2008 United States general election, or, if Wikipedia had been around, Bush would've won Florida withou Options

[Sceptre]

What an unmitigated disaster.

Really.

The article is really sensitive. As we learned in 2000, you don't call states until you're absolutely sure they've been won.

So why does the article say that Obama's definitively got 364 electoral votes? Last time I checked, North Carolina wasn't projected by anyone. 0.2% is enough for a mandatory recount in states that require one (I think North Carolina is one). The same goes to Missouri and Nebraska-2. Especially Nebraska-2. 600 votes isn't enough to call a state on.

Guess Minnesota need not proceed with their recount; Senator Coleman has retained his seat by this standard.

Edit: About 15 minutes ago, North Carolina got called by FOX, NBC, and AP. Now I know how the newsanchors back in 2000 felt like.

This post has been edited by Sceptre: Thu 6th November 2008, 7:30pm

[One]

What an unmitigated disaster.

Really.

The article is really sensitive. As we learned in 2000, you don't call states until you're absolutely sure they've been won.

So why does the article say that Obama's definitively got 364 electoral votes? Last time I checked, North Carolina wasn't projected by anyone. 0.2% is enough for a mandatory recount in states that require one (I think North Carolina is one). The same goes to Missouri and Nebraska-2. Especially Nebraska-2. 600 votes isn't enough to call a state on.

Guess Minnesota need not proceed with their recount; Senator Coleman has retained his seat by this standard.

Edit: About 15 minutes ago, North Carolina got called by FOX, NBC, and AP. Now I know how the newsanchors back in 2000 felt like.

You got bets on Intrade or something?

In 2000 it mattered because the states were called before Western states even closed the polls. I'm not sure how it matters days later, especially when McCain himself conceded, what, 40 hours ago.

[Sceptre]

What an unmitigated disaster.

Really.

The article is really sensitive. As we learned in 2000, you don't call states until you're absolutely sure they've been won.

So why does the article say that Obama's definitively got 364 electoral votes? Last time I checked, North Carolina wasn't projected by anyone. 0.2% is enough for a mandatory recount in states that require one (I think North Carolina is one). The same goes to Missouri and Nebraska-2. Especially Nebraska-2. 600 votes isn't enough to call a state on.

Guess Minnesota need not proceed with their recount; Senator Coleman has retained his seat by this standard.

Edit: About 15 minutes ago, North Carolina got called by FOX, NBC, and AP. Now I know how the newsanchors back in 2000 felt like.

You got bets on Intrade or something?

In 2000 it mattered because the states were called before Western states even closed the polls. I'm not sure how it matters days later, especially when McCain himself conceded, what, 40 hours ago.

I'm talking more from a credibility standpoint (yes, I know that multiplying something by zero will get you zero, but still). 2000 served as a warning to check and triple-check before calling states.

And McCain conceded before the polls closed in Alaska, didn't he?

In any case, Wikipedia, if it still exists in 2012, will need a system for calling states that doesn't rely on just one organisation. Maybe use the BBC standard (ABC, or one network and AP) or wait until three orgs independently call a state. (And yes, I know that all the networks called Florida for Gore before the Panhandle closed its polls)

[KamrynMatika]

And McCain conceded before the polls closed in Alaska, didn't he?

Everyone knew Alaska was going to go to McCain... whether he got it or not was immaterial at that point.

[Sceptre]

And McCain conceded before the polls closed in Alaska, didn't he?

Everyone knew Alaska was going to go to McCain... whether he got it or not was immaterial at that point.

Let me take another example: Nevada. Swing state. IIRC, it closed its polls at 10pm eastern, by which time Obama was expected to take the presidency.

[One]

Let me take another example: Nevada. Swing state. IIRC, it closed its polls at 10pm eastern, by which time Obama was expected to take the presidency.

I agree in principle.

For example, if McCain had been closer overall, and Pennsylvania really had been too close to call, it would make a huge difference in subsequent states if it was incorrectly called one way or the other.

In this case, he just lost lost, but in the future it could be a problem.

[SirFozzie]

Actually, AP and others called North Carolina for Obama about 2 PM today, I remember hearing it on my way in to work

[Floydsvoid]

Actually, AP and others called North Carolina for Obama about 2 PM today, I remember hearing it on my way in to work

I'm glad they made the call; otherwise the state was going to have to go through the time and expense of validating 40000 provisional ballots for not a whole lot of reason.

I might not remember what I had for dinner last night but it seems to me it's a fairly recent thing that mainstream media has lightened up on its projections. It seems to me that MSM is doing this voluntarily and it also seems to me that I would not trust the numbers on Wikipedia even if I was deranged enough to go there looking for them.

Having the projections going on throughout the day never swayed me from going to the polls.

[Sceptre]

Let me take another example: Nevada. Swing state. IIRC, it closed its polls at 10pm eastern, by which time Obama was expected to take the presidency.

I agree in principle.

For example, if McCain had been closer overall, and Pennsylvania really had been too close to call, it would make a huge difference in subsequent states if it was incorrectly called one way or the other.

In this case, he just lost lost, but in the future it could be a problem.

Florida 2000 again being an example; the networks called it for Gore while the panhandle was still voting. That dissuaded some voters there from voting and made the race tighter.

[Sceptre]

Actually, AP and others called North Carolina for Obama about 2 PM today, I remember hearing it on my way in to work

I'm glad they made the call; otherwise the state was going to have to go through the time and expense of validating 40000 provisional ballots for not a whole lot of reason.

I might not remember what I had for dinner last night but it seems to me it's a fairly recent thing that mainstream media has lightened up on its projections. It seems to me that MSM is doing this voluntarily and it also seems to me that I would not trust the numbers on Wikipedia even if I was deranged enough to go there looking for them.

Having the projections going on throughout the day never swayed me from going to the polls.

Intelligence obeys Sturgeon's Law (which I always thought was too optimistic); why else do you think shows like Big Brother and Jerry Springer are popular?

[Random832]

Actually, AP and others called North Carolina for Obama about 2 PM today, I remember hearing it on my way in to work

I'm glad they made the call; otherwise the state was going to have to go through the time and expense of validating 40000 provisional ballots for not a whole lot of reason.

I'm pretty sure it's the election board, not the news media, that determine whether the provisional ballots will have to be counted.

[Son of a Yeti]

I'm pretty sure it's the election board, not the news media, that determine whether the provisional ballots will have to be counted.

Which is unjust!

It should be the job Wikipedia to declare who won where.

Of course by consensus of the community Arbcom decision.

[Milton Roe]

And McCain conceded before the polls closed in Alaska, didn't he?

Everyone knew Alaska was going to go to McCain... whether he got it or not was immaterial at that point.

Let me take another example: Nevada. Swing state. IIRC, it closed its polls at 10pm eastern, by which time Obama was expected to take the presidency.

But at least the networks were careful not to make any kind of official prediction until 11:01 EST, which was a minute past poll closing time anywhere in the continental US.

[Heat]

And McCain conceded before the polls closed in Alaska, didn't he?

Everyone knew Alaska was going to go to McCain... whether he got it or not was immaterial at that point.

Let me take another example: Nevada. Swing state. IIRC, it closed its polls at 10pm eastern, by which time Obama was expected to take the presidency.

But at least the networks were careful not to make any kind of official prediction until 11:01 EST, which was a minute past poll closing time anywhere in the continental US.

I think Fox might have predicted it earlier but no one paid attention