Rocci Fisch

November 6/7, 2012

ELECTION NIGHT: IT’S FINALLY HERE

. . . It’s historic. How many times have we been reminded?
. . . A long and bitter fight. Can I clean out my TV of campaign ads?
. . . It’s virtual; it’s digital; it’s map-walled; it’s under the ice (NBC’s map at “Democracy Plaza” with a million American flags, otherwise known as Rockefeller Center.)
. . . The electoral vote to aspire to will be displayed from the 16th floor with one side blue (Obama) and the other side red (Romney) to mark the winner.
. . . ABC’s at Times Square, the "Crossroads of the World."
. . . People are looking up at their coverage rotating around the ticker, craning their necks
. . . CNN’s coverage originates from Washington -- not New York.
. . . CBS isn’t on yet -- at least not here in D.C.
. . . Katie Couric is part of the ABC coverage, reporting on what social media is saying.
. . . She’s got big Warby Parker-ish glasses on – the big formerly nerdy, now fashionable eyewear.
. . . CNBC’s coverage is called "Your Money, Your Vote," much like ABC’s slogan, "Your Voice, Your Vote."
. . . MSNBC has Rachel Maddow "anchoring" and other night-time regulars join her, the ones who have their own shows, i.e., Al Sharpton, Larwence O’Donnell, Ed Schultz, yeller Chris Matthews and God knows, others.
. . . A slimmed down Bret Baier and Megyn Kelly anchor on Fox.
. . . “Morning Joe’s” Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are live streaming from the ’92nd Street Y’ in New York; they’re not on MSNBC where they usually are in the morning.
. . . A letdown?
. . . Streaming is the wave of the future.
. . . Give me TV any day.
. . . PLEA. Don’t let the exit polling ruin the suspense.
. . . Ohio, Ohio, Ohio.
. . . July, July, July -- Billy Paul, 1975, on Philadelphia International Records.
. . . There’s a myriad of gas bags on all of the nets. We supposedly need them to interpret and explain for a dumb home audience.
SECTION 2
7:41 PM. Mitt Romney carries South Carolina, announced CBS’s Scott Pelley.
. . . Bob Schieffer still can’t understand why Romney went to Cleveland today since it’s historically Democratic.
. . . CBS has a nice embroidered flag that says "Campaign 2012 CBS News: on it. A bit classy. They’re not as flashy as the others, a more serious vibe, led by Pelley.
. . . The local cutaways are sometimes upcut (cut off before the anchor finishes). A bit abrupt.
. . . Rude?
. . . The networks are highfalutin when it comes to big-footing the locals stations.
. . . When you’re network there’s nothing worse than local.
. . . Tom Brokaw’s on NBC now, setting things in perspective. He’s a senior.
. . . He’s also on TV more now than when he was the anchor of the NBC Nightly News (1982-2004).
. . . Brian Williams, a big rock ’n’ roll fan, keeps talking about Bruce Springsteen, who was stumping for Obama today at three rallies in Wisconsin, Iowa and Ohio.
. . . Obama gave him and wifey Patti Scialfa a ride on his plane, a first for the rocker, reported the Reliable Source in today’s Washington Post.
. . . They also said that while the president was talking to Chris Christie of New Jersey he put Springsteen on the phone to chat with the governor.
. . . "It was great to talk to the president and even better to talk to Bruce," said Christie, a real fan who has gone to more than 100 of his concerts.
. . . Get a life.
. . . Anyway, you’d think Springsteen was Bob Dylan at the rallies, with his gee-tar and that microphone holder around his neck.
. . . He sounded like a tamborine man. (Mr. Tambourine Man -- The Byrds, 1965, on Columbia Records.)
. . . I personally like Stevie Wonder’s harmonica playing better than Bruce’s, like he played on his first hit, Fingertips, Part 2 (1963, on Tamla Records.
. . . Bruce hugged President Obama, bear-huggish.
. . . "I’m ready to grow young again," he sang. ( “No Surrender” from his “Born in the U.S.A.” album, 1984, on Columbia Records)
. . . He looked like he had makeup on.
. . . Josh Elliott of ABC is outside in Times Square interviewing people. He’s enthusiastic.
. . . He said it was a "virtual amphitheatre" out there.
. . . It’s a jungle out there too.
. . . Donna Brazile, a political analyst on ABC, keeps reminding people that even if they get to the polls late they still have the right to vote.
. . . She’s said this at least three times today: on ABC, on CNN and again on ABC nighttime.
. . . Diane Sawyer’s voice goes up and down a lot. It’s the nature of the news and the evening.
. . . Candy Crowley’s at Romney headquarters in Boston. They’re playing jazz music there, she said.
. . . If you ask me, she’s the new star of the Sunday morning public affairs shows, if you ask me.
. . . She’s no muss and fuss.
. . . CNN seems to have a massive studio. Looks good.
. . . A lot of correspondents are in a lot of places.
. . . Bret Bair (Fox) is talking to Brit Hume about the (dreaded) exit polls, which break down everything and are over-interpreted.
. . . When you look at the female vote . . . , says Juan Williams. He says Obama has to get them if he’s gonna win.
. . . "Coming up to the top of the hour and polls have closed in 16 states, including the District of Columbia," said Baier, introducing the next part of Fox’s coverage.
. . . It’s too soon to call.
. . . "It’s Too Soon To Know" -- Etta James, 1961, on Argo – not the movie -- Records.
. . . Alabama is the "Yellowhammer State," revealed Megyn Kelly.
. . . Bill O’Reilly, a contributor to Fox’s coverage, said Hurricane Sandy was prominent in the exit polling, a factor – incidentally the name of his show, "The O’Reilly Factor."
. . . The pictures were the thing. "If Obama wins it’s because of Sandy," said the talk show host.
. . . Was Sandy a keyword.
. . . Was she a hashtag?
SECTION 3
. . . "The sun may be rising when we finally get enough information about Florida," said Tamryn Hall, who’s at a screen board.
. . . Does that mean I won’t get to bed early?
. . . Chuck Todd is doing double (triple too?) duty on NBC and MSNBC with analysis at the “Map Wall.”
. . . Rachel Maddow continues talk fast (MSNBC).
. . . TOO EARLY TO CALL. Yes, be careful. And accuracy is more important than being first, the nets all humbly insist.
. . . Wait til the votes come. They’ll change their tune.
. . . Somebody get rid of that announcer on ABC. He’s too much to take, the same guy that does the opening of World News.
. . . He tries to be friendly-sounding and intimate. It comes off as fake and annoying.
. . . Craig Romney is up on the stage right now, talking about his mother. He’s been speaking Spanish in ads for his father, relates ABC’s David Muir from Boston.
. . . Mitt’s "body man" took a snapshot somewhere there and it "appears to be that pasta (for the kids) was on the menu for the many kids in the family" he reported.
. . . Making the insignificant significant.
. . . And human?
. . . Did Ann (Romney) have enough time to make her Welsh cakes?
. . . A musical "Da Da Da Da" -- the distinctive first four notes of all ABC News’ programs -- plays when ABC makes a projection.
. . . Seems a little trifling.
. . . CNN and Fox, like ABC, have a little music sound effect before each projection is made also.
. . . If the night is long George Stephanopoulos won’t get much sleep. He has to get up early for “Good Morning America.”
. . . He’s the hardest working man in television -- something like that, they say.
. . . James Brown was the “hardest working man in show business.” Good God!
SECTION 4
. . . Earlier today Ashleigh Banfield said, "Steinhauser, you’re awesome," referring to CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser who talked about the latest data on exit polls. He has a lot of knowledge.
. . . She was impressed.
. . . She wears those big glasses too. In fact, she started the trend in wearing that type of specs.
. . . She was a pioneer. Others followed.
8:30 HALF-HOUR
. . . Savannah Guthrie’s (NBC) state – to report on -- is Pennsylvania, which is too soon to call.
. . . If Obama wins Florida that would do it," said Chuck Todd of NBC.
. . . He oughta become the moderator of "Meet the Press," if you ask me.
. . . He reminds me of Tim Russert (former moderator) with his white board even though Todd uses the elctronic map wall.
. . . Todd knows his facts and figures and statistics likeTim did.
. . . Scott Pelley doesn’t get excited about anything. He’s very measured, mature, professional and shows no bias.
. . . It may be very late in Virginia because there are hundreds if not thousands waiting in line to vote, reported CBS’s Wyatt Andrews, who’s an excellent, seasoned reporter/correspondent, like Jim Avila of ABC who I did not see on their coverage.
. . . The state will not start reporting its election results until everybody gets a chance to vote. The turnout has been so heavy.
. . . They’re heeding Donna Brazile’s advice from earlier today and tonight. She said everyone’s got the right to vote and just because they’re late doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to do so.
. . . Virginia is very important to both the Romney and Obama campaigns, related Pelley.
. . . Republican Linda McMahon of Connecticut reportedly spent $100,000,000 on her campaigns." She lost tonight to Democrat Chris Murphy.
. . . I want to see "Les Miserables." They just showed the preview commercial for it on CBS. Anne Hathaway sings in it, is pretty good and gets her hair cut off.
. . . It sounds snobby but I’ll go anyway.
. . . John King of CNN continues in his role as “Magic Wall” interpreter.
. . . Dana Bash, King’s former wife, is "womanning" the House/Senate wall and the "balance of power" for CNN.
. . . Anderson Cooper asked her what’s up and then walked across the studio to "check in with our analysts and contributors," who number in the millions and sit at two banks of airline counter desks.
. . . He moves back and forth a lot. There’s room to do it on CNN’s massive set.
. . . Wolf Blitzer has adopted his Warby Parker-ish black frames (a while back). He’s more hip-looking now, I guess.
. . . Gone are those old-fashioned wire rims.
. . . I wanna see "The Sky Is Falling," . . . er, I mean "Skyfall." An ad for the new James Bond movie just ran on CNN. Some of the reviews haven’t been kind though.
. . . But Daniel Craig is no Sean Connery.
. . . "There’s a sense of nervous anticipation at Obama headquarters in Chicago," reported Jessica Yellin of CNN.
. . . "Anticipation" -- Carly Simon, 1971 on Elektra Records.
SECTION 5: 9 PM
. . . Yesterday Bill Clinton campaigned for Obama in New Hampshire and looked like Abe Lincoln in his long coat or Keanu Reeves in his "Matrix" garb.
. . . It looked like a sweepingly long garment.
. . . "All the Single Ladies." (Beyonce, 2008, on Columbia Records) A suspendered Bob Beckel of Fox’s "The Five" said he was concerned about the single women vote in the election.
. . . Right now there are as many as 500 people waiting to vote in Virginia Beach and several more in Norfolk, reported Fox.
. . . Bill Hemmer’s at Fox’s "Bill-board" map tally board. I guess they named it after him.
. . . All the reporters I’ve heard seem to be pretty good in their coverage. They seem like smart people.
. . . It’s a night of professionals.
. . . There better not be any crying in the end.
. . . Obama cried today, reported ABC’s Jake Tapper in his World News piece, and they showed video of tears emanating from his left eye.
. . . He was thanking the crowd for "the hard work of ‘change.’”
. . . Obama just won Pennsylvania, worth 20 votes.
. . . George Stephanopoulos says it doesn’t look good for Romney to get to 270 electoral votes.
. . . As they went to break the crowd outside ABC’s Times Square studios chanted "Four more years, four more years."
. . . Jim Vance of local NBC station WRC/News4 Washington just said that the polls will remain open in Virginia until 11 p.m.
. . . CBS seems to have fewer analysts and contributors on the set with Pelley. I guess they’re not that into bloviators.
. . . John Dickerson, their political director, is at the electoral board and now (9:35-ish) says Mitt Romney’s chances are sinking fast.
. . . Barbara Walters is reporting about how the business world regards Obama.
. . . She says Obama doesn’t seem to listen to them. And he doesn’t return calls. Barbara said: Valerie Jarrett does (senior advisor to the president). She’s always positive about everything.
. . . He needs to talk to them if he wants more "jobs, jobs, jobs," she said.
. . . "I just talked to a key Romney surrogate about Ohio," said ABC’s David Muir, and that person told him Romney was very concerned about the Buckeye State.
. . . "Surrogate"? What, is he carrying a baby?
. . . Bill Clinton has been called Obama’s surrogate.
. . . The crowd is screaming in Times Square like they do on "Good Morning America."
. . . I wonder if they’re cued when they take a shot of the crowd when they "go to break."
SECTION 6: COMING ON TO 10 PM
. . . "The president is leading in the raw in Ohio," said Brian Williams.
. . . He’s folksy like Dan Rather. He used to come up with some zingers.
. . . Uh oh, David Axelrod (senior advisor on Obama’s election campaign) is on now talking to Williams from the Chicago headquarters. He never goes away.
. . . ANXIOUS. Axelrod lightheartedly (but meaning it) said "you kept me in this chair for ten minutes [waiting to be interviewed]."
. . . Williams said they had to get on with some other business and seemed a bit sorry.
. . . In TV news guests have to wait until they’re needed to be interviewed for show segments. It’s a race to get the VIPs on the shows but once the "get is got” they take their place in line with all the others on hold to talk to anchor people.
. . . A fact of life in TV.
. . . They’re hot when they’re hot and not when they’re not.
. . . Sarah Palin’s on Fox now talking with Greta Van Susteren, who does a damn good interview.
. . . Palin’s crossing her fingers, hoping things can turn around "in these remaining hours," she said.
. . . It looks like Tan Man John Boehner will again be Speaker of the House and minority leader and that the Republicans will retain control.
. . . So how will anything change? There’ll still be gridlock.
. . . Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago and former chief of staff for President Obama, seems to be very happy about the way things are going.
. . . He seems nicer tonight than he usually is when he’s on TV. He usually comes off as an obnoxious know-it-all when he does interviews. Tonight he’s on his best behavior.
. . . ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd seems to be wearing a light purple tie. Proud of his undecidedness?
SECTION 7: ALMOST 10:45 PM
. . . On the Romney podium was a sign that said "Real Change," reported David Muir.
. . . He was probably picking up on Obama’s "Change" slogan of four years ago. Now it’s "Forward" with either a period (.) at the end or an exclamation point (!).
. . . Whichever seems appropriate for whatever occasion.
. . .Somebody oughta tell Wolf Blitzer to chill a little, calm down. He’s practically yelling in his eagerness to announce projections and results, sounds like a carnival barker.
. . . “Talking Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” -- James Brown, 1972, on Polydor Records.
. . . Obama has been elected president again, reports Brian Williams (NBC) and Scott Pelley (CBS). He won Ohio.
. . . The cables have announced it too (CNN, Fox, MSNBC).
. . . ABC has not announced it yet (11:20 p.m.) They’re holding out.
. . . Donna Brazile says it’s too early to talk about 2016 when speculation mounted on ABC. Thank God. Enough’s enough, quit rushing life.
. . . ABC’s doing a "Special Report" now (finally) to project that Ohio went for Obama, the continuing president of the United States.
. . . They did the Special Report so that all the ABC affiliates would switch back to the network (they were on a local break) to air the important projection.
. . . It does seem like New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Where’s Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest?
. . . Is it over now? Are they sure? Can they end it so soon?
. . . Barbara Walters said Obama will have to practice what he preaches when it comes to jobs.
. . . "Practice What You Preach" -- Barry White (King of the Bedroom), 1994, on A&M Records.
. . . People are up in the trees near the White House. The video was so dark at first glance that I thought it was King Kong up there.
. . . One of the pundits earlier tonight said that Romney misjudged the electorate, that its makeup has changed and that he didn’t address or appeal to emerging minorities like Hispanics, African Americans and the young.
. . . The young and the restless.
. . . Obama got 70 per cent of the Hispanic vote.
. . . Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist, said on "Morning Joe" Wednesday morning that "Hispanics are the fastest growing demographic in this country and that Republicans can’t ignore this."
. . . JUST ASKING. Is somebody gonna skate around the rink at Democracy Plaza when the night’s all over?
. . . How about the entire NBC crew in a conga line?
. . . Prometheus (gilded statue) will be watching.
. . . The Romney campaign is not willing to concede Ohio yet (11:40 p.m.)
SECTION 8
. . . Katie Couric’s assignment -- to report tweets -- said that the most "retweeted tweet" in social media history (?) was a picture of the Obamas (Barack and Michelle) hugging with the caption "Four more years.” underneath.
. . . Katie also related tweets from some celebrities, including Cher, Paris Jackson (who cares about her?), Katie Perry and others. They’re all happy it looks like Obama won.
. . . The anchors are all vamping, waiting for the competitors to make their speeches.
. . . NEARING AN END.
. . . Jake Tapper says that Romney will come out first and then Obama will do his thing.
. . . I hope it comes soon. I need to get outside for some fresh air. I’m going stir crazy.
. . . Finally, Ann Romney can take a break. Hubby’s been dragging her around for years on the campaign trail.
. . . "Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around" -- Stevie Nicks, 1981, on Modern Records.
. . . Barbara Walters looks good for 83.
. . . Obama wins, first called at 11:12 p.m.
. . . Romney concedes. "I believe in America, the people of America."
. . . "We have given our all to this campaign, Paul (Ryan, running mate) and I" said partner Romney, appreciatively.
. . . "Besides my wife Ann, Paul is the best choice I ever made," declared Romney
. . . His speech was described as "short but gracious" by one of the network reporters.
. . . He was upbeat but spoke resignedly.
. . . "Besides my wife Ann, Paul is the best choice I ever made," declared Romney.
. . . Maybe he thinks he’s one of his sons.
. . . Will Romney get anything out of this? He deserves something.
. . . Obama took a long time to come out and accept. What was he doing?
. . . While everyone was waiting they were playing some good tunes that the crowd moved to: "Groove Me" (King Floyd, 1970 on Chimneyville Records), "Mr. Big Stuff" (Jean Knight, 1971, on Stax Records) -- some were knowing and singing the words to that one -- "Hard To Handle," (sounded like it was Otis Redding, 1968, on Atco Records), "Let’s Stay Together" (Al Green, 1971 on Hi Records), -- the song Obama himself sang at a fund-raiser at New York’s Apollo Theater back in January -- ,"Got To Get You Into My Life (Earth, Wind & Fire, 1978, on Columbia Records).
. . . They seem to like classic R&B.
. . . COMPLAINT. Somebody should’ve told the TV director to vary the shots of the crowd. I kept seeing the same people.
. . . Good God, there were thousands in the throng. Put those cameramen/women to work and let me see some variety.
. . . The president-elect finally came out.
. . . "I have listened to you. I have learned from you," said Obama to a roaring audience.
. . . He sounded stentorian, like he likes to.
. . . "For the United States of America, the best is yet to come."
. . . "The Best Is Yet To Come" -- Grover Washington with Patti LaBelle, 1982, on Elektra Records.
. . . "It was his best speech since 2004 . . . The text and passion was fantastic," commented Mark Halperin, a political analyst (senior) for Time magazine and NBC.
. . . TIE SITUATION. Obama wore a dark blue one and Biden’s was powder blue.
NEXT MORNING
. . . Joe Scarborough said Wednesday morning on his MSNBC program that Obama’s "coattails were long.
. . . He was very wound up, too much so. Boisterous is a better word for it.
. . . The "Morning Joe" crew was overjoyed at Obama’s victory. Mika Brzezinski was ecstatic.
. . . She said a "new era of bi-partisanship has begun." What planet is she living on?
. . . They’re (MSNBC) definitely a partisan network -- and a cable network. There’s a difference.
. . . The regular NBC network needs to distance itself from opinion-spouting on-air types like that group.
. . . The same partisanship goes for Fox News.
. . . And CNN, even though often called "down-the-middle," leans left, if you ask me.
. . . It’s hard to get the story straight and without "spin.”
. . . That crazy, hyper-acting Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s "Mad Money," said, "I’m 57. The country doesn’t look like us," in referring to the lack of realization on Romney’s part that he should’ve appealed to what the "new normal" is in the United States. Things have changed.
. . . Mike Allen of "Politico" said on "Morning Joe" that Paul Ryan’s "coming back and will be running for president now."
. . . He’s the frontrunner already, say some of the speculators, already antsy for 2016,for crissakes.
. . . No longer the handmaiden.
. . . Everybody’s saying the economy is teetering (twittering?) on a fiscal cliff.
. . . Don’t fall off it, you might not get up.
. . . It was a record-breaking night for social media -- over 31,000,000 tweeted their fingers off.
. . . I guess now popularity is judged on 40 characters or less.
. . . UH . . . "One Less Bell To Answer" -- The Fifth Dimension, 1970, on Bell Records.
. . . Done.

rocci.fisch@gmail.com

Archives

Services provided by BrowserMedia.com