Here's a space for folks who would like to talk about something other than the election. Seriously, keep it out of here.

Some topics to start you off:

From the L.A. Times: Halloween keeps moviegoers away from box office. Really? It wasn't such obvious crowd-pleasers as Teeny Boppers Sing Again (Again) or Torture Porn, Part Five?

From the Guardian: Light drinking in pregnancy may be good for baby boys. Fuel for the ongoing argument about alcohol and pregnancy.

From Wired: Wingsuit Cliff-Jumpers Take Off Video I want to do this.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:48 PM | Comments (209)
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These numbers have been out since this morning, but this is the first time I noticed:

The final round of Mason-Dixon polls has Obama enjoying small leads in the red states that would deliver him the presidency, but he's below 50 percent in each and there are enough white undecided voters to leave some too close to call.

Colorado: Obama 49, McCain 44, Undecided 4
Florida: Obama 47, McCain 45, Undecided 7
Nevada: Obama 47, McCain 43, Undecided 8
Pennsylvania: 47, McCain 43, Undecided 9
Virginia: Obama 47, McCain 44, Undecided 9
Ohio: McCain 47, Obama 45, Undecided 6
Missouri: McCain 47, Obama 46, Undecided 5
North Carolina: McCain 49, Obama 46, Undecided 5

As Brad Coker, who runs the Mason-Dixon poll, notes, the vast majority of the undecided voters in these states are whites.

I could live without the heavy emphasis on skin color.

Otherwise, things are looking pretty good. Several of those polls are within the margin of error, which means the candidates are at a statistical tie. Also, most people think undecideds are going to break strongly for McCain.

On exit polls: I suggest you reread Jack M.'s post from two weeks ago to prepare yourselves. Remember, the "enthusiasm gap" is going to seriously unbalance the exits. The media will be predisposed to call states for Obama earlier than would otherwise be the case.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:09 PM | Comments (265)
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We can pull this off, and ignore the polls and the Eeyores, please.

See you next Open Blog.
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Posted by: Open Blog at 04:29 PM | Comments (289)
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I didn't watch it last night. I just assumed he'd be a good sport, which it appears he was, and it'd be the standard kinda thing.

A Dave in Texas personal observation. Every time I watch this man raise his arms, it kinda hurts to watch that. I'm really not picking at a weakness. I think rather, I hope, I'm pointing to one of the man's characteristics of strength. I don't know how to express it. I just feel it, kinda.

I don't know. I'm an idiot. On the plus side, Starbucks is offering me a cup of burned coffee for voting.

Now I'm in!

Anyway, if there are more clips other morons want to point us to, please put em in the comments. I'll add em as updates, thanks.

UPDATE: Since I'm pimpin SNL shit. My fav. Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 02:59 PM | Comments (94)
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Qwinn pointed this clip out in Nice Deb's post below, from the same interview I believe. I tried to add it as an update but mucked something up, at any rate it's noteworthy.

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

Typically, Obama stumbles over his own rhetoric and uses the word "money" when he means "cost". But he's quite clear on the impact... he intends to extort bucks from energy producers, who will have to pass on those costs to their consumers, which are, uh, us. This little matter of short term pain, skyrocketing electricity rates is just a small price to pay to pave the way for the coming energy utopia when we heat our homes with faerie farts and renewable rainbows.

"duh" update: link added.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 01:22 PM | Comments (163)
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I'll give ya something to believe in. I'm generous that way. The new TIPP/Investor's Business Daily Poll is out. And it's got the race tightening like Ace's pants at a Star Wars convention.

Obama 46.7% McCain/Palin 44.6% Undecided 8.7%

From the poll:

The race tightened again Sunday as independents who'd been leaning to Obama shifted to McCain to leave that key group a toss-up. McCain also pulled even in the Midwest, moved back into the lead with men, padded his gains among Protestants and Catholics, and is favored for the first time by high school graduates.

The 2.1% spread is the closest the race has been since October 23 when Obama had a slim 1.1% lead. It also means that McCain has cut the lead in half in this poll since yesterday, when Obama had a 4.5% lead.

Fight on, true believers. And here is a little extra incentive for you to continue to get out and work on behalf of McPalin:

Imagine the heads that will explode when the proper context for this photo is Sarahcuda being sworn in as Vice President. Now get back to work!

Posted by: Jack M. at 11:37 AM | Comments (139)
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Reminder from Drew: If you're in a pool, get your picks in; it all starts in less than an hour.

Also, I've seen a bunch of stuff about the Redskins Election Prediction. The myth is that if the Redskins win their last home game before the election, the incumbent party will stay in the White House. Only, this turned out not to be the case in 2004.

And for all you beta males to complain about like you did last week: more...

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 09:38 AM | Comments (27)
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This has been my experience in Colorado, so please chime in if you have experienced something similar or different in other states.

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Posted by: Open Blog at 09:17 AM | Comments (30)
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I'm going to take an opportunity to back up a coblogger with this post. A couple of days ago, JackM lit into Peggy, Katherine & Christopher by citing Dylan's "Positively 4th Street". I thought it was a good piece, but I found myself yesterday saying "Damn, Jack WAS onto something here!" more...

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at 09:07 AM | Comments (30)
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This is yet another gem uncovered by Naked Emperor News. It's from an interview Obama gave to the San Francisco Chronicle in which he speaks of his approach to global warming and cap-and-trade systems. It's an approach I'm not sure the bitter gun clingers of Pennsylvania would appreciate:

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Posted by: Open Blog at 10:32 AM | Comments (368)
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