And although their wonkie math guys on the front lines seemed to be doing a fair job of gathering and presenting data, watching the pundits at the analysis and interp desk was like being a fly on the wall at Der Fuhrerbunker.

The sand tables and wall maps are crowded with arrows and markers for non-existent divisions, the generals in their spotless uniforms stare grimly at the dispatches with no trace of emotion, and everybody really, really wants a cigarette but doesn't dare light up. The lights flicker, the dust trickles from the ceiling and the artillery sounds ever closer.

These are not dumb men, or dishonest, even if they wanted to lie, what would be the point at 11PM EST Tuesday night? They just want to believe so bad, it alters their very perception of reality. It's embarassing to watch. Its not that its wrong to be skeptical about how quickly their position was unravelling. Hell, even I couldn't believe how quickly things were falling for Obama. But I felt that it was too early in the evening, and I imagined it would be a lot closer. I didn't expect a decision before sunrise. With the Conservatives, it wasn't just confusion about the data and the margins of error, or delays in the vote count. For them it was a perversion of the laws of physics.

Now, hold that thought and link to your nearest climate change denialist website...

BTW. I don't watch Stewart, although I know who he is and what he does. I can see why the Right loathes and despises him so desperately.