At Onion Party, There Are 'A Lot of Jokes To Be Made'

By Tuesday afternoon, The Onion's ‘War For the White House Election Night Spectacular,' at Fontana's on the Lower East Side, was already sold out. Three hundred and fifty people were on the waiting list, and 800 others had been turned down.

As things got underway around 7 p.m. this evening, Onion features editor and party organizer Joe Garden joked that he was still hoping for a win for Bob Barr. He'd voted earlier in the day in Windsor Terrace, where it only took five minutes. (And we think we know who he really voted for.)

So, would it be harder to make jokes about an Obama administration than it has been about Bush?

"No way, that's bullshit. That's lazy comedy. You should always be able to make fun of the guy who's in charge," said Mr. Garden.

He was sitting with Glenn Severance and John Harris. Mr. Severance voted in Carroll Gardens, where it took one hour. And Mr. Harris voted in Clinton Hill, where it also took an hour.

None wanted to say who would win, for fear of jinxing. 

Mr. Severance pointed out that making jokes about Bill Clinton had been difficult. Mr. Garden disagreed.

"No, it wasn't. Clinton always wanted people to love him," he said.

"There will be a lot of jokes to be made, and definitely a lot of jokes about Joe Biden."

He means that literally. 

The crowd, spilling out into the street, was a definite mix of Lower East Siders and preppies. Party guests wore hoodies and plaid flannel shirts. One guy rocked an ironic looking fedora. Another wore a top hat. Inside, everyone stared glassy-eyed at Wolf Blitzer. They booed when Kentucky was called for McCain. But they cheered when Obama snagged Illinois, Massachusetts and Maine.

Dewars, which sponsored the event, flowed freely.

Mr. Garden and his friends commented that they didn't think Scotland probably cared about the results of our election.