There was that contest yesterday
I mostly avoided commenting during the pre-election period as I try to not be too involved in other country politics. I get all my facepalms and excitement at home (seriously - the whole TNT on the Smoleńsk plane thing was like really bad conspiracy theory ridiculous). I don't need anybody else's. But I live in US now and I had opportunity to watch the whole American presidential election process from up close. Or rather was forced to watch as on could not escape it.
I learned few months ago, to my surprise, that I live in swing state. I was pretty sure this was Republican to the core - reinforced by the whole putting real marriage thing in the state constitution. But it turns out that between the academic regions and pretty high percentage of black and Hispanic voters it was on the brink to the very end.
It did go for Mitt Romney in the end but barley and it obviously didn't make any difference. It all went like the maths predicted and frankly part of my disinterest comes from the fact that I tend to believe maths more then just people talking on TV. I think my biggest satisfaction was not Barack Obama's win (I like almost all the world wanted him to win just because Republican increasingly land between crazy and repugnant) but because it showed the superiority of science over feelings. Facts and reality don't change just because your gut tells you something else is true. Even when you want it really, really hard.
I know it's easy to say when it goes your way. Especially the most famous one was made by someone who is openly liberal and gay and therefore enemy by default. However, if several statistical models tell you basically the same thing and you see it come true exactly as predicted you may want to consider that maths doesn't have bias - you do.
From my point of view the whole process seemed way too long, extremely loud and annoying and practically inescapable. One doesn't realise it from outside but inside the amount of money spend on it is so immense you are being attacked on every corner, every channel and every site. And the way they attack each other and their respective news outlets attack the other side and the base is almost disgusting. Right is worse but left looks better only in comparison. Even the people who stay in the middle are horrible. It's almost like there's no news programs left. Just one giant cycle of political tabloid. I miss CNN International and BBC World - actual news. It's scary when things like hurricane Sandy seem like a relief.
I mentioned being annoyed by all the youtube ads before but it got even worse. And you cannot escape it as there's no pre-election silence so the ads and meetings and polls seem to come almost non-stop. Even on election day. I stopped watching news because all the commercials were campaign ads (in other programs - about 50%). If not presidential then local. There were some gems though. I couldn't believe this one was real when I first saw it as it's like something out of Doctor Horrible (sung by Bad Horse henchmen) but it was real and the guy won. Enjoy:
As for the results I'm most happy that the rape Republicans lost, women got most seats in Senate ever and the WoW playing Democrat won. As a non-voter she was my candidate - female gamer persecuted for her hobby and with Polish surname - I rooted for her too win. Even though she is from completely different state. But then I know people here for who the most important outcome of this election was legalising marijuana in couple of states on the other side of the country.
And just because I am socialist and US election matters to the rest of the world I will share with you the schadenfraude filled Republican Tears. But because I'm Polish and I understand being stuck between tolerable party and crazy party I will also share John Scalzi's Post-Election Notes For the GOP.
I learned few months ago, to my surprise, that I live in swing state. I was pretty sure this was Republican to the core - reinforced by the whole putting real marriage thing in the state constitution. But it turns out that between the academic regions and pretty high percentage of black and Hispanic voters it was on the brink to the very end.
It did go for Mitt Romney in the end but barley and it obviously didn't make any difference. It all went like the maths predicted and frankly part of my disinterest comes from the fact that I tend to believe maths more then just people talking on TV. I think my biggest satisfaction was not Barack Obama's win (I like almost all the world wanted him to win just because Republican increasingly land between crazy and repugnant) but because it showed the superiority of science over feelings. Facts and reality don't change just because your gut tells you something else is true. Even when you want it really, really hard.
I know it's easy to say when it goes your way. Especially the most famous one was made by someone who is openly liberal and gay and therefore enemy by default. However, if several statistical models tell you basically the same thing and you see it come true exactly as predicted you may want to consider that maths doesn't have bias - you do.
From my point of view the whole process seemed way too long, extremely loud and annoying and practically inescapable. One doesn't realise it from outside but inside the amount of money spend on it is so immense you are being attacked on every corner, every channel and every site. And the way they attack each other and their respective news outlets attack the other side and the base is almost disgusting. Right is worse but left looks better only in comparison. Even the people who stay in the middle are horrible. It's almost like there's no news programs left. Just one giant cycle of political tabloid. I miss CNN International and BBC World - actual news. It's scary when things like hurricane Sandy seem like a relief.
I mentioned being annoyed by all the youtube ads before but it got even worse. And you cannot escape it as there's no pre-election silence so the ads and meetings and polls seem to come almost non-stop. Even on election day. I stopped watching news because all the commercials were campaign ads (in other programs - about 50%). If not presidential then local. There were some gems though. I couldn't believe this one was real when I first saw it as it's like something out of Doctor Horrible (sung by Bad Horse henchmen) but it was real and the guy won. Enjoy:
Click to viewAs for the results I'm most happy that the rape Republicans lost, women got most seats in Senate ever and the WoW playing Democrat won. As a non-voter she was my candidate - female gamer persecuted for her hobby and with Polish surname - I rooted for her too win. Even though she is from completely different state. But then I know people here for who the most important outcome of this election was legalising marijuana in couple of states on the other side of the country.
And just because I am socialist and US election matters to the rest of the world I will share with you the schadenfraude filled Republican Tears. But because I'm Polish and I understand being stuck between tolerable party and crazy party I will also share John Scalzi's Post-Election Notes For the GOP.