With 96 percent of the precincts reporting at 10:55 p.m., Chambliss captured 57 percent to Martin’s 43 percent.
In the end, Martin, a 63-year-old former state lawmaker from Atlanta, wasn’t able to get Obama voters back to the polls in large enough numbers to overcome the Republican advantage in Georgia, which has become an increasingly a reliable red state since 2002.
With most precincts reporting, turnout stood at about 35 percent. That’s higher than the 20 percent predicted by a spokesman for Secretary of State Karen Handel but far less than the 65 percent who voted in last month’s general election

Real Clear Politics’ live blog echoed those statements on being able to get Obama supporters back to the polls, where they break down some of the early voting demographics. RCP’s live blog had Chambliss winning with a margin of 68-32 in the early goings of the evening, but it seems as though that was without Atlanta’s metro area reporting.

Norm Coleman must be happy as hell about this, if he can keep the 50 vote lead he may or may not have. It pretty much eliminates the need for the Dems to fight for Al Franken to become a senator. There are a lot of conflicting reports about who is actually winning in this race. The Star Tribune does a pretty good breakdown of the recount too.

Even though the Dems we’re unable to nab the 60 seat super this time. Hot Air points out that 2010 will see 4 of the 5 oldest GOP-ers running for reelection, and Sen. Mel Martinez will be retiring as well, which Dems are foaming at the mouth over. None of that is good news for the Republican party, as again they’ll seem to have a tougher time fighting off a Super Majority. I think the Florida seat is savable. Jeb Bush has hinted at running, and though his last name does come with a lot of baggage, he was a wildly popular governor, and two years may be enough time for people to forget about W, as long as Jeb can play a role in distancing himself from his bro. Though it seems like there is a line forming for the seat as well.

Congressman-elect Austria is a 1982 graduate of Marquette University, with a B.A. in political science. He joins Republican Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Democrat Gwen Moore (D-WI) as Marquette alumni currently serving in Congress. Congratulations, Congressman!

So, if you can avoid paying the new 1% sales tax, you can save $483.  I know I won’t be able to do it with everything and it’s not that much but, for me it’s more of a boycott decision because I think it’s a horrible idea.  Obviously, if you work and live right downtown avoiding the tax is harder but, if work outside of Milwaukee county or live close to the border it makes it even easier.  Interested in joining me in boycotting the new hike?  Here is the Milwaukee County Map:

What I can do however, and this election some how spurred me to do it, is get involved at the ciy level as a resident of Milwaukee (maybe it was the anti-business new sales tax and sick leave regulations that passed).  The Milwaukee Common Council makes significant decisions and spends our tax dollars, why not get involved and go voice our opinion to them?

After reading about repeated fees, property tax and other generally horrible decisions from the Milwaukee Common Council made up of our Aldermen, I started looking for one of their meetings to attend.  After digging through a number of pages, I ended up at http://milwaukee.legistar.com/, Milwaukee’s legislative research and information site.  The calendar of events is here.

Lo and behold, there is a budget committee meeting, where they are are passing new fees going on right now!  And they actually update it live with the vote tallies.  What if an average citizen wanted to attend and voice their opinon though?  Sorry, you’re at work like a good citizen trying to pay your taxes.  How about the Common Council meeting on Thursday, that has a star next to it because they approve the budget and tax levy, that is surely at a time when residents could come by and voice their opinons…. Nope, 9 am.

So, as a question to those who may know more, is my only choice to take time off work to attend one of these meetings?  Or do I just not have a voice at all?  I can barely even call my Alderman because his business hours are my business hours plus, I want to speak to all of them.

Oh, and vote no on both Milwaukee referendums, this is no time to be raising taxes, adding a sales taxes and making new government sick leave regulations.

Also, don’t forget to go get your free stuff for voting.

This is a textbook case of the way the judicially-activist judge thinks: There is a criminal penalty for breaking a particular law. The judge thinks there should be a civil remedy as well, but is frustrated that there is not one in the statute. So the judge just decides to make one up anyway and force people to obey it because he’s a judge and he says so because that’s what fair and just in his mind.

Of course, the real remedy here is (short-term) get the DA or AG to bring a criminal charge if there’s enough to substantiate it and (long-term) get the legislature to pass a law creating a civil remedy for future cases. The solution is NOT for the judge to just legislate such a law from the bench.

I sincerely hope that the Obama campaign is not allowed into classrooms today and, if they are, they should be accompanied by McCain representatives as well.

Any student eye witnesses out there?

Here is the email, the blue text is from the professor who sent it to me.

“I thought it might interest you that the Obama campaign tries to sneak into the classrooms by sending this email to all MU faculty (not by listserv though!).

The administration should meanwhile be aware of it.

---

From: Vertin, Marecca
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 09:04

Marquette Faculty:

Election time is here and many students at Marquette are exercising their right to vote for the first time on Tuesday. This will – no matter what – be a historical election. We want to make sure that all students are reminded that they can still vote (even if they haven’t registered), know where their polling locations are, and are aware of how important it is to have their voices heard on Monday or Tuesday.

If you would be okay with a student stopping in the first minute (or 30 seconds!) of your class time Monday or Tuesday morning to go over this, please let us know when and where we could find you. We would additionally like to let students know that if they’d like to help out Monday or Tuesday, they can stop at the Obama Campaign student headquarters at the St. James Court apartments near Straz Hall. However, if you’d like us to leave the second part off - that’s great too. The important part is that everyone votes.

Regardless, please remind students of the importance of this upcoming election and make a plug for it in class. Whether we realize it or not, we are looking to professors for guidance everyday, and if you take a moment to address the topic, we will listen!

Thank you so much for your time, and we hope to hear from you –

Marquette’s Obama Team”

Marecca Vertin, the sender of the email is an Obama Intern and former intern at Human Rights Watch:

“Marecca Vertin lost interest in politics in high school. She had once dreamed of becoming a campaign manager, but she drifted away from it as a teenager. It wasn’t until Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) announced his candidacy that the College of Arts & Science sophomore got involved again.

Now Vertin serves as an intern at Obama’s Wisconsin campaign headquarters, where she spends her time making phone calls and rallying voters. Vertin said she can’t help but notice the large number of young people who turn out to support the Illinois senator. ”

Maybe sneaking into classrooms across campus will help her turn out votes too, never mind the ethics issues, balance isn’t necessary in the academic environment.