Jackson Free Press

After you vote Tuesday, head to Soulshine in the Hal & Mal's complex to watch the returns on the big-screen TV, and either celebrate or drown your sorrows—Happy Hour prices all night long. The JFP will be blogging from Soulshine about the returns and whatever the hell else we feel like adding to the blogosphere. So if you can't make it, check in on this site to keep yourself up-to-date with what's going on here and in the outside world, and be sure to add your comments.

In addition, the Justice James Graves victory party will be in the big room at Hal & Mal's, and the Convention Center party in the restaurant and brew pub. So it will be the place to be.

Remember: Voting is the coolest thing you can do. Spread the word. Make a difference. Believe, baby, believe.

(Pictured: a tin of cookies a friend of the JFP (FOJFP) dropped at our offices Monday. No, there aren't any Bush cookies.)

Previous Commentsshow

Well, I don't want to go there at 8 in the morning and sit there all day... what's a reasonable time that you'll be there? I'm coming as is the husband.. someone needs to gay the place up besides knol.. heh

Jo-D

Nov 1 2004

Alright, be nice. We're on the same side ... at least today. ;-) Let's say 7:30 p.m. Charley said he'd have a barkeep there at 7 p.m. as soon as the polls close, in case you have to have your shot of Cuervo post-haste! We'll probably show about 7:30, though. But come any time, all.

DonnaLadd

Nov 1 2004

I'll have soulshine set up and ready by 6:30 (maybe six, depending on when i can leave my day job...) so come early and stay late - it's gonna be fun! and so you know: 'happy hour' means EVERYTHING is $1 off except for the draft - it stays $2. so, a call drink'll be $4 instead of $5, bottled regular domestics are $2 instead of $3, and on and on... really a great deal. and it lasts until close/2AM. it's going to be an interesting evening, to say the least.

Jay

Nov 1 2004

Charley just said Convention Center WON'T be at Hal & Mal's. Why in the world are they changing their mind about this the day before the election!? Doesn't matter. We don't 'em to have a good shindig. BTW, someone just brought me the most adorable (and unbelievable) Kerry-Edwards-Vote cookies. They are little works at art: intricate designs. I'm not letting anybody eat them. I love this idea about Election Day presents -- nothing I love more than getting and giving gifts, Toad likes to say. Of course, he's lyin'. ;-D

DonnaLadd

Nov 1 2004

I've never been to Soulshine so I'm looking forward to it. I saw one of their people on the news one morning last week I think it was... the pizzas look good. Pizza, beer, politics... can't get much better other than the people winning that you want to win and the initiatives going the way you want them to go! I'm looking forward to it. I trust that security will be present?

Jo-D

Nov 1 2004

They always have security when it's crowded. And, yes, Soulshine pizzas are delicious. And Jay Lossett is a totally cool bartender -- andd he's worked very hard for the Convention Center. He's at the heart of the civic movement of young people in the city. Y'all need to meet. We're going to have big fun, regardless of the outcome.

DonnaLadd

Nov 1 2004

I voted. There were a lot of folks in line when I arrived there shortly before 7:00.

Ex

Nov 2 2004

heyyy i'll be there gaying soulshine up, too, Jody. Or lesbian-ing it up, whichever.

casey

Nov 2 2004

Casey, are you voting in LA or MS this round?

kaust

Nov 2 2004

knol, somebody... can you set up a prominent blog thread where people can post the time they voted, at which precinct, and the number of people who have already cast their ballot? i voted at the firestation by flashback at 9:45 and about 240 people had already voted. in spite of the rain, people are still getting out... this is GREAT

Jay

Nov 2 2004

Jay, I've set up a blog at the top of the page. Let everyone know they can come to that blog to share their stories and experiences.

kaust

Nov 2 2004

lol @ Casey! Lesbilicious dear! Also, today is national abstinence day.. no more Bush or Dick!

Jo-D

Nov 2 2004

oh goodness... Jody that is funny. I am not sure if if Soulshine can handle all the gayness/lesbianness... I'll be there too... can't wait.

Jen

Nov 2 2004

LA, unfortunately. I wish I had switched because I have some local things I'd really like to vote for. Oh well, a lot of my friends don't know and have taken my word as doctrine, so they're voting MS for me :) from what I hear, lots of glbt folks are going to be at soulshine/hal and mal's tonights, so gayness (and i hope that doubles as happiness) will abound!

casey

Nov 2 2004

Just found this at Salon: Political analysts say that in order to carry Ohio, Kerry needs heavy turnout in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland and which is the most solidly Democratic part of the state. So far, despite everything, that's exactly what he's getting. In fact, people here say they've never seen anything like it. and: Most people here from what I'm hearing have never voted before in their lives," says Michael Bonner, a 34-year-old police officer who was waiting for a friend in the hallway of Harry David Jr. High School, a polling place in a predominantly black section of the city full of boarded-up buildings and vacant lots. "Even the drug dealers came out and voted today!" says Dan Lawson, a hulking 27-year-old electrician. An older man standing nearby nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. Even the drug men." I'm thinking the drug dealers were NOT part of the pre-election polls! Also, I confess to believing that Kerry is going to win, and am only seeking out data points that support that view. No raining on my parade today. I could be massively wrong. But, at least I'm happy for one day.

kate

Nov 2 2004

More from Salon: "I hope there's big turnout," President Bush said at a final campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio, today, "it's good for our system." But it's probably not good for his reelection hopes. And the early evidence is that voters are breaking turnout records today. Earlier, Tim Grieve told you about Kerry spokesman Mike McCurry's estimation that Bush-Cheney '04 looked favorably on a turnout of about 105 million to 108 million. Anything above that benefits the Democrats, the conventional wisdom goes. The Democrats were looking for about 118 million voters to turn out. Grieve now reports from Boston that the Kerry camp's anecdotal evidence says turnout is somewhere in the 60 percent range, which translates to about 120 million voters. If it bears out, that is quite a surge from 2000, when 51 percent of Americans voted, or 106 million. America hasn't seen turnout rates in the 60s since the '60s.

kate

Nov 2 2004

"America hasn't seen turnout rates in the 60s since the '60s." Donna, maybe your first post this morning about this being 1964 actually fits well with what's going on! ;-) Kate, keep making my day with these posts!!!

kaust

Nov 2 2004

Okay, Knol, since you asked. Salon is also reporting on the latest from the Iowa Electronic Markets, which is basically a big stock market/gambling site, where traders can buy and sells shares of Kerry and Bush, as a way to try to forecast elections. I've never used the site, but it's supposed to be a good predictor of election results. And, it's bugged me, because that site has been calling it for Bush for the whole campaign. But now, Salon says: For a while now, we've been puzzled by the traders' love of Bush shares; even after the president's less-than-stellar debate performances, traders on the market were putting their money on Bush's side, giving him at times as much as 70 percent odds of winning. Since yesterday, though, that's changed. By a hair, the IEM is now on Kerry's side. As of noon EST, traders were giving Kerry about a 53 percent chance to win, with Bush at 47 percent. Especially interesting is the sharp plunge in recent days in traders' faith that Bush can win with greater than 52 percent of the popular vote. Before the first debate, traders put the odds of Bush doing that at more than 50 percent, and as late as last week the IEM thought there was at least a 25 percent chance that Bush would win big. Today, though, a share that pays off only if Bush wins big is selling at 13 cents (i.e., there's a 13 percent chance Bush will win with more than 52 percent). Shares saying that Kerry will win big, meanwhile, are selling for 19 cents each. Again, bear in mind that I'm only searching for data that supports my conclusion - but it's fun to find so much!

kate

Nov 2 2004

More from Salon: According to the first exit polls by the National Election Pool, a consortium of six major media organizations, Kerry's not doing half bad. The results posted below warrant at least a few grains of salt, but as of 2pm Eastern, exit polls show Kerry winning in Florida (51-48), Pennsylvania (60-40), Ohio (52-48), Michigan (51-47), New Mexico (50-48), Minnesota (58-40), Wisconsin (52-43), and New Hampshire (57-41). The president leads in Arizona (55-45), Colorado (51-48), and Louisiana (57-42). Iowa is a tie (49-49). I tried to get to the "National Election Pool" website, but the links provided by google went nowhere. I'm assuming their server is too busy. I did find this at AP, which says that the NEP is formed by ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and AP. They've hired "two veteran pollsters" to conduct exit polls."

kate

Nov 2 2004

Election party round-up (feel free to post others) James Graves -- Hal & Mal's 7:00 p.m. until Jackson Free Press -- Soulshine Pizza (next to Hal & Mal's) 7:30 p.m. until Democratic Women for Kerry -- Mikhail's 8:00 p.m until Pro Convention Center --Union Station 7:00 p.m. Bill Waller -- Dennery's Mississippi Republican Party -- Windsor Ballroom, Marriott (formerly Crowne Plaza) 7:00 p.m. until; $5.00 cover charge The Forrest and Lamar County Democratic Executive Committees are hosting an election night gathering at the Inn on the Hill in Hattiesburg - across from Convention Center. The Vote For Our Coliseum Committee will be at the Gulfport Holiday Inn on the beach at 6:00 PM. Early exit polls indicate a victory party tonight.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

The Republicans are charging a cover!?! Is it to keep the riff-raff out if you're not "one of them"? Oh my Lord. As if loyalty pledges for Bush rallies weren't bad enough, you have to PAY to get in???

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

My jaw started dropping in humorous amazement right when I got part where it was being held at the Marriott ballroom... the cover just added to it...

Jen

Nov 2 2004

Nothing against the Marriott ballroom in and of itself, mind you.

Jen

Nov 2 2004

well dang, i was going to go to the repub party, but downtown is too dangerous, especially after 2 or 3 pm. wish they'da had it somewhere where there's no crime, ever. oh well...

Jay

Nov 2 2004

Yeah, I hear Rankin County is safe because it ain't filled with a bunch of heathens like Jackson. Maybe we should start The Heathen Club. Anyone? Must show Hinds County residency to join. Meets at Soulshine Thursday nights, Jay Losset bartending. Has a ring to it. I used to be the Feminist Protection Officer in such a club on Nantucket.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

oooh I want in!!! I want to be the RD... Resident Dyke.

Jen

Nov 2 2004

i'm a heathen, and proud of it! don't want to be too exclusive, though. i like the sound of a heathen club, (i'm kinda already ringleader of my own small one...) but in keeping with jackson's spirit, all are welcome, regardless of church affiliation or how long it's been since you've had a hair-washing...

Jay

Nov 2 2004

lets not go there with hair-washing... i actually had some queen tell me today they couldn't go vote because they had a hair appointment.. and was very serious about it too!

Jo-D

Nov 2 2004

Heading up to Soulshine in a few... Hope to see everyone there!

kaust

Nov 2 2004

OK, we're headed to Soulshine now, too. Come on down, y'all.

DonnaLadd

Nov 2 2004

'Twas great to see folks out last night, even amidst the uncertainty of Mississippi and national elections. :)

Jo-D

Nov 3 2004