Remembering Election Nights Past

Back in the day when I was a News Director and/or News Anchor, election night was what we lived for. The day starts early and runs long into the night. The latest I recall ever being on set was around 2:30am during an extremely close Senate race in Wyoming.

Our lead political reporter had done his homework and we were able to project Senator Malcolm Wallop the winner, then signed off and went to bed. Our projection was spot on. Our competition trumpeted the fact they stayed on until dawn until the final official results were in. A few bleary eyed folks likely stayed up with them but we were comfortable with both the call, and the decision to call it a night.

My other election memory is the late, great Tim Russert's legendary coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election. It was Bush vs Gore, with Tim pulling out a decidedly analog white board tracking the numbers and predicting accurately it would be the state of Florida which would decide who won and who didn't. Actually it was the Supreme Court, but ultimately based on what Tim predicted about Florida. About the only thing Tim didn't predict was hanging chads.

Flipping around the channels it looks like the networks will have some dazzling imagery to help tell the story. I doubt any of them will match what Tim Russert did with a simple dry erase board. (Which resides in the Smithsonian by the way) Although if Tim were still around, he'd likely use an iPad tonight. But Tim kept it all understandable, which is what a reporter is supposed to do. Tonight I'm just a viewer like you. Here's hoping the focus of coverage is solid information and analysis, not show business, light shows and incessant spin.

I sure miss Tim.

-Brian Olson

Conversation Starters LLC

"We start the conversation about you"

Random Thoughts

Lots of stuff on my mind today, (In no particular order of importance.)

Speaking of sports:
What a debacle at Invesco. I know, it's always darkest before the dawn but right now it sure is dark!

Baylor comes to Austin this Saturday. Baylor is ranked and bowl eligible. Texas is just rank. They're going to retire Colt McCoy's number at the game, here's hoping his replacement's got game.

The baseball season is too long. NHL and NBA seasons are underway before the World Series has even started.

Speaking of the economy:
"They" says the recession is over. I don't think the 17% of Americans not working or hardly working would agree.

What comes after Trillion? Gazillion? Because the ways things are going, we're going to need a new number to measure the deficit.

How can we expect to help countries like Haiti when 13 million American kids will go to bed hungry tonight?

Speaking of politics:
I get a kick out of candidates here in Colorado who wear cowboy hats and jeans in their campaign ads, pretending they're just like "us." Wonder what candidates in Florida wear? Shorts and flip-flops?

Why can't people vote online?

The Tea Party is here to stay. It's ever-morphing but with the constant and growing belief that government has failed us. We share in the blame. Too many of us believe what we see in attack ads, yet don't tune into the numerous televised or attend public debates.

Speaking of the new television season:
I love Hawaii 5-0. It's so outrageously over the top, with a great cast and it doesn't take itself too serously. The Good Wife remains intelligent, thoughtful dramatic television. Ditto for House and Blue Bloods. The CSI trilogy is getting tired. Weird plotlines. Still trying to get into The Event, but it's hard work.

Ok, I'm done thinking.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"