News

2012

Six Things You Need to Know Before the Election

by Paul Constant

1. Either candidate could still win. At the time of this writing, Nate Silver has President Obama's odds to win a second term at nearly 75 percent. But the truly frightening thing about any election is that either side is always a single misstep away from losing the whole thing. Your cash donations, the amount of time you volunteer for the campaign, and your vote matter up until the very last minute.

2. It's time to talk about the weather. When the truce that's held during Hurricane Sandy finally lifts, expect the political conversation to center around FEMA and federal disaster relief for a day or two. During a Republican debate in June of last year, Mitt Romney announced that FEMA is one of the many federal programs that he considers to be "immoral." Romney promised to send disaster relief programs back to the states—or, "even better," privatize them—if elected. Monday, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean announced live on CNN that Romney had the right idea: "I have to say that I don't think anyone, most people don't have a positive impression of FEMA, and I think Mitt Romney is right on the button. I don't think anybody cares about that right now." Along those lines...

3. President Obama needs an anti-Katrina. This entire election could become a mandate about the federal government's response to Sandy. If Katrina had happened in 2004 instead of 2005, we could right now be waiting for the replacement of two-term President John Kerry to be determined. But an enlightened, prepared government response could be a clear refutation of the Romney/Ryan you're-on-your-own philosophy.

4. Stop watching cable news. There's nothing for you there.

5. The more people who vote, the better. When fewer people vote, Republicans win. The Obama campaign spent the last four years constructing the largest get-out-the-vote operation in history, but they couldn't have predicted the largest storm to ever hit the East Coast in recorded history landing eight days before the election, either. With one-third of the nation directly affected by Hurricane Sandy, Election Day turnout is in question. Make sure that all your friends and family in the eastern United States cast their goddamned ballot.

6. You should come and party with us on Tuesday. The Stranger is hosting a free election night party at Showbox at the Market, and you're invited. It begins at 4:30 p.m. and runs until... whenever it's over. You'll find election results on huge screens, copious amounts of booze, music, and a small army of anxious liberals eager for good news. Plus: We will be live-blogging on Slog and writing the post-election issue of The Stranger in the middle of the Showbox as the party rages on around us, so no matter how the election goes, you're still guaranteed a front-row seat to at least one disaster.