'Twas the night before...

SLANTblog was never meant to be strictly a political blog, but rather a space to be filled with ideas, much as SLANT its precursor was. Still, at least half of the posts at SLANTblog have been about politics, maybe more than half.

Tonight I wanted to write a short piece about why I'm supporting Sen. Barack Obama and watch my lifelong favorites, the Washington Redskins, play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet, with the election tomorrow, my mind is so caught up in the political whirl that I’m having a hard time getting properly worked up over a Monday night football game.

The Steelers went with an onside kick to open the game, the Redskins got the ball and promptly kicked a field goal: Washington 3, Pittsburgh 0.

But, instead of singing Hail to the Redskins, I’m thinking about what seems to be the most exciting presidential election of my lifetime. And, I’m watching the clock, because I don’t want to miss the opening of the Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008. MSNBC and CNN are doing politics wall-to-wall. Then there’s the chatter on the Internet, especially to do with the mayoral race in Richmond.

So, I’ve decided to live-blog my night in front of the television, with one eye on the blogosphere. We’ll see how long it lasts.

8:51 p.m.: After an interception, the Redskins kicked another field goal to go up 6 to 0.

9:10: Amy Poehler opened the SNL special as Hillary Clinton. Funny, as always. Didn't she just have a baby?

9:16: Out of loyalty, I just switched my sound for the game to Sam Huff and Sonny Jurgensen on the radio. Now I can do the TV for picture and get the homer call on the radio. Real fans know what I'm talking about.

9:22: First quarter ended. Skins 6, Steelers 0.

9:36: Rachel Maddow was mocking Bob Dole.

Huh?

Maddow suggests McCain has an "eerie confidence."

9:42: Ben Roethlisberger got sacked to end a drive. Steelers kicked a field goal: Wash. 6, Pitt. 3.

9:52: The defenses have been dominating; another Steelers' drive stalled and they punted.

9:57: Steelers blocked a punt and got the ball on the Redskins' 13-yard-line.

10:02: Tiny Fey as Sarah Palin, "We're not afraid of getting mavericky in there...

10:05: CNN reported John McCain is hitting seven states in an all-out sprint.

10:07: Roethlisberger scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. The first half ended with the Pittsburgh leading 10 to 6.

Washington's offense better show up in the second half ... they got only three first downs in the first half.

10:20: Yikes, Karl Rove was on MSNBC! And, I just heard that Obama forces knocked on a million doors today in Ohio.

10:24: Roethlisberger is hurt and won't start the second half.

10:31: Backup quarterback Byron Leftwich, raised in DeeCee, led Pittsburgh on a drive ending with a touchdown, but no extra point: Pitt. 16, Wash 6.

10:36: On SNL special, a mock McCain (Darryl Hamond) called a mock Obama (Fred Armisen) "pee-pants."

10:49: "Finally ... they run a screen," sighed Sonny on the radio, as Campbell hit Clinton Portis for a first down.

10:55: A tipped ball thrown by Jason Campbell was hauled in by a Steelers defensive back. Redskins coach Jim Zorn challenged the interception. Refs turned him down.

10:59: SNL closed with a replay of Sarah Palin saying, "Have a pleasant tomorrow."

11:03: CNN just reported Obama is speaking in Manassas with one hour left before election day begins; his last campaign stop.

That tells you how important Virginia will be to an Obama victory tomorrow.

11:09: Short pass from Leftwich to Holmes; Steelers scored a touchdown: Pitt. 23, Wash. 6.

11:11: Just read Don Harrison's comment at the Fan District Hub, pointing out the irony that Doug Wilder and the City Council could only agree on the VAPAF deal.

11:23: When the pocket broke down, Campbell fled and scored a touchdown ... uh, oh, the replay just showed he went down at the one-yard-line.

11: 28: With fourth-and-goal at the one, an incomplete pass ends the drive. Just one yard ... why not a Portis run?

11:35: CNN showed Sarah Palin doing a fine job of wearing a pair of blue jeans in Reno, talking about her husband, Todd, "The First Dude." She said she's going to Washington to "shake things up."

11:39: Sam Huff said, "The fans are leaving..."

11:50: Final score: Pitt. 23, Wash. 6. That news, while bad for Washington fans, is good for Obama fans.

It's said that for 17 of the last 18 presidential elections (or maybe it's 15 out of the last 16), when the Redskins won their last game before election day, the incumbent party held the White House.

Hey, I don't know if that's true, but at this point I'm going with it.

11:54: An ad from the GOP Trust-Pac, or something like that, just aired on CNN. It was the one using the scary, ranting Rev. Wright angle. Well, I guess it's never too late for a little bit of that sort of business.

Hail to the Redskins! Go Obama!

-- 30 --