Election Day, 2004
I do not believe that Senator John Kerry can accomplish all that he wants to accomplish as President of the United States. But I do believe that he will try. I think that Kerry honestly wants to make things better and I believe that he has the skills to improve (and hopefully even solve) many of the problems that we are facing. I do not think that things will become magically better under Kerry — but I am fairly certain that they will get worse under Bush.
The President of the United States is supposed to be the President of all of the people of the United States. I do not believe that George W. Bush feels that he is everyone’s President. The impression that I get from him is that he is the President of his base and of his believers — and that the rest of us are along for the ride (as long as we do, and think, as we are told).
I do not feel that I (or the United States, or world in general) are better-off since President Bush has been in power. I think that it is fairly obvious that things have become markedly worse in my country under the current administration’s rule. If George W. Bush and his staff had made no other mistakes, the mistake that they are making in Iraq would be reason enough to elect someone else.
However, I can not find a single thing that this administration has done right in the last four years.
I am also very disturbed by the continued encroachment on civil liberties, the erosion of tolerance, and the anti-intellectual/anti-science undercurrent that now flows through this administration’s government.
To continue on this path is utter folly and is not only dangerous for the United States, but for the rest of the world.
That is why I will cast my vote, today, for Senator John Kerry, for President of the United States.
My dog, Pal, woke me up early. I tried going back to bed for a bit -- but couldn't sleep for long. Too fretfull. The tree across the street has turned so yellow that it looks like a special effect. There is a gray squirrel digging industriously for lost nuts in the front yard.
I need coffee.
The wind is blowing lush heaps of Autumn leaves around like huge golden-hued snowflakes. But it feels like Spring; there is a coat-free warmth in the afternoon air.
I went up to the local fire hall with my parents to cast my vote. There were only a few other people there (aside from the poll workers). One Pro-Life woman with a baby in a stroller, outside, was handing out leaflets. Inside, it was a pretty swift affair. Two signatures, a few moments in the voting booth, and a little square voting receipt and I was done. I did what I rarely do: pull the big lever. Straight Democrat. In the past, I have always tried to mix things up a bit, picking candidates from each party. I think that things have become too unbalanced now, however -- so it was an all-in-one deal this time around.
Funny, because I am a registered Republican.
Well, now it is raining and the birds are tweeting (irritated, perhaps, by the glooming of the day). Things are unsettled and rustling out there.
Kelli is working as a poll watcher in her neck of the woods. I hope she's not getting rained on.
It is too early for much in the way of results, yet. I've divested myself of sportcoat and tie. Now I'm going to grab some lunch -- and keep an eye on the news...
Last night, when we took my Grandmother home after Joel's birthday party, I saw that most of the houses on her street had little paper signs (sort of like the "Do Not Disturb" signs in hotels) affixed to doors and railing, etc. The signs were encouraging people to get out and vote.
From what I've been reading, this election could have the highest voter turn-out in the US in decades...
It is jet black outside now. The sounds of traffic on the highway are drifting in through my window. In just about 35 minutes the first of the polls should be closing, in six states. Results and predictions should start flowing in then.
It's kind of nerve-wracking...
Well, at the moment the projection maps are showing three states going red (Bush wins: Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia) and one going blue (Kerry: Vermont). Things are still early, though...
Shifting locations, I'm now on the couch at Kelli's house watching the results on a variety of stations...and on the Internet.
And sipping Margaritas -- that rocks, 
Shifting, also, from a desktop pc to a wirelessly connected iBook.
The Daily Show is a howl, by-the-way...
And now, they are predicting that my state (Pennsylvania) has gone to Kerry. Yay!
I gotta say: I'm kind of worried.
Hope, however, still remains.
*crosses fingers*
Looks like it is coming down to Ohio...
At almost 1 am things are still undecided. Most of it revolving around the state of Ohio. I must say that I am very disappointed by the way things are going -- but I am still hopefull.
It is quiet, and dark, here. The TV is playing, one light is lit. Kelli is snoozing on the sofa. I'm typing on the iBook, and wondering how my views can be so out-of-sync with so many of my fellow Americans.
Even Gidget (Kelli's Boston Terrier) is sleeping, now.
I'll watch for as long as I can...
2:08 AM and we still don't know. It's almost nightmarish.
The TV is still chattering on and I'm weary...but, sheesh. I still can't believe this...
3:12 AM and this really is looking like a helluva year. A helluva bad one from my point of view. I'm really worried about what message all this is sending to the Republican party. I'm sincerely hoping that the extreme conservatives don't view this as a mandate -- but I fail to see how they won't.
I feel like I'm trying to believe in magic by still trying to hope for a Kerry win.
3:52 AM and I'm thinking about hitting the hay. This is dream-like (in a bad way) already.
It is Wednesday, and Kerry is supposed to give a concession speech at 1PM.
I am appalled.