Election Night 2012

I have been watching the election coverage for almost two hours now and the news appears to be trending for Obama and the Democrats maintaining control of the Senate. Yet many races are too close to call including all of the real battleground states (PA did go to Obama as did Wisconsin, as expected). One of the big stories  emerging is that people are having a hard time voting -- with lines of several hours in urban centers where minorities are heavily populated. This is disturbing news that has been building since the 2000 election -- Republicans are cutting early voting, trying to implement ID requirements, using questionable electronic voting companies and software and putting up every available barrier to allowing everyone who wants to vote, to vote. Party politicians have always engaged in these practices, but the tendency to say those without shouldn't be allowed to vote asks fundamental questions about an issue I have raised on several occasions in the past --> Republicans don't appear to like democracy very much any more. And they have been very effective at undermining not only the voice of the people but the central tenets and functioning of democracy itself. If Obama wins in Ohio and Florida it is in spite of these efforts, which looks increasingly likely.

As to the coverage, it again reminds of Guy Debord's spectacle society. CNN has a bunch of cool graphics and charts but is doing little to actually put the results in context or remind people that Obama is closing in on an insurmountable lead. Even MSNBC is largely just reporting results, though they are doing more to actually add a little context and anaylsis to their reporting. I tuned into Fox for a short time to listen to Dr. Laura Ingraham, but the plastic smiles, too perfect hair and skewed coverage were just too much to stomach and I haven't gone back yet. On a more positive note, Obama may very well win because people believe he is more interested in helping the working and middle class, because they actually saw how government is needed in times of crisis (ala Hurricane Sandy) and because Romney didn't convince enough people that he would actually govern as a moderate. But too many races are still too close to call, so I'll sign off here for now.