For Chris'sake stop celebrating. The election is 2 weeks away.

[Ian_rd]

Considering the attention span of most Americans, two weeks is an eternity. The votes have not yet been cast. Just as relevant, the votes have not yet been counted. The Republicans have plenty of time to show the face of another dead terrorist on television. They have plenty of time to run that new Al Qaeda tape they "just found." They have plenty of time to give a public address on a supposed domestic terror plot involving three drunk homeless guys who hate America. They have plenty of time to unveil how Bill Clinton is responsible for the Mark Foley scandal. They have plenty of time to find 20-year old empty mustard gas canisters in a buried Iraqi weapons cache. They have plenty of time to lie and cheat to keep voters away from the polls. They might even have something we haven't thought of yet.

Promoting a sense of Democratic victory being a forgone conclusion is a detriment to voter turnout. Everyone must know to the core of their bones that the election hinges on their vote. This election will be won or lost by one vote and that vote is yours. Many are worried about the accuracy of computer voting. Election Day is not the time to be skeptical. It is the time to show up and vote no matter what.

Election Day is November 7. Vote early. Early voting has already started in many places. If you vote on Election Day in a Democratic precinct, be prepared to wait for hours in a line engineered by Republican election officials to be longer than those for Republicans. Have your voter registration card and an ID on you when you go. Have this phone number in your pocket: 1-866-OUR-VOTE. If you are denied your right to vote or if there are any voting problems whatsoever such as machines breaking down or untrained election officials, call that hotline and make a complaint. If you are forced to vote on a provisional ballot, don't fall for it, that ballot will most likely be thrown in the trash.

And after the election, if the results do not match the exit polling, demand an investigation immediately. Demand accountability and accuracy. Demand a meaningful recount. Not possible because of the machines? Then demand those machines be replaced with paper ballots counted by people and not secret computer code.

[kegler14]

1. I wanted to scream at the radio last week

when I heard a story on NPR where they were interviewing people as if the Democrats had already taken over both houses. One of the "experts" had to remind folks that the election hadn't taken place yet. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[hlthe2b]

2. yes, please.....

sometimes it seems we never learn....

Be hopeful, sure, but there is something to be said for the old adage: "don't count your chickens before they are hatched..."

[liberal N proud]

3. With Karl Rove and the bu$h regime it is too scary to get excited

I will only be excited on November 8th, IF we manage to pull this thing off and regain control.

[Gman]

4. In one way this is a good thing

because expectations will be so high for a Democratic takeover of at least the House that should any tampering occur with voting to the point that the GOP retains control of the House, people will be outraged and possibly in the streets. It will be too obvious that the vote was stolen.

[longship]

5. I am *very* optimistic

This is going to be a Dem sweep. We're going to get the House, easily. The Senate is close, but we're likely going to get that, too.

Things are so stacked against the Repugnicans, who have literally painted themselves into a corner, that I think that the Dems will get it all. The big polls are so overwhelmingly in favor of such a sweep that I do not put much credance in the individual candidate polls, which are all over the place, and many of which have very questionable internals (Zogby).

My call: We'll take 30 or more House seats and lose at most one or two. In the Senate we'll take seven and lose none (other than Lieberman). I see nothing wrong with such optimism. It sure beats gloom and doom. We *are* going to take the House. Things may shape up for a huge sweep in the House. In that case, we may see upwards of fifty seats turn over. The absolute limit in the Senate is eight seats. Unless Pederson in AZ turns things around at the eleventh hour, the max we can get is seven. If the AZ race starts to tighten, hang on tight.

I already have my CA ballot.

Voting Straight Dem!!!
Hooray!! We're going to have Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown as our AG!!!

CA absentee voters: Don't forget to put *two* stamps on your ballot envelope.