On a wet Tuesday
I voted! It was enjoyable walking in and voting today. I told them my name and the worker said "I thought you looked like a Bosken." I always get a kick when people recognize or know who I am.
One of the perks about voting today was all the free stuff! I voted and proceeded to go to Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut then Starbucks for a free coffee. Then to Chick-fil-A with a few people from Greensboro for some free chicken sandwiches. Back to Krispy Kreme, then home. How great is that?
I've had an expression for this year's election: What September 2001 did to reelect Bush, September 2008 did to elect Obama. Before September, I thought this election would either be a McCain squeaker or Obama blowout. As such, I think this will be the latter, 311-227. (Though this is deceptive as the gap can be narrowed to 18 points if Ohio and Virginia go red.) With my friends, it almost seems that they're conceding that if Obama is elected he will be assassinated. It's not even a doubt with some. Though today I heard that if Obama doesn't win there will be massive protests. I guess I'm more optimistic. No matter who wins, "change" will be a narrative that will echo in both parties. Republicans really have to find members that can galvanize the base and still reach independents. Democrats have to break away from entrenched ideologues and find fresher faces as well. An Obama win may also hurt Sarah Palin in the long run. An underlying topic in her arrival to the National Stage was if Palin was received well enough and if she'd be a good future candidate for president. The problem with an Obama win would be a desire of most Americans to return after 8 years of something foreign (or different) to the norm in candidates (White Male.) I don't know if this would necessarily be true, but it does hit at the racial tension in this election. Either way, I feel that the direction this country will take in the next few years will be a break away from foreign oil and petrodictatorships with alternative energy, a reduction of military spending or size (as well as a withdrawal from global conflicts), and a consolidation of government programs and policies to transition America away from industrial jobs towards more technological jobs.
One of the perks about voting today was all the free stuff! I voted and proceeded to go to Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut then Starbucks for a free coffee. Then to Chick-fil-A with a few people from Greensboro for some free chicken sandwiches. Back to Krispy Kreme, then home. How great is that?
I've had an expression for this year's election: What September 2001 did to reelect Bush, September 2008 did to elect Obama. Before September, I thought this election would either be a McCain squeaker or Obama blowout. As such, I think this will be the latter, 311-227. (Though this is deceptive as the gap can be narrowed to 18 points if Ohio and Virginia go red.) With my friends, it almost seems that they're conceding that if Obama is elected he will be assassinated. It's not even a doubt with some. Though today I heard that if Obama doesn't win there will be massive protests. I guess I'm more optimistic. No matter who wins, "change" will be a narrative that will echo in both parties. Republicans really have to find members that can galvanize the base and still reach independents. Democrats have to break away from entrenched ideologues and find fresher faces as well. An Obama win may also hurt Sarah Palin in the long run. An underlying topic in her arrival to the National Stage was if Palin was received well enough and if she'd be a good future candidate for president. The problem with an Obama win would be a desire of most Americans to return after 8 years of something foreign (or different) to the norm in candidates (White Male.) I don't know if this would necessarily be true, but it does hit at the racial tension in this election. Either way, I feel that the direction this country will take in the next few years will be a break away from foreign oil and petrodictatorships with alternative energy, a reduction of military spending or size (as well as a withdrawal from global conflicts), and a consolidation of government programs and policies to transition America away from industrial jobs towards more technological jobs.