Barack Obama is . . . Superbarack! By way of Superman II (the best movie ever made), the new hero rescues us from the evils of the past eight years and kicks some supervillain ass. Via Daily Kos.

Jon Stewart shoots down all of the stupid arguments used to support Prop 8.

And, as we throw our support behind all of the hard work being done in California, we need to remember that the anti-gay marriage and anti-civil rights Prop 102 in Arizona and Amendment 2 in Florida are being battled as well.

Democrats aim for powerful majority in Senate: "Of the 35 Senate seats on the line this year, 23 are held by Republicans. Five Republican senators are retiring . . . North Carolina, where Republican incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole is in danger of losing her seat to Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan. Dole, a first-term incumbent, had been considered a safe seat for Republicans early in the election cycle, but she was targeted heavily by national Democratic Party ads and a CNN/Time poll last week showed Hagan leading by 9 percentage points."

More things to watch as the election results come in: "The media will, of course, get a sneak preview of the results and demographic voting patterns at 5 p.m., when a consortium of TV networks distributes several waves of nationwide exit polling. The first wave of that data is supposed to be kept secret from the general public because it is too unreliable and misleading."

The Huffington Post has a one-stop shop for all your election needs. Tons of maps and stats and info.

CBS News has 10 Questions (and Answers) for Election Day. Including:
1. What Should You Watch For Today?
2. Can Obama Win A Mandate?
3. Can McCain Pull Off A Shocker?
4. What Does Massive Turnout Mean?
5. Can New Hampshire Happen Again?

Believe it or not, this guy over at The Washington Times still likes Bush:"President Bush is far smarter, more articulate and less ideological than his plentiful detractors scream, and, ultimately, he will be judged by history - not by vengeful Democrats, hate-filled Hollywood, corrupt foreign governments, an imploding mainstream media or fleeting approval ratings."

And below, Patti LaBelle sings "He Will Rock You (Obama)"

Yup, today, on Election Day, on the near-holy day of rest when Obama himself is shooting hoops and watching movies, the women of The View have one last big smackdown. About racism, Rev. Wright, McCain leaving his disfigured wife, you name it. If Elisabeth thought she was a Conservative lighthouse in a Democratic storm before, after today . . . yeah. I give her three months before she pulls a Rosie.

MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Island - An impromptu ass contest. It's like Urge Ass Wednesdays, except the guy are all hot. (To be honest, I had no idea they were still doing these RW/RR challenges. Oh, and there are some un-blurred bare asses, so it's probably NSFW.) Yeah, even on days like today, we can't forget the importance of a great ass. Or three.

This week's CNNSI Tennis Ad-in/Ad-Out

Lafayette of "True Blood" a gay icon in the making

Blackberry Storm finally being released Nov. 14

What's a day at AKAWilliam without a mention of my soon-to-be girlfriend Rachel Maddow? Well, it looks like Ms. Maddow has been chosen one of Out Magazines "Out 100." The picture was inspired by photos of Katharine Hepburn.

What do Ayn Rand, Ronald Reagan, and The Green Movement all have in common? You guessed -- they all love sci-fi!

LaBelle gives an interview to Clay Cane. Patti says: "Labelle with no gay following? That wouldn't be cute! Patti LaBelle with no gay following? That would not be nice! The gay following has been there forever."

Slate is pulling together an amazing political explanation hub. From
Slate, here are a few things to look out for tonight as the election day progresses and the results start to come in.(All Times are Eastern)

Sunrise to 6 p.m.: Look for reports of voter turnout. Throughout the day, watch the crowds in any of the battleground states. Analysts generally agree that a big turnout helps Obama. For McCain, who has to make up deficits in early voting, watch to see if turnout equals or exceeds the turnout President Bush got in 2004. To win, McCain needs more than just his base, of course—but he really needs his base. Some places to keep an eye on:

In Florida, there is the I-4 corridor from Tampa to Daytona Beach as well as the counties in the panhandle.

In Ohio, look to turnout in Franklin County (home to Columbus) for McCain. For Obama, look at Hamilton County (home to Cincinnati) and other big, urban counties such as Cuyahoga (Cleveland), where new registrations and black voters should boost Obama's numbers. Watch northwestern Ohio, a solidly Republican corner of the state where Obama led in two October polls.

In Pennsylvania, look to Allegheny, Butler, and Westmoreland counties (Pittsburgh and its suburbs) for McCain, and the inner suburbs around Philadelphia (Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester) for Obama.

Continued after the jump

6 p.m.: Polls start to close in Indiana. This traditionally Republican state is at the outer edge of Obama's raids into McCain's territory. If Obama wins, it might very well mean he's won the whole election, because it will ratify the Obama strategy that has been employed throughout the battleground states. If McCain wins, we'll get a feeling for the contours of his defensive line. A McCain win in Indiana may mean that states like Missouri and North Carolina might not flip into the Obama category.

The polls in Kentucky also start to close at 6. (The Western part of the state closes at 7:00). For those watching to see whether Democrats will have 60 votes in the Senate, a win by Democrat Bruce Lunsford against Mitch McConnell will suggest it's possible.

7 p.m.: Polls close in Virginia and start to close in Florida (the Western part of the state closes at 8:00). If Obama wins Florida's 27 electoral votes, he'll have a big night. Watch the I-4 corridor, the area between Tampa and Orlando where both campaigns have been working hard in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, and Osceola counties. In early voting in the state, Democrats have an edge of more than 300,000 votes. Upon seeing this, some Republicans may head into the root cellar. That's a big margin for McCain to make up on Election Day. His team has to hope that the early voting came from reliable Democratic base voters, which would mean they've just gotten their usual Election Day support—just earlier than usual. Obama aides say lots of their early vote comes from new and sporadic voters. If they're right—and evidence suggests they may be—then Florida could go blue.

Virginia may be the Bush state where Obama has put in the most effort. If he wins the commonwealth and holds the states John Kerry won (as expected), then he'll need only five more electoral votes to get to 270. Virginia also matters because it will give us the first hints about which campaign is winning the turnout battle. The big question is whether those new and young voters turn out for Obama the way his aides say they will.

For those looking for 60 Democrats in the Senate, Georgia and Mississippi polls also close at this hour. To hit the magic number, Democrats will need a win in one of those states to add to the races they're more likely to win.

7:30 p.m.: Polls close in Ohio. Perhaps you've heard of this state, with 20 electoral votes. Like Florida, it has been a part of the drama of recent close presidential races. In 2004, Democrats won the big population centers, but Bush won the state by picking up lots of rural districts. Look to western counties like Auglaize, Darke, Mercer, Putnam, and Shelby to see if McCain is matching Bush's turnout. Watch enormous Hamilton County, a swing county Republicans think Obama might win. Bush won it last time. On the southeastern edge of West Virginia, look to Jefferson, Belmont, and Monroe to see how Obama performs with white working-class voters.

Polls also close in North Carolina at 7:30. Like Indiana, an Obama victory here will suggest a rout. Look for Mecklenburg County around Charlotte, where Obama stopped before Election Day and where he needs to run up a big margin. He'll also need to swing Wake (Raleigh), Cumberland, or Buncombecounties, which went for Bush in '04.

8 p.m.: Polls close in Pennsylvania. McCain rolled all his dice here. If he can hold Florida, Ohio, and Virginia, then Pennsylvania may not mean as much. If he's lost any of those states, then Pennsylvania is a must-win.

Missouri also closes at 8. Watch Greene County, where Obama spent an evening late in the campaign. Bush won the county by 16 percentage points. Obama's aim is not to sweep places like that but to narrow the loss in Republican strongholds and run up large margins in urban areas.

Polls close in New Mexico and Colorado. If the eastern red states of Virginia, Ohio, and Florida hold for McCain, Obama will have to rely on New Mexico's five electoral votes and Colorado's nine. In Colorado, look to see if Obama can hold down McCain's margins in rural districts and appeal to female swing voters in Larimer County and the Denver suburbs.

10 p.m.: Polls close in Iowa and Nevada. In the unlikely event that Obama loses in the red states where he was ahead in the polls, these are his two last best chances. Look to Elko, Nev., a small, heavily Republican district Obama visited three times in an attempt to drive up the Democratic vote in GOP areas.

Later: Democratic dreams of reaching 60 votes in the Senate might come down to the outcome of convicted Sen. Ted Stevens' re-election race in Alaska.

Via Gawker.

I featured this guy, Joey Kirchner, a few weeks ago, but I came across some new pics of him and thought, "Uh, yeah, he needs to be re-featured."[jdvision]

Click thumbnails to enlarge. Two NSFW pics after the jump.

From After Elton: "A diverse group of queer and queer-friendly musicians came together to record an anthem in support of the Democratic party in this year's election. Ari Gold, Deepa Soul, Kevin Aviance, Homophonic vlog's Alex and many more pitched in, and it's perfect for getting you revved up to hit the polls."

I think one of the more remarkable things about this video is that so many of the performers fighting the good fight are not white. Being gay cuts across and through all other minorities, and here is a demonstration of the understanding that civil rights are civil rights. What could be used to splinter us into opposing factions is being used to do the exact opposite -- unify us.

And, yes, it's a little "We Are The World," but today is the day to we-are-the-worldify.

Below, via The Bilerico Project, is Obama's call for full LGBT equality, written in 2007. During the past year, Obama has remained consistent in his support of gay rights. He has also remained consistently confusing. How can an African-American man speak of equality for all while arguing for separate-but-equal? When I say I don't understand this, I am not being coy or euphemistic. I honestly cannot wrap my head around this. I mean, Wanda Sykes has done more for the fight against Prop 8 than Obama has.

It's just so frustrating that such a great man won't take the same leap of faith that he is asking us to make. Read Obama's "A Call for Full Equality" below.

[Bilerico editor's statement: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama guest posted at Bilerico Project to explain his support for LGBT civil rights. This post was originally published on November 10, 2007; it seemed appropriate to reprint it tonight, the eve of the presidential election.]

Over the last several weeks, the question of GLBT equality was placed on center stage by the appearance of Donnie McClurkin at one of my campaign events. McClurkin is a talented performer and a beloved figure among many African Americans and Christians around the country. At the same time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject.

The events of the last several weeks are not the occasion that I would have chosen to discuss America's divisions on gay rights and my own deep commitment to GLBT equality. Now that the issue is before us, however, I do not intend to run away from it. These events have provided an important opportunity for us to confront a difficult fact: There are good, decent, moral people in this country who do not yet embrace their gay brothers and sisters as full members of our shared community.

We will not secure full equality for all GLBT Americans until we learn how to address that deep disagreement and move beyond it. To achieve that goal, we must state our beliefs boldly, bring the message of equality to audiences that have not yet accepted it, and listen to what those audiences have to say in return.

Continued after the jump.

For my entire career in public life, I have brought the message of GLBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones. No other leading candidate in the race for the Presidency has demonstrated the same commitment to the principle of full equality. I support the full and unqualified repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples. I will also fight to repeal the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, a law that should never have been passed, and my Defense Department will work with top military leaders to implement that repeal.

As President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples - whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. I will also place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I have supported fully inclusive protections since my days in the Illinois legislature, when I sponsored a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination that expressly included both sexual orientation and gender identity.

That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of GLBT equality to people who are not yet convinced.

That's why I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I reiterated that message in the speech announcing my candidacy for President. Since beginning my campaign, I have been talking about GLBT equality on the stump, from rural farmers to Southern preachers. Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say in return. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all GLBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work that we need to do if we are going to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.

The American people have been poorly served by two terms of an administration that seeks to manipulate us through fear: fear over national security, fear over immigrants and fear over gay and lesbian couples in loving relationships. Americans are yearning for leadership that will put an end to the fear mongering and instead begin empowering us once again to reach for the America we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of GLBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that appeals to the best parts of the human spirit, rather than the worst. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.

I've been trying to figure out what exactly needs to happen today to defeat Prop 8. Do we need to have a 2/3 majority? A simple majority? It turns out that all either side needs is a simple majority.

What is a "simple majority?" It's exactly what it sounds like -- it's a voting requirement of more than 50% of all ballots cast. [Wikipedia]

This is why every vote counts. Since the California Supreme Court ruling, more than 18,000 gay and lesbian couples have gotten married in California.

Pork here.

Happy Tuesday, AKA’ers. It’s time to Listen Up as another New Music Release Tuesday is upon us. I’ve combed the (virtual) shelves and done some research . . . all for you!

Leading the charge is Travis, my second-favorite Scottish collective, who not only make a welcome return with their 6th full-length album, but they do it with incredible force. Ode To J. Smith finds our boys embracing their rock roots with an album full of some near-riotous concoctions, a few hypnotizing slow burners and many stops in between that will satisfy your urge to rock while opening up your mind and heart to feel . . . something . . . anything.

The album’s first officially-released single was “Something Anything” (get it now?) which failed to receive the airplay it deserved here in the U.S. simply because current radio just doesn’t know what to do with such a song. It’s as close to arena rock as Travis has ever turned out with a blistering guitar solo like you haven’t heard in ages packed into just 2 minutes and 24 seconds... which is all they needed to confirm that all they want to do is rock!

Keep reading the review of Travis after the jump. Plus, reviews of Duran Duran, John Lennon, Deadmau5 and The List of all new releases for November 4, 2008.

Ode To J. Smith comes to life with “Chinese Blues”, a mid-paced, piano-based stomper that enchants immediately with Fran Healy singing about “a million lonely people with their head in the sand trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand.” It’s heady and heavy . . . and classic Travis.

“J. Smith” starts innocently enough with classic and crisp staccato chords before dissolving into a choral hymnal and then plows back into pounding rock-n-roll before somehow blending the two into a perfectly dense climax and then returning to the original opening riff. With that much packed into just over 3 minutes, it is sort of a mini-mini-Bohemian Rhapsody. ("J. Smith" is also our featured song of the day, so check it out in The Media Bar.)

Travis Healy’s voice still travels right into my big ears and my whole system feels it every time. In addition to checking out Ode To J. Smith, I strongly urge/demand you to make their 2000 masterpiece, The Man Who a part of your current heavy rotation.

For fans of Duran Duran and their mammoth album, Rio, the honorable folks at Classic Albums deliver Classic Albums: Rio, an introspective DVD set that investigates and documents every angle of that album’s creation and history including songwriting, recording, and the albums massive success once it was released. Packed with live performances (both vintage and new), band interviews and videos, this should satiate even the most rabid Rio-ites.

Sidenote: Years ago while watching some footage of Jeff Buckley (deep breath) in the studio recording the vocals for “Grace” and “Hallelujah” I began thinking how much I would live for behind-the-scenes footage documenting the making of an album I’ve come to love. Come to think of it, I’d probably watch a documentary about the making of an album I don’t even care for. I am kind of obsessed with learning how anything is made, but when you’re talking music, it’s a double obsession. So, well done, Classic Albums folks. Hats off to you for pickin’ up the slack.

Another DVD worth checking out is Come Together: A Night for John Lennon’s Words and Music, the 2001 concert that brought Cyndi Lauper, Alanis Morissette, Lou Reed, Moby, Rufus Wainwright, Natalie Merchant and many more together to deliver their takes on some of the best songs ever written by one of the best songwriters ever alive. I can’t imagine that there are many people who haven’t been touched or felt some connection to John Lennon’s amazing catalog of songs and this concert offers some genuinely moving and memorable moments by some stellar artists who can make you hear something ‘old’ for the first time all over again. The show also ended up being some much needed musical therapy for those in attendance as only three weeks had passed since 9/11 and picking up the pieces is as much of a focus in this concert as the man and his music. The concert was originally scheduled to take place a few weeks earlier, but was postponed to October 2nd, 2001 in hopes of allowing the healing process to progress a bit more. This DVD will take you inside Radio City Music Hall on that night and you’ll discover inspired performances from a most-worthy roster of musicians.

Those of you looking for beats to get you moving, your best bet today is Random Album Title by Deadmau5, who has solidified himself as one of the most exciting presences in dance/electronic music of the past 2 years. Random Album Title is a long-overdue (and highly-anticipated) collection of tracks that have helped him make his mark. Gathered together for the first time, the entire album packs a punch you will feel long after the record stops. (Do I have to start saying “after the mp3 is over?” :] )

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, remember to vote while you’re heading out to the record store. :]

The List:
All New Music Releases - November 4th, 2008

Alvin and The Chipmunks – Undeniable (your chance for “Livin’ On A Prayer” . . . Chipmunk style!)
Arctic Monkeys - At the Apollo (DVD Import)
Andrea Bocelli – Incanto
Sarah Brightman – A Christmas Symphony
Harry Connick, Jr. – What A Night! A Christmas Album
deadmau5 – Random Album Title
Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio (DVD)
Fall From Grace – Sifting Through the Wreckage
Hinder – Take It to the Limit
honey honey – First Rodeo
Illinois – The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter 1
Little Joy – Little Joy
Morel – The Death of the Paperboy (shoegazer disco?! yes, please!)
Jacqui Naylor – You Don’t Know Jacq
ohGr (from Skinny Puppy) – Devils in My Details
Randy Owen (from Alabama) – One on One
Brad Paisley – Play
Q-Tip – The Renaissance
Lou Reed - Berlin: Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse
Shiny Toy Guns – Season of Poison
Mavis Staples – Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout
Tenacious D - The Complete Master Works 2 (DVD)
Tipsy – Buzzz
Travis – Ode to J. Smith
Randy Travis - Christmas from the Pecos (DVD)
Hezekiah Walker & LFC– Souled Out
Various Artists - Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music (DVD)
Various Artists – Soul Men (Soundtrack)
Various Artists – Twilight (Soundtrack)

Greatest Hits, Best Ofs, Box Sets andReissues by: Ace of Base, Boyzone, Girlschool, Don McLean, Alan Parsons Project, Switchfoot, Thompson Twins and for those of you who buy the NOW That’s What I Call Music compilations (and there are apparently millions of you) today is the day to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their top-hits collections. They are relatively new to us United Statesers so seek out this 3-CD, UK import if you want a better idea of the winning formula that has brought them such success.

Wake Up With These:

NPR:
Tell Me More
1) Candidates Make Aggressive Final Pitch On Eve Of Election 2) Jennifer Hudson's Tragedy Stirs Debate On Family Ties 3) Q-Tip Talks Politics and Longevity 4) Why Studs Turkel WIll Always Have A Fan Club

The New York Times:
NYT Front Page 11/04
NYT Science Times 11/04

The Rachel Maddow Show 11/03 PM
1) Is the system ready for a heavy turnout? 2) Obama's grandmother 3)GOP ground game silent but effective 4) Steep sales decline for automakers

Audio player after the jump. Or click here to launch the player in a new window so you can browse while you listen. Or, head over to The Media Bar and listen there.

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.

Daily Song:
Travis
"J. Smith"
From today's Listen Up (New Music Tuesday)
Read Pork's full post here

Television:
The first five minutes of the first episode of the first season of "The West Wing." Because I can't be the only one thinking that President Bartlett was the first paving stone on the path to an Obama Presidency.

Politics:
This video supporting Obama is one of the few produced for him that captures and reflects the yearning that promises to be eased by an Obama Presidency.

Movies:
HBO's "Recount"
Not that we need a reminder of the importance of this election, but here's a quick glance in the rearview mirror.

Music Video:
Obama '08
"A Change Is Gonna Come"

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.

Daily Song:

Travis "J. Smith"

Television:

The first five minutes of the first episode of the first season of "The West Wing." Because I can't be the only one thinking that President Bartlett was the first paving stone on the path to an Obama Presidency.

Politics:

This video supporting Obama is one of the few produced for him that captures and reflects the yearning that promises to be eased by an Obama Presidency.

Movies:

HBO's "Recount"
Not that we need a reminder of the importance of this election, but here's a quick glance in the rearview mirror.

Music Video:

Obama '08
"A Change Is Gonna Come"