The thought of losing this election really depresses me

[fujiyama]

I think this election season, I've been absolutely engrossed and you could possibly say obsessed.

I spend hours a day on this site and am obsessed with state polls and state by state projections.

Last time was tough getting through it. I took a break from all news and politics during the month of Jan when he was inagerated. Luckilly I found this place though.

During the '00 election, I kept as informed as I could, but I don't think it was quite the same way. It was so weird, because on election night of '00, I went to bed at 1, figuring that Americans were not too bright and would have voted for Bush. For some reason I figured CA would go to Bush in the end. I couldn't imagine my self going to bed at 1 now (not necessarily just on election night. I just have insomnia now). Little did I know of the events that happened that night, with the networks reversing FL, then Gore almost conceding. I was shocked, but at the same time very hopeful that Gore might pull it through during the recount. Like everyone here I was devasted the night of the SC decision. The Gore concession speech was even more depressing. I woke up the next morning with a sick feeling. I never watched the inaugaration because I was so angry and I probably would have gone to DC to protest that, but couldn't for some reason.

So what did you do for election night of '00? Did you expect Gore to win? Were you surprised it was so close?

[xxqqqzme]

1. the 1st coverage of 1/20/01

I saw was when I saw F9/11. I deliberately and, have since, consistantly avoided whorporate newsertainment. I was, like so many others, amazed @ the number of people that protested the squatter's coronation.

May the spirits give grace and peace to all who protested that dismal day.

[bluestateguy]

2. reply

If Bush wins (or steals it) I will withdraw from politics for a year or two, just for the sake of my sanity, and that probably means leaving DU. If this country elects that fool they will get exactly what they deserve, and I will be out of energy to care anymore.

[Ruffhowse]

3. I remember falling asleep soon after they declared Florida for Gore....

....thinking Gore had the election won. When I woke up, they had just pulled Florida from Gore and given it to Bush. From that point on, right through to today, I feel like I've been in one long nightmare where I can't wake up. In a strange way, I feel that if I hadn't dozed off on election night, none of this would have happened.

[kayell]

5. That is exactly how my election night went, right down to the

wierd responsible feeling. I went to bed, comfortable that Gore had won. The next morning, the world had popped down the rabbit hole.

This time though, I won't get depressed, I'm getting angry and mobilized.

I really don't think * has any chance of winning by legitimate means. I do find our whole situation potentially very, very depressing. The antidote is anger and action.

[HamdenRice]

4. I agree, it's depressing...

In '00 before election night, I had the sinking feeling that Gore was really screwing up his own campaign. Remember all that silly stuff about him distancing himself from Clinton, not letting Clinton campaign for him? Like 8 years of peace and prosperity was not the kind of record he wanted to be associated with. I was shocked in the morning not about Bush "winning" but about the whole deadlock/recount mess.

As for this time around I hate to admit it, but I have that sinking feeling again -- not about Kerry/Edwards, but about this administration basically stopping at nothing to stay in power.

I truly believe that this election postponement thing will occur -- but in a very limited way that will throw the election. Everyone is talking about the Bush admin postponing the entire election. That won't happen. But Rove knows that if the Bush admin can change the outcome in just a few key districts in key swing states, he can win.

So, expect a code red "tourist" alert in a few places, like Cleveland and Dade County, Fla. The voting in those districts will be postponed only about 24-48 hours. When no "tourists" actually attack, voting will be allowed to proceed, but there will be a barage of Fox/Rush/Hannity etc propoganda that "Bush has this wrapped up" between election day and the postponed elections. No one will bother to show up to vote in the postponed districts, and Bush will win.

Everyone will breath a sigh of relief that the elections were not postponed -- only in a few areas. They are raising the idea of a big postponement, making it an acceptable topic of conversation, so that when there is only a small, few-district postponement, the media whores will marvel at the admin's "restraint."

[TreasonousBastard]

6. So, don't think about it.

Of course we "could" lose, but why bother about it until it happens?

It's a game, man, and the only adult game in town. You don't go into a game thinking about losing if you hope to win.

We're gonna win.

If something goes really, really, wrong, then we pick ourselves up and start playing again.

[AVID]

7. I was up till dawn - waiting, wishing, wanting Florida to be "corrected"

I know how you feel. The election is still fourmonths away and I feel tense.

[Murdock]

8. I echo everyone's feelings..

I fully expected Gore to win, coming off of a very successful 8 years of Clinton/Gore I expected it to continue.

The Bush years have been surreal to say the least, I too feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare and I just can't wake up from it.

One thing that this 4 years has done, is it has woken up a largely complacent Democratic base.

We are now angry, but calmly focused.. We are going to win this election and start the long process of healing this nation.

[demnan]

9. After the "selection" in January or February

A friend and I decided we would go to see a play at the Little Theatre in Alexandria, VA. We were both grossed out by the election results and decided we would do something non-political. However, it turns out that that very night the blue-haired harpy Barbara Bush was at the theatre. The secret service guys were there, scanning the audience and you could see that blue-white dome of hair.

So if you think you can drop out and get away from politics (and you live in the Washington area) think again. You can't.