The time has come: the 2008 election is upon us. Some of us have been (literally) waiting years for this day. If anything, this has been one of the most emotionally charged and frantic campaigns in recent history. And not just for the Presidential race, either! So we've created a hub for all of you on Buzznet who will be active on November 4th: The most stupendous, ridiculous, and epic liveblog of all time.

The final showdown has arrived!

Photo created by ElRich

Here's MSNBC's amazing widget that shows who is winning what:


To catch everyone up to speed, we've had three insanely successful liveblogs:

#1: Liveblogging the Vice-Presidential Debate
#2: The Town Hall Meeting
#3: The Epic Debate of the Century (aka The Buzzpocalypse)

If that trifecta wasn't enough for you to handle (2,137 comments!!!!1111!1!1!), then we present you with the Buzznet Liveblog to End All Liveblogs. This isn't going to last a mere 90 minutes. Starting whenever we decide to begin updating this monster and ending whenever we know FOR SURE who the United States' next President is, we imagine that the end of Buzznet as we know it will happen right here.

Where will you be?

And that's what makes this liveblog different. The last three can be summed up with this image:

I am positive that you are all sick of me whining my way through these debates. So for this liveblog, the Community Staff (Bree, Richard, Carrie, and myself) invite you to contribute to this liveblog.

That's right; we are going to create a blog that combines the entire voice of the community to keep the world up-to-date on the election, the propositions, and our own personal stories about voting day.

How can you help???

• The four of us will be RELIGIOUSLY checking the comments. Please post links to any news about the election from (almost) any source. Have you heard about voter fraud in Illinois? Did McCain win his own state? Are there freakishly long lines in California? Post it in a comment. We will credit YOU and the source with the update to the blog at that time. You will become a part of the process!
• Take pictures of yourself waiting to vote. Post pictures of yourself after voting! Share them with us and we'll include them!
• Can't vote? Take pictures or tell us stories about what you're doing to help out with the election. Are you going to rallies? Are you posting fliers, stickers, or posters? Share!
• Got a Twitter account? If not, GET WITH THE TIMES, DUDES. If so, any time you Tweet about the election, add this hashtag at the end: #buzznetvotes  You can follow these Tweets here.
  
• Anytime you're uploading anything to Buzznet, add the tag "buzznetvotes." We'll be checking the page out all day to add more content to the liveblog!

Basically, this will be the most supreme live blog ever created. Don't miss out! Spread the word in notes, bulletins, comments, etc. (Don't spam though. I will bring down my warhammer.)

HAVE FUN! And if you're 18, PLEASE VOTE!

THE BUZZNET ELECTION DAY LIVEBLOG HAS BEGUN!!!!!!

8:17pm PanasonicYouth: All right, let's get down to business! NewAgeAmazon and BulletProofHeeb will be simultaneously liveblogging over at TheBeak.org. There will be much hilarity and anger.

TrendySecret directs us to a frustrating incident in Tampa Bay, Florida, where the Republican chairman is forced to apologize for forwarding a racist email. She also reminds us to visit FiveThirtyEight.com for Electoral Protections!

Paxgitmo linked us to a WONDERFUL site that keeps track of average wait time to vote! Check out Twitter Vote Report.

xBlanksFace has posted the following photo:


Check out InLikeFlint's post about "Painting the Town Blue."

11:29pm Xxrccola: A playlist for change

12:37am kindofadraag: found an interesting and scary idea on someone's tumblog. Could declaring Obama the winner early enough in the evening actuallly end up making him lose?

5:58am Panasonicyouth: HAHAHA OMGWTF BEST LIVEBLOG EVER because we just went almost 6 hours between updates. WE HAVE TO SLEEP EVENTUALLY, AMIRITE??? So Richard and I are awake (!!!?!?!?!?) and prepared to stand in line quite early at the St. Barnabas Senior Center to vote. I can almost see our polling place from my apartment, but the fire escape is blocking it. I'm pretty sure that's anti-American somehow. DEATH TO ALL INFIDELS AND FIRE ESCAPES.

HideDon'tSeek made a poll asking which was more important in November: today's election or the Twilight movie. There are not enough internet sad faces to express my utter despair.

xBlanksFace posted a journal that nearly made me choke up while reading it. Find out how she helped changed the world.

Ikkyg ensures that we have political macros before comment 100:



Immediately afterwards, VaginalDischarge one-ups her:


God, I love the internet.

TrendySecret bombs us with TRUFAX: Obama voted at 8:39am EST. (That was a half hour ago!) "Biden shows up to Wilmington, DE to cast his ballot at 9AM," she says as well. DEMOCRATS VOTE FIRST?????

More updates to come after I vote! NO ON 8 IN CALIFORNIA!!!

7:35am PanasonicYouth: Just got back from voting. Our polling place was the St. Barnabus Senior Center and the poll workers were slower than senior citizens. The guy in charge of the ballots? Yeah, HE SLEPT IN. So we were 10 minutes late.

I checked my ballot 4 times after voting to make sure it wasn't voting for the wrong things. Kind of a harrowing process. :(

BrokenGlassHeart linked us to BBC's liveblog. It's pretty awesome.

OptimisticGurl has voted!!! She said: "the line to vote at a quarter to 7 was already around the block, and almost 3 long hours later I was finally able to vote."

TrendySecret has posted a story about a small New Hampshire town that has already cast all of their citizens' votes: Barack Obama won. She's also linked us to a Yahoo news story about preliminary voting reports along the Eastern Seaboard. (Guess what: problems!)

ChrisFallsHard has posted the following photo:


Excellent! Ziggy Stardust wants you to vote.

Then TrendySecret posts the one photo that makes me want to BAAAAAWWWWWWW:

"Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., sheds tears as he talks about his grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, at a rally in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. Obama's grandmother, who helped raise him, died peaceably in her sleep Obama announced Monday, one day before the presidential election. She was 86."

Jesus. :(

9:48am Panasonicyouth: Jeez guys, I had to eat breakfast. And accidently fall asleep. :(

UPDATES!

TrendySecret drops some scary knowledge about voter problems on the east coast.

Sarah Palin voted at 7:07am. Also, Journey is currently blasting somewhere outside my window. DON'T STOP....BELIEVIN'.

xMissPreternatural provides us with a wonderful e-card:


John McCain votes at 9:13am.

xBlanksFace notes that Yahoo's Electoral Dashboard is pretty neat. (It is.)

TrendySecret reports that someone at her polling place just flipped a coin to decide who to vote for President. Their vote went for Obama. Simultaneously, 800 puppies were thrown into an incinerator.

And then Sara drops these on us:


 Holy hell.

Skintight believes in change:


And InLikeFlint quotes an NPR story when saying, "[For the] First time in a generation... 60 democratic seats in the senate could be filled. (No more blocking legislation with Republican filibusters.)"

We really are making history, guys. :)

OK TIME FOR ME TO GO INTO THE OFFICE. TEMPORARY BREAK IN SERVICE.

10:53am PanasonicYouth: OH LORD SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN AN HOUR.

TrendySecret, who is like a live-blogging machine, posted part of an entry from a blogger in Harlem:

Several people had cameras, and were taking pictures. I heard one woman say "this is history". Another woman held her young daughter in her arms and kept smiling and kissing her on the cheek, as if she was happy the little girl was witnessing the day.

MelPixie just voted! Also, today is her FOUR YEAR BUZZVERSARY!!!! Congrats Mel!

Heartsapocolypse said that Dennis Hopper is on The View and he just said that because McCain picked Palin as his VP, he'll now be voting for Obama. Hopper has been a Republican since Reagan.

TrendySecret linked us to the story of an Obama supporter's house vandalized with racist graffiti.

11:23am Candl1988 posted the following photo:


She also goes on to tell us the following:

I have never been part of a blog before so I am a little nervous about my participation!! I did indeed vote today! Not only did I vote, but I shared the experience with my 18 year old son who was voting for the very FIRST time!! I feel so proud of him right now!! The lines at the polls at the "Tip of the Mitt" (so referred because Michigan is a mitten) weren't long! We waited maybe 10 minutes total! I was not allowed to take any photos at the town hall, so I had to get creative!! I instead took a photo of my stickers from the past 3 elections.

Incredible! Thanks for sharing!

12:34pm PanasonicYouth THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION. My head might explode.

IWuvzMyPurpleMonkey said: i rocked the vote today for the very first time and it was awesome!! i can't wait to see if my candidate wins!! GO OBAMA!!

Congrats voting for the first time!

GemmaxLoves has posted a BBC Guide to The Election.

MiseryxChord posted If The World Could Vote... Imagine if the entire world got to vote for our President!

GwenArtax has written an INCREDIBLE Election Day playlist. Check it out!

1:07pm PanasonicYouth: OK, one last update before I go grab some lunch.

StarlorSummers said, "I want a president who could defeat M. Bison and then posted this photo:


TrendySecret posted more news of voter problems in Florida. Man, that state just can't get things right.

SweetSeryn has voted! Congrats!

WAIT. More chaos in Florida, according to TrendySecret. Double voting, wrong addresses, machines not working.....holy crap, get it together guys!

2:12pm Panasonicyouth: Oh boy, more fun.

TrendySecret: There's some pretty serious voter fraud going on in Florida.

If you're STILL unsure who to vote for as President, here's a decent test that matches you up with the best candidate.

BrokenGlassHeart posted part of BBC's Livetext about voter issues in Colorado: "The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandi in Colorado says: Voting advocacy group Common Cause reports voting problems in the town of Greely in the north of the state. They say Spanish-speaking voters cannot understand polling materials which are printed only in English. They say there are not enough interpreters."

Even though Florida is busy sucking at being democratic, Ohio isn't far behind. TrendySecret linked us to a CNN story about how registered voters who are on the list are still being given provisional ballots because their ID cards don't have a similar address.

Watch this INSANELY STUPID video about the "voter intimidation" in Pennsylvania. Here's the story; now enjoy this video. (I have no idea why Megadeth is playing in the background.


It's so insane that it's almost hilarious.

There are absentee ballots missing in New Mexico. (TrendySecret again!)

Stewieismyhomeboy says: I thought I'd share this interesting true story bit of information:
My sister went to canivote.org, and found out she can't vote, mainly because she changed her name. When she got married!

TrendySecret: Nader's press conference today involved him only answering with one word phrases.

MiseryxChord: Actor Tim Robbins' name not on list and shit hits the fan. Almost literally.

Thraseia: This election will change the world.

Derekx has voted! YAY!

The first polls have already closed. OH GOD OH GOD.

AlreadyxDead has voted as well!

Stewieismyhomeboy posted a link to an epic blog entry on Feministing about one girl's birthday present.

3:15pm PanasonicYouth: Oh man. So much has happened in so little time.

First off, check out this blog from Lexidiem about how he'll be voting this election as a longtime conservative.

Sara has promised us cookies if Obama wins:

I seriously hope those are vegan. :(

Skintight says: There was a moment in the booth where I felt like voting for Cynthia McKinney, just cause I thought it would be hilarious if she actually won. Like imagine if like when people got to the polls they were like "well this is a red/blue state so this vote won't matter" then voting for her as a joke. But so many people did that she won? Fuck that would be so awesome.

Hehehe, you know what's actually funny? I voted for her. Yeah, the woman who is pressing the government to release their secret files on Tupac Shakur. (I would have voted for Nader, but he is SO BORING this year.) Oh well. Make fun of me.

TrendySecret: Polls in Indiana and Kentucky have closed. While voters in lines are being shufffled in, we could see results soon. Indiana has a total of 11 electoral votes while Kentucky has 8. The president elect will need 270 to win.

OMG.

HeartsApocolypse posts two INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT COMMENTS: Can't find the story on the ''net but CNN just ran a story about a McCain/Palin campaign robocall going out in Floriday in Spanish warning voters that Castro is supporting Obama and so to spite Castro, they should vote for McCain... more scare tactics...

They also keep announcing that if you are in line when the polls close, you will get to vote. So go get in line...

Yes! If you are in line and it gets to your state's closing time, you are still legally allowed to vote.

DoroteaTheGreat just created a great (and anonymous) poll about whom you voted for!

TrendySecret found a great story about two men who are choosing not to vote this year.

Whew! That's all for now, but I've noticed that there are 23 new comments since I edited this. Another update soon!

3:42pm Panasonicyouth: Ok, now I'm starting to get nervous, especially as the polls are closing and the preliminary numbers are in. As of now, it looks as if John McCain is leading in Kentucky and Obama is leading in Indiana. However, remember that not all of the numbers are in for either state. Only 1% of precincts are reporting in Kentucky, according to CNN.com

3:49pm Panasonicyouth: Whoa, you guys are going nuts. This is getting exciting!!!! So here we go:

I've updated the post above to link you to where you can follow all of our Twitters!

TrendySecret linked us to MSNBC's map of the election that's updated every two minutes.

For something that's a bit lighter on the brain, check out the results of our Photo Assignment this week. The theme: "Is This What You Call Democracy?"

3:55pm Panasonicyouth: 2% of precincts in Kentucky and Indiana. McCain is squashing Obama in Kentucky (8 electoral votes) and Obama is barely squeezing by McCain in Indiana (11 electoral votes).

4:04pm Panasonicyouth: Ok, so I'm slightly obsessed with MSNBC's widget with a map of the US, so I've embedded it above so you can easily follow along. More precincts are reporting and the gap between McCain and Obama has been closed in Kentucky, though McCain is still winning.

4:15pm Panasonicyouth: There is a war in the comments. A WAR. OHNOES. Anyway, both CNN and MSNBC are calling Kentucky for McCain and Vermont for Obama. I don't know how this is possible, since 0% of precincts have reported in Vermont. Are they mavericks?????!?!!??!

4:24pm Panasonicyouth: We've already broken THE INTERNETZ. The comments are being logged (I can see them in a special ADMIN ONLY area), but they're not appearing on the blog. They will arrive soon, I hope? Anyway, here's what everyone is saying:

TrendySecret makes a wonderful point about news outlets "calling" states: Please do not take these station-predictions to be the truth. Currently, CNN and MSNBC have given Kentucky to McCain. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Only 10% of the precincts have tallied their votes. The election can still go either way. This also includes them giving Vermont to Obama.

Seriously. Why do they even do it? Drama queens.

Fearlessorma linked us to THE MOST AMAZING VIDEO EVER CREATED FEATURING CHILDREN SINGING A TOPICAL SONG. Seriously.

Alex said: OKAY A HOLOGRAM NEWSLADY WAS JUST TALKING TO WOLF BLITZER. I AM NOT MAKING THIS SHIT UP. I don't have cable in the Buzznet office, but it appears multiple people on Buzznet and on Twitter are freaking out about the same thing.

4:45pm Panasonicyouth: OHMYLORD. Guys. Check this out: McCain tongue Photoshop contest results. This is amazing. I am so happy right now.

4:58pm Panasonicyouth: Holy cow, this is HUGE. Bill Ayers, the man that Sarah Palin has said has been chumming around with Obama, has finally granted an interview with The Washington Post about his association with the Democratic nominee. And guess how much of an association he has? Yeah. None.

HeartsApocolypse reports of a disturbing robocall she got from the Yes on 8 campaign here in California. (Prop 8 seeks to amend the constitution to restrict the right to marry to heterosexual couples.) She says: OH MY GOD!!! I just got robocalled by Prop 8 Proponents using Obama's voice to justify their position!!!!

5:14pm Panasonicyouth: CNN has "called" a bunch of states and the current standing is: Obama - 77 electoral votes, McCain - 34 electoral votes. So....yay? Boo? Meh, too early to care. [Source: CNN's homepage. I mean, really, where else could I look?]

MSNBC's map is far more up to date and they've called Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland for Obama, putting him at 108 electoral votes.

5:40pm Panasonicyouth: So now the waiting begins. There are lots of projections, but until the precincts are 100% in, it doesn't mean much to "guess" which states go to whom. MSNBC has called a few more states for McCain, but Obama is still leading.

Also, it just hit me that we might have a black man as a President. Holy crap.

5:44pm HeartsApocolypse is reporting that it looks like Prop 2 in Florida, which seeks to ban gay marriage and same-sex unions, is passing, 60-40. Wow. Gays, please all move out of Florida if this happens.

And just to reiterate what TrendySecret has said: No one has "won" anything yet. Everything you see is just projections. We can celebrate or commit mass suicide when it's called for certain.

6:01pm Panasonicyouth: NOTHING IS HAPPENING. Or, at least, nothing interesting. The predictions are the same. The Democrats are still smashing the Republicans in the House and the Senate. YAY STRESS.

HeartsApocolypse says she just saw the first Christmas ad on TV! WE'RE STARTING EARLY THIS YEAR.

6:03pm: Well, shit. MSNBC is getting active and just called a slew for Obama and a few for McCain. The prediction is: Obama -175, McCain 70. AGAIN this is just a prediction, which is basically useless.

7:22pm: WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST HOUR.

Let's first talk about the extreme irony that is my television. I don't have cable and guess what channel is the only one that comes through clear enough for me? FOXNEWS. Just great.

So Obama is projected to be smashing the crap out of John McCain, according to CNN, MSNBC, and FOX. 207 for Obama, 135 for McCain.

While I watch FOX's horrific graphics, let's update about what the Buzznet community is doing. Our favorite new poster hasn't come back to defend her statements about how much it sucks that black people are voting for Obama because he's black. Wonderful.

xxrccola posted the following image:


Oh man. Star Wars macros.

Paxgitmo has posted a link to a wonderful site: Is Obama President? Click to find the answer.

Rememberthestars posted a link to a heartwarming story about how this election has inspired homeless people to vote. I highly suggest you read it!

Ok, I'm going to try to eat and not throw up from stress.  California's polls close in 26 minutes and I'll find out if my rights are stripped because I'm gay. :(

7:40pm: HAHAHAHSDLJKSAHDFSAKLJDH I just found out that Elizabeth Dole lost North Carolina. TAKE THAT.

7:42pm: FoxNews is reporting that Virginia goes to Obama, with 91% of precincts reporting. That puts him at 229 projected electoral votes. Holy shit.

7:48pm: Can someone confirm that Massachusetts has decriminalized marijuana possession? I can't find anything online.

8:00pm: Holy shit, so much just fucking happened. FOX says that Barack Obama is president. OMG I seriously got chills and started to cry. Is this true? Did we just elect an African-American man as President????? I am at a fucking loss guys. WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

Additionally, Massachusetts and Michigan have decriminalized marijuana possession. Sarah Palin's publicist has said that Palin will probably not show up to introduce McCain in Arizona.

8:07pm: OF course, this is all just projection, but I can't imagine Obama NOT getting California, Oregon, and Washington. Also, FOXNEWS is being incredibly kind, articulate, and intelligent about Obama and I am SHOCKED AND AMAZED.

8:10pm: Guys, there are people outside my apartment cheering with joy. I have never experienced anything like this in my whole life.

8:13pm: A McCain campaign official says McCain has called Barack Obama to concede the election. Does that mean it is REALLY official?

8:15pm: If you live in California or if you care about same sex marriage rights, you can watch the tally HERE to see if California outlaws gay marriage.

8:19pm: McCain is conceding the election to Obama while all the disrespectful assholes BOO HIM. HOW OLD ARE YOU? 10?????

8:22pm: McCain's speech is INCREDIBLE. Empathetic, articulate, and so reasonable. WHY WASN'T HE LIKE THIS DURING THE CAMPAIGN????

8:24pm: Florida is officially Obama's. John McCain's supporters are PISSED.

8:25pm: I guess Sarah Palin did decide to show up. Awwww, she's tearing up! As much as I don't like her....man. This has been a rough few weeks for her.

8:26pm: Wow, McCain is admitting he made mistakes? This speech is so mature and intelligent! And then, McCain's supporters BOO OBAMA AGAIN. Jesus Christ, SHUT UP.

8:29pm: Los Angeles County voted in favor of Prop 8. Fuck, does this mean we're banning gay marriage?

8:36pm: FOXNEWS commentators are so annoying. I can't watch this anymore. Also, the "I'm a PC" commercials are HILARIOUS. Makes me never want to touch a PC ever again.

8:42pm: Why is Bush calling Michelle Obama "your good bride"? Also, the announcer on FOX just said, "I wonder if Europe could handle this." WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.

8:50pm: Ok, so the info was wrong. LA county's Prop 8 results have not come in. Hopefully, they'll bring the vote closer than it is now. There are lots of Democratic wins in the House and the Senate as well!

8:57pm: OMG OBAMA IS COMING OUT TO SPEAK!!! Also, his podium rose out of the ground??? What the hell, I hope his presidency has more of this.

9:00pm: Obama's voice is amazing. And Obama just included "gay and straight" in his speech and my heart fluttered. Do we really have a President who might support gay rights? I am shocked.

9:03pm: I wish I was in Grant Park. Also, Michelle Obama is going to be the CUTEST FIRST LADY EVER. Also, seeing Jessie Jackson cry is heartbreaking. I can't imagine what this means for him. And they just showed Oprah and she was crying too!

9:04pm: I can't imagine how hard it is for Obama to talk about his grandmother. :( :(

9:06pm: This speech is incredible. I have never felt so happy to live in this country. Also, the District of Columbia has voted 94% in favor of Obama. That has to be a record, AMIRITE??

9:13pm: This speech is still captivating. And they keep cutting to a crying Oprah and for some reason IT STRIKES AN ODD CHORD IN ME. I am in LOVE.

9:17pm: Wow. We really have an African-American president. We really have a president who appears to actually be able to affect change. I am shocked.

9:29pm: My local FOX network just interviewed a black high school senior and she started to cry because she was so happy and guess what? My waterworks went off. THANKS FOX NEWS. Usually I cry watching your channel because I'm depressed.

Also, my local FOX network cut off Rick Santorum's interview. TAKE THAT YOU ASSHOLE.

9:34pm: Oh lord, I need to play Guitar Hero or something. I can't watch all this ridiculous analysis. The winds just picked up outside and Richard said, "IT'S THE WINDS OF CHANGE." dsl;kfjsklfjaskfdjalk;aj;

9:41pm: GUYS. GUYS. John OunceofWentz is in Chicago and at Grant Park! Check his page for more Shozu updates!!!!

9:44pm: Oh man, the guy on FOXNews is trying to tear apart Ralph Nader and Nader is making the guy look like a fool. I love you, Ralph Nader. The FOX guy is pulling a typical Fox move by twisting his words, not allowing a proper response, and being completely douchey. Awesome, FOXNews.

9:56pm: I had to turn off FOX. I was busy going insane. It's just too much for me.

Make sure to head over to OunceofWentz's page, as he's liveblogging Grant Park through photos!

Also, as of this very moment, gay marriage has been banned in both Florida and California, though there's still some hope in California. California has also restricted abortion rights for minors, though that race is much closer and may not eventually pass.

10:19pm: Some of you are asking where you can keep track of California's Props. The L.A. Times has a great tool to follow all of them. You can view it right here.

AmyMarissa has a great poll about how you feel right at this very moment, knowing Barack Obama will be our next President.

Check out this awesome photo that AlyHeartsCandy posted!


Sweet!

11:19pm: Prop 8 is still passing in California. :(

11:43pm: WHY AM I STILL AWAKE. I am so sleep deprived, but I can't rest until I know about Prop 8, which is still winning.

As of right now, the delegate count for Obama is 349 to 159 for McCain. Over 58 million people voted for Barack Obama.

12:01am: All three major news outlets (FOX, NBC, CNN) are all reporting different electoral vote counts. AWESOME.

Prop 4 (which requires parental permission for abortions for minors) is no longer passing in California and appears to be losing by about 4.5%. Prop 8, however, has been stuck winning by about 5% of the votes. There's still time for it to change, as only 49.6% of all precincts have reported their ballots.

12:39am: I am still awake. Just over 62% of precincts in California are in and it looks like my rights as a citizen of California will be taken away by as little as 300,000 people. I am slowly becoming more and more depressed.

1:14am: Thanks in part to a large number of NO votes from Los Angeles, the gap between proponents and opponents of Prop 8 just got even smaller. Jeez, this is going to be a close one.

1:44am: The Prop 8 vote in California is now as close as it ever has been all day: 52% in favor to ban gay marriage, 48% opposed.

2:01am: There is no doubt about it: Barack Obama won the presidency. :) All major news sites have officially declared his victory.

2:13am: I have been up for almost 24 hours and I'm falling asleep in between refreshing the L.A. Times chart. I think I'll nap and see if I've become a substandard citizen by the time I wake up.

81% of precincts in California have reported results and Prop 8 is winning. FUCK.

8:54am: Ugh I feel horrible. Sleep deprived and hungry and depressed. 95% of precincts in California are in and it appears that by a difference of just 400,000 people, gay marriage rights will now be restricted by our fucking Constitution. The document that's supposed to guarantee our rights has just been used to deny me and so many other people our rights.

I am a second class citizen. I am a substandard human, according to just barely half of the voters here in California.

I've teared up a few times in the last 10 minutes. It's mostly out of seething anger, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I feel pretty hopeless too. How do we fight this? How do we change a goddamn amendment to the Constitution?

I can only hope that lawyers spend today and the next few weeks working towards overturning such a discriminatory policy. I cannot understand how our state overwhelmingly voted for "change," but then turned around to vote away someone's rights.

Any joy I had over Obama was fleeting; it's back to business as usual in my head.

9:09am: On a good note in California, we rejected the prop to restrict the abortion rights of minors; we extended more rights to farm animals (while simultaneously taking them away from queers....AWESOME); we passed a prop to fund a high speed rail line from San Francisco to Los Angeles (a dream of mine); and Los Angeles county itself passed measure R, adding a half percent to our sales tax to raise money for public transportation.

Please let me know how the props in your state did! I'll add it.

11:14am: What an insane morning. First, this:

And now some updates on Props around the US:

Prop 8 (banning gay marriage in CA) is not official; there are reportedly between 3-4 million uncounted ballots, so it isn't lost yet. If it does win, the CA Supreme Court still has to approve the amendment and it can be repealed.

Arkansas passed Prop 1, restricting gay couples and unmarried couples from adopting children. Yes, you read that right. Everyone boycott Arkansas for being completely stupid.

Marijuana has been decriminalized in Michigan and Massachusetts!

Any other news?

11:47am: Barack Obama has offered Rahm Emanuel the position of Chief-of-Staff for his cabinet.

11:54am: HeartsApocolypse says: Washington State voted to allow Doctor assisted suicide and Nebraska voted to end affirmative action. Colorado has a similar affirmative action measure but it hasn't been called yet. You realize affirmative action affects more than just people of color but also women, disabled people and many, many more...