In non election news - remember in September how I got notice from the gas co. that they just noticed I never had an official account - even though I've been in my place 6 years and have had gas the whole time (I though gas was included in my building charges) - anyhoo I went in person to the offices and got assurance it would all be cool - I would be billed for back usage, but probably not all usage. Well....I have never gotten a bill AND tonight I have no gas on my stove. I called around 6:45 and was on hold on and off with a guy for 20 min. He finally told me they were still looking into it and would call me back - no call. BASTARDS!

CNN (which is being v conservative with the calls) finally called Hagan. Good good good good good good good good.

Good for Robbins for sticking to his guns, but how many didn't and that's just wrong. There was a woman in line who wasn't sure if she was in the right precinct because she'd just moved. We sent her to the judges, and saw her leaving later. I have no idea if she got to vote, or was sent to another voting location or what. It bugged me because when I got out of my car she asked "is this where people can vote?" She WANTED to cast a vote, but clearly was unfamiliar with the process. Oh, and there was briefly a guy in front of me who hadn't voted in this hood before and thought he was at the high school. When I saw his sample ballot, I saw he wasn't the 27th or 28th (he was asking me about something else) and let him know his polling place was up the road, not here (both are at schools maybe 4 blocks apart. Mine's a middle.) He was grateful.

Problem is that in Md, you can't cast a provisional in not-your-precinct (hopefully that changes with this election!) so if you go to the wrong place for whatever reason, you are SOL. And yeah, I'd like voters to educate themselves beforehand, but...so many, like that woman, made the effort. And that's all that should matter. She could've stayed home; she didn't. Her vote should count.

It's sort of funny because he was just on Bill Maher talking about how people should vote early if possible and how they shouldn't accept a provisional ballot, etc..

I know! I saw that. That's what was so weird. I would have loved to be there when all this was happening. It sounded like he kept his cool but I'm sure the average person would have been intimidated and taken the provisional ballot.

Vonnie, here's an article about it: [link]

It sounded like he kept his cool

That was not what I read earlier! [link]

CNN calls Alabama for McCain. Out on a limb there.

I miss Robin McNeil. It's been forever, but McNeil/Lehrer was on every night growing up.

I still call it McNeil/Lehrer.

I still call it McNeil/Lehrer.

Same here. 70s liberal childhood, how I miss you.