The Bloggernacle did its part–just about every weblog posted at least once on the election. I link to some of the more interesting pre- and post-election posts below. Television made its first big impact on presidential politics in 1960 with the Nixon-Kennedy debate. Blogging made its first big impact in 2004 by shooting down Dan Rather’s memo story. What role will blogging (or the next Web innovation) play in 2008? Ask me in four years!
POST-ELECTION: Clark, rarely a political blogger, posts a nifty color map showing vote by county, shaded from blue to red by percentage vote–Utah is as red as it gets. John Fowles notes negative European press on Bush’s re-election, which he summarizes as “predictably negative, even arrogantly condescending.” Chris at LYMA promotes “Jon Stewart in 2008” and thinks the incumbent’s supporters need to come up with a better chant than “Four More Years.” And Mormanity likens this election’s left-wing diatribes to anti-Mormon rhetoric, which he illustrates with a lengthy excerpt that starts, “Ignorance and bloodlust have a long tradition in the United States, especially in the red states . . . .”
PRE-ELECTION: Greg at T&S points out that from 1932 to 1948, Utah voted solidly Democratic. And God didn’t send down fire and brimstone! Although a rabid Republican might argue He did nuke St. George. Justin does a flashback to the election of 1912–Utah went for William Taft, but Woodrow Wilson Kerry won and kept the United States out of The Great War for the first three years. Larry the guest blogger at Our Thoughts talks about the lack of an opposition party in the province of Alberta, arguing that “[i]f we are to survive as a vibrant society in this province we need to allow for dissent and counter ideas.” Look at Clark’s map–not much dissent in the heartland of America either. Finally, Gordon’s post on LDS Senator Harry Reid, possibly destined to be the Senate Minority Leader, features 74 comments giving many interesting details on this suddenly visible LDS politician.
NEXT WEEK: The theme for Potluck 8 will be LDS Sunday School, highlighting the Bloggernackers who have done regular lesson posts or commentary and running a few Google ranking contests. Anyone who does a “Three Things I Love/Hate About Sunday School” post is also at risk to be covered next week.
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
Amen, Clark. But aren’t Shreddies the same as Life cereal?
Am I the only one to like Big Turk chocolate bars?
Chips? I always bring home a box of Eatmore bars and some Crispy Crunch. Also Shreddies shreds Chex.
If you’re going to go for Canadian chips, at least go for real flavours like ketchup or dill pickle.
Oh man, don’t get me going about Old Dutch. Man I miss those! I wonder if I can find them in NYC…
Or pizza flavor or au gratin… man we like some weird stuff!
Amen to dill pickle though. Yummy.
Same as Life? Are you mad?
Clark, it was never my intention to favour chips over chocolate bars. I am supportive of Americans coming here and taking back any Canadian junk food they want. And do it fast before our dollar goes back down.
Personally, I prefer Mr. Big. When no Mr. Big is available, I’ll take any of its Cadbury cousins.
Thanks for the potluck, Dave — I’m from Alberta myself originally, and it’s true that there hasn’t been any real opposition party for years. The result is that people aren’t very satisfied with government but are unable to voice their concerns effectively. Of course, as Canadians things can only go so wrong, but still…
It’s also interesting to see the take of the bloggernacle on the election. Some diverse views, which only reinforces the idea that it’s mostly the liberal mormons who blog…
Yes, Canadians are always complaining that the US media ignores Canada, so I was happy to include the post on Alberta. For those who are confused by the term, Alberta is a Candaian province (kind of like a state, but bigger and there are only a dozen or so of them). Drive north from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and you can’t miss it. And bring back some *real* salt ‘n’ vinegar chips (Old Dutch is my personal favorite).
Larry’s not a guest blogger. He has been recruited.