Early Bird New Hampshire Towns Choose Obama

Since 1948, two small New Hampshire towns have had the tradition of being the first towns to cast and tally their votes. All residents eligible to vote gather and cast their votes at the stroke of midnight.

Obama was the winner in both towns.

Dixville Notch, NH cast 15 votes for Obama and 6 for McCain. This is the first time Dixville Notch has voted Democrat since 1968.

Hart's Location, NH cast 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain, 2 for Ron Paul, and 0 for Ralph Nader.

Today's Electoral Vote Predictions

According to Chuck Todd, McCain will lose if he picks up all of the tossup states. He must have New Hampshire to win.

However, according to the most current polling, he has a looong way to go. According to Electoral-Vote.com, Mcain is currently polling only 40% in New Hampshire compared to Obama's 53%.

Postcard From Sarah and John's Non-Socialist World

Flummoxed Fumbrage*

This is absolutely brilliant.

McCain hack Michael Goldfarb, who writes posts for McCain's blog, was interviewed by Rick Sanchez on CNN today about McCain's latest bizarre attack on Obama.

It starts as follows:

SANCHEZ: Now, is the -- I need to parse this out as best I can from you, Michael. The fact that John McCain's organization gave $448,000 to this group that was founded by Mr. Khalidi, is there no reason for some to be critical of as well just as some might be critical of Barack Obama for being at a meeting with some girl who read a poem for example?

GOLDFARB: Look. You are missing the point again, Rick. The point is that Barack Obama has a long track record of being around anti-Semitic and anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric.

SANCHEZ: Can you name one other person besides Khalidi who he hangs around that is anti-Semitic?

And then the fun begins. Watch the little weasel make a complete fool of himself.

*Fumbrage

Deflating Fumbrage

In the midst of a widespread attempt to keep low-income and minority voters from the polls, Republican fumbrage is reaching new heights.

Fumbrage

After the latest news about the cost of John McCain's makeup artist, Sarah Palin's wardrobe, and Alaskan taxpayers bearing the cost of flying Palin's children around , I saw the following on Countdown this evening.

And then I remembered how the Republicans had such a hissy fit about John Edward's $400 haircut.

And all of this brought a new word to mind ... Fumbrage ... a combination of "fake" and "umbrage."

Indulging in fumbrage is the only thing the Republicans have been able to do well during this campaign.

We just won't tell them that it's just not terribly convincing. [chortle]

More on the McCain Homes

Oh ... and this from Politico.com

The McCains increased their budget for household employees from $184,000 in 2006 to $273,000 in 2007, according to John McCain's tax returns.

A Memory Jogger for John McCain

It must be nice to have so many houses that you can't even remember all of them.

Why Does John McCain Hate Free Speech?

And while we're at it, why are Republicans offended by the comparison of John McCain with the man they've elected twice, George Bush?

The Latest DADT Discharge

Decorated Army SergeantDarren Manzella has been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from military service, effective June 10. The Iraq war veteran was the first openly gay active duty servicemember to speak with the media while serving inside a war zone.

In December2007, Manzella was profiled by the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes. He told correspondent Lesley Stahl that he served openly during much of his time in the Army, with the full support of his colleagues and command." The discharge of battle-tested, talented service members like Sergeant Manzella weakens our military in a time of war. National security requires that Congress lift the ban on gays in the military and allow commanders to judge troops on their qualifications, not their sexuality," said Adam Ebbin, Communications Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN).

SLDN reports that a growing number of service members are also serving openly without incident. The organization is aware of more than 500 troops who are 'out' to their colleagues and, in some cases, their commands.

Sergeant Manzella said, "My sexual orientation certainly didn't make a difference when I treated injuries and saved lives in the streets of Baghdad. It shouldn't be a factor in allowing me to continue to serve."

Manzella, 30, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 and was twice deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While under fire on the streets of Baghdad, he provided medical care to his fellow soldiers, Iraqi National Guardsmen and civilians. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge,and also received several other awards recognizing his courage and service.

For more information on Sergeant Manzella, SLDN and the campaign to repeal"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," visit http://www.sldn.org/ .

John McCain supports DADT.

Barack Obama, although not a proponent of full equality for GLBT citizens, does oppose DADT.

I'm Voting Republican Because ....

Is McCain Qualified to be the Decider ...

... when he can't even decide if he's running for Dubya's third term or not?