U.S. Election

I am now following the U.S. election through the internet, alternating between Fox News radio and BBC World Service. I'm also following BBC's live text feed at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7700298.stm I figured I might as well post some of the best stuff I see and hear in this post. I'm gonna be editing this post along the night as I hear new stuff. All times are Finnish times, that's +2h from UK and +7 from US east coast.

2321: Not much to report yet, the best bit so far was the two Black Panthers near the voting place in Philadelphia. The one carrying a nightstick was escorted away by the police, but apparently the other one had a right to be there and give out literature. He also flipped the middle finger at a Fox News camera twice. Heehee.

2323: Forgot the quote from the reporter at the scene: "I guess he was exercising his first amendment rights, free speech, when he was flipping the bird at the camera"

2326: The BBC guy in Ohio is seeing jugglers and hearing some very good rock tracks in the line at the election.

2341: This is sort of boring now, there's no sight of any results yet and both Fox and BBC seem to be playing the same stuff over and over. Haven't really picked up anything cool in a while, except maybe Madeleine Albright supporting Obama. It's gonna be a long night.

2355: I'm quite enjoying Tom Sullivan on Fox News Talk right now.

0011: Past midnight in here now, and it is actually (hard to believe though that is) already 5 pm in US east coast. Still nothing too big to report though, BBC is still giving "feelies" from varying states. The guy in Ohio mentioned some worries about touch-screen voting machines. Oh, and the guy talking right now, didn't catch where he is, has an AWESOME scottish accent. Two hours until we start getting results, hopefully.

0025: Our very own Governator, Arnold has this to say about polls: "And then there are very good poll numbers coming out - I mean that's 100% of the vote, McCain - that's amongst Austrian-born body-builders!" BBC World Service is doing a pretty awesome job at election coverage right now, a big panel of people in the studio in Washington and frequent live reports from people at election spots in different states.

0031: I ran out of cola a while back, so now it's time to open the first energy drink of the night.

0056: Another hour before the first polls close, I'm still sort of hanging around with BBC, there's nothing breath-taking yet, but their program is pretty solid anyway.

0113: This hour BBC seems to have stepped up the intensity a couple of notches. Some polls are closing pretty soon now and projections will be available "maybe quicker than you'd expect." Also http://elections.foxnews.com/states_map/index.html is already pulling some data from somewhere, now with 56,68 percent for McCain.

0119: The guy with the Scottish accent is the reporter in Colorado. Michael Buchannon, or something like that he's called.

0127: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7700298.stm just got better, we now have a live video stream of BBC World News TV channel. Go BBC!

0152: BBC is doing an awesome job on the TV side as well. Right now an excellent live report coming in from Virginia. Oh, and only 8 minutes till the first polls close!

0159: The touch screen dude in the BBC studio is mine (and I believe every other engieering students') personal hero.

0201: First results are in. It's on now!

0217: The BBC reporter on Times Square just had Ricky Gervais as a guest. Incidentally, I think Ricky should be interviewed in every program on any subject, partly because whatever he says, he always sounds the same as in The Office or his stand-up shows, so you never know if he's serious about something or not.

0227: BBC's live text feed just gave me this: "In the Senate race, if the Democrats get a filibuster-proof magic 60 senators and Obama is president, they could pass almost any bill they like. Some say it would be one-party rule; conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh would probably burst into flames with apoplexy." :D

0244: Right now the big news is the lack of real results. BBC also raised the poing that either the networks are just being cautious or MAYBE there's something really new and exciting going on. Guess we'll see, as for right now, the projection is 8-3 for McCain.

0252: Another batch of closing polls coming up in 8 minutes. One interesting point just made on BBC was the amount of phone calls the Obama people have made to registered votes, huge numbers.

0301: Ok, big numbers coming in now. Obama is in the lead for the first time!

0305: Now that the smoke cleared a bit after the closing of the hour, the BBC puts Obama at a 103-34 lead. Some in the studio are now saying Obama only needs one more big state to win. Awesome! (Yes, I'm for Obama 100%, sue me.)

0321: BBC is now using past tenses when talking of McCain, vewy intewesting...

0350: 10 minutes to go until another 15 states close their polls. Will we see another "explosion"? I certainly hope so, BBC has 103-49 for Obama now. And just a couple of moments ago, we saw reverend Jesse Jackson, which was really good in a certain way that I can't quite put my finger on. The guy in Colorado was called Michael Buchanan, nt Buchannon, by the way.

0409: BANG! BANG! BANG! BBC now has 175-76 for Obama. FOX has 180-85. CNN freaking has 174-49! This is awesome.

0417: "Larry Sabato, University of Virginia, in the BBC studio in Washington: Fox just called Ohio for Obama. Let me repeat. Ohio for Obama."

0419: On the other hand, CBS is now the first to have 100 electorial votes for McCain, against Obama's 174.

0454: Interesting point on the BBC text feed just now: Obama has 200 so he only needs 70 more. California alone is 55, so if he gets that he needs just 15 more from the uncalled states. Also right now 6 minutes left until another bunch of polls closes and after those there's only California, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska left with their polls open.

0501: Apparently either NY Times or BBC has failed me now, BBC seems to think there's 6 states left now. Dunno, I guess we'll see. BBC's calling it 207-135 for Obama right now though.

0523: Nothing much happening result-wise, looks like Obama still needs to confirm one more big one to take this home. BBC however is providing some very interesting, and even dramatic programming all the way. Me-likey.

0545: The race seems all but over, but I guess we'll once again see more after the top of the hour.

0603: KA-BOOM! 297!

297

0606: It's incredible to watch the celebrations on BBC right now, and yes, this is a historical night. I for one am very glad I stayed up all the way. Congratulations president Obama, from Finland as well!

0630: John McCain's speech was very, very good, in my opinion, and in others. Now it truly is over. At least for another 4 years.