Streaming Election Night Broadcast TV? 396
kakapo writes "A couple of years ago, we dumped our cable TV, and don't have much luck getting old-fashioned broadcast where we live. That's fine — we can download or netflix almost anything we want to see, and it is great not to pay the Comcast tax every month. Problem is, now I want to watch the election live, complete with talking heads, pundits, glitzy graphics and all the rest, rather than reading about it on a website. So, is there any way to download network TV / CNN / MSNBC in real time — I don't mind paying. And yes, we could visit friends, but ideally our kids would watch the first part and then go to bed — and a sitter would be expensive if we have to wait until late for the result."
Slingbox (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Why watch at home? (Score:3, Interesting)
And as for the baby sitter... Virginia's polls close at 7pm, and if/when Obama takes that state, the election is basically over, so you probably won't have to pay her/him much overtime this year.
Re:Anything for non americans? (Score:5, Interesting)
Not really.
The president can only do what Congress allows. That is what I find so funny about people freaking out over the president.
There are checks and balances in the system one person can not mess it up that bad in just four years.
Re:Yes (Score:5, Interesting)
No, only winning move is not to play....
I was really excited to vote in this election (as I missed bing born early enough for the the last one by a few weeks), but both the canidates seem like incompetent panderers. I cast my vote hoping that my canidate will return to how he was before the primaries, and not pander to his party so much.
Re:Yes (Score:3, Interesting)
I'd be in your boat if Hillary had won and Palin weren't on the ticket. I can't stand either of them. It's amazing how similar they are, while holding diametrically opposed sociopolitical beliefs. I do agree with you that, in the event McCain wins, he goes back the man he was in 2000 and kicks some serious congressional butt and fixes the deficit and debt before he starts handing money back.
We are on the same channel. (Score:3, Interesting)
Here is what I would do:
(1) Pass law (and, I hope, amend the Constitution), to the effect that no campaign contributions, gifts, or other compensation shall be given to current or campaigning politicians, other than from individual citizens who are eligible to vote. No entity that does not actually vote (i.e., anybody but individual citizens) may contribute to political interests in any way. Foreign interests may not contribute in any way. Violation by any party (i.e, anyone offering OR accepting money or goods in violation of this provision) shall be guilty of a Federal felony punishable by NOT LESS than 2 years in solitary confinement in a Federal penitentiary.
(This means that CEOs cannot take corporate profits (created by the employees), and use them to support politicians to whom the company's employees would strongly object. Similarly, it would prevent worker unions from taking member dues and using those to support politicians who are not approved by the members. Only individuals could contribute. So: if an individual felt that a candidate would benefit the corporation they work for, they are free to donate. If the employee felt that the candidate might threaten their bargaining position by voting anti-union, then they are free to donate to THEIR favorite (up to the maximum). BUT... this prevents organizational "bigwigs" from taking money from their "underlings" and using it against them. ONLY INDIVIDUALS QUALIFIED TO VOTE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGNS. Period. Emphasis on "individuals". Not companies, not unions. Companies do not vote, unions do not vote. People do. There is no reason that ANY entity other than a VOTER should be able to influence politics. If a company CEO or a union president want to talk to their legislators... they can. With exactly as much influence as anybody else.)
(2) Limit each contribution to a fixed percentage of the average (mean, not median or mode) income of a private adult citizen of the United States. That would limit the influence of the disgustingly wealthy, and bring things back to the idea of "one voice, one vote".
(3) While I am all for privacy, this is an area that has been screaming for openness: the names of each individual contributor to political causes must be made public. I choke over this one, but there appears to be no realistic alternative.
(4) Campaign contributions, even a nickel, must NEVER be tax-deductible.
Now for the fun stuff...
(5) AUTOMATIC EXPIRATION OF UNNECESSARY LAWS. While there must be exceptions for some projects that require long-term funding (I am open for ideas on that), ALL Federal legislation (laws) will be subject to review after a period of no more than 3 years from passage (not the "effective" date). In order for a Federal law to remain in effect, the legislature must publicly review and renew the law before the 3 years is up. If they fail to do so, the law automatically expires. There are several benefits to this idea: