My sense of civic duty must be stronger that I realize. I found myself awake at 6:30 this morning and in line to cast my vote before the sun had even cracked the Manhattan skyline. Maybe it was all the anticipation that had been building up over the past few years; the constant immersion in all things political. The anticipation of this moment to do my part to help wrest the country from a man I see as ill-equipped to lead it. Hell, could have been bad dried pineapple for all I know. Regardless, my first vote from the urbanity of northern Jersey took me less than five minutes and left me with a long day of watching, waiting and listening. But I have a good feeling that change is on the way.

Little hints have been showing up over the past few days — mostly in sporting events — that give me a sense that things will be shaded more blue than red. How else can you explain the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series? So long as it’s a fore-bearer of a Kerry Presidency, I’m certain that my Yankee heart can find some way to be happy for their win. The stronger of the predicting events was the Redskins loss to the Packers this past Sunday. The outcome of Washington’s last home game before Election Day has correctly predicted the winner of every Presidential race since 1936. To be fair, the Steelers clobbering of the Patriots on Sunday could also be taken as a sign that Kerry will get clobbered in Pennsylvania, but I’ll take the alternative view that a 21-game win streak being snapped means something nasty for the current incumbency.

History and the world at large are now looking down upon our country, in what has been called the most important election of our generation. For once I don’t see that as a gross exaggeration: we are walking the edge of a very fine blade. If Bush wins, he goes into his second term with a perceived mandate (wether the populous gives it to him or not) and who knows what becomes of it. If Kerry wins, the work begins to repair our country’s shattered name in the world at large and the beginnings of real safety at home.

I’ve tried hard not to see Bush wholly as a devil, though I feel his vice-president and the majority of his staff certainly are. There have been brief moments turing these past four years when I thought he might some day be able to transcend his company and the way he obtained his office; to prove my hunches wrong and become a leader worth respecting. But I ask you: how can you respect anyone who refuses to admit that he has made mistakes and is willing to learn from them? That last ember of hope went out long ago for me, but the point was driven home time and time again (remember the debate question when he was asked for three mistakes he’d made and all he could come up with were a few appointments he made?).

Is Kerry the best man for the job? Would things really be as bad as I think under Bush for another four years? Those are questions that only time and history can answer. All I know for certain is that my vote is cast and tonight I’ll be sitting in front of the TV, beer in hand, listening to election results just like I did four years ago. Unlike four year ago, I expect to actually have some kind of result one way or the other before my head hits the pillow. And heaven help me if things start to tilt towards a second reign of G.W., because I’ll have switched from beer to rum by then to numb the pain.

Aren’t elections fun?

Tags: Politics

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