Election Day 2008 - Open Thread
It’s the day to vote. Or, if you filled in your mail-in ballot last week, it’s the day to watch as everybody else votes.
As we approach the final hours of a very long election cycle with platitudes, attacks, promises, ranked choice voting, and unreal minute-by-minute analysis, we thought to ourselves, how’d it go? Do people care? Did you learn something? Have you voted yet? And, as today progresses, what was your experience voting?
While we trust you to be civil, please remember to avoid personal attacks in your comments.
Update
Filed under: elections
79 comments
T Thorax O'Tool November 4, 2008
Strangely ironic that I’ll be spending most of my day today attending Grandma’s funeral :(
One of those times I’m glad I vote by mail.
M Madeline November 4, 2008
There were tons of people at the polling place in Proctor. I got there 15 minutes or so before voting started, and there were already like 20 people there. And probably a hundred in line by the time I left. It was awesome.
J Jbal November 4, 2008
My first time voting by mail – sort of anticlimactic. But it took me a while to grasp the ranked-choice thing, so I’m glad I didn’t have to hold up other people while I studied.
H happy voter November 4, 2008
i voted in south tacoma. there was already a line at 7:10. it took about an hour.
there were quite a few kids with their parents.
the volunteers were already griping at each other (it was quite uncomfortable to witness). i think it’s going to be a very long day for them.
the polling place is a church and some folks from the church put out coffee and fresh baked scones. good people!
it was a lovely experience.
D David Domkoski November 4, 2008
The line to vote at Immanuel Presbyterian Church was all the way past the corner at 7:20 a.m. this morning. It was a great thing to behold. We voted by 8:40 a.m. Lots of families with young extremely well-behaved children. All in all a wonderful experience which reinforces why i choose not to vote by mail.
M marguerite November 4, 2008
Ive been waiting in line at betheny Lutheran for an hour and a half. My number is 182 and they are handing out 358 now. People are feeling very grumpy and stressed. The poll workers are doing their best but they are understaffed. Also, there is no privacy, people are squashed in everywhere while you vote.
But hey, freedom!!!
N Noreen Hobson November 4, 2008
I will be thrilled to see this process come to a conclusion. I hope it won’t be messy, but clear for the winner so we can move forward. It’s time. And, I look forward to watching a lot better commercials starting tomorrow!
N nos November 4, 2008
We voted absentee. We are excited beyond belief!
D Derek staff November 4, 2008
We’re hearing more stories from @7’s location in the Lincoln District. It sounds like it’s going to be the poster child of bad voting experiences. 3+ hour long lines. Pissed people. Camera crews videotaping everything. Chaos.
This should be interesting.
C Claudia Riedener November 4, 2008
“Now I have been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come, and I believe it could be, something good has begun…..
Oh I have been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one, and I believe it could be – someday is going to come.
Peace Train take this country, come take me home again….”
Jusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens, 1971
Happy Election Day 2008!
M Marguerite November 4, 2008
I got to the poll at 750am and left at 10:45am. There was very little order, people were cutting in line with no consequences. People were given numbers and told there was a 2 hour wait- so those people left and came back and were then told there was no more number system and to wait at the end of the line.
Bad stuff going on there. I guess thats why they had Pat MacCarthy and camera crews showing up.
Thanks to the lady in the fuzzy blue hat handing out candy, the guy who brought us Krispie Kremes, and the lady with the bottled water!!! We were all grateful!
E Erik B. November 4, 2008
A Andrea November 4, 2008
What struck me the most is that even though the lines were long at the Center at Norpoint (NE Tacoma), I heard many people say how lucky we are to not have to walk past people with guns or walk miles to get to polling stations like in some other countries.
E Eric November 4, 2008
GOBAMA,
You gotta see this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBMdWxcFXQg
H Heather November 4, 2008
Wow. I’m so glad that I voted by mail. It felt anti-climactic, but at least I wasn’t part of the chaos. I am feeling guilty that I didn’t think to volunteer though! I’d say, “next year” but this is the last year, right? From now on we are all required to vote by mail, I think.
M Matt November 4, 2008
I voted at Zion Lutheran on 6th Ave at 8:10 this morning… the wait was a little over 30 minutes… so, not bad.
There was a gentleman in line that said he had been voting at that polling place for the last 20 years and he has never seen lines like this at that location.
Everyone seemed very plugged in to the process and all were in good spirits.
I have to agree with Bill Maher, this election cycle has been one of the greatest…as it’s awakened and invigorated the electorate. The trick now is to keep everyone involved.
Let’s keep it going!!
S Steven November 4, 2008
There are perhaps only a few times in ones life that they can know they are witnessing a historic event while it is happening.
Friends, today is that day.
This day heralds the end of perhaps the worst administration in history and, perhaps, to begin writing the final chapter on the most corrosive and dissonant aspect of our National narrative.
Vote, be proud.
E Erin November 4, 2008
I just got back from my second and thankfully successful attempt at voting! I got to the polls at Hudtloff Middle School at 5 after 7 this morning and had to leave after 40 minutes to get to work on time…there were probably close to 100 people there already. The man in front of me said that in the 10+ years he had been voting there, he had never stood in line for over 10 minutes.
I love voting in person, so this was both a thrill to see so many people involved in the process.
M Michael November 5, 2008
Any one have conversations with the people they waited in line with, I really would like a feel on Larry Faulk for Senate, 27th LD.
T Thorax O'Tool November 5, 2008
My sister voted @ Bethlehem Lutheran Church and tells me that about 5pm the line was not only into the parking lot, but stretching into the Albertson’s parking lot.
Thank god I vote by mail!
R RR Anderson November 5, 2008
I am looking forward to electric Elliott jesse hill campaign office coverage video
R RR Anderson November 5, 2008
President Barack Hussein Obama
in your face Mofo from the Hood! ha ha ha
C Carol November 5, 2008
I am still trying to get results for Pierce County at 8:54 and I can’t find a thing! What is up? Other counties appear to have no problem?
D Derek staff November 5, 2008
I am still trying to get results for Pierce County at 8:54 and I can’t find a thing! What is up?
Pierce County is different from everybody else. We have that Ranked Choice Voting ballot. It complicates everything and will slow down our results.
R RR Anderson November 5, 2008
pierce county auditor site still dead.
G Gina November 5, 2008
Auditor Site finally shows results.
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/elections/misc/currentresults.htm
D Derek staff November 5, 2008
Following Gina’s link, here are the first (very early) PC Exec numbers. According to the King5 interview, these only count absentee ballots. RCV makes this rather … curious. What’s going to happen?
E – Mike Lonergan
13,872
14.74%
D – Pat McCarthy
27,579
29.30%
D – Calvin Goings
22,172
23.56%
R – Shawn Bunney
30,372
32.27%
M Mofo from the Hood November 5, 2008
@24: “President Barack Hussein Obama
in your face Mofo from the Hood! ha ha ha”
Mr. Anderson, I heard Mr. Obama’s victory speech on the radio. The last thing he said was “God Bless America!” Obama would have made more sense to me if he said “God Bless America?”
There’s a very important distinction between saying something politically correct and saying something plain correct.
There’s a very important distinction between saying “God Bless America” with a view to the current moment, and saying it with a view to eternity. It’s the difference between a secularist or non-Christian world-view, and a Christian world-view. For the Christian everything that is done in the present moment matters for eternity.
Why would God Bless America, a nation where abortion has become acceptable?
Mr. Obama is a great orator. Does he understand what he says?
Does Obama understand the difference between the right to vote, and voting for what is right?
I’m not interested in political correctness or great orators. I’m interested in truth.
C Claudia Riedener November 5, 2008
The Truth,MOFO-
The people of America want Obama to be their leader.
People did not vote for the right wing, the voted for the good in all of us,and not the bitter angry hating side in us.
I for one am sick of the Christian folks calling for war, revenge, toture, more prisons and hatred against all they don’t understand or like.
Sunshine has come finally ….
M Mofo from the Hood November 5, 2008
Hey Claudia, there’s a difference between Christianity of the Bible and politicized Christianity.
Where in the Christian teachings of the Bible does it characterize the Church as proslytizers what you are sick of? @31: Christian folks calling for war, revenge, torture, more prisons and hatred against all they don’t understand or like.”
Such language and tribulations toward Christianity is at the foundation of the Church since the 1st Century.
But regarding this nation in this century, the last time I checked the Pledge of Allegiance, it contained the words “one nation under God…” Not “one nation under women’s rights.”
Y You're Welcome November 5, 2008
Maybe God isn’t only a Christian. Maybe God is more.
I I'm for Change (for tacoma) November 5, 2008
But regarding this nation in this century, the last time I checked the Pledge of Allegiance, it contained the words “one nation under God…” Not “one nation under women’s rights.”
I don’t see where the anything (Pledge of Alligence / Constitution / Bible (not an expert there)) says a person can’t have control over his/her own body. Who are you to control my body? For you neo-cons, Mrs. Goldwater co-founded Planned Parenthood in AZ. Social issues used to not be a platform for Republicans. Can we return to those days? Are we really better off with the social conservatives running things? Why can’t everyone just live their lives without a small-minded group dictating how to live?
D DavidS November 5, 2008
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
your mileage may vary
C Claudia Riedener November 5, 2008
Hmm,women’s rights, huh?
The wording ‘under god’ was added in 1956. Not exactly the founding fathers’ words…
Anyway, I am glad you know the history of Christianity. It’s like having an advanced degree in mathematics. If you still can’t balance a checkbook, what’s the use?
I don’t care if it is the biblical religion or the political one you tout.
As long as the religeous right calls for war, revenge, torture, more prisons and hatred against all they don’t understand or like – they are neither religious nor right.
Now I am off to celebrate the best day in 8 years!! YEAY
M Mofo from the Hood November 5, 2008
@34 “Social issues used to not be a platform for Republicans.”
Ever heard of Abraham Lincoln?
M michael g. November 5, 2008
Mofo, if someone gave you a cup of coffee with room for cream, you’d probably see it as 1/10th empty. Hope, meet MoFo, MoFo, meet hope.
A A-Dub November 5, 2008
Claudia,
Your “Sunshine” is not going to last every long. Yeah, there will be Change… a Change for the worst.
1. You can’t raise anyone’s taxes during a recession. This is what pushes a recession into a depression. Just ask Herbert Hoover. Would someone rather have a $1000 tax credit or their job?
2. We are not going to be able to leave Iraq as soon as the left would like or we will create a 21st century version of the killing fields. We may be in Iraq for the next 100 years. Do you realize that we are still in Japan, Germany and Korea?
3. Europe is not the model to aspire to duplicate, just look at their unemployment rate. There is only one European policy we should follow, but the left refuses to even talk about it. Got Nuclear?
If Obama is smart, he needs to move more to the center as did Bill Clinton (which will not make the left very happy) and renounce 80% of his campaign promises or I will guarantee you that he will go down as the worst president in American history like Hoover and Carter. Everyone needs to be clear that Obama is no JFK!
E Erik S November 5, 2008
@25: …and maybe god is make-believe on a grand scale.
Look, folks just need to accept the fact that not everyone has the same beliefs, whether political or religious. You vote your way, I’ll vote mine (lamenting the scarcity of choices) and the process will sort us both out. End of story. Just live and let live.
M Mofo from the Hood November 5, 2008
@34:“I don’t see where the anything (Pledge of Alligence / Constitution / Bible (not an expert there)) says a person can’t have control over his/her own body. Who are you to control my body?”
You are perfectly free to do what you wish with your body; including using it to revenge, torture, imprison, hate or murder another person.
By the way, should that behavior against others ever be outlawed against foreigners or immigrants or for instance people above a certain age? Would it be okay if children under the age of five were used as firewood?
C Cromletch McHammer November 6, 2008
One, two, three, four, and even more hypocrites!
My goodness, they did come out in full force.
Y You're Welcome November 6, 2008
This country would have a bigger Republican following if they didn’t let 3rd world religious practices get in the way of politics.
500,000 kids are orphans in this country right now, with abortions being safe and legal. 75% of those kids have been sexually abused (http://foster-child.adoption.com/parents/sexual-abuse-2.html). Put your money where your mouth is pro-lifers and adopt.
Would you like to know some of the countries that outlaw abortions?: Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan… you know, any country that doesn’t respect women’s freedom.
I don’t want to be like that, I like being an American and I like my freedom of choice.
M michael g. November 6, 2008
To change the subject, I’m pretty shocked that the transit proposition passed by such a wide margin, and even won in the Pierce County subarea. Whether or not you liked the whole Prop. 1 package, it bodes well for the prospect of raising some local matching funds to extend the Tacoma Link streetcar/light rail at least to Tacoma General.
R RR Anderson November 6, 2008
Would it be okay if children under the age of five were used as firewood?
have I mentioned that Mofo from the Hood is my favorite commenter lately? When is the next 3xit 133 feedback survey?
M Mofo from the Hood November 6, 2008
@43 “This country would have a bigger Republican following if they didn’t let 3rd world religious practices get in the way of politics.”
This is an interesting statement. What exactly is the appeal of Hinduism? I mean even the Buddhists split from the group because they rejected the caste system.
So now in America 2008, how do you explain all the yoga clubs that have popped up in the last few years? My guess it’s the result of aging radical feminists attempting one last heave-ho to bring down the system of American politics that I learned about in school. There weren’t any yoga clubs in America in 1776 or even in 1876. But by 1976 the political uppity Wellesly women types had really created a whole lot of noise and confusion with their “new attitude,” and their pantheon of goddesses and witches and fairy dust and fairy hairdressers and fairy friends. Yeah, I said FAIRY.
Imagine some of the stupid stuff I grew up hearing in the past few decades of America Gone Wrong. Adult tomboys saying stuff like “There is NOTHING that a man has to offer women.” And “Only a WOMAN knows how to please another woman.” Perfectly healthy, perfectly normal?…
And now the descendants of the Segregationist Party are saying things like, “The Republicans (The Abolitionist Party) have brought America down.
Are you people FOR REAL!
T Thorax O'Tool November 6, 2008
First let me clarify a few things before I get up on my soapbox. I am not a Democrat or Republican, I have no affiliation by choice. I did not vote of McCain or Obama, I wrote in. I am not a particularly religious person. I don’t got to church, but I’d guess I fall still under the “Christian Umbrella”. Also, this is my opinion, take it or leave it. I will not spend any amount of time defending it. I do not need to to that. Nor will I get into arguments or name calling, keep that preschool attitude out of here. Disagree all you like and say what you want, it’s just as much your right as it is mine.
Hell, go ahead and call names… it only makes one of us look like a child throwing a tantrum.
___________________________________________
Funny how we perceive that there is a “right to choose” and that the State has the “right to kill” death row inmates. And now you have the right to kill yourself (although for YEARS anyone has been able to do this with a quick stop at Bullseye Supply, no legislation needed).
Hate to break it to those who call themselves Christian, but in those 10 commandments it’s not specified not to kill certain people, it simply says in no uncertain terms:
“Thou Shall not Kill“
As far as TO’T is concerned, you can’t call yourself “pro life” and still support the death penalty and the “right to die” law.
And BTW, the “right to choose” is a bit absurd and has NOTHING to do with oppressing women. Women have had full civil rights for DECADES before Roe v Wade. All those who fought dearly for equal rights and suffrage fought to give women the full rights and responsibilities that come with US Citizenship.
And since I mentioned equal rights, let’s be truly equal rather than have a double standard. If a woman can have an abortion regardless of what the father says, then equal rights ought to be given to the father… he should be able to demand an abortion regardless of what the mother wants. If you disagree, then you’re a hypocrite. And don’t give me that “it’s my body” bullsh*t. It’s not your body you’re aborting, it’s another human being. No special rights for anyone, equal rights for all… this is why I support gay marriage only if it is subject to all the same laws, regulations and penalties as heterosexual marriage is. That’s right, child support, tax penalties, community property and spousal support. It’s got to be fair or nothing.
I am so damn tired of people (in general) running around and holding double standards, being hypocrites, and just plain being ignorant of anything that doesn’t match their view du jour.
All legal forms of unnatural death in this country stem from being irresponsible. If society was responsible and took it’s role seriously, the underlying reasons for people getting on death row could be mostly eliminated. The terminally ill and depressed have never needed a law to off themselves, suicide is as old as civilization (and I promise a bullet to the temple is less painful than any sort of lethal injection). Even abortion is not about a right to choose, it’s about being irresponsible. The fetus did not ask to be given life, it did not intend to hamper anyone’s life. It is the absolute innocent party in this. If you do not want a child then you should have either took the pill, worn a rubber or kept your pants up.
M Mofo from the Hood November 6, 2008
@39 “Everyone needs to be clear that Obama is no JFK!”
Although Obama is somewhat reminiscent of JFK’s Vice President, LBJ.
As a senator, Johnson promoted the bill to limit the political speech of churchs and non-profits at their risk of losing a tax-exempt status.
In a more general sense, when Johnson was Vice President and then President there was much concern about the economy, and there was envy and resentment toward the rich and affluent who were spending their money to satisfy private needs. Public services like roads, alternate means of transit, schools and parks required more funding. So, like now, there was some real concern that the government would create a welfare state, impose more and more taxes and decide for the people how their money should be spent.
S Squid November 6, 2008
I just want to clarify with some actual numbers about “European Unemployment” that seems to be concerning many conservatives. Since it is probably the first time many of these folks have actually expressed any actual CONCERN about people out of work, I will give them a pass as they are new to the party.
Unemployment in FRANCE (the conservative bellweather for all that is wrong with Europe) is currently 7.5%, compared to our 6.1% here in USA. Interestingly, their POVERTY rate is 6%, compared to the 12% we enjoy here.
Just wanted to put some real numbers behind the smoke and mirrors.
S Squid November 6, 2008
Oh, and unemployment in Sweden? US State Dept. website projects their 2008 unemployment rate at 5.8%.
Perhaps President Obama can hire some Swedish and French economic consultants to see how we can undo the last eight years and improve employment and poverty rates in the US.
M Mofo from the Hood November 6, 2008
Stop with the expatriate romanticism. We’re not French; we’re not Swedish.
American ingenuity and productive potential is well documented. This country is rich with human resources and natural resources. Each year as more natural resources that are energy production related become subject to higher taxes and outright restricted, corporate entities will seek to conduct business outside of the U.S.
D dni November 6, 2008
Obama. Oprah. Television. Media. Hope. Reality. I know who tucks me in at night. Don’t know what I’ll wake up to in the morning though. Its a crapshoot kids.
E Erik B. November 6, 2008
This just in from a rival cartoonist printed tomorrow in Seattle:
S Squid November 6, 2008
Monsieur Mofo: Actually, I AM Swedish. Swedish-American.
And numbers aren’t romantic. They’s just numbers, don’t necessarily add up to nuthin, regardless who is manipulating them.
For me, there was one and only one reason to support the President-elect: he was and is far and away(regardless of how you measure it) the more intelligent candidate. I don’t care about oratorical skills (except to the point they are a sign of intelligence), media hype, etc. The guy is flat out smart – there is simply no question on that. McCain is heroic and experienced, but he graduated 4th from last in his class at the Naval Academy. Even I could have done better than that.
We need somebody who can help us THINK our way out of the mess we have gotten into by relying on blind ideology and uninformed gut instincts. My evaluation of Obama’s (or any other elected) performance will be in how he applies his intelligence, not on how he applies a particular ideology.
S Steven November 6, 2008
Fight, Fight. At least this thread is not boring.
Abortion is not new. My grandfather, who went to school in NE WA in the first part of the last century, once mentioned that girls would occasionally go to Spokane for an appendectomy. Sometimes they went twice.
It will happen. We should all be working to make sure it is rare and safe.
Steven
E Erik S November 6, 2008
Well spoken, Steven.
Mofo: I don’t know if this will draw any of the poison from the debate, but I’m pretty darn sure that nobody in the “pro-choice” camp believes that it’s okay to use babies for firewood or to kill them in any other way. They simply do not view a fertilized egg/foetus/whatever as a baby. It’s a matter of definition, not bloodlust.
R RR Anderson November 7, 2008
David Horsey of the seattle PI likes nothing more than to draw buckets of human waste being dumped on republicans. Unlike horsey I would never indulge in such disgusting fetishes in a family newspaper.
Need a QUALITY political cartoonist?
make the smart choice,
Hire RR Anderson, the RESULTS ORIENTED cartoonist.
Safe + Clean.
R RR Anderson November 7, 2008
i mean come on. that’s such a surprisingly literal translation of the SIHT HITTS THE FAN metaphor.
T Thorax O'Tool November 7, 2008
That level of literalness tends to come form those who aren’t particularly talented…
M Mofo from the Hood November 7, 2008
We’ll probably know in about two years the real definition of Obama’s slogan “Yes we can.” Obama’s campaign strategy proved that his team understands marketing and the media. The campaign also revealed that, based on the donations, there’s a lot more expendable income in the general population than we’ve been led to believe from the daily news.
So, I don’t think this election represents a soft traditional revolt from a population that has been denied economic freedom and justice. This past week was not an American or a French Revolution. Plainly, the rules are not going to change in any significant way.
It is plain though, that America’s material, intellectual, and spiritual resources have been challenged to the extreme. This civilization simply cannot survive on the belief that everyone is entitled to have everything they want.
K Kristin November 7, 2008
Mofo and the crowd (for and against all of our issues), lend me your ears,
1. I am still paying off my donation to Obama from a year ago when he won my vote, before Oprah endorsed him. Its not expendable income for me. And I still consider it my best investment.
2. Abortion. I am pro choice. I believe that men need a voice with the unborn as well. Like Obama, I want to know how we, the pro choice movement, can help give rights to the fathers with their unborn offspring. I believe that men have a right just as women do to decide the fate of the unborn. While I am pro choice, I think the male has the right to life choice for their unborn child if they choose.
3. Please do not be alarmed with the Marxist, Communist, Socialist, spin the folks have played with Obama. Truly, its McCarthyist and not true. You have to believe me.
4. You have to see what we have now and ask yourself what we have to inherit and change:
a. An educational system hugely benign to success, b. A healthcare system that serves the affected at higher prices, rather than the preventative at lower prices, c. An economic system that is now owned by the State in a premiere capitalistic society. We democrats do not want communism socialism or marxism. But look what we have under this Republican administration. You have to see it was you. You affected this. Obama did not and he will not. Its not his mission, modis operandi, or vision to have the State own capitol. It was you, the Republicans. How can you say that Obama is Socialist under YOUR REGIME THAT AFFECTED STATE OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS. I can believe I have to explain this.. .S Squid November 7, 2008
Mofo: It was the current administration who thought we could have everything we want – 2 wars in the middle east without asking the general populace to sacrifice. Had Bush come on TV and said, “We need to fight these wars for our security, but it’s going to be expensive and we are going to have to raise everybody’s taxes to pay for it” I might have bought it. Instead, he became the poster child for the Have It All society.
If I were Obama’s chief of staff, I’d be working him to use his considerable oratorical skills to inspire the US to become a frugal country of savers who carefully and deliberately invested in long-term infrastructure that would lead to innovative solutions. You and I are in COMPLETE agreement on the point that we can’t have everything we want and that only a renewal of a culture of innovation will save us.
I am hopeful that Mr. Obama gets that. Bush/Cheney certainly did not.
Now excuse me, but I have to start shopping for Christmas.
M Mofo from the Hood November 7, 2008
In terms of steady sales and high profit margins, has there ever in the history of civilization been a slow season for weapons and military armaments?
It is possible that the Bush administration believed that they were helping America.
But, like Squid said @62, it’s half past time for a culture shift geared toward intellectual competence and moral responsibilty.
K Kristin November 11, 2008
While I am anti-war, I do recall President Bush, distincly stating that this War will be long and drawn out. I give him that. He never proposed that the war would be easily won. To be clear.
However, I welcome the new thought of mediation, communication and transparency in all of our efforts: both Islamic fundamentalist, Islamic, and Christian. I believe this is the new world order: to speak, to most importantly listen, and to make compromise.
T Thorax O'Tool November 11, 2008
I posted here last week and it said it was (and still is) in moderation quarantine.
Am I the only person here being flagged for moderation approval?
Anyone else seeing this? 2x in 2 weeks seems to be a trend starting…
D Derek staff November 11, 2008
Am I the only person here being flagged for moderation approval?
We’ve used the same filter for several years. Moderation is auto-flagged by content or a large number of links. It does an amazing job of catching Russian Pr0n and credit card offers. We don’t have any moderation set by person. We typically get one or two flagged posts a month. When we see them we set them to Live and the go online.
With that said, I just looked through two weeks of comments and I don’t see anything pending with your name on it.
The trends are the topic and the word choices of the commenters (politics brings that out in people) – not changes on the tech/Exit133 end.
A altered chords November 11, 2008
Recall:
1) Iraq invaded our ally Kuwait.
2) US and Iraq agreed to a cease fire.
3) terms of the cease fire were regular UN inspections.
4) Iraq kicked out UN inspectors more times than I can recall.
5) US said “adhere to the terms of the cease fire or we’ll invade you.
6) Saddam said “I don’t believe you. You are too soft. Your people don’t have the stomach for war.”
7) the rest is history.
Mediation, communication, transparency, compromise, attentive listening are great tools when BOTH parties are dealing in good faith.
Recall the images of the dead Kurds on the cover of Time or Newsweek that Saddam used weapons of mass destruction to kill?
Am I really the only one who remembers that?
All that being written, I am optimistic about our new President and even though I did not vote for him and even though I may not agree with him over the next 4 years, I will consider him to be my president.
T Thorax O'Tool November 11, 2008
“With that said, I just looked through two weeks of comments and I don’t see anything pending with your name on it.“
Really odd.
I had the freaking most AWESOME comment (with no external links), and when I submitted, it said it was waiting for approval.
Did I break it or something? :(
I’ll try to remember exactly what I wrote and try again.
Thanks, Derek.
R RR Anderson November 12, 2008
I used to have the same problem with exit133. I would get the comment awaiting moderation MANY TIMES only to have Derek say nothing has come through in the admin. There is an exit 133 Bermuda Triangle for comments. It exists I tell you!
C Cromletch McHammer November 12, 2008
Convenient, isn’t it?
You get close to the truth, and CENSORED!
R RR Anderson November 12, 2008
I don’t think it’s censorship I think it’s problems with the DNS or ISP…
T Thorax O'Tool November 12, 2008
Or errors in the database code.
I mean, if they’re running any version of Windows rather than LAMP, that kinda explains it.
K Kristin November 12, 2008
Actually it is censorship. Though in a private sector, which is fine. If you want an informed paper though, you need to include your citizens. Exit 133 censors its comments, as surely as they have censured mine. Its their perogative, even if its censorship. Bottom line, its not a real portrayal of public opinion. Exit 133 deletes submissions.
T Thorax O'Tool November 12, 2008
It’s true; Freedom of Speech only applies to individuals/organizations in relation to the Government.
It does not apply to privately owned things. I can badmouth Microsoft till the cows come home on my own property or on public property (roads, parks, etc). I really can’t go do that on the Redmond campus, they’d have the right to remove me from their property (thus shutting me up).
Remember this kids, for your Internet 101 classes:
When using a privately owned network or service, there is no freedom of speech.
J jamie from thriceallamerican November 12, 2008
Thorax, the site’s CMS is based around Textpattern, so at minimum it’s xAMP…not sure on the OS of Derek’s hosting, though.
Now, as to whether PHP is going to solve issues better than any other web technology (Rails, .NET, J2EE, etc.) is a bit more tenuous. A web application is only as good as the people who developed it. And while I skew to the Java and OSS side of things, I know enough to say that MSFT’s technologies aren’t a death knell. I just don’t like their tools (and price).
(Sorry to wander off topic…)
D Derek staff November 12, 2008
Okay. We’re way off topic here, but I’ll chime in.
There are two things going on here. Thorax and R.R. have in the past tripped up the automated server based (Apache on Solaris by the way) spam filters. Jake and AndrewBacon have a habit of tripping it in the forum. While it has made a half dozen false positives in the last few months, it prevents hundreds of porn spam posts every month. It’s worth it.
We don’t have any rules in place that slows down any commenter. There are caching systems in place that can cause it to take a few minutes. But that’s to speed up the site as a whole. So, if it takes more than 10 minutes to post, let us know.
The second thing is moderation. We don’t make a habit of moderating. We have, in the past month, removed six comments. Three were all in one thread. All were removed after complaints from readers that they were off topic and attacking, falsely accusing other readers of crimes, etc.
To Kristin’s point. We have removed several of her comments. Why? Because they were completely off topic political tirades. They came out of nowhere in Daniel Blue or Sassy’s posts. We are all for political talk, and political tirades, when that’s the topic. I would say that public opinion ON THE TOPIC is still legitimate. We are even pretty lenient about it when it’s at least vaguely connected to the original discussion. However, we do ask in our guideline for comments and in our emails to you, to stay on topic whenever possible. If you want a new topic started, tell us and we’ll see what we can do. Plus, there’s the forum.
So are we censoring the conversation? In 17526 comments over three years we have removed 68 from legitimate commenters. Non-legitimate being non-human publishers of naked pictures, credit card offers, and business scams. That puts our moderation rate at 0.4% or so.
T Thorax O'Tool November 12, 2008
That much spam?
Dear god, it must suck the joy out of running a site that allows commenting.
D Derek staff November 12, 2008
Dear god, it must suck the joy out of running a site that allows commenting.
This is why we have automated systems. It’s not so bad now. The hardest part is noticing when there’s a false positive.
A altered chords November 12, 2008
Back to the topic.
I vote for J2EE.
K Kristin November 14, 2008
To Kristin’s point. We have removed several of her comments. Why? Because they were completely off topic political tirades.
I do not apologize. With all due respect, what did you imagine, starting a world wide web blog?
I imagined freedom of thought.
K Kristin November 14, 2008
One last comment, for the record, and I will let it rest. You removed 2 of my comments (for being off topic, i.e. in the wrong forum). Not several.