I think it's the "Macaca", -- who stole the election.

I noticed that attractive east asian woman on Webb's side. A little googling revealed that's Hong Le Webb, his vietnamese wife.

So that is what he looks like...kindof cute :)

I noticed that attractive east asian woman on Webb's side. A little googling revealed that's Hong Le Webb, his vietnamese wife.

I noticed too. His teenage daughter looks total Caucasian. His Vietnamese wife looked pregnant last night in some pictures.

That doesn't really look like him to me, but it's been a while since that incident. I guess his hair could have grown by now. I agree though, Webb's speech was in quite good taste. I mean, the premature victory thing I could do without, but the appreciation he shows initially is refreshing.

That doesn't really look like him to me, but it's been a while since that incident. I guess his hair could have grown by now. I agree though, Webb's speech was in quite good taste. I mean, the premature victory thing I could do without, but the appreciation he shows initially is refreshing.

You're right, which is why I added the caveat that I can't independently confirm the ID of Sidarth.

I don't think the victory announcement is premature at all - a candidate who doesn't claim victory at this point comes across as weak and lacking confidence.

the premature victory thing I could do without

With 99.84% of the vote counted, he's the winner. And politically, you want to assume the mantle of legitimacy ASAP. Or at least that's what Dubya did in '00 :)

I don't think the victory announcement is premature at all - a candidate who doesn't claim victory at this point comes across as weak and lacking confidence.

Well, the tradition is to wait until your opponent concedes. At this point there's not much Webb can do to change the vote, so I don't think he would have appeared weak or lacking in confidence.

so I don't think he would have appeared weak or lacking in confidence.

AGREED.

I disagree. The prospect of a recount looming, changes everything. Allen spoke first, and he said "the election continues." Webb spoke second, and said "We won." With a recount looming, it could be days or weeks until Allen concedes, and it's good strategy for the candidate who is ahead pre-recount to claim victory. See Bush v Gore, 2000.

Agree with non-SR Siddartha - I don't remember a tradition of waiting until after a concession in highly contested races. In any case, he was so diffident, that it really didn't come across as wrong to me.

i believe VI uses electronic voting, so there is no paper trail, ie nothing to recount. they just have to look at the machines and check if they wrote down the right number.

i notice the "election was rigged crowd" is rather silent.

Well, now we know why I left politics; I think a little bit of humility indicates a lot of class. If I were Webb, I would've preferred letting Allen flail desperately at possibility, while quietly building a transition team, etc. Super wealthy people don't feel the need to announce it, neither do winners. Wait for the concession speech.

Super wealthy people don't feel the need to announce it, neither do winners.

... who win by more than 0.5%.

Super wealthy people don't feel the need to announce it, neither do winners. Wait for the concession speech.

He's not bragging. And shouldn't he tell his volunteers they won instead of leaving them hanging for another month or two?

i believe VI uses electronic voting

VA, kuttan. ;)

And shouldn't he tell his volunteers they won instead of leaving them hanging for another month or two?

Uh...I think they know they won.

Look, I don't really care enough to continue arguing. You can all be right, you're not going to change my mind about this. I'm happy Webb won and I can feel that way while also maintaining a strong respect for traditions like waiting for your opponent to congratulate you before doing so yourself.

While it's rare that a candidate issues a victory pronouncement before an opponent's concession, I don't believe the claim that it's unprecedented. Anyway, it's weird to me that we have these protocols of decorum after the mud-slinging of ANY campaign. Always the funniest moment of the political season: X calls Y a traitor/pornographer/drunk/wife-beater for 3 months and then goes on the national airwaves to extol his virtues and congratulate his opponent on a well-fought race.

X calls Y a traitor/pornographer/drunk/wife-beater for 3 months and then goes on the national airwaves to extol his virtues and congratulate his opponent on a well-fought race.

Why not? Ennis called Rushdie.

FYI: I just asked an "expert" somebody I know who is the veteran of many local campaigns. He said that there is no tradition of waiting for concession. He said it's what happens most of the time, but esp in recount cases, you don't see this behavior. Furthermore, he said there are good arguments for why you have to claim victory - to keep up the morale of your troops during the struggle for the recount, to make sure they remain vigilant and committed. [He literally told me "to guard the ballot boxes"]

I don't think that is Siddarth. That's some random white dude..

It's hard to tell. Anybody have any independent info? I'm happy to admit that I'm wrong on this one - it's a factual matter, not a personal one. I liked to the source, so you know as much as I do at this point.

I noticed too. His teenage daughter looks total Caucasian. His Vietnamese wife looked pregnant last night in some pictures.

and i dont see any sidarth out there guys.. there's a skinny guy back there but he's not sidarth at least to tthese eyes that can tell among desis. pass me them shrooms tho'

My parents are friends with Sidarth's parents, so I know what he looks like, I can't seem to find him in the clip.

thats not sidarth. i got to the university of virginia and i know him.

that's not Siddarth back there.

Or is it Macaca-pura?

i notice the "election was rigged crowd" is rather silent.

I think there were enough precautions taken to avoid that situation.

I don't think the victory announcement is premature at all - a candidate who doesn't claim victory at this point comes across as weak and lacking confidence.

With a recount looming, it could be days or weeks until Allen concedes, and it's good strategy for the candidate who is ahead pre-recount to claim victory. See Bush v Gore, 2000.

Furthermore, he said there are good arguments for why you have to claim victory - to keep up the morale of your troops during the struggle for the recount, to make sure they remain vigilant and committed. [He literally told me "to guard the ballot boxes"

Um, okay he won. So, he's supposed to still be implementing strategies? Can't he just be like all the other politicians now? He's got the job, I don't believe there's anymore need to put up fronts. Then again, I'm not a seasoned politician, so what do I know?

what, do all brown people look the same to you?

what, do all brown people look the same to you?

I think sidarth is a low caste hindu (or at least looks like one). The kid in the video looks much more high caste/arya type. It was funny watching wannabe confederate hillbilly allen go down in flames. Who the hell WANTS to be a redneck ? George Allen had some issues to be sure

Um, okay he won. So, he's supposed to still be implementing strategies? Can't he just be like all the other politicians now? He's got the job, I don't believe there's anymore need to put up fronts. Then again, I'm not a seasoned politician, so what do I know?

No, he may have won for real at that point, but as the 2000 election showed us, what counts is the official decision. So you have to keep your activists pumped up and doing what you need until then.

I think sidarth is a low caste hindu (or at least looks like one). The kid in the video looks much more high caste/arya type...George Allen had some issues to be sure

I believe you when you say that Allen has issues since it takes one to know one...now please keep your high caste/low caste nonsense to yourself-- no one here cares or wants to read such ignorance.

I think sidarth is a low caste hindu (or at least looks like one). The kid in the video looks much more high caste/arya type. ....George Allen had some issues to be sure

Pot, kettle.

I think sidarth is a low caste hindu (or at least looks like one). The kid in the video looks much more high caste/arya type

Anand Uncle: sounds like you are really old. Your post reminds me of some old people in India who still believe in that stuff.

Most people in Sepia mutiny are young and unlike you not in their 90's and really don't believe in your village nonsense.