McCain is being a stand up guy after what must have been a very difficult night for him. Good job.

I agree with anjin-san, though I never doubted he would be gracious in defeat.

Watching NBC just now: Did the McCain crowd just boo Sarah Palin?

McCain was very gracious. Good for him.

Can we normalize this "number of votes" thing to population for crying out loud. It is like saying Americans are richer than ever since even the lowest income today is several multiples of what was considered middle class in 1900. Clearly a nonsensical measure.

Steve Verdon on the other hand: kind of pissy.

Actually Jim, I'd be pissy no matter who won.

Steve: Several things come to mind. But when I first entered the work force, I made one dollar per hour. What is your point?

Just as you note, that $1/hour wasn't that bad when you entered the work force, but today it would be, besides illegal, horrible. Not only is there inflation of the currency, but our population and our voting population grow. So normalizing to that number remove that kind of effect. To put it another way is it fair to compare the number of votes candidates get today with 100 years ago, in absolute terms? No, just as we don't compare incomes in absolute terms.

Anyway, thanks for taking my comment somewhat seriously. As someone whose real job is statistics these kinds of measures actually do matter to me.

By the way, unless there are a bunch of votes still waiting to be counted, both Bush and Kerry in the last election got significantly more votes than Obama. Like 10 and 9 million more votes respectively.

Like 10 and 9 million more votes respectively.

Well thats tightened up a bit according to Drudge. Still I wonder how many votes are waiting to be counted, Unless there's over 10 Million to go this election won't have that many more voters than the last presidential election.

Juan Williams is choking up at the significance of a black man being elected president. It is indeed quite incredible.

Why would anyone consider it incredible? I thought race didn't matter

Well if one good thing comes out of this, I will agree with Don Imus in that kids of color can now believe that they can be anything they want to in this country.

Holy crap I dint get stuck in the spamalot!!!! lol.

Why would anyone consider it incredible? I thought race didn't matter

Claiming to be "color blind" and presumably unimpressed that an African-American won the presidency for the first time is at a minimum disingenuous but, in your case, simply shows your true colors: ignorant and spiteful. Even if you are "color blind," you don't need to be ignorant of the historic nature of Obama's win.

Tell us, O enlightened one: Do you feel the same way about Jackie Robinson? About any number of African-American--or any other minority--firsts? Is conservative "color blindness" the reason African-Americans flock to the Republican party in droves? Or the reason why conservatives use fear of race every time they run an ad on TV--you know, Bit.

Spare us all your fake enlightenment.

Claiming to be "color blind" and presumably unimpressed that an African-American won the presidency for the first time is at a minimum disingenuous but, in your case, simply shows your true colors: ignorant and spiteful. Even if you are "color blind," you don't need to be ignorant of the historic nature of Obama's win.

This is supposed to be a post-racial America, and yet we spend all this time on a racial hurdle? Sorry, something doesn't quite add up, here. Why would anyone think it was out of the oridinary if, as we're told, race doesn't matter?

Do you feel the same way about Jackie Robinson? About any number of African-American--or any other minority--firsts?

As a matter of fact, yes, but for reasons, apparently different from yours. The accomplishments of the people as you mention are worthy of mention and recognition because of their efforts as individuals not because they were/are of a racial category.

You meanwhile, can't get beyond their skin color.

Can we normalize this "number of votes" thing to population for crying out loud. It is like saying Americans are richer than ever since even the lowest income today is several multiples of what was considered middle class in 1900. Clearly a nonsensical measure.

I remember hearing this in 2004, that Bush got a higher "number of votes" than any president in history. I think John Kerry also got more votes than any prior president, and he still lost. So yeah, lets lose this meme.

Addendum:

James suggests in another post that Obama won over racism.

Maybe.

But, if, as you seem to think...(and clearly Williams agrees with your take)... this is to be taken as a win for a particular racial group, then Obama won not in spite of racism, but because of it.

This is supposed to be a post-racial America, and yet we spend all this time on a racial hurdle? Sorry, something doesn't quite add up, here. Why would anyone think it was out of the oridinary if, as we're told, race doesn't matter?

Because it is out of the ordinary, even though race wasn't a primary issue in this campaign, it is still historically unprecedented.

Nobody was surprised when we landed on the moon in 1969, everybody knew it was going to happen, but it was still an incredible thing wouldn't you agree?

So the moon shot happened because of race?
Look, if race is important, then we've not gotten post-racial yet. Seems simple enough a concept to grasp.

So the moon shot happened because of race?

Alright, you got my point, but rather than concede you're just being deliberately obstuse. Let me know when you want to hold an honest conversation.

Michael and Eric,
Remember if you support the goal racial equality you cannot celebrate any milestone on the road to that goal. That would be racist.

Oh, and why do you hate white people?

Remember if you support the goal racial equality you cannot celebrate any milestone on the road to that goal. That would be racist

Well, let's examine this.

Oddly, a goodly number of the folks talking about how this ends racism, are the same folks who were not supporting Clarence Thomas. Remember?

Come to thnk of it, I don't recall Michael Steele being hailed by the usually long line of race baiters as accomplishing great things. I don't recall J.C.Watts being so hailed, either. So do blacks only get celebrated for their huge accomplishments if they're LIBERAL blacks?

Let's examine this just a bit further to sharpen the point; If Hillary Clinton had won, we'd have heard all about how sexism was all done. Ask yourself; Had Sarah Palin been elected as VP, would the reaction have been anywhere near the same?

Addendum:@Michael I thnk I've answered your argument, too.

A further point; Remmeber when Colin POwell was being called Bush's 'House N!%%3r?" Yep... that was before he endorsed Obama, of course.