Vote vote vote like a baby stoat!

(To quote Cute Overload today...)

I voted this morning. The line was the longest I've ever seen it at my polling place -- and this in perhaps the bluest city in one of the bluest states, where the presidential outcome, at least, is a foregone conclusion. I got there at 7:10 and was done by 7:45, which is short by comparison with some I've heard about already, but was the longest I've experienced at this polling place. Excitement in the air, indeed.

If you haven't yet, go vote!

Liveblogging from an election party.

(7:30) Cousin A came with me to Sprout's party. So far, Kentucky to McCain and Vermont to Obama. No other presidential results declared yet.

(7:37) Such a wonderfully geeky party this is. Maps for presidential, senatorial, and gubernatorial elections for coloring in, and a list to track House races.

(7:52) Quotes!
"That's an unfortunate hair day."
"That's an unfortunate head day." (Sprout and Kray, watching a CBS reporter)

"We've had a hitch in our giddy-up here." -- Dan Rather
"...your smiling face and the tie your mother dressed you in tonight..." -- Dan Rather, talking to the "unfortunate head day" reporter

(8:00) Obama predicted to take Pennsylvania! And New Hampshire!
(These are MSNBC projections. CNN hasn't called PA yet.)

(8:54) We're on local channel 5 coverage. There's a man with extremely scary hair talking.

(8:59) Waiting for the 9 p.m. polls...no projection on CO or NM yet.

(9:0few) What was that, CNN? Weird long list of important factors that bounces out into pie charts. Wacky.

(9:05) Senate pickup for the Dems in NM! ABC graphics are lousy. Everybody's too heavy on the CGI for my taste, but ABC is just cruddy.
Also: MA keeps its income tax.

(9:20) We're hearing about Barack Obama playing basketball. We're into the blathering section of the evening, while we wait for more projections.

(9:23) BIG CHEER: ABC calls Ohio for Obama!!!

(9:26) Bad analogy of the night so far: "It's like someone spilled blue paint...whether it will drip down into Virginia..."

(9:32) A little while ago, there was a shot of someone in an Obama crowd (I think) with a big banner that said "CASSOULET." Anyone have a clue what that was about?

(9:33) Quote: "Charles Barkley would be an excellent commentator." (After we accidentally landed on the NBA channel.)

Another quote: "We can smoke pot and watch dog racing!" (Boston.com declares that marijuana decriminalization passes.)

(9:41) tahnan, via chatroom: "McCain is going to backsolve Ohio."

(9:50) Obama wins Maverick County, Texas. I'm amused.

(9:54) There's the Cassoulet sign again! It's in Times Square. And a second sign saying "Cassoulet Forever."

(10:05) Over to comedy! That's one confused-looking cockatoo.

(10:12) I just colored Colorado blue on our map! None of the big boys have declared it yet, but the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News are projecting it for Obama. Go home state!

(10:19) Fivethirtyeight.com calls Obama the next president.

(10:50) Fox News calls Virginia for Obama. AP too! Getting closer. West Coast polls close in ten minutes...

(11:00) CNN calls the election for Obama. The room goes mad.

My god, people. It's happening. It's really happening. I don't f'ing believe it.

Separate entry.

Because the other one is too long.

I'm almost crying, here at a party.

Barack Obama will be our next president.

... I don't have words. But I have joy, and I have hope.

Thanks, John.

This is actually a very classy concession speech from McCain. Well done, sir.

And I'm still choking up.