$150,000,000!

Just a quick article for this Sunday: It is estimated that President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration will cost more than one hundred fifty million dollars. I have two things I want to point out: first, where's the outrage from those who had a fit when President Bush spent $42.3 Million in 2005 for his inauguration? That's less than a third of the upcoming one. Second, didn't the President-Elect ask us to sacrifice for our shaky economy? Apparently, that does not apply to him.

How Much Did Palin Actually Help Chambliss?

As just about everyone in the United States knows by now, Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) won his Senate race, defeating the Democrats' hope for a 60-seat filibuster-proof supermajority. And one of the repeated themes of the analysis is the Chambliss won so easily thanks to the help of one Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. Chambliss himself said :

"Sarah Palin came in on the last day, did a fly-around and, man, she was dynamite. We packed the houses everywhere we went. And it really did allow us to peak and get our base fired up," Chambliss said.

"I mean, I can't overstate the impact she had down here," he continued. "When she walks in a room, folks just explode. And they really did pack the house everywhere we went. She's a dynamic lady, a great administrator, and I think she's got a great future in the Republican Party."

But it doesn't seem like she was the make-or-break. Obviously she helped Chambliss get out the Conservative Christian base, but something about the numbers doesn't show a massive surge. Chambliss won last night's race by a hearty 14%. However, on November 4, he only led by three.

Now, Georgia is one of the redder states in the Union, so did Palin really push him over the top? Instead, it looks like it wasn't the person who was there, but it was the person who wasn't there that made a difference. It appears that since Obama wasn't on the ballot, many Democrats didn't see the purpose in going out to vote:

Martin appeared to suffer mightily from a lack of African-American turnout, which dropped from 30 percent of early votes four weeks ago to around 20 percent in the runoff.

For Republicans and strategists that think that the GOP can take the Congress back anytime soon cannot underestimate the celebrity and gravity of the President-Elect. He can push people out to vote that wouldn't do so anyway, and can even rope in some Independents and Republicans to boot. He was probably good for 8% of the difference on November 4. The Democrats have a strong down-ticket leader now. College kids and the like are less likely to pay attention to other officeseekers, just as long as they have the valuable "D" next to their name.

So is Sarah Palin the savior of the GOP? Obviously she got at least some of the vote out for Senator Chambliss. However, she was insignificant compared to President-Elect Obama.

Franken Stealing Election in Minnesota?

Considering that Al Franken hasn't been funny in about two decades, this funny business should come as a surprise. As the Wall Street Journal points out, Norm Coleman's lead appears to be shrinking despite the fact that the official recount hasn't even begun.

Considering how Bush "stole" the election in 2000, this should come as a surprise:

Mr. Ritchie is also an ally of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or Acorn, of fraudulent voter-registration fame. That relationship might explain why prior to the election Mr. Ritchie waved off evidence of thousands of irregularities on Minnesota voter rolls, claiming that accusations of fraud were nothing more than "desperateness" from Republicans.

Something's fishy and it appears that the Democrats are likely to pick up another seat in the Senate at any costs.

Rasmussen the Most Accurate Poll, Again

Technically, that's a misnomer because in 2004, the Investor's Business Daily was the closest to the actually result. But still, Rasmussen was close then and dead-on in this election. Rasmussen was my most trusted poll, seeing that it weighted well and did a daily tracking poll.

Rasmussen pegged it at 52%-46%. Actal results: 52%-46%.

Keep an eye on them.

Election Stolen From Nader!

BREAKING, Grand Island, Nebraska- In a show of blatant disregard for the will of the American people, both Republican and Democratic Parties have stolen millions of votes from their chief rival, Ralph Nader. Another year passes with the stench of Republican and Democratic hypocrisy, with another year passing with no victory for Nader.

Sources close to Nader have confirmed the arrest of thousands of agents working for ACORN and the CIA, both working together to rig the election against Nader. "It breaks my heart that no real change is coming to America," Nader was reported as saying. "I'm sorry America, the government is just too powerful for you and me."

Ironically, in McCain's concession speech and Obama's victory speech, no mention was made to the real President-Elect. In his speech Obama repeatedly said, "Yes we can," clearly mocking Nader's attempt to win the Presidency. "Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans," McCain said. While the crowd cheered, McCain quickly said under his breath, "Except for Nader."

I guess this reporter will just have to live under the yoke of tyranny for another four years. -AP

It's Your Fault

Barack Obama will be the next President.

I could blame the election on Obama supporters. I could blame John McCain. I could blame Barack Obama, but I will not. No, the fault lies with McCain supporters in battleground states that sat on their hands. The election is lost with these people.

Why do I say this? How did I come to this conclusion? Simple. Look at Georgia. The voters their defied the polls and voted for McCain overwhelmingly. The other states were quite underwhelming. Obama supporters did what they were supposed to; they went out and voted. Silent McCain supports, other than the ones with circumstances they couldn't help, lost the election for John McCain.

My family and I all voted for McCain in the incredibly blue state of New York. We were counted. Georgian voters were counted. Were you?

However, despite my fear of Obama and his clearly poor judgement, he will be my President. I cannot disavow my love and pride in this country. Barack Obama will be my President.

My Four Democrats

I voted, my brother voted, my parents voted, and two of my college roommates voted. All of them voted for McCain. My parents and two roommates are all Democrats. If that doesn't tell you who the best choice is, then nothing will. Oh, and we all live in the liberal state of New York!