Election 2004
In case you have been living in a hole this week, George W. Bush has been re-elected President of the United States. The contest was extremely close. John F. Kerry did not concede until November 3. Bush received 51% of the popular vote and 279 electoral votes. Kerry received 48% of the popular vote and 252 electoral votes. I spent the entire night at work. It was all very exciting.
I woke up around 10am on November 2nd. I was ready to vote. Unfortunatley, my new voter registration card had not yet come in the mail. The library down the street from my house was a voting location so, I walked the few blocks. The registrar said my name was not on the list. Because I could prove I lived in Anne Arundel County with a drivers license, I was able to cast a provisional ballot. I was the first Republican to do so that day. Go figure, Maryland is a mostly democratic state. I walked proudly home with my "I Voted" sticker.
I did not go into the office till 1pm. We anticapted a late night. The paper was scheduled for three editions closing at 11pm, 1am, and 245am respectively. All the election data came from the AP except a few original pieces. Our job was to monitor the feed and assist the content producers and online editor. Things began to flow around 7pm EST. The polls all closed on the East Coast by 8pm EST.
The states to watch were Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. If either candidate won two or three of these states, they were projected to take the Presidency. As the night continued on, things looked good for Bush. He was winning Florida and doing well in Ohio. Pennsylvania looked to be won by Kerry. We continued to tease live data on The Washington Times main site. We tried to drive users to our registration only Insider site for full coverage. We also monitored competitors such as The Washington Post, Yahoo, BBC, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. The one thing we didn't have was a map. The AP did not supply a map. Oh well, we will have to remeber for next time.
During the night, the President of The Washington Times, Mr. Joo, stopped by our office. It was really cool to meet him and shake his hand. We showed him everything we were doing. He was very impressed with all the informaton and our diligence. Its always good to have the highest man in charge on your side.
After the first deadline, the paper started to supply us with original content. The online editor was switching the top story as the text came in from the newsroom. One of the content producers kept switching pictures to give the site a fresh look. My favortie from the night is below. Isn't she hot?
image courtesy of the washingtontimes.com
"Christina Howington sports her ''George W. Bush Is Hot'' shirt as she enjoys the festivities at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Orlando, Florida, last night.
Rodney Lamkey Jr. (THE WASHINGTON TIMES)"
As the second and third deadlines for the paper passed, more content rolled in from the newsroom. All eyes were now on Ohio. It was too close to call a winner. Many people suspected the vote would come down to provisional and overseas ballots. The race was also close in New Mexico, Iowa, and Nevada. Even if Bush was to win these states, he still needed Ohio. Ultimately, the paper closed around 330am. We left the building around 4am. As we all know, the decision by the Kerry camp to conceed did not come till 11am the next day.
The entire night was so much fun. It didn't even dawn on me till the next day that we worked for fourteen hours. At least it was not all in vain. Our man was re-elected. Plus, it was exciting to watch a major news story History unfold from inside a news organization. It is a lot more fun then sitting at home on the couch. I will say, the country spoke and spoke loud. We are divided as a nation on ever major issue. It will be interesting how Bush tries to pull us back together. I have the upmost respect for Kerry. He did not try to further pull the nation apart with a legal battle. Hopefully, Bush will learn from his mistakes and lead the United States into the future.
Update
Election Results County By County
Interesting Election Night Shenanigans
Four More Years Of This Piece Of ...
Comments
so are you saying your paper is partisan? :jk: :D
When I say "Our man was re-elected." I am referring to those that voted for bush. I didn't mean the paper.
"your man" is going to screw us all you're very out of touch with reality, simeon
An even better question is: Simeon are you saying that your paper ISN'T partisan?
I dont have anything to do with the content of the paper. I work purely on technical aspects. Therefore, I can not comment on the offical stance of the paper.
Papers should not have a stance they should report the news.
Thank you GOD!! This country isn't as F$@#*D Up as it appeared to be. There is still a majority of sane people out there. Kick some more A$$ dubya!!!
Mr. Right is the reason abortion should be kept legal.
hey mr right, you don't have to thank god, president bush can do that for you, cuz he talks to God right? Hey, when you are done praying and watching nascar, why don't you go back to wherever you came from (obviously somewhere without electricity or running water), and open your eyes to realize that the world is larger than your limited redneck view can understand, and that countless people have died needlessly because DUBYA is president, but he's a good Christian right? But you probably don't have time to actually care about the world because to too busy gay bashing. I don't know who you are (as you obviously need to hide you identity because of you ignorant comments), and if I have met you then please don't take any of this personally....but when you say "kick more a$$", that is just asking for more needless deaths in IRAQ, no stem cell research, and continuing unemployment and bad diplomacy.
"continuing unemployment" eh? Take a look at the latest Labor Department Report. Granted, unemployment rose slightly, but overall growth was the greatest in months.
well that just changes all of my prior views on politics....gues I should have voted to Bush after all! Greatest in months? did you really just base an arguement on that?
I guess, in your mind, no one else can refute a point in an argument with facts and have it considered.
All right look, Simeon, I am not posting on your site becasue I want to argue with you. I feel that the country is in severe danger because of Bush, and you guys think he is a good president. He won anyway so it all really doesn't matter....its just too different ways of thinking. Just don't give me the facts nonsense cuz I disagree, if you really read that article it states that the employment is mostly in lower paying jobs without benefits anyway.
The unemployment rate increased (bad), while the # of new jobs also increased (good). Unfortunately, the influx of new jobs was due to the massive clean-up efforts in hurricane ravaged Florida, not to a successful economic plan. Everyone needs to face this fact, we had two lackluster candidates and apparently 51% of 50% of our nation who votes chose the evil they are familiar with. I have accepted the fact that he won, now I am hoping he changes his mistakes from the past four years and creates a better environment for us to live.
Sore losers.....
I'm with you kochan. I'll give the man another chance because the people have spoken. This was an election that should have been about issuses. Instead it boiled down to the ideals, meaning i will vote for him because he is a republican or democrat. face it, most people would have voted for a coffee pot because it wasn't george bush for one reason or the other.
Like...screw this man...I can't take another 4 years of this bogus prez...he can take his cultural conservatism "moral" values and shove it...I'm moving to Cabo to sin....who's with me...I got dibs on LC
Your missing my point, I am not arguing about anything except your statement, "continuing unemployment." And yes, I did read the whole article. Did you? I assume you are referring to the line about temporary employment job creation. If you subtract those numbers from the total, about 15% of the 337,000 jobs created were in professional and business services with benefits. A step in the right direction is better then no step at all.
Herczeg- you wouldn't know who I was if I told you. So it doesn't matter. And I love your assumption that I like nascar and live in the backwoods. So your image of a right-winger is a gay-bashing backwoods nascar hick? Hmm, when I think liberal I think subaru driving, cynical, hand my paycheck to the government, please don't hurt me terrorists, pale and sickly, can't we all just get along, about to cry looking motherfu#$rs.
Look, I'm a mature college student now and i vote. this simeon dude is really harshing our mellow with numbers. and hey, fanatic, chill out. you totally have no chance. i'm a good girl and you don't work in a surf shop. you probably do some dumb shit like crunch numbers and a financial institution. up, got to go, my new beemer is here and i need to get my hair done. keep watching and don't man handle yourself too much. LUV YA K.I.T oh yeah i like freedom and stuff but i voted for bush cause my daddy told me too.
I also agree with mike and rob...like it or not...Mr. Bush won the election (including popular vote)...I hope he improves the state of the country over the next 4 years...i can't say I have great confidence in the man and his administration, but...i'm hoping he proves me wrong and has a great term...and he has a chance to resolve some of the mistakes he's made, cause again like it or not he's made several... Mr. Right...I don't think that anyone here has been a "sore loser" except maybe for that guy who's moving to Cabo...No one is screaming that Bush "stole the election" or anything of that nature...just because the election is over doesn't mean that the issues no longer warrant discussion...
Don't waste your keystrokes, Simeon. They don't want to see it any other way than theirs. Facts don't matter- just feelings.
I believe Maryland was won by Kerry so obviously we have some intelligent heads down there.
Point taken, Jeff.
actually, mr.right, most of us have written we are keeping an open mind and giving the president a second chance. so we are able to see things in different ways.
LC your so hot, wanna be my girlfriend?
Mr Right is probably banging sheep back in the farm. Get off yourself son.
SImeon, you have no chance. I hear you have big hands and a mis-shapen body. that kind of thing doesn't fly in the OC. have you seen steven? To tell you the truth i have reading this site a lot today and you all are a bunch of psycho dick heads who probably drink too much and don't talk to chicks. Get over your selves. now i missed my hair appointment.
LC...you've got me all wrong baby...i wouldn't be caught dead crunching #s for a financial institution in PA.....I'm big-time...I sling benefits for a fortune 100 co. girl...You should come visit me in NJ over christmas break...it's pretty much like laguna, cept it always smells and people call it the armpit of america rather than paradise... btw...you hit the nail on the head with the last comment....care to join us at the bayou??
baaaaahhhhhh baaaaahhhhh
Fortune 100? that sounds hot. slinging benefits? what does that even mean? I wouldn't be caught dead in Jersey and anyway i'll be in europe over christmas break. the bayou? i would have to go so far south but maybe i'll meet up with you guys. LUV YA
Luhvs theyem shheeps
I like that link up top, " Four more years of.." Notice the sandals and haircut-or lack of. Just helping the stereotype right along.
woah, this mr. right guy really has an axe to grind and is totally full of hostility. he should really chill out because he is being super immature. i think everyone should lay off the stereo types. at first when trey started wearing that belt around his arm me and Lo thought it was really weird, but trey is out there like that and its totally who he is as a person. i think mr. right should be satisfied with the re-election of the prez and lay off the name calling. and guys, see you at the bayou. i bet its no cabo, but it seems better down to earth, just like me. anyway LUV YA
Damn LC what your real name and size...let me creep up from behind. Girl I'll love you long time
well, hater, my real name is lauren and i would be nuts to tell a skeevy dude like you my last name you would stalk and rape me. i wouldn't been seen with such a negative person. LUV YA
This girl is such a prude...We all know that if Kristin was here she'd be pole dancing on the simeons.net bar by now...
LC..... watch your language!!!! i am gonna have to edit that.
Look simeon, just because you have no chance doesn't mean you have to censor me. that language should be the least of your worries with the nastines of this bored. some of you guy are mean. see you guys at 6 LUV YA
Damn Girl! Stop eating those crabs and start exploring your body. You college girls need to blow off some steam...I was just offering
This is the strangest thread ever in the history of simeons.net...err...other than that one time simeon posted pics of some weirdo putting a chainsaw to a metal mask being worn by a woman at some strange s&m club....THAT was weird and i felt uncomfortable hosting those pics....*shivers*
in other news.... i didnt catch what mr. right was talking about "I like that link up top, 'Four more years of..' Notice the sandals and haircut-or lack of. Just helping the stereotype right along." that isnt my original link. if you look in your status bar when you hover over the link, you'll see the url thefirsttwins.com. it was a link to pictures of the younger barbara bush. looks like some kerry supporter hacked the site.
this is interesting: i wonder who lives in all those blue areas? http://www.hannity.com/img/usa_election_map.jpg
retail... i have the same link up in the post, except its to a pdf :)
>>Mr. Right exclaims... Don't waste your keystrokes, Simeon. They don't want to see it any other way than theirs. Facts don't matter- just feelings.<< Ask Christine Todd Whitman about facts. When she was the head of the EPA, she offered up some facts. They questioned her loyalty to the point where she had to quit. Bush doesn't care about facts. He cares about his "hunches" and what God tells him.
i love conservative men, they are the "REAL" MEN in this world! wish i had one! BUSH IS HOT!
