEEP CANDIDATES [KJL] usually give concessions? Posted at 02:04 PM REASONS FOR JOY [John Derbyshire] I shall never again have to pay attention to anything that Teresa Heinz Kerry says or does. Posted at 02:02 PM DID PEOPLE [KJL] wait in line for ten hours to vote? That's a serious question. I didn't think so--maybe I missed it? I've never known John Edwards to exagerate. Posted at 02:02 PM I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK [KJL] John Kerry is thinking "Phew. At least I don't have to pretend to like John Edwards anymore." Likewise for Edwards re Kerry. Posted at 02:01 PM EDWARDS CONCEDING NOW [Jonah Goldberg] Posted at 02:00 PM HEY JIM JEFFORDS [Jonah Goldberg] By the way, great call on switching parties! Seriously, boffo move my man! Posted at 01:54 PM THE F-BOMB & BIN LADEN [Jonah Goldberg] Thanks for all the pro-F-bomb email when it comes to FBL. But lets just let the whole thing drop. Mailbox is brimming with lots of folks coming to me defense. Don't worry about it. For future reference, when I say "can't please everybody" it should read as "I think this reader is wrong, but I don't think his position is necessarily absurd." Posted at 01:53 PM NATIONAL PUBLIC REALITY [Jonah Goldberg] From a reader: Dear Jonah, Posted at 01:48 PM DERBAWOL ON POLL MATH [John Derbyshire] Combination of things, Jonah. (1) There's pure math, and applied math. I'm a pure math guy. See, e.g., p.359 of PRIME OBSESSION: "A thing that nonmathematicians want to know, a question that is always asked when mathemmaticians address lay audiences, is, _What use is it?_ Suppose [the Riemann Hypothesis] were proved true, or false. What practical consequences would follow? Would our health, our convenience, our safety be improved? Would new devices be invented? Would we travel faster? Have more devastating weapons? Colonize Mars? ... I had better unmask myself at this point as a pure mathematician _sans melange_, having no interest in such questions at all..." (2) I am friends with Steve Sailer, who is so superbly good at that kind of analysis, it seems hopeless to compete. Steve isn't altogether kidding when he describes himself as: "The only Republican that knows how to use Microsoft Excel." Posted at 01:47 PM I'VE BEEN ASKED [KJL] So, here is where you donate to NRO's future. Posted at 01:46 PM FOX [Rich Lowry] FYI--scheduled to be on from 2-4 pm, on and off. Posted at 01:41 PM WE HAVE EDIT UP ON BUSH WIN. [Rich Lowry] Posted at 01:40 PM CPE* DEPT [Jonah Goldberg] *Stands for Can't Please Everybody. From a reader: Dear Mr. Goldberg, Posted at 01:37 PM HEY DERB [Jonah Goldberg] You are our math guy, but you seem entirely uninterested in the statistical issues involved in the exit polls etc. Why is that? Just curious. Posted at 01:32 PM ALIVE [Cliff May] For the record, there was no terrorist attack on American voters yesterday. There has been no terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11/01. If Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab Zarqawi et al. could have made our streets run red with blood over these many months, they would have done so. For that achievement alone, President Bush deserved re-election. And others – Attorney General John Ashcroft springs to mind – deserve great credit and thanks. The future remains uncertain. It is doubtful that this time next year, I’ll be able to write another post like this. But then, on 9/12/01, I would not have expected to be able to write this one. Posted at 01:25 PM THE JOHN EDWARDS RATIONALE [John Derbyshire] Dunno, Jonah. As I said in my column, he trod lightly on the electoral earth. Now he's gone, like a will o' the wisp. I guess, though, when you have a lock on a party's finances like the one the trial lawyers' lobby has on the Dems', if you want a man on the ticket, you get one. Posted at 01:24 PM IN-HOUSE MEMO [John Derbyshire] Hey, Kathryn: Who's keeping the book on a Colin Powell departure?....... Posted at 01:23 PM RE: GLOAT ENCOUNTER [John Derbyshire] Back home, now I hear the speech is two o'clock. One o'clock, two o'clock, just make the speech, John. Time for lunch: corned beef hash (Broadcast brand, of course) & poached eggs. Going to try one of the responses to my egg bleg the other day -- microwave poaching. This recipe was from Dave in Michigan: --Put a pat of butter into a coffee cup. --Crack open the egg and put it into the cup sans the shell. --Cover the cup with a piece of waxed paper. --Nuke the egg for 30 seconds, give or take a few seconds (double the time for two eggs). Posted at 01:23 PM GLOAT ENCOUNTER [John Derbyshire] Nipped out for a quick trip to Home Depot. Standing there in the hardware aisle, doing some mental arithmetic on screw sizes. Cell phone rang. It was a friend with an issue, needed me to be at my computer. When would I be home? "Oh," I said into cell phone," I'll be home by one o'clock. Gotta see that Kerry concession speech." Standing next to me in the aisle was an older gent of a vaguely ex-military appearance: white hair close-cropped, back ramrod-straight, work clothes crisply ironed & creased. Overhearing me, he said softly, to nobody in particular: "Oh yeah, GOT to see that. Ain't gonna miss that. Wooo hooo!" Big Orange Republicans: the few, the brave. Posted at 01:22 PM CONGRATS TO BOB SHRUM [Jonah Goldberg] He keeps his perfect presidential record. Posted at 01:22 PM SWIFTVETS [KJL] The following is a statement by Admiral Roy Hoffmann, founder of Swift Vets and POWs for Truth concerning Sen. Kerry's decision to concede the presidential race. Posted at 01:13 PM CAPTURING THE MEDIA MOMENT [Jonah Goldberg] If I were a political cartoonist, I would draw Dan Rather or Katie Couric with a thought-bubble over his/her head. Inside would be the front page of the New York Times. Banner Headline: Tiny headline below the fold: Bush wins presidency, Fails to reach out to Blacks, Gays. Sidebar: Posted at 01:07 PM THANKS (!!) [KJL] (in no particular order) to Chris McEvoy, Aaron Bailey, WFB, Ed Capano, Rich Lowry, Jonah Goldberg, Ramesh Ponnuru, Kate O'Beirne, John J. Miller, Jay Nordlinger, David Frum, Jim Kilbridge, Jack Fowler, Scott Budd, Jim Fowler, Dusty Rhodes, Kevin Longstreet, Jim Geraghty, Rod Dreher, Peter Robinson, Michael Ledeen, John Podhoretz, Rick Brookhiser, John Derbyshire, Jim Robbins, Tim Graham, Mike Potemra, Rachel Friedman, Meghan Clyne, Alex Rose, Dave Kopel, Jane Jolis, Dorothy McCartney, John Virtes, Liz Fisher, Byron York, Terry Maloney, Jason Ng, Galina Veygman, Irena Dynkevich, Luba Myts, Tim Wolfe, Russ Jenkins, Henry Payne, Steven Hayward, Cris Rapp, Scott W. Johnson, John Hinderaker, Kane Webb, Chris Lilik, Peter Schramm, Brian Kennedy, Cliff May, Barbara Comstock, Mark Levin, Andrew Stuttaford, Andy McCarthy, Jon Adler, John Hillen, Rob Long, Mark Steyn, Victor Davis Hanson, Michael Graham, Jennifer Graham, Tom Hibbs, Jed Babbin, John Hood, Shannen Coffin, Wesley Smith, Roger Clegg, Jim Boulet, David J. Sanders , Dan Greenberg, Cesar Conda, Mary Matalin, Fr. Rutler, Robert Alt, Chip Griffin, D. F. Oliveria, Dave Hogberg, Drew Cline, Kevin Holtsberry, Brian Flanagan, Mike Tuffin, Thomas A. Johnson, MAtt Simpson, Ron Adair, Mike Brake, Jery Agar, Tim Reed, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Duane Patterson, Bill Bennett, Seth Leibsohn, Chris Collins, Michael Kelly, William Shatner, Karl Rove, Ken Melhman, Ed Gillespie, John O'Neill, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush…All of our Readers, Subscriber, Sources, Cheerleaders, Friends, and Critics…and everyone I forgot to name or I can't name (my sincerest apologies)! A magazine is only as good as the people who are willing to invest time and talent to it... Posted at 01:04 PM FRENCH LOOKING [John J. Miller] I just caught a TV image of Kerry's townhouse on Louisburg Square in Boston. It just so happens that Louisburg was the site of an important French military defeat. Posted at 01:02 PM THANKS, YOU'RE WELCOME, THANKS AGAIN [Jonah Goldberg] To all the folks who've written notes like this: Jonah, I must say a big thank you to NRO and The Corner. I spent 80% of my time last night hitting the refresh button. All my friends were in a panic, but I was calmer because I had been reading The Corner all day. You guys called it! I am encouraging my friends to go to NRO for trusted political commentary. I am a regular now! Posted at 12:54 PM INTERESTING READING [Jonah Goldberg] "World leaders" react. Some highlights: Spanish political analyst Juan Carlos Rodriguez: "Zapatero (Spanish Prime Minister) was counting on a victory for Kerry... The government will have to start making conciliatory gestures... It has been a bit naive." Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I rejoice that the American people did not allow themselves to be scared and made a right decision." Kenyan Vice President Moody Awori: "The first term of Bush, he had come in as a lame duck. Now it appears as if he is winning very convincingly. To me I think we are going to see more dictatorship on an international scale. We are going to see more extremism come out of there. We are going to see even more isolationism where America will not bother about the United Nations. To me that is a very sad affair." Posted at 12:51 PM THE BLOG STORY [Jonah Goldberg ] It's amazing how far and wide NRO appears in the blooging-the-election stories around the world. Various Indian papers picked up the Reuters story so Shannen's buck-up thoughts about the exits are well-known throughout the subcontinent now. Posted at 12:36 PM THE SOUTH AND TURNOUT [Rich Lowry] Both, as has been noted here, worked out well for the GOP. So congrats are also in order to Ralph Reed, who worked both hard for the Bush team. Posted at 12:29 PM SCENT OF A TERRORIST [Jonah Goldberg] (apologies to Al Pacino) And Osama Bin Laden wherever you are out there ... f*** you too! Posted at 12:26 PM RATHERISM [John J. Miller] The Hotline has published last night's weirdest Ratherisms. Here's my favorite: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on being congratulated on victory by Rather: "Thanks Dan, I always believe you." Rather: "Now, ladies and gentleman, if you believe that, you'll believe rocks can grow." That sort of sums it up for me. The next time I believe Rather will be when rocks grow. Posted at 12:16 PM RAMESH IS MY SENATE HERO [Shannen Coffin] Yes, Ramesh, you DA MAN. You'll note I didn't even give a prediction. I thought Alaska would be a loss for us, so my number was not at +4. I was thinking +4 would be a dream scenario, and was thinking more along the lines of +2. I am very pleased that my adopted home state of Louisiana put the first GOP Senator in office since Reconstruction and did so by a majority of the votes. The huge pickup in the Senate and the defeat of Daschle is obviously the second biggest story of this election. It is almost as big as story for Bush as the actual win in the Presidential race. I am most hopeful with respect to the backlog of well qualified Bush judges who may get a shot at confirmation now. How many Blue Senators in Red States are going to want to roll the dice on going the path of Tom Daschle for the sake of filibustering Bush judges now? I would think that this clears the way for confirmations to start up again. No doubt that Leahy and company will want to continue the fight, but does Harry Reid and other "moderates" have the stomach for it? Posted at 12:16 PM OH...ALSO... [Jonah Goldberg] To the Guardian newspaper. Ha-ha (in Simpson's tone). Clarke County went for Bush. Sucks to be you too. Posted at 12:14 PM MASON-DIXON POLL [Jonah Goldberg] According the Hotline they were the big winner, pollster-wise. Posted at 12:11 PM RALPHIE [John J. Miller] Nader was a non-factor. I see only one state where his vote total is greater than the margin separating the candidates. In Wisconsin, Kerry beat Bush by about 14,000 votes and Nader collected about 16,000 votes. Hard to see how removing him from the ballot would have made a difference there. Posted at 12:09 PM BEFORE AND AFTER [Jonah Goldberg] From a reader: J- The disparity between the initial exit polls favoring Kerry and his subsequent loss to W tells me one thing: Most people voted for Kerry.......before they voted against him. Posted at 12:08 PM ONE CABIN AVAILABLE FOR NR CRUISE NEXT WEEK!!! [Jack Fowler] Your lucky day – someone on the Zuiderdam cancelled, and we grabbed the cabin, so if you want to come celebrate JFK’s defeat with 400 fellow NRers on our 2004 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise, there’s a room for you. But you MUST act today. Make that now. Call The Cruise Authority at 1-800-707-1634. Remember, speakers will include Dick Morris, Ed Gillespie, Pat Toomey, VDH, Bernard Lewis, Michelle Malkin, Steve Moore, Dinesh D’Souza, John Hillen, NR editors galore – did I forget someone?! Posted at 12:08 PM I CALLED THUNE [KJL] but only because I really, really wanted daschle to lose. Posted at 12:06 PM TOO BAD [Ramesh Ponnuru] Chet Edwards beat Arlene Wohlgemuth--she would have been a great spending-cutter. Posted at 12:03 PM OH...I ALMOST FORGOT. [Jonah Goldberg] Hey France: Sucks to be you. Posted at 12:03 PM SO.... [Jonah Goldberg] If the economy soars in the next few years -- as I think it might -- what exactly will the press and the Democrats do? Posted at 12:02 PM TRADESPORTS [Ramesh Ponnuru] Yesterday the markets there were crazy, but overall I think that looking at them this year was useful. They were a bit more stable than the polls, for one thing. At almost any point in the last month, they were calling states such as NM, MI, HI, MN, PA, CO, and AZ correctly. A lot of people told me that various states were in play, and sometimes polls suggested they were right, but tradesports provided a good check. Posted at 12:02 PM OKAY SHANNEN [Ramesh Ponnuru] I may have been slightly too bullish on the electoral count, and too bearish on the popular vote. But you have to admit that I called the Senate perfectly. Posted at 11:56 AM THE DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND [Jonah Goldberg] Their forums are closed to outsiders (i.e. unregistered DUers) today. But their blog is worth a gander. Posted at 11:53 AM EXHILARATION [KJL] Another e-mail: Finally broke down and did it. Been a big NRO fan for a couple of years now. The Corner the past few days put me over the edge though. It's kind of like crack for political junkies -- I can't get enough of it. Keep up the great work! Posted at 11:53 AM THE BLACK VOTE [John J. Miller] Bush apparently didn't make the inroads some had anticipated among black voters: I had seen some suggestions that Bush would get as much as 15 or 18 percent. Exit polls have the split at 89 percent for Kerry and 11 percent for Bush; I've also seen 90-10. Granted, I'm citing those awful exit polls. But it's all we've got right now--and something tells me the hopeful predictions of GOPers who were crossing their fingers for early signs of a racial realignment aren't going to pan out. Posted at 11:52 AM LET THE GLOATING BEGIN [Shannen W. Coffin] With the Kerry campaign graciously seeing the writing on the wall, I do not wish to gloat about the Bush win. But I do wish to gloat about my foresight, which I think we all should take a moment to appreciate now. Let's take stock of the bidding. Electoral College as it presently stands: Bush 286, Kerry 252 This Week's Electoral College Vote Predictions: Rich Lowry (the Master): "I'm a 270's guy. 270, 271, 276" Jim Geraghty (the Voice of Kerry Spot): 271 to 267 (but he nailed the popular vote at 51-48). Jonah Goldberg (the class clown): "If you're demanding an exact number, I'll go with 296." Kate O'Beirne (the reason I'm here): Can't remember the exact number, but very bullish, in the 290-300 range. I think you know where this is going, don't you? My post from Monday: 286-252. [Shannen Coffin] That's my prediction. Bush holds Ohio and Florida. Picks up NM and IA. NH, overrun by Massachusetts libs who can talk a good game about the need for higher taxes but can't back it up by paying them, flips to Kerry. I wouldn't be entirely surprised, however, if I'm wrong on Wisconsin, which I currently have as a Dem hold. Actually, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if I am wrong on the entire damnable enterprise, since I rarely get these things right. I was just hoping I could have something else to laugh at NRO editors about (in addition to the Red Sox Series win), so I am taking a free shot. Posted at 01:02 PMI'd like also to remind readers that I was the voice of reason in the midst of bad exit poll numbers yesterday. Look, I'm not the pro here; just a practicing lawyer with a lot to say. But I felt pretty confident about this race for the last couple of months. Did I have doubts? Sure. But the President has provided solid leadership in very difficult times. Oh, but this isn't about him. It's about me beating the pros!!!!! And did I mention that the Red Sox won the World Series? Posted at 11:51 AM DEAN FOR DNC CHAIR? [Jonah Goldberg] That's what Kos wants. I do agree with him that the current dufus in there has been the worst DNC chair in modern memory. He raised a lot of money, but he lost seats in the house, senate and statehouses. Bush won by a bigger margin than his hero-mentor Bill Clinton. McAuliffe far more than Karl Rove has helped make the Democratic Party a rump party. As for Dean, I love that idea. The Democratic Party just got walloped on social issues -- particularly gays and religion -- and Kos thinks the money bet is on a guy who is completely tone deaf on religion and is associated (a bit unfairly) with the most pro-gay marriage wing of the party. Yes! Dean for DNC Chair. Heck Dean for President in '08 baby! Posted at 11:50 AM THANKS TO ALL CORNER CONTRIBUTORS... [Rich Lowry] ...and especially KJL, for making the Corner such an indispensable asset throughout this campaign. Posted at 11:49 AM THE SUN SETS [KJL] Daschle's metaphor, as conceding, just now. My lack of human empathy is not something I am proud of. Posted at 11:48 AM GLOAT REBUTTAL [John Derbyshire] A reader of another persuasion: "GLOAT, and watch your pretend Teddy ride up the mound of civilian corpses he thinks of as San Falluja Hill. "Gloat, and see sucidal economic policies precipitate the worst economic dislocation in 75 years. "Gloat and enjoy the spectalce of a faith that imagines Torquemada to be the Redeemer; prefers burning Joan to the miracle of the loaves. "Gloat and chuckle as you watch a polity riven and divided by demagogue fueled ever more implacable hatreds "Gloat. Time and reason will bring you low." Time will bring us all low, Sir. That, alas, is what time inexorably does. Reason, however, is shining bright today. Posted at 11:44 AM "SUCH DISORDER"! [John J. Miller] Le Monde, the newspaper of record in a certain European country, went to press before all the results were in--but didn't hesitate to trash American democracy: "Such disorder, unimaginable in most other democratic countries, does no honour to the US. And it is worrying that the fate of the world is in suspense because of such an archaic system." Posted at 11:44 AM WILL STOP SOON [KJL] But, besides the winners, Derb. DASCHLE LOST. KERRY LOST. I cannot overestimate the sense of relief here at NR World Headquarters. And that is selfless, because I can imagine the subscription boost on Teresa alone. Posted at 11:42 AM NOW THAT HE'S NOT USING IT... [Jonah Goldberg] Can John Kerry please tell us what his super-duper special terrific secret plan to fix Iraq was? Posted at 11:41 AM WOOO-HOOOOOO!!! [Rich Lowry] Posted at 11:40 AM NEVADA FOR W. [John Derbyshire] Yesss! And looks like Kerry's done the right thing. God bless him. God bless America. **BIG** winners: W, the US armed forces, John Thune, the Swifties, Hilary Clinton. Posted at 11:39 AM INTERESTING... [Rich Lowry] "One-fourth of Ohio voters identified themselves as born-again Christians and they backed Bush by a 3-to-1 margin." Posted at 11:39 AM ANTI GOP VIOLENCE CONTINUES [KJL] in Fla. Posted at 11:38 AM COLORADO [John J. Miller] Bush won, but other than that, Democrats had an outstanding election--beat Coors, switched a House seat from R to D, and gained control of both legislative chambers, and passed a transit tax for light rail. Some details here. Posted at 11:34 AM CAN WE [KJL] have inaugural balls TODAY? Posted at 11:27 AM W. [KJL] speaks at 3. Posted at 11:27 AM IN THE MIDST OF MY INCREDIBLE JOY, ONE REGRET [John Hillen] Teresa would have been such a gas for bloggers. Posted at 11:26 AM GALLUP [Cliff May] Also on the MoveOn.org web site, a story headlined: “Gallup-ing to the Right: Why Does America’s Top Pollster Keep Getting It Wrong.” Well, Gallup did get it wrong. They tilted to Kerry. The final CNN/USA/Gallup poll predicted a Bush/Kerry tie – 49% - 49%. (Pew was closest to the actual results with 51 – 48; and Democratic pollster Mark Mellman as I’ve said.) MoveOn’s web site is a target-rich opportunity today. Posted at 11:25 AM "DIVIDED" [KJL] CNN reporting that Kerry lectured Bush about how divided the country is and how he needs to bring the country together. But. If Bush go 57.4 million votes-- more than any other candidate in history and won a majority of the pop vote, how is the country so divided? Much more comfy than 2000. Certainly less divided... Posted at 11:24 AM CHECK OUT MOVEON.ORG [Cliff May] Their headline: “It’s Election Day. Vote.” Guess they’re not ready to … move on. Posted at 11:17 AM "WHY HAS THIS COUNTRY GONE SO FAR IN THE CONSERVATIVE DIRECTION" [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Bill Hemmer on CNN just asked... Posted at 11:17 AM THE KERRY CAMPAIGN [Kathryn Jean Lopez] has my personal thanks for ending this today. On behalf of the staff of NRO, and sleep-deprived and democracy-loving Americans everywhere, THANK YOU. Posted at 11:13 AM TURNOUT [John J. Miller] Overall voter turnout was 59 percent -- highest rate since 1968 -- says LA Times. Posted at 11:13 AM MORE OHIO [Rich Lowry] This is very rough-and-ready reporting, so don't take this as 100% nailed down, but should be pretty accurate. From Ohio GOP source: It's as close to impossible for Kerry as it can get. Roughly 154,000 provisionals and a 137,000 margin, with probably something on the order of 10,000 overseas ballots, many of which are military and will break strongly for Bush. Doing the math, Kerry's just not going to get there. The factoid that 90% of Ohio provisionals were valid in the past was based on Ohio state law, not on HAVA. HAVA will apply here. It's standards will be stricter. The early indication from local elections officials is that 50-70% of the provisional ballots will be valid. The standards for counting were stipulated in that Sixth circuit decision recently: you have to be registered, and you have to have voted in the correct precinct. Again, there is no way Kerry can win this thing. Dragging it out--based probably on outlandish allegations--is only a way to play to the left and try to de-legitimize Bush's second term by mucking it up as much as possible. But Republicans on the ground in Ohio are hopeful it ends quickly, perhaps today. UPDATE: it appears now to be academic. Posted at 11:10 AM THE MOOD AT GEORGETOWN LAW [Jonah Goldberg] From a reader: Dear Jonah, Posted at 11:09 AM SALETAN & EDWARDS [Jonah Goldberg ] Ramesh, I love it. Will Saletan can't stand Bush because he thinks Bush is a simpleton. He thinks being a simpleton makes you a bad president and bad for America. So, his conclusion: The Democrats need a simpleton!
Posted at 11:08 AM KERRY HAS CALLED BUSH TO CONCED [KJL] Bush Wins. Amen. Posted at 11:07 AM BETTY CASTOR [KJL] is finally conceding to Mel Martinez Posted at 11:02 AM THAT NIH VIBE [Jonah Goldberg] From a reader: Greetings from NIH Building 10. I'm guessing the popular vote in this building went 90%-10% Kerry, so everyone here today is really sad. Me, I've got a grin ear to ear. For what it's worth, all the Kerry supporters I've spoken with seem resigned to the fact Kerry lost, and lost fair and square. I haven't heard a single Moore-on try to claim the election was stolen or fixed. Just giving you the vibe from on the street. Posted at 11:00 AM RE: THE EDWARDS JUGGERNAUT [Jonah Goldberg] North Carolina results in 2000: Bush 56%, Gore 43% Posted at 10:58 AM RE: JUBILATION [Cliff May] Karl and Co. have my admiration. The deck was stacked against them. Not only did Bush have to run against the DNC, Shrum & the Clintonites – fair enough -- he also had to run against The New York Times, CBS and the rest of the MSM, Hollywood (including Michael Moore and the cast of “The West Wing’), Bruce Springsteen, Academia, the union bosses (but not the rank and file), the ‘non-partisan” ACLU, the “non-partisan” NAACP, Kofi Annan & Mohamed ElBaradei, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and, of course, the lovely and charming Jacques Chirac. He also had to run against most employees of the DoS and the CIA. In regard to these last two agencies, one has to hope that, in his second term, the President will take pains to ensure that America’s diplomats and intelligence officers support the government for which they are working. In regard to the MSM, they have compromised their integrity and professionalism – and, it turns out, for nothing. One would hope there would be some self-examination and self-criticism. But I ain’t betting on it. Posted at 10:55 AM SOME GOP TALKING POINTS THIS MORNING [KJL] President Bush: Posted at 10:52 AM THE EURO MARKETS [KJL] are soaring Posted at 10:49 AM WHO TO VEX? [John Derbyshire] The Kerry people have got themselves in a bind with this promise to "make sure every vote is counted." That means, on a strict interpretation, they will have to wait out the eleven days in Ohio before formally conceding, thereby massively ticking off the nation, since a great majority of Americans want a speedy decision and can figure the math. If, on the other hand, Kerry does the gracious thing and concedes without having the Ohio ballots all counted and certified, he will massively tick off that large segment of his base who have taken the "count every vote" promises to heart, and are still burning with rancor over Florida 2000. Another betrayal! So: tick off the nation, or tick off the base? Politics sure ain't easy. Posted at 10:45 AM ON RICH'S NUMBER CRUNCHING [Andy McCarthy] MSNBC reported this morning that, for the small amount of time they have been in use (so data may not be the most reliable) legitimacy rate of provisional votes in Ohio is about 90%. If that holds up, there would be about 139,000. Statistically inconceivable that Kerry could overcome Bush's lead since he'd basically need 100%. But is it enough for the Dems to justify to themselves dragging this out? I'm afraid it probably is because the MSM will not kill them over it. Posted at 10:44 AM A BRIEF PERIOD OF JUBILATION [John Derbyshire] [That was Churchill again, speaking to the British on VE Day in May 1945: "We may permit ourselves a brief period of jubilation."] Let's be happy Republicans. Look, it's been a while. There was that awful mess in 2000 -- and this isn't a mess, it's comparatively clean. Then there was 1996 -- Aaaaargh! --- and 1992. It's been a while. Break out the bubbly. Posted at 10:43 AM POINTED OUT TO ME [KJL] Today Show was dressed in black.... Posted at 10:41 AM OHIO--THE MATH [John Derbyshire] A physics Ph.D. candidate at a very respectable university: "Mr. Derbyshire---I felt a strong need to actually figure out John Kerry's odds of winning Ohio in a somewhat rigorous fashion. Not too promising for the Kerry campaign: I figure there are 175000 provisional ballots out there, as that seems to be the high end of official estimates. If we assume that each has a 50% chance of being counted (and that's way high, it's really probably more like 15-20%) then having more ballots than Bush's margin of victory is a 360-sigma event, which comes out to a probability of 2.8*10^-28145. [That's a number with 28,144 zeros to the right of the decimal point, then some nonzero digits: 2, 8,...---JD] But hey, it could happen. And if every one of those votes goes for John Kerry (probability of this is around 10^-850000 or so) then Kerry might just pull this off." Posted at 10:41 AM OHIO INTEL [Rich Lowry] Information we're getting, as we try to get up to date on provisional ballot situation: 1) First question in considering these things: are you registered to vote? If you're not, your ballot doesn't count. 2) Unclear on this point--would the standard for counting the ballots be that of federal or Ohio law? 3) 11 days is a ceiling. Ballots can be counted before then. 4) Not clear how many overseas ballots are still outstanding. Expectation is that they will tip to Bush (they include military ballots). (If you have comments on this, or information, send e-mails to Kathryn because she can post them most quickly.) Posted at 10:37 AM CLICK [KJL] here. Because you want all the best conservative commentary out there. Posted at 10:36 AM 527S [KJL] Need thanks too--SwiftVets. And, as Kate said last night, Kerry concession--when it comes--is the Vietnam Vets parade they never got. Posted at 10:32 AM EDWARDS [Ramesh Ponnuru] Don't underestimate the resiliency of his media cheering section. Check out Saletan today. Posted at 10:30 AM EXIT POLLS [Kathryn Jean Lopez] I think as long as they exist and MSM types have them, everyone should. But I'm not sure they should exist. And I wonder if they will four years from now. Posted at 10:29 AM MY BEST UNDERSTANDING [Rich Lowry] Our best understanding at moment...154,725 provisional ballots out there, and Bush's margin is 136,700. Posted at 10:27 AM EARLY EXIT POLLS [Ramesh Ponnuru] Maybe we should reconsider publishing them. I've favored it, in the past, when the alternative has been a kind of media paternalism. But the reason I think we should consider not doing it in the future is not some goo-goo civics reason--I don't think we're under an obligation not to publish things that might depress turnout. It's that the exit polls seem to be so bad that they don't constitute actual information. We don't tend to write about Internet polls on the Corner because we know they're garbage. Time to say the same thing about early exit polls? Posted at 10:26 AM DEDWARDS [John J. Miller] No, Edwards didn't bring much to the ticket, but the main problem was with the top half rather than the bottom half. This was Kerry's opportunity to win, and he lost. He'll get most of the blame, and rightfully so. But expect Edwards to take some heat from his own side. Team Clinton especially will want to smack him around--more because of what he might do in the future rather than what he has done in the recent past, though. Posted at 10:24 AM TRIVIA [Ramesh Ponnuru] It's the first time the House Republicans have expanded their majority in two successive elections, and the first time they've expanded their majority during a presidential election since 1928. By 2008, the Democrats will have held the presidency for only 20 out of 56 years. (But for 40 out of 76 years.) Posted at 10:19 AM BY THE WAY... [Jonah Goldberg] When I get back... if someone can explain to me what John Edwards did for that ticket, I'd love to know. He was supposed to make the south competitive. Brrrrrr: Wrong! He was supposed to gin up the rural voters. Brrrrr wrong! He was supposed to make economic populism work for Democrats.....Brrrrrr oh you get the point. Edwards brought no substance, he brought no states, he brought (as far as I can tell right now) no vital demographics but he did bring pretty hair. Posted at 10:08 AM AN E-MAIL [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Just said on FM 96.9 in Boston (his radio show) that the Kerry campaign will issue a "directional" statement this AM and that Kerry will give a concession speech this afternoon. This was based on his "discussions" with the Kerry folks, who Barnicle is tight with. Posted at 10:07 AM APOLOGIES [Jonah Goldberg] If you sent me email in the last hour it probably didn't make it. Overloaded again. I had to do a panel with Peter Beinart of The New Republic. He says he'd be shocked if Kerry didn't concede today, btw. Now, I owe Cosmo a walk. I'll be back in a few. Posted at 10:04 AM 2008 [John J. Miller] I don't want us to get ahead of ourselves either, but I'll make two quick points. First, with Cheney presumably not in the running and Jeb Bush announcing his non-interest recently, the nomination will be as wide open as it ever has been in our lives. The GOP may be the party of orderly succession, but it's not at all clear whose "turn" it is. Second, look at the field as we now know it: Frist, McCain, Giuliani, Hagel, Pataki. There is a major opportunity here for a movement conservative, and especially a conservative governor. Bill Owens of Colorado comes to mind, but it's not clear he's going to run. Sanford of South Carolina is impressive and don't count out Pawlenty of Minnesota. Okay, enough 2008 talk from me. At least until tomorrow. Posted at 10:04 AM A DOW CHEER [NRO Financial Editors] The index jumps 175 in first half hour. Wall Street wholly endorses four more years. Posted at 10:04 AM RE: BRILLIANT [Kathryn Jean Lopez] For months, RNCers were saying "we have an unprecedented grassroots operation." Appears they were telling the truth. Congrats! Posted at 09:59 AM BRILLIANT IN ITS CONCEPTION [Rich Lowry] That's what you have to say about the Bush campaign. Their basic strategic idea from the beginning wasn't to go wobbly in an attempt to win “sing voters” as defined by the media. Instead, they wanted to play to the base, and, like in 1994, change the composition of the electorate based on high conservative turn-out (including conservative Democrats, who somehow don't count as swing voters in the media). That's exactly what happened. Given the adverse conditions Bush had to deal with in this race--all the bad news--that he won this sort of victory is, among other things, a testament to the strategic and tactical talents of Karl Rove, Ken Mehlman, and the rest of his team. Congratulations guys. Posted at 09:57 AM CELEBRATE! [Jack Fowler] By buying Florence King’s STET, Damnit!—the complete and unabridged collection of her glorious, no-fools-suffering, dimwit-smothering “Misanthrope’s Corner” column that graced NR’s back page for so many years. Miss King’s works read as well (and sometimes even better) as the day they were published, and will keep you in stitches. Get your copy direct from NR, here. Posted at 09:51 AM NO. NO. NO. [Kathryn Jean Lopez] A reader: "Can we start the '08 campaign now? Having way tto much fun to stop" Posted at 09:51 AM NO! NO! [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Kerry couldn't. Wouldn't. Kerry as Minority Leader? Nah. He'd have to show up. Posted at 09:49 AM A DRINK FOR COST [Cliff May] It’s worth going back through Jay Cost’s posts on the Horse Race Blog to see just how precisely he called it – and to understand the logic behind good polling. And to recall why he was able to argue that the exit polls were garbage. I want to buy that man a bourbon and branch water. Also, laurels are due to Alan J. Lichtman, author of “The Keys to the White House.” He’s been predicting a Bush victory for months—yes months -- based on his leading indicators. Zogby is another story... Posted at 09:48 AM THE MOOSE CONCEDED [Kathryn Jean Lopez] See here. Posted at 09:45 AM DASCHLE [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Fox News now says he will be addressing people in two hours. Posted at 09:42 AM THEOLOGICAL SUPPORT [John Derbyshire] A reader in the top left corner: "Derb---Indeed, gloating is a sin ...and Martin Luther said to us, 'If you must sin, sin boldly!' All the better to realize the grace in God's forgiveness. What a great outcome for your first voting experience as a U.S. citizen, eh?" Absolutely. Would be nice to think I swung it -- but in New York? I do glow slightly, though, to think of myself in the rightmost digit of that marvelous popular-vote margin. Posted at 09:40 AM THE AWAY MESSAGE ... [Kathryn Jean Lopez] ...of a very tired college student in Pennsylvania: FOR THE RECORD PEOPLE. It IS actually possible for an educated person to CHOOSE to be Republican. Get off your high horses and accept the fact that people think differently from you. Don't dare insult my beliefs unless you have a logical arguement to come at me with. Otherwise, I'm tired of it. Posted at 09:39 AM HMM [Kathryn Jean Lopez] There's some Chianti left. Posted at 09:35 AM RE: BANNED [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Yeah, no. Don't get any ideas. Posted at 09:35 AM BANNED IN BEIJING [John Derbyshire] How can NRO get itself banned in China? An e-correspondent in that country advises me that the best way to get the ChiComs to block us would be to post some hard-core porn on the site. Over to you, guys. Posted at 09:34 AM PLUS 5 [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Bill Frist, on CNN, could not look happier. Well, I guess he could--if it hit 6! Posted at 09:33 AM A FEW PEOPLS PASSED THIS ALONG LAST NIGHT [Kathryn Jean Lopez] I just heard Tavis Smiley (an African American pundit) on ABC say that "George Bush has certainly raised the bar in terms of thanking the African American community for their support", citing DR. Rice and C. Powell, and that JFK, should he win "tonight or in the days ahead", will have to "clear the bar high bar that W set". Posted at 09:32 AM HAS ANYONE [KJL] see Terry McAulliffe? Posted at 09:32 AM GOING YARD [John J. Miller] It's a little breezy outside this morning, and my Bush-Cheney yard sign just blew over. I'll take that as perfect timing, rather than a bad omen. Posted at 09:29 AM "CLEAR WINNER COULD TAKE WEEKS TO DETERMINE" [Kathryn Jean Lopez] from washingtonpost. I really believe this ends today. As Cliff notes, there are few Dems willing to go out on the line for Kerry at this point. It seemed clear to me around the time Carville con | |||||
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