Going on vacation

The Polite Observer will be on vacation for the next two weeks. Stay tuned for a barrage of photos and insights.

Things I learned from Newsweek's post election special edition

Hillary Clinton had the most dysfunctional campaign team in history. One thinks she might've taken the Team of Rivals concept too far.

McCain's campaign team deserved more credit for defeating him than Obama's. They copied straight out of the Bush 04 playbook even though their candidate has a completely different set of strengths and weaknesses.

McCain really had no idea what he's doing when he "suspended" his campaign to work on the bailout package. Even members of his own party didn't want him to get involved.

A "foreign agent" launched a cyber attack on both campaign's computer network. The FBI seems to know who did it, but would not disclose that. My money's on Russia or China.

The only person who seemed to genuinely enjoy the process of running for national office is Sarah Palin.

what not to do

I was gonna make this blog one entry per page. Well, looks like I got to find some other way to get traffic.

Kyoto update

Japan is having trouble meeting its Kyoto Treaty obligations. If the Japanese are having a hard time, most of the other signatories probably are too.

books on the reading list

I really wanted to comment on Obama's selection of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff, but everything that I know about what the White House Chief of Staff does I learned from The West Wing, so I guess that topic is better left to the pros.

It's been a while since I updated my reading list here. Here are some of the volumes I'm working through.


Looks like a how-to guide to how this transition business works.



Thomas Friedman laid out a compelling case of why green is the new red, white, and blue. Could be a little more technical, but it's not really that kind of book.



I bought this book about five years ago, after I read the author's The American Political Tradition and the Men who Made it, but has not managed to make any significant headway due to the small font and the exceedingly dry writing style. But, based on what I've read so far, this is the book you must finish if you want to understand Sarah Palin's appeal.

This one hits a little too close to home

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

carnivore's dilemma

Those of us who eat meat should all eat at this restaurant at least once.

election withdrawl

It sure is nice to know who the next president is before the night is over. I almost forgot what that feels like.

Went to Starbucks to snag a copy of the New York Times to keep, but looks like a lot of other Houstonians got the same idea. Maybe I'll have better luck in a redder part of town.

In terms of election coverage Fox News was by far the most entertaining last night. Not only are they usually the first to call a state, the commentary from demoralized conservatives like Willaim Kristol and Karl Rove takes the cake. A bit schadenfreude perhaps, but we deserved it after eight years of Bush.

turnout is key

The early voting numbers have been through the roof and they heavily favor Obama. He's ahead by double digits among voters who said they've already voted. This is a reversal from past elections where early voting tend to favor the GOP.

So, the fewer the people that vote tomorrow, the greater the margin for an Obama victory. Tomorrow is not a bad time for a thunderstorm in Ohio, Florida, and Virginia.

Houston after dark

To celebrate Halloween, last weekend I joined a group of riders for a leisurely 11 mile ride through abandoned cemeteries. The only thing better than riding a bike in the city is riding with a big group after dark, with police escort.



This grave belonged to someone who was born in the 18th century.



Abandoned cemeteries are ripe for vandalism.

poll addiction

I thought I was the only one addicted to daily tracking polls.