the rix mix

There were long stretches when I wished it would go away, weeks of nothing but sideshows. Why do we put our candidates through this? Why do we put ourselves through it?

After I voted in the primary - a thrilling experience - I became a passive observer. Tomorrow I vote for the 4th time this year. I will not have to wait on line four hours, although I hope it'll be the busiest turnout I've seen when voting at the grammar school on Magie Ave. A blue city in a blue congressional district, the only sense of urgency about elections here are in the local primaries, when the faux Democrats run candidates.

Way back in July 2007 I wrote:

Although Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama could conceivably win popular vote majorities, I challenge anyone to go to 270toWin & put together electoral majorities for them against a Rove-driven campaign focused on the spectres of dark-skinned immigrant hordes, suicide bombers, & Iranian nukes.

I sure underestimated Barack Obama's chances. I think we'll know tomorrow night. But he was unknown, untested, & the driving issues looked to be different then. Six months later, with people getting very anxious about the economy (Wall Street & the White House still in denial) anyone could map narrow victories for both Barack & Hillary. The road was opening.

High points: Choosing between a black man & white woman in the primary, & voting tomorrow.

Biggest fear: That came early, when Giuliani looked like a threat. I couldn't adequately express how much that man freaked me out.

Biggest shock: John McCain picking Sarah Palin. When a conservative friend, a libertarian type, went instantly gaga for her, it was the first time in three decades I'd ever thought of him as stupid rather than just wrong-headed. I wonder how he feels now?

What made me like Barack Obama after I voted for him: How he handled the Rev. Wright controversy. How he managed his primary end game. The professional stagecraft of the Convention with its themes of reconciliation & unity, the Biden VP pick, leading up to the stadium speech, & Stevie Wonder, the perfect weather, very good television. Staying on a populist message for the general campaign. His strategy to contest red states, which I hope pays off,

Sad timing: Obama's grandmother dying on election eve.

Very briefly watched Lou Dobbs tonight, it was like a show from six months ago. That was a big problem with Repugs generally; a rotating list of sideshow issues.

Most surprising desertion from Repugs: Denny Crane "crossed the aisle."

Labels: THE election