…and fireworks go off in celebration somewhere in the Decatur night.

There will be plenty of time to debate all the rest another day…tonight America again truly inspired the world.

A defining moment in our collective history.

Kelly writes in with the details…

Tastings is having an election night party tonight at 7PM.  We’re having a Warsteiner beer tasting, Election Triva; 3 rounds with a grand prize of a $50 Tastings Card, and to give everyone a break in this difficult economy Tastings will offer 1/2 off pizza, sandwiches, salads, house wines, & draft beer.

We’ll watch election coverage as well.  Everyone is invited!

I’ve watched this story develop since yesterday, but haven’t had a chance to post it.

Yesterday, I heard that Starbucks would be giving out free tall coffees to voters.  That was on top of an announcement a few weeks back by Shane’s Rib Shack that they would give out free food to voters on Election Day.

However, as Megan points out in a link to an AJC article this morning, its actually illegal to give perks to voters.  For example, yuppies might be more apt to vote if a free tall coffee was waiting for them upon exit. So now those companies are being forced to open the free-bees to anyone.

Here’s an up-to-date list that Carl put together for us yesterday…

Free 12 oz brewed coffee at Starbucks

Free star-shaped doughnut with red, white and blue sprinkles at Krispy Kreme: http://www.krispykreme.com/images/hot_vote_now08_pop.jpg

Free scoop at Ben & Jerry’s (5 PM – 8 PM): http://www.benjerry.com/features/i_voted/

Free MP3 downloads: http://www.rockthevote.com/pledge/

Free lunch at Shane’s Rib Shack (first 300 people at each location): http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Shanes-Celebrates-American-Democracy-With/story.aspx?guid={6D856C34-2FAF-434A-B35D-731969D25323}

And kinda free: at all Homegrown Restaurants (Doc Chey’s, Osteria 832, and Stella), registered Karma Card users buy one lunch or dinner and get one free (Karma Card is their free loyalty program, but the deal applies only to users who have already registered their cards)

Over at InDecatur, David makes a “rare” editorial comment about Obama’s inexperience and “vague promises”, predicting he’ll be a “stuttering, stammeringly, inexperienced President”, and portends that we’ll all have buyer’s remorse in a few years. He admits he’s making a public statement now, so over the next four years he can repeatedly say to us “I told you so”.

Also, he insinuates we’ll be attacked again…and is either implying its because Obama is elected or he just won’t be able to handle it.  I’m going to assume its the latter, because I don’t want to say things I can’t take back.

Wow…so many insults…so little time.

First off, no one is allowed to claim the “smaller government” idea in this election except Bob Barr.  This ain’t 1980…the GOP spends just like the Dems of old.  So the “old Dems will raise your taxes” claim is baseless.  Both parties have and will probably do it again in different areas.  How are you going to pay my social security in 35 years without it?

In regards to his “inexperience”, its a semi-valid point, but its easily taken too far.  He doesn’t have the congressional experience of John McCain, but how do you measure the value of that?  Ted Stevens has more “congressional experience” than almost everyone.  Should he run the country?  I find it funny that such an incompetent candidate has somehow run the best controlled campaign in recent history.  Or are you referencing “executive experience”?  George W. Bush and Sarah Palin are both governors.   Point taken?

At the same time, I’d say it would be hard to argue that Obama wouldn’t be one of the most intelligent and savvy presidents we’ve ever had.  Does that count for nothing?

OK…maybe I should just lay off.  I should recognize that when your back is up against the wall, and your worst nightmare is coming true, the only real retort you have left is “You’ll be sorry!”

More sorry than to elect a sold-out maverick that put the country at risk by selecting the most unqualified and least knowledgeable VP candidate in recent memory?

We’ll just see about that.

Well, after 21 months, we’ve finally reached the big day.

Feel free to use this thread to report the length of lines at your voting precincts, vent your general anxiety, or just to discuss how much your going to miss political ads, robocalls, and SNL.

I’m off to vote!