West Seattle Election Night ’08: Tonight’s final update

(MargL and daughter voting in Arbor Heights)
Not too much suspense left right now (except state school superintendent and lands commissioner) so we’re going to call it a night earlier than the 2 am or so we were originally pondering. King County Elections sent out another vote-total update around 11:20 pm; highlights include the fact both Seattle levies are now past 60 percent approval (only 50 percent plus one was needed). We had a blast today, running around West Seattle for most of the day, pre-dawn till post-dusk, seeing and showing how people were spending this historic Election Day – so different from how we spent all but one of the previous presidential elections dating back to 1984: huddled in a TV newsroom, nailbiting over final preparations for the always-crazy live Election Night show, then helping make that show happen. Before we go, a final report on how this night went, from WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli:

Wow! What a night. We were at Ama Ama around dinner time and everyone seemed riveted to the televisions there. Whenever Obama would win a state, everyone would cheer.

Then we moved on to Shadowland. The place was packed. By the time of the McCain concession speech, it was standing room only. It was quiet as he spoke, but many were very moved by the senator’s words. I think some realized that it was the end of a dream for the senator. Then we all waited for the Obama speech and it was (just as I expect it was everywhere else) an outpouring of emotion. People were applauding every time he would pause in his speech. And they were shouting ‘Yes we can!”

This is the 6th presidential election in which I’ve voted and I’ve never seen anything like this before

P.S. To catch up on results, follow the links in previous posts; King County says it’ll update vote totals two more times tonight, around 12:30 am and 1:30 am. We’ll have roundups tomorrow, too.

Scott B. November 5, 2008 (12:37 am)

What specifically do people mean when they chant/shout “Yes we can!”?

Jim November 5, 2008 (7:11 am)

I think they mean, “Yes we can get our guy elected.” It will have to be redefined now.

JenV November 5, 2008 (7:13 am)

ScottB – it means “yes we can” take this country back from corrupt idiots and make this country great again.

austin November 5, 2008 (7:30 am)

Yes We Can get Obama elected, now Yes We Can make positive change for America, Yes We Can unite the nation and restore the faith of the global community after an incredibly damaging eight years.
Personally I don’t think that Obama is the be all end all of America’s problems but I do believe that we’re worlds better off with an administration possessing of positivity and optimism than we would have been with one based on the fear and anger of the McCain-Palin campaign.

THANK YOU November 5, 2008 (7:35 am)

GREAT COVERAGE – Thank you – and a special shout out for everyone that off their arse and knocked on doors and voted !

Kayleigh November 5, 2008 (7:40 am)

Yes, we can change the world.
.
We already have.

Aim November 5, 2008 (8:24 am)

Part of Obama’s speech last night answers the “Yes We Can” question best:

“This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one thats on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. Shes a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldnt vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that shes seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we cant, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when womens voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”

TeresaP November 5, 2008 (8:41 am)

Obama is one of the best speakers I have ever heard but he is going to have to walk the talk in order to be a good President. The above portion of his speech was enlightening and patriotic, but it means nothing unless we all participate.

Westwood Resident November 5, 2008 (8:51 am)

Even though I opposed Obama and don’t agree with many of his policies. I WILL NOT do what so many on the left did and say “He is not my President.”
As an American, Obama IS my President. I will support him when I agree with him. I will object to him when I don’t. But for the next four years he IS my President and I will show him the respect and support due him.
I will not fall to the level of infantile name calling and comparisons that the left did against President Bush for the last eight years.
WR

Jen V. November 5, 2008 (9:01 am)

give it up, WR. if that isn’t name calling, I don’t know what is. George Bush was not our president in 2000 because he was not elected by us- he was appointed by the supreme court. We had every right to say “he’s not my president”. Now lose gracefully and quit trying to bait us. Let us enjoy our victory – we have earned it.

WSB November 5, 2008 (9:02 am)

TeresaP, and I would say amen to that.
We cover virtually every neighborhood meeting in West Seattle, perhaps a dozen a month. I have written lately about frankly pathetic turnout in some cases. The meetings are run by citizen volunteers, many of them REALLY nice and caring people who have given and given and given and are fighting burnout but really need more neighbors to pitch in and get involved with what’s going on. Sometimes it’s as simple as an Adopt-a-Street cleanup. Sometimes it’s a matter of organizing a project to improve the neighborhood. Sometimes it’s just SHOW UP AND REPRESENT – your ideas for how to take on a problem or challenge may be the ones that really break through, or you may have fresh ideas for truly reaching out to the neighbors who might want to participate but haven’t gotten the info somehow. First opportunity, anyone who lives in North Delridge, 6:30 tonight, Delridge Library, monthly meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council. Most areas of WS have a neighborhood group. (And if yours doesn’t, START ONE!) Check the list on our right sidebar. And keep reading here, because we’ll always tell you what’s happening, who’s meeting, who’s issuing a call for action, etc. – TR

MindDrive November 5, 2008 (1:08 pm)

I was amazed by the celebrating in the streets like the Seahawks just won a Superbowl!

As for WR, your attitude is greatly appreciated. It reflects McCain’s class act of a concession speech. I do hope you understand the skepticism of many people with the electoral process 4 and 8 years ago. But I realize that when an election is that close and put under a microscope, you’re going to find irregularities that were probably there all along, but didn’t matter before. It happened here in King County too with the last election for Governor.

I do disagree with most of Bush’s policies as a moderate Democrat and I will point to the results of his efforts and freely say “I told you so”. But you’re right that name calling is inappropriate. I also have no doubt of Bush’s patriotism and desire to strengthen this country.

Westwood Resident November 5, 2008 (2:28 pm)

Jen,
You may not have read what I said in a different thread…so here it is again.
America spoke last night and we have a new, and historic result. I may not agree with a lot Obama’s policies, but I wish him all the success imaginable. I hope he DOES prove me wrong about my opinions of his policies. I will support him, as I have supported EVERY president since I became an adult. But I will not follow blindly in to the night. I will speak out on things I disagree with, as is my right.

Again Congratulations to President-Elect Obama. May God light your path and keep you safe as you begin this great task placed upon you.
WR

Westwood Resident November 5, 2008 (2:39 pm)

MindDrive
Thank you.
Now is the time for sniping at the candidates and each other to stop.
Now is the time where we HAVE to work together to straighten out this mess that, yes, BOTH democrats AND republicans, have gotten us into.
Contrary to the belief of some of the more “left” leaning people here, I did not blindly follow Bush and am extremely disappointed at results of his eight years, in more than a few areas.
Like you, I have no doubt about his patriotism and desire to strengthen this country.
WR

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