2004, Bush wins 284 electoral votes, 51% percent of the popular vote…the narrowist win for an incumbent since 1916, and it was called a mandate.

Wonder how much “mandate” will be mentioned in the days ahead. Mostly I see apologies for Events by conservatives…”oh, no Republican could have won in this environment,” somehow ignoring the realities of the last eight years, as if that’s had no effect. (And for that matter, logically they’re implicitly saying “we suck on the economy”, the biggest admission that Republicans are worse for the middle class’s wallet, which I think is funny there wasn’t anyone loudly underlining that.)

Now I expect a lot of “Well, you know. Events.” Nothing about a mandate. Less about the accomplishment and more about how the “tsunami” simply pushed Obama into the white house, as if against his will.

BE OVER BE OVER BE OVER Be OVER GOT OVER BE OVER GET IT OVER WITH BE OVER COME ON COME ON COME ON COME ON COME ON COME ONE BE OVER BE OVER BE OVER BE OER BE OVER BE OVER BE OVER BE OVER COME ON COME ON COMN ON COME ON COME ON COME ON C’MON C’MON C’MON C’MON HURRY UP HRRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP 6 O CLOCK 6 O CLOCK 6 OCLOCK 6 OCLOCK COME ON COME ON COME ON COME ON COMMMME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Virginia. Their results start coming in around 7pm ET; the 538 site isn’t responding now (gee, wonder why), but I remember him saying that Virginia will be your lead indicator. If Obama loses Virginia, it doesn’t mean he’s lost, but the path to victory is more winding. But if McCain loses it, he’s at a drastic disadvantage.

Incidentally, I just realized one reason why I like Obama on emotional level — I appreciate a storyteller. When McCain talks, I want him to stop talking. When Obama talks, I want to find out what happens.