Politics Party With The Stranger On Election Night
posted by on October 31 at 11:04 AM
Where were you when George W. Bush got re-elected?
I was at The Stranger’s Election Night Party at Chop Suey—me and hundreds of others. The place was so packed you could hardly move. We were full of hope early in the evening, but then watched in horror as state after state went red. We stared in disbelief as “values voters” and knuckle draggers in Jesusland sent George W. Bush back to the White House for a second term. All the time and energy we poured into meet-ups, our emotional investment, Howard Dean, the checks we wrote Kerry, Music for America, “Vote or Die”—all for nothing.
The serious substance abuse began once it was clear that Bush was going to win. People that had been drinking soda began drinking beer. People that had been nursing beers began doing shots. People that had been slamming shots began banging their heads against the wall. Our sorrows were great, and it took oceans of alcohol to drown them. By midnight something magical happened: Chop Suey ran out of booze. Kegs went dry, the hard alcohol was mostly gone. We were reduced to drinking shots of Goldschlagger.
It looks like something magical might happen again this year. The Democrats—with Howard Dean in charge—got up off their knees and fought back. Now the Dems are poised to take control of the House or Senate—or both. Republicans all over the country are running scared. Rick Santorum is going down. George Allen is going down. Mike McGavick is going down. Katherine “I Stole the 2000 Election” Harris is going down. Ken “I Stole the 2004 Election” Blackwell is going down. Hugh Foskett is going down.
The Stranger is hosting an election night party: Tuesday November 7, at Spitfire (2219 4th Ave). The party starts at 5 pm—when election results start coming in from the East Coast—and goes all night long. We’ve got 22 television screens, satellite feeds from over the country, and red and blue drink specials. Here’s hoping that Spitfire in 2006, like Chop Suey in 2004, runs out of booze. But this time it’ll be because we’re toasting our victories, not drowning our sorrows. Join us for what just might be the party of the year.
Uh, Dan, are you actually going to show up at 5pm this time?
Uh, will you have Wi-Fi??
Yes, I plan to show up at 5 PM—I want to watch Santorum go down. And Hugh Foskett.
I didn't show up at the PR party at 5 because... well, the "party" supposedly started at 5 because there was a PR marathon. But I was only coming in for the showing of the finale. Which I did...
Hey, Caroline—is there WiFi at Spitfire?
I hate to be a buzz kill, but I won't be convinced the Dems are taking the house or senate until the results are certified. I wouldn't even be surprised if man-on-dog santorum wins. After 2004, I just refuse to get my hopes up.
I'll be there! With bells on!
"Rick Santorum is going down. George Allen is going down. Mike McGavick is going down."
Umm ummmm ... all that goin' down. Sounds like the boys Dan likes.
If Allen goes down, he's taking people with him: his staffers beat up a constituent trying to ask him a question:
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_10_29_atrios_archive.html#116232002219510550
dan, in conversations with meinert about this event, there were plans to enable a few of the (many, many) tv screens with live-as-they-come-in internet results.
i think this is still a plan so i am guessing that wi-fi is available. if meinert is out here, he can confirm.
we didn't run out of booze at the mirabeau on the last presidential election night, but we came damn close. and, i cried. onstage.
Come on Mike in MO! I take your cautious outlook to heart because 2004 shocked me, too. But, I've already voted and I'm trying to get excited about curtailing this runaway train president for the next 2 yrs. The Dems are taking the house and the senate and in my state, Musgrave is going down.
I remember the Chop Suey, the evening started great: A free beer ticket from Amy Jenniges and people all around me talking about exit polls and how Kerry was going to run away with it, though the place was a bit too hot and crowded, everyone was in good spirits and the big screen TV promised positive results. It turned depressing quickly. All the exit poll convos changed to how the numbers aren’t in from blah, blah, blah and the first numbers that come in are blah, blah and absentee voters from blah, blah… the unmistakable talk of the losing side of a campaign filled the air, than it was off to the Elysian to finish off and pass out. The cab driver who took me home was a dude from Mogadishu who was happy Kerry lost.
My favorite quote from the 2004 election:
"See you at the after-mass suicide!"
Won't we need to wait, on the local level, for all the absentee ballots to be counted?
Also, the recent trend is to for the wait for results of races to carryover to the next morning and beyond.
No, thanks. I got class anyway :P I'll check in the next day as usual.
Can we have special drinks for the party?
Like say the Santorum - whipped brown cream on a coffee liquor mix.
Just a thought.
You're on my list for parties that night!
oh - and most absentee voters already voted, Gomez. You can party true!
I'll be partying with the Darcy Burner campaign, which will need help canvassing on election day.
... the weirdest part of the 2004 party was how the infernal noise brigade showed up well after the polls took a nosedive toward the hopeless.
p.s. spitfire usually has wifi.
Usually? What, are we talking borrowed Wi-Fi?
i thought kerry would win and i'm still banging my head against the wall over it. i'm up for the party, but i won't believe in victory until i see it, and when i do, i'm going to go FUCKING CRAZY in a good way.
Republicans are the cause of global warming, and the war in Iraq. As soon as we have Democrats in office, there'll be no global warming. All Democrats are against the war.
But all Green Party types are idiots. They should be drug behind a pickup till there's nothing left but rope. Just like Dan Savage says.
If they steal this election, instead of getting drunk and depressed, how 'bout we get angry and start the revolution we so badly need?
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