The Inevitable Election Night Entry

We tried to vote on Saturday, but the 200+ people in line were too much of a deterrent (both times!). Instead, I got to our local precinct this morning at 7:30, and was back in my car leaving, after voting, exactly an hour later. This was the second time we voted at this location, which clearly can not handle crowds. (Although, I suppose, it was better equipped than the realtor's office where this used to occur.) We now vote in a nearby apartment-complex clubhouse, and there was NO parking (few of the apartment dwellers had left yet). Add to this the constant stream of school buses that blocked the only entry/exit to the parking lot for nearly 20 minutes, and I hope they find another new place for next time. I also hope they do a little more logistics planning. They were moving sign-in tables and shuffling waiting lines while I was there.

For someone who grew up Republican, the last four years have made me anti-Republican. On trying to research candidates for the local Water Board, I initially disqualified one candidate on finding she was endorsed by the Republican party. It's the freakin' Water Board, for crying out loud. (Although, given the Current Administration's track record on the environment....)

I'm avoiding TV coverage. CNN's on-screen countdown to the first polls closing, as seen at the gym, was absolutely absurd. Unlike Dan (who is calling out the play-by-play), I couldn't care less right now. Wall-to-wall coverage of impending stormy weather, fine — I can use the information to plan and/or react. But there is absolutely nothing I can do with the back-and-forth of trying to determine the winner three hours before polls close in Alaska and Hawaii. At this point, the only thing that really matters is The Final Answer, which we won't even really be close to until late tonight. So, why bother. Nothing I can do but get frustrated over the apparent general stupidity of the voting public nothing.

I'm generally lousy at predictions, so maybe I can reverse-jinx by saying: Kerry will win the popular vote, but Bush will win via the electoral college — and then he will go on in his out-of-touch-with-reality way and claim a "clear moral victory" and a mandate to stay the course, from the public that actually wanted him gone. Oh, and the nation's worst voting problems will be in Texas, finally taking the spotlight off Florida.^*

I just hope it's not as bad as I imagine. But, hope for the best and prepare for the worst, right? I hear British Columbia is lovely.

^*OK, I'm just wishful-thinking here. But it would be fun.