Oh thank God today finally arrived

My offhand prediction: Obama 353, Senate Dems 58, House Dems 247, California yes on 8. Just guessing.

The Raleigh News & Observer sent out a note cracking down on election-night pizza-horking: "Please be polite," wrote Susan Spring, the News & Observer's director of newsroom operations. "If you are working elections, you may have up to TWO slices" of pizza. A few hours later, executive editor John Drescher vetoed the limit, but added that "if Susan Spring chases you with a knife in her hand, you are on your own."

Eight years ago I went to sleep early, after Florida had been called (the first time) -- arrived at work at about 3 in the morning only to find the newsroom buzzing with people, asked the editor-in-chief what was going on, and she talked for five minutes before flittering away and I got absolutely zero information out of her. Hectic, confusing, strange -- but awesome in its own hideous way. Tonight promises to be less so, though some of the lines y'all are reporting from the polls might be the story of the night.

Okay, enough electoral trauma. Fast-forward to tomorrow. No more polarization, no more invective, no more garrulous rhetoric. Back to work.

No abstentions, plz

I've noticed more than a few prominent journalists pride themselves on their pledges to not vote -- a stance I can't twist my brain into any shape capable of understanding. Leave Eugene Robinson to be the voice of reason:

Anonymous: Gene, please tell me you voted. Chris Cilizza was asked this morning and he said he doesn't vote because he's a journalist. I think you can be objective in your work and still have personal opinions. Isn't that what a professional is? I am not knocking Chris -- I truly enjoy reading The Fix, and I know he is not the only one who thinks the way he does. What is your opinion on this?

Eugene Robinson: Chris is a great journalist and a good friend. Len Downie, the longtime executive editor of The Post who recently stepped down, is one of my heroes in journalism and also a friend of nearly 30 years. That said, I think that they -- and other journalists who don't vote -- are nuts. Okay, maybe that's a little harsh. But people were beaten and attacked by dogs and murdered in cold blood so that I could have the right to vote. I voted early in this election and try to vote at every opportunity. I'd vote in a local race for dogcatcher. Being a journalist can't mean giving up your fundamental rights as an American. At least, not for me.

Your headline of the night

Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job.