Election Day Open Thread

Fourth of July party-11

Everyone is a superhero when they use our democracy.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The big day is finally here.

We know this campaign season has been very stressful for people on all sides of the political spectrum.

We also know most of you will be transfixed to election news and results so we aren’t planning any news stories today. All we can offer is this photo of a proud American on a bike — two things that have been, and always will be, great.

If you want to meet up with other bicycle lovers for an election night party, head over to Velo Cult (1969 NE 42nd) where they’ll have cable TV on the projector and 12 kegs of beer and cider on tap (as well as tea, coffee, and other treats). And note that the regularly scheduled City of Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting has been cancelled.

Good luck with the issues and candidates you care about. You can still drop off your ballot and it’s a gorgeous day to do it by bike. Here’s a map to ballot drop-off locations.

If you have thoughts on how you’re feeling about the election or want to share how you’re coping with all the excitement – feel free to share in the comments below.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

Note: this thread is for discussion of national and local politics. It’s acceptable to advocate for or against a candidate or position, but it’s still not acceptable to be mean or to attack others. It’s a fine line and a hassle to moderate, apologies in advance as we try to leave these comments open but still humane.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

Thanks for reading.

BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.

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9watts
9watts
8 years ago

landslide.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  9watts

I propose a bike parade down Clinton Street when she wins. 🙂

Redhippie
Redhippie
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

What will you do if He wins?

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  Redhippie

Train ticket to Canada.

Clark in Vancouver
Clark in Vancouver
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

We’re building a wall and will make Amerikuh pay for it. Ha!

No seriously, whenever the US does something like that (Vietnam War, Bush prez, etc.) Canada ends up receiving some of the US’s best people who usually contribute in positive ways.

mh
mh
8 years ago

But Canada won’t let many of us old folks with undervalued skills become citizens. Checked it out during a previous terrifying election season.

Clark in Vancouver
Clark in Vancouver
8 years ago
Reply to  mh

Yeah, I think that’s the idea.

mran1984
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Enjoy vacation! The Canadian Government will not allow you to stay. This was not a great day, btw. I am embarrassed, but not surprised at all.

Redhippie
Redhippie
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

So, did you buy that ticket yet?

rachel b
rachel b
8 years ago
Reply to  9watts

I do hope you’re right, 9watts. Fervently. I like Adam’s idea(s), too. 🙂

Alan 1.0
8 years ago
Reply to  9watts

stevie nicks for president

wsbob
wsbob
8 years ago
Reply to  9watts

Not quite a landslide, but it was decisive. In times like these, got to try find a little humor in situations. Down the road, it might be some consolation to remember what judge judy occasionally says: “you picked him!”.

Last night, I don’t know why, but I found myself recalling the line from the old movie ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’, when peggy sue says to her dad: “Oh dad…you bought an Edsel ! “.

9watts
9watts
8 years ago

P.S. can we get the subscribe to comments button back?
I miss it.

Ted Timmons (Contributor)
Reply to  9watts

You can still subscribe via RSS. I use Newsblur as my reader. It’s more work than email, but if it keeps the bikeportland server load reasonable, I’m a fan.

9watts
9watts
8 years ago

It would be nice to understand what the server implications are, if that is the reason it has been falling off of late.

Jessie
Jessie
8 years ago

I vote for a peaceful transfer of power.

James
James
8 years ago

I’ve avoided the news since mid August, aside from bikeportland, to shield myself from this topic. Thanks, I guess this marks the end of this ugly season. As a disabled vet I’m just ashamed of this election cycle.

rainbike
rainbike
8 years ago
Reply to  James

Thank you for your service to our country.

RH
RH
8 years ago

The United States of America should be renamed to the States of America since there hasn’t been unity in a while.

Also, why does it take 600 days to have an election here? Canada does it in a max of 11 weeks, Japan does it in 12 days, etc…

SilkySlim
SilkySlim
8 years ago
Reply to  RH

You can make the election cycle as short as you want. Just wait until that wonderful little booklet shows up, fill out the ballot, mail it. Took me under an hour.

RH
RH
8 years ago
Reply to  SilkySlim

I do make my election cycle short. I just watch the 3 debates and then read the voter book. But it’s everywhere in the media for 600 days….TV, magazines, radio, etc… It’s not me I’m worried about…it’s the millions of others that tune into all this waste on a daily basis. I simply want to know why people start campaigning 600 days before an election when most people only need a few days to decide.

B. Carfree
B. Carfree
8 years ago
Reply to  RH

And in all that media coverage, they devoted something like 45 minutes to the issues on the major networks and cable news sources, and zero minutes to climate change.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  B. Carfree

And like 2378946238745627856237845 minutes to f**king emails…

Spiffy
8 years ago
Reply to  RH

600 days? why do YOU take so long? c(:

my election cycle is 1 day: today… I’ll fill in my ballot and walk it to the library this evening…

Pete
Pete
8 years ago
Reply to  RH

The Disparate States of America?

I predict that if one particular candidate wins, there may well be a 51st state named Jefferson…

Hello, Kitty
8 years ago

Trump for life!

Spiffy
8 years ago
Reply to  Hello, Kitty

…imprisonment?

oh, we’re probably not supposed to incite a political argument here… (:

Hello, Kitty
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Read it how you will… it’s the open election thread!

wsbob
wsbob
8 years ago

It’s such a strange election. Out of this entire nation, these are the two best candidates we can bring forward? I hope whoever gets elected, has the chops to do the job. Personally, I think one of the two, does, knowledge-wise, but seems in past to have been seriously slow on the uptake concerning various issues and incidents. The other just seems to me to be, while oddly entertaining, a dangerously bad joke if they were sitting in the big chair in the oval office.

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
8 years ago
Reply to  wsbob

These are definitely not the best candidates we can bring forward. The single-mark ballot is a problem with primaries and the general election. Everything is distorted by a system of voting for the lesser of two evils, sponsored, bought, and paid for by evil on all sides. If you could vote for your ideal candidate and second, third choice we wouldn’t have the “spoiler” effect.

Alan Zundel for Secretary of State might be a start to fixing our ballots. And/or a ballot measure.

Clark in Vancouver
Clark in Vancouver
8 years ago

I’m just waiting for the groaner headline that will state EITHER “CLINTON TRUMPS TRUMP” OR “TRUMP TRUMPS CLINTON”.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
8 years ago

I’m waiting for Hillary to say “Donald, you’re fired!” tonight. It’ll be fantastic. Tremendous. The bigly-est!

And I can’t wait to say “President Clinton” once again. #90snostalgia

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

Hopefully for President Clinton version 2.0 they’ve worked out all the bugs from Clinton v1.0. 😉

Alan 1.0
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

I approve this message.

Dan Sloan
Dan Sloan
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

It’s not lookin’ too good 🙁

I voted for Trump!
I voted for Trump!
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan Sloan

No, it turned out just fine. The best man won.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago

If you only wanted to vote for a man.

I voted for Trump!
I voted for Trump!
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

I’m not a bigot so man or woman is the exact same thing. If I judge someone I do it based on the content of their character, qualifications for the job, etc, not on what is hanging (or not) between their legs.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

I feel like you could use some practice with your word choice. Maybe slow down a bit and think before you post your comments, since you can’t edit them later.

Your candidate has no demonstrated character to speak of, or qualifications for the job of President, so I can only assume you voted for his ‘etc’.

I voted for Trump!
I voted for Trump!
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

Mr. Trump has a long record of establishing successful businesses and running them; and a long record of successfully executing major building projects in NYC – that is not a simple task. Yes, he has had some business failures but when you take risks sometimes that happens. Here is one example of his success on the refurbishment of the Wollman Ice Skating Rink in NYC. After the city had worked on the project for 6 years spending millions, they announced they had to start over and it would take another 2years. Here is the story of how Trump successfully completed the job in 4 MONTHS and came in 25% under budget:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/offwhitepapers/2015/08/24/donald-trump-and-the-wollman-rinking-of-american-politics/#395193c926b2

I invite you to list the major accomplishments of Hillary Clinton. Please do not list her job titles. Job titles are not accomplishments.

Random
Random
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

“Hopefully for President Clinton version 2.0 they’ve worked out all the bugs from Clinton v1.0.”

No need.

Spiffy
8 years ago

is BikePortland allowed to endorse candidates?

I can’t find you in the Portland Business search to find out if you’re a non-profit…

I’d love it if you could endorse candidates…

Andy K
Andy K
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Bernie

Spiffy
8 years ago

“Everyone is a superhero when they use our democratic republic.”

FTFY…

I’m glad we don’t live in a democracy, so let’s not continue the myth that we do…

Hello, Kitty
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Ignoring ballot measures, of course, which are (within appropriate tolerances) “democratic” in the literal meaning of the word.

Alan 1.0
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

“But there is no basis for saying that the United States is somehow ‘not a democracy, but a republic.’”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/05/13/is-the-united-states-of-america-a-republic-or-a-democracy/

rick
rick
8 years ago

Ban metal-studded tires !

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  rick

Was there a ballot initiative for this?

rick
rick
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

No, but Les Schwab helped defeat the last push for it.

mh
mh
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Not this year.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  rick

Saw a pickup with them on yesterday. 68* in November and people are driving around with studded tires already…

ethan
ethan
8 years ago

As a (more than) daily smoker, I voted yes for the 3% cannabis tax for the city.

I wish the tax income was being handled differently, but hey, 3% for the city probably won’t hurt, and it will be less tax than now. I see it as a win-win.

Oliver
Oliver
8 years ago

“Everyone is a superhero when they use our democracy.”
~Jonathan Maus
vs
“Our leverage quite candidly goes up, as the voting populace goes down”
~Paul Weyrich

Anne Hawley
8 years ago

As of 10:21, it’s a perfectly gorgeous day, and I’m going to ride my bike somewhere, while wearing my “Someday A Woman Will Be President” t-shirt, just for the sheer pleasure and freedom of it.

(Meaning quiet back streets, all due caution, totally defensive riding, etc., but still…)

I returned my ballot within an hour of receiving it in the mail. There’s no more I can do, and nail-bitingly following my social media feed for election news is just bad for my nails. Might as well relax.

ethan
ethan
8 years ago
Reply to  Anne Hawley

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of women on the ballot this year. I’m hoping that the news tonight won’t disappoint.

rachel b
rachel b
8 years ago
Reply to  Anne Hawley

We need a pantsuit ride, Anne (and everyone)! I wish I had a pantsuit…
(I never thought I’d utter those words)

Anne Hawley
8 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

I’ve been kind of wishing I had one too. Lots of dressing-up-to-vote today.

Kate
Kate
8 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

I have several- you can borrow one! 🙂

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

My mom just turned 90. She’s lived to see her favorite team, the Red Sox, win 3 World Series. She’s seen a black man become President. She’s seen the Cubs win the World Series. Tonight she’ll see a woman become President.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Presumably she also saw the White Sox win the World Series. 😉

rick
rick
8 years ago
Reply to  Matt

and possibly a woman set up AmeriCorps NCCC to be government “community service”

Pete
Pete
8 years ago
Reply to  Matt

No, sorry, last night she saw the Supreme Court swing to the far right, undoing lots that women have fought years for.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  Pete

We’ll be waiting a long time for another right-wing justice to die.

Adam
8 years ago

Only 12 kegs? Might need more than that. It’s gonna be a long, stressful night.

rachel b
rachel b
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

I need whiskey. Jameson, please. Neat.

emerson
8 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

It’s Election Day – bourbon!

TonyH
TonyH
8 years ago
Reply to  emerson

After the Kim Davis fiasco, I look for bourbon that is not from Kentucky.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  TonyH

Burnside Bourbon is quite tasty.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

If you like Bourbon made by a wholesale distillery in Indiana.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

I know some local distillers do this, but I am pretty sure it’s actually distilled here. I asked them when I did the tour of Eastside last year.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

They ‘make’ it, but if the label doesn’t say ‘distilled in Portland’, then it was distilled somewhere else. ‘Making’ or ‘producing’ whiskey can be ageing it, blending it, or just slapping a label on a case of bottles. The term has almost no meaning on a bottle of whiskey.

There was an interesting article on the practice in the Tribune:

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/150618-distillers-spirited-debate%20

IMO, it’s kind of a sketchy way to market your product. Customers trying to buy a locally distilled product (if that’s what you want) should be able to tell that from the label.

Hello, Kitty
Hello, Kitty
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Many of the small label bourbons are distilled in Canada. Read the label carefully.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

I took a look at a bottle last night. The label says ‘produced’ and ‘bottled’ in Portland. If they start distilling it in Portland someday, you can be sure they’ll change the label.

emerson
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

New Deal Distillery has some whiskeys that are pretty good too.

ebw
ebw
8 years ago
Reply to  emerson

I don’t think they make enough to deal with today, or the next week, or the next 4 years. Ugh

emerson
8 years ago
Reply to  TonyH

I just meant an American whiskey.

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

Yep, I’m with Kevin. Drink American. 🙂

rachel b
rachel b
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Hmmm. You are true patriots. But bourbon gives me a tummy ache. But so does our country, right now. USA! Agh, the nerves…!

Adam
8 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

In all likelihood, I will be sticking to beer tonight. Local beer, of course. 🙂

Paul WIlkins
Paul WIlkins
8 years ago

Whatever happens, I’ll still love my family, get my hands dirty for my community, and work to spread the message. Because there’s still a long way to go.

SD
SD
8 years ago

Such a beautiful day outside. As usual, bike work commute was a great way to get my mind off the crazy.

SD
SD
8 years ago
Reply to  SD

This is going to require a lot more rides…..

gerald schuldt
gerald schuldt
8 years ago

“Mike Pence Rides Bicycle Before Heading to Polling Place.” This isn’t an endorsement… But I used to ride to vote too, but with the mail in ballots here in WA. State, now I rode to post my ballot by bike.
http://www.breitbart.com/live/2016-election-day-live-updates/mike-pence-rides-bicycle-polling-place/

rachel b
rachel b
8 years ago

Yes. Americans like to talk a lot about being “post-feminist” but this election made it plain to more than those painfully ‘in the know’ just how far we have to go. Virulent hatred and fear, formerly nicely veiled (or simply–of necessity–regarded with a blind eye by we ladies just trying to get along), brought out in the great wide ugly open. Scary. But a valuable exposure. Makes me more hopeful for the future.

I voted for Trump!
I voted for Trump!
8 years ago

Mr. Trump was very gracious to Hillary. He said we owe her a debt of gratitude for her service to the country.
.
He’s a good man; not a perfect man; but I don’t think he was caught cheating his opponents out of the nomination. I’ll bet that cost her the election.
.
Here’s a video of him being interviewed by Oprah in 1988 – he still holds the same beliefs. If you read his book “The Art of the Deal” you will see that he is a genius on deal-making and getting results in his projects.
Here’s the Oprah video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b8Q9e8i_pE

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago

And when do we start building the wall?

rick
rick
8 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

once Mexico pays for it.

wsbob
wsbob
8 years ago

I’m hoping all the nasty personal viewpoints he expressed in general about women, hispanics, middle easterners…and who else?…were just the occasional lapse in judgment of a primarily good man that sometimes doesn’t do well when he goes off script and ignores what’s been prepared for him on the teleprompter, to say.

In his acceptance speech last night, up front of the speech, he did appeal to those gathered at the Hilton, to acknowledge and thank Hillary for her work for the nation as secretary of state.

Being a good deal maker can be a good thing. In the business world and on television, that skill can be stunning and entertaining. Can he also become a good statesman for whom a strong aptitude for making deals with politicians national and international, can enable him to get good things accomplished?

dwk
dwk
8 years ago
Reply to  wsbob

He is 70 years old. He just won by being the biggest a-hole possible.
Why would he change?

I voted for Trump!
I voted for Trump!
8 years ago
Reply to  wsbob

His crude comments about grabbing women were just locker-room talk that a huge majority of males occasionally make when they are in the company of other males – his problem is that there was a recording of it. It was just harmless talk.

He is concerned about internal security in the USA and commented that some people, not all, coming thru the southern border are bringing drugs, are criminals, rapists, etc. The reason he said it is because it is absolute irrefutable fact and it is a serious problem and he wants to solve it.

His comments that we should stop immigration from the ME until we can ensure they are safe is a reasonable position. No other position would make any sense. Non-citizens do not have a “right” to come here without being checked out. Try going to another country with no paperwork – write back describing prison life in that country.

His comments, although not PC today, were not lapses in judgment – he was telling the truth because he knew that people were tired of the do-nothing politicians not solving these serious issues – and that includes the R’s and the D’s as well. You can bet everything you own, with no risk, that if the people coming here were overwhelmingly voting R, that the wall would be complete and it would be very effective.
Here’s an example of a 600 mile long wall I learned about recently:
http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-building-massive-fence-along-iraqi-border-to-keep-out-is-jihadists/news-story/ae40953496d51388951fc973777fef69

He will at least make an attempt to provide better security to the people of the USA; no other candidate in the race would do so. Trump is a man who likes solving problems – he views San Bernardino, Orlando, the Boston bombing, etc, etc, as problems he can help to prevent – he is experienced at problem solving and wants to help his country.

On whether he will do OK with foreign leaders, he cannot do worse than providing a pathway for Iran to obtain nukes. That’s a very low bar.

Robert Burchett
Robert Burchett
8 years ago
Reply to  wsbob

Still waiting for the second book, “Weaseling out of the Check.”

resopmok
resopmok
8 years ago

“Good” is certainly a relative term open to interpretation, but I think you should strike from your lexicon for the benefit of honesty.

bikeninja
bikeninja
8 years ago

This was the fault of all those in the Democratic Party Power Structure that sandbagged Bernie with their super-delegates and other dirty tricks. He would have beaten Trump easily, and today would have been a better day. May they burn in the lowest realms of Hades.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago
Reply to  bikeninja

Actually, Hillary won the popular vote. As did Kerry. As did Gore. All three would have been president if America had more than a silly sham democracy.

canuck
canuck
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Kerry did not win the popular vote.
Bush Kerry
Popular vote 62,040,610 59,028,444

rick
rick
8 years ago
Reply to  bikeninja

Odd that Oregon keeps electing the same kind of people who keep making pathetic choices, failed schools, PERS, etc.

dwk
dwk
8 years ago
Reply to  rick

I guess that is why so many people want to move here, because it sucks so bad.
Nice try, you are more than welcome to leave…

Lester Burnham
Lester Burnham
8 years ago

This is what you get for letting condescending Hollywood elites telling you how to vote. Many did not bother coming to the polls. Blame Beyoncé.

B. Carfree
B. Carfree
8 years ago

Time to look at the up-side. (There must be an up-side because I have never been so low.) I’m down to my father’s “family philosophy of relative happiness”: Don’t fret when they hang you by your thumbs; at least they’re not hanging you by your testicles.

How sad that the angry tribe of white males has rallied to try to preserve privilege. They did the same thing in the 1950’s by refusing to implement Brown v The Board of Education, which resulted in Brown 2 and saw a certain Hillary Rodham go to the South in the ’60s after law school to continue pushing desegregation forward. It’s clearly going to take a little longer to move past misogyny and racism in this nation, but I’m still confident that we shall do this. It just would have been nice to do it with the consent of the majority of white males.

rick
rick
8 years ago
Reply to  B. Carfree

How sad that people block streets and the MAX light-rail line in downtown Portland last night. How sad that people vote for electric car discounts for 4,000 pound Teslas and fail to ban metal-studded tires.

Pete
Pete
8 years ago
Reply to  B. Carfree

Hey, I’m an angry white male, and I neither voted for Trump nor am I a misogynist or racist!

(I’m angry that my chain just dropped when I was forced to take the lane on a 40 MPH road because of a jackass that parked his huge truck in the bike lane with his flashers on so he could run in for a burger at Wendy’s).

rick
rick
8 years ago

Disgusted with the Supreme Court’s rails-to-trails case from 2014. Go Trump !

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
8 years ago

Somehow it feels like we’ve been sucked into a giant version of Parker Brothers’ hit family board game, Monopoly!(tm). I guess I’ve always been curious to see what life was like in the ’20s…

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

In related news, Lance Armstrong and Dr. Michele Ferrari have been appointed co-chiefs of the World Anti Doping Administration.

soren
soren
8 years ago

when did portland last have a progressive on the city council?

Robert Burchett
Robert Burchett
8 years ago

If you’re disapponted in the candidates that magically appear but you’ve never been to a local party precinct meeting, maybe you’ve been letting other people make choices for you.