Our plans for the New Hampshire primary

[Skinner]

Overall, we think our approach to the Iowa caucus went pretty well, so tonight we're going to do the same thing we did a week ago. In fact, here I'm going to copy most of my announcement from last week. ;-)

We suspect that there may be an influx of disruptors when the polls close, so we are going to shut off new user registrations. We'll leave registration off as long as we feel we need to -- maybe into tomorrow.

We expect people to get pretty emotional tonight. I think that the dangerous combination of winners' euphoria and losers' anger could make things pretty ugly. We understand that some level of inappropriate behavior is probably inevitable, and we're going to try to be understanding. However, we still expect everyone to try to act in a relatively civil manner. And I would like to remind tonight's winners that a little bit of empathy could go a long way toward soothing resentment toward your candidate.

In order to hopefully contain some of the inevitable ill-will, we plan to start a few "official" segregated threads for supporters of the various candidates. We will post an "official celebration thread" for supporters and well-wishers of tonight's winner, so they can celebrate without disruption from political opponents. The moderators will be instructed to let you celebrate without interruption, and they'll just quietly keep everyone else out.

We'll also start threads for the supporters of other candidates, so they can regroup without disruption from jerks who want to gloat.

Threads discussing what happened in the primary will of course be permitted. We expect that people who start these threads will make an effort to post their thoughts in a way that is not antagonistic to others.

Remember that people are going to be feeling very extreme emotions tonight, both good and bad. Please try to show a little sympathy. People have a lot of respect for gracious winners.

Thank you for your understanding. And may the best candidate win!

Skinner
DU Admin

[Skinner]

1. Anyone know what time the polls close tonight? (nt)

[Ripley]

2. I heard 8:00 pm.

But I could be wrong.

[RogueTrooper]

6. I think most of the polls close at 8

but some of them close at 9pm, I believe.

[MaineDem]

8. That's 7 and 8 Eastern, I think

I'm pretty sure.

[Bolo Boffin]

11. Urban polls at 8 ET, rural polls at 7 ET, projections begin at 7

But most NH polls will close at 7 ET, and the networks will begin projections then.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/NH.phtml

(P)olls close 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC) / 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC). NEW HAMPSHIRE permits its 13 cities to keep their polls open until 8 PM EDT by local option- however, as there ARE only 13 cities among New Hampshire's 234 County subdivisions , the fact is that the vast majority of NH's polls have closed by 7 PM EDT and the networks have no problem considering this hour as the earliest hour of potential projection.

The link is to general election info (Sept. 14 primary for statewide offices and Congress and the Nov. 2 election day), but the time of poll closing is the same.

[goobergunch]

9. I've heard both 7 PM ET and 8 PM ET

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/

[windansea]

3. sounds good !!

thanks to Skinner and the mods

:kick:

[seventhson]

4. Skinner - I know I have pissed you off at times, BUT

You really have done a GREAT job and have maintained substantial objecticity and fairness throughout this ordeal.

I just want to give you my personal thanks and gratitude, I am sure that without your commitment to objectivity and fairness I would probably have been banned a long time ago.

It gives me hope for Democracy.


I mention this now because their seems to have been a lot more fairness lately (since your rules poll) and this post and policy once again seems very fair and good,

Thanks.

[MuseRider]

5. Thanks Skinner.

It did seem to help during Iowa. It is a great idea. It gives us a place to gloat, or commiserate. Plus it gives us a place to go offer our congratulations. Perfect combination.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. I'd like to suggest that the segregated threads get started earlier..

[MaineDem]

10. It worked well for Iowa

Thanks. :)

[Auntie Bush]

12. Thank you Skinner for being so understanding and

Working so hard and long (almost 24/7)so that we can have a pleasent place to go and get rid of our frustrations. My husband is sick of listening to me discuss my candidate...So nice to have a place to go and get thingss off my chest. Beholding to you Skinner.

[Adjoran]

13. I thought it worked well with Iowa

so why not do the same thing?

Keep up the good work! We appreciate it!

[bearfartinthewoods]

14. msnbc may be releasing exit polling at 4pm eastern

[bloom]

15. My TV is out with the weather

So I'll appreciate the updates and info I can get from DU.



Thanks!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Thanks, Skinner, I think that worked well last time

I not only hung out on the Kucinich thread but also went to congratulate and offer moral support to my second and third choices. It was great to see threads without snide remarks.

[Uzybone]

17. The official threads

were a great idea. Im glad to see them comeback.

[economic justice]

18. The official threads are a great idea......good job!!.......<eom>

[oasis]

19. ABB. Anything but bitterness

[everdene]

20. Thanks, Skinner.

[frank frankly]

21. cool, good to see it

i'm nervous, but the Anti-Bush numbers are making me very happy.

the people know.