Results tagged “uselection”

The dozen or so speakers at the rally, including representatives from Equality Texas and "straights for gays" alliance Atticus Circle, supplanted vitriol with grace and tact. Instead of an angry backlash against those who supported California's Prop 8, the focus was on family, respect, and the need for our entire community, regardless of sexual orientation, to demonstrate to others that the only "gay agenda" at hand is, simply and genuinely, to be granted the right to love.

• Texas statewide turnout of voters in 2008, in millions: 13.6 8.0
• Turnout in 2004, in millions: 7.4
• Margin by which McCain won Texas in 2008: 11.8%
• Margin by which Bush won Texas in 2004: 24% [info]
• Margin by which Obama won Travis County: 30%
• Other major counties in Texas that Obama won: Dallas, Harris (Houston), Bexar (San Antonio) [info]
• Number of these counties that Kerry won in 2004: 0
• Margin by which Proposition 2, which sought to prevent the city from giving tax incentives to retail developments, failed: 4% [info]
• Number of Republicans holding office in Travis County after last night: 1 [info]
• Number of net seats won by Democrats in the Texas State Legislature: 3 [info]
• Net ratio of Democrats to Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives after last night: 74:76
• Number of votes by which California's Prop 8, which sought to discriminate against gay marriage, won, in millions: 0.4 [info]
• Estimated number of absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted in California, in millions: 4 [info]
• Number of "Special Election Edition" papers the Austin American-Statesman is printing: 10,000

With a landslide victory all but apparent, CNN called the outcome just moments after West Coast polls closed. Senator John McCain conceded with an address that may have been his most humble and accepting of the entire campaign season. Waving down the occasional boos from the crowd gathered in Arizona, he congratulated his opponent and urged his supporters to offer up "good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited." In defeat, McCain finally channeled the grace and integrity that engendered the respect of his fellow senators and countrymen during his decades-long career.

We're just sayin', but the scenes being played out on TV stations around the country are not unlike the end sequence in Return of the Jedi.

Dowd is much less interested in political poll numbers these days. Instead, he’s much more focused now on the American political process as a whole, which is why he decided to speak at last week’s fundraiser for Austin Community College’s new, non-partisan Center for Public Policy and Political Studies. Austinist managed to grab 15 minutes with Dowd for a phone conversation before the fundraiser.

But, as it turns out, that initial was better served standing in for the word "bullshit," as authorities now believe that Todd faked the attack, and that the injuries were self-inflicted.

Tensions are flaring with so little time left before the elections, and here in Central Texas it's the cars that are suffering as a result. Burnt Orange Report reader wagwa had his Honda Civic trashed while out in western Hays County over the weekend, with vandals heaving a rock through the back window and spray painting what looks like "OBAAH" on the driver's side door. Not to be left out (so to speak), UrbanGrounds, a self-described "conservative biker and military veteran living in liberal Austin, Texas," wrote about how his Land Rover has been repeatedly keyed for having such bumper stickers as "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" and "Stop the Audacity of Hype. Vote Republican." Seriously, folks, can't we all just duke it out in the voting booths? [via Snowed In]

We've followed Crawford, the Austin-made documentary about a tiny Texas town thrust in the international spotlight after would-be President George W. Bush relocated there to perfect his wholesome good-old-boy image, since it was but a work in progress. After a tremendous world premiere at SXSW, Crawford went on to screen at festivals worldwide and earned plenty of praise — it inspired multiple standing ovations at SXSW, had Texas Monthly calling director David Modigliani "one of four next great Texas directors," and was even described as a "deeply committed piece of high-def storytelling" by the normally conservative (and recently departed) New York Sun.

In this case, make it the lipsticked underdog.

And because there's nothing quite like reveling in the democratic process with your fellow boozed-up Austinites—whether their affiliations lean blue or red—we're maintaining this list of places where you'll be able to catch the debates in a public setting. If we've missed any (and we're sure we have), let us know in the comments section!

Following last night's Fantastic Fest/U.S. premiere of Zack & Miri Make a Porno, the Alamo Drafthouse hosted the final round of their year-long Air Sex Championships. The result was anything but ordinary.

One day down and three more to go here in Denver at the Democratic National Convention. Below are some of the top moments of Day 1 for DCist (and a couple lowlights for good measure).

DCist is here in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off tomorrow. We were too wiped out to attend last night's big Media Welcome Party at Elitch Gardens (though there's some evidence we may not have gotten in anyway), but we can tell you that the city of Denver set off an impressive fireworks display over the big bash at around 9:30 p.m. Apart from the actual work of adopting a platform and officially selecting a nominee to run for president, party conventions are more or less one big advertisement, so reporters are treated to an endless parade of parties, meals, and goodie bags.

With literally hours remaining until Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama announces his running mate (via text message, no less), the internet is abuzz with last-minute speculation. Among the names now being bandied about is Texas Congressman Chet Edwards, an A&M and Harvard grad with a political career dating back to the early eighties. Though a less likely contender than more prominent figures like Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, Bayh, Kaine, and Sebelius, Edwards is nevertheless among those precious few who were vetted for the coveted VP slot. [Edwards Site] [AP]

Dubbed “The Impact of Partisan Politics,” next Friday's panel discussion assembles four area political and community leaders for an informed and civil discussion that will touch on November's presidential election, the economy, national security, and health care—all matters that have, of late, been the subject of intensified public opinion.

The new campaign headquarters for Willco's Democratic candidates opened this past weekend to some fanfare, despite being largely overshadowed by the convention of marauding liberals in downtown Austin. They're now up and running, and could use your donations and/or volunteer time.

From KSAT:

Tonight's massive Super Tuesday election returns should make for some top notch TV watching, but there's no reason why you should spend the evening yelling at political pundits by yourself. Whether you're a hardcore democrat or republican, plenty of your like-minded brethren are getting together around town to watch the returns and collectively celebrate (or commiserate). Besides the formal meetup spots, you'll probably stand a decent chance of catching some prime time coverage at Brown Bar and the Cloak Room.