ELECTION DAY

Well, Twitter is all atweet with voting, the news at noon several coverages report lines and smooth running, with maybe a few glitches this morning, Gayle called to say there were lines at polling places and everyone just seems to have that “we’re accomplishing something” energy. Everything’s been so negative — economy, political fighting, war – that it seems the perfect time to be able to step up to a voting booth, pull the curtain behind and stand for something or someone. Decide.

I’m looking forward to walking down the street and voting when Gayle gets home. Another “I Voted” sticker on the door and a sincere hope that this election gives a clear message and stays out of the courts.

Vote, darn it — a right, a privilege, a responsibility.

GULLIBLE AND TWITCHY RUN FOR PRESIDENT

YOUR VOTE COUNTS:  

 

POLITICS

Well, I did swear off (discussing) politics, religion and sex a month or so ago, but the Mets did not make the playoffs and I feel obliged to finish off the political conversation(and yet not say anything inflamatory about anyone — there’s a quest).  

I’m back to being registered as an independent — the Democratic primary put me off Democrats so I switched parties to vote in the primary (I miss Illinois where you could register independent and vote in the primary of your choice), the Republican convention put me off Republicans so I once again (thanks to the helpful volunteers at my alternate office) switched.  

I am disappointed that two women who were/are viable candidates don’t seem to meet my criteria for someone I want in charge of the country.  I am also disappointed that there really is no political party that reflects my views. The amount of money being spent on the election appalls me; the venom that seems to get spewed also appalls me.  I will say so far that Obama has seemed to keep an even keel; I can respect that.  But by the time the election rolls around, I don’t know if I’ll have any respect left for any of them. Or if one will be the leader this country needs. I’m being forced to found my faith on the orignal three part design of the government and hope that if anyone really screws up, Congress will step in — I think that might be an indication of desperation mixed with frustration.

So my conclusions: think seriously about this, vote your conscience — even if you have to write someone in; Bill Bradley was my presidential choice for a few elections, but VOTE, and if you want to pick a fight/have a serious discussion with someone, visit the Barking Carrot; she likes a good political tussle.

Now, I’m going back to sports, movies, comics and working. Take care.

BACK TO ISSUES

Call from Clive Crook of the Financial Times for the Presidential Race to get back to issues and for McCain and Democrats at large to behave respectfully. Here’s the column.

I am so fed up with the whole mess. McCain has lost my respect; he seems to be more interested in winning than maintaining his integrity. There were several reasons I did not like Obama but now I’m being forced to consider if I am wrongly holding the too emotional enthusiasm of his more vocal supporters against him. So I am going to have to find neutral information and make a more informed decision. Republican volunteers are calling up and asking what is the most important issue: economy and jobs, terrorism, gas prices or healthcare. And I’ve finally figured out the most important issue for me: civil rights. I am appalled at what I am hearing is STILL going on in Minneapolis/St. Paul (Twitter’s great for on the spot updates.) As a country, we seem more inclined to defend the Second Amendment than the First.

Gayle sent me a quote from the Joseph Torsella, President of the National Constitution Center, commenting on a poll that shows Americans reluctant to hand too much power to a president: “I think it’s a basic chord in the American song and it gets louder and stronger depending on what’s happening in the headlines,” he said. The Associated Press article showed up in papers all over the world. This is the most cheerful thing I’ve heard this election season.

POLITICAL CHAMPAGNE

Well, the fizz has gone out of my political champagne because now the exciting and unpredictable is going to turn predictably ugly.  Well, depending on which side of the Internet you drive down, it already has over the revelation of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy.  So much for rational decision making and weighing merits rather than demerits.  I think this might be the ugliest/most emotional election yet — will another 24 hours bring new revelations about Obama, McCain, Biden, or Palin?  Change is a painful process and so many people are so invested in seeing someone who mirrors their struggles reach office that failure is inconceivable.  And so emotions and loyalties and vulnerability and anger and heartbreak loom. I hope that we can get down to true characters and real abilities rather than rumors and accusations.  And make the right choice, or if there’s not a right choice, the best choice.  I always hope for a thoughtful president, one who will be able to take issues and think them through well.  I will begin to hope for thoughtful voters as well.