Four years is a long time. Eight is yet longer.

But in the span of history, they are near nothing compared to the time of the regimes of Castro, Hussein, and Jong Ill.

Tomorrow is Election Day, and once again our country will show the world what it's like when PEOPLE choose their leader. Yes, we can make bad decisions, and yes, sometimes we make those decisions on false and misleading information, but it's OUR CHOICE.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is remarkable.

We, a young country's citizens, are the world's oldest of our kind. We are the leaders, and the world is watching. The results of the feelings of America could be seen in the primaries, when we chose the two most post-partisan candidates.

Yes, our system is broken, and these two candidates have been partisan as any (with some exceptions; McCain has NOT brought up Wright; Obama hasn't hit on McCain's age). But these two men will offer a truly new way forward, and in the scope of history, that is an amazing thing.

I celebrate Democracy tomorrow, and you're invited to do the same.

God Bless America, and my best wishes to all of you near and far.

-----------------------
(in unison)
Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store....
One more dawn.....
One more day.......
One. Day. More

The Obama campaign is having Michelle replace him on the campaign trail. I think Clinton would be a better choice, and she's been great for Obama so far. Let Michelle do her own thing - having Clinton "replace Obama" on the trail would be much more symbolically powerful.

Thoughts? I don't know what else to add.....

http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=9 177991

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - There are allegations of voter fraud, as a Dougherty County family claims the vote of a mentally challenged relative was stolen.

They say the adult day rehab program where Jack Justice attends took him to vote, without the family's permission. What's worse is Justice says the person helping him wouldn't cast the ballot for his choice for President.

Jack Justice has been voting since he turned 18. Typically his family takes him to their neighborhood precinct. This time Primus Industries, his adult day rehab program, took him to vote. His family was shocked, but what shocked them more was that Jack claims that his aide commandeered his vote.

http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=9 177991

I admit that I soured a bit on Obama during the summer. A few things he did annoyed me, and though I never changed sides, I could have certainly been described as a "weak" supporter.

But as I said so long ago, the hard facts of this election are coming home, and Obama's in a VERY strong position.

Nate Silver at Fivethirtyeight.com has the score, and as he says, McCain is near a sacking.

McCain can't let this settle anymore. One reason Obama lost New Hampshire was that he support after Iowa was so sudden that it was easily erased.

Every day makes this harder to erase. Obama has had 10 days of a statisically significant lead in the Gallup tracking poll. So look for fireworks in the debate from a frustrated candidate who will do almost anything to have a chance for that office.

I honestly wish that McCain hadn't disqualified himself, but he has, and Obama must now begin to seriously consider how not only to win, but also to govern. FDR had a lot longer to plan than Obama will.

Yes, the race will tighten, and yes, pundits will freak. But it will take a big shift that doesn't look to be coming soon. Let this election show the true failures of non-conservative Republican policies.

And, let's pray for his safety. It only takes one person convinced he's a radical Muslim.

So said McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/ 2008/09/mccain_manager_this_election_i.h tml#more

"This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Such is their wish. Davis wants and needs this to be about how voters perceive the two candidates - Obama raising vs lowering taxes, Obama as inexperienced/ready to lead, Obama as celebrity.

Don't let it happen. Talk about the issues.

Own the issues, and you will own the election.

From a press avail:

"I have said before and I will repeat again: People's families are off limits," Obama said. "And people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18 and how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be a topic of our politics."

She's a trap. Don't jump on Palin - she kept a baby while knowing it had Down Syndrome, and took on state corruption. She actually hunts and fishes (was arrested for using an improper net), and has huge AK approval ratings. She's the real deal, folks, not a facade, and she's not the story.

McCain is the story. The failures of this government are the story. The bad policies that the Republican administration will pursue are the story. The choice of a 20 month governor for VP is the story.

Palin is not the story.

Let the press do what it does. I'll have no part in it.

Let's compare some quotes:

Fox's profile of Palin: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/ sarah-palin-seen-as-gop-rising-star/

Almanac of American Politics: http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2 008/people/ak/akgv.php

FOX:

Palin grew up in Wasilla, just outside of Anchorage, played on Wasilla's state champion girls' basketball team in 1982, wore the crown of Miss Wasilla in 1984 and competed in the Miss Alaska contest.

AoAP:

She grew up in Wasilla, just outside of Anchorage, played on Wasilla's state championship girls basketball team in 1982, wore the crown of Miss Wasilla in 1984 and competed in the Miss Alaska contest.

Check it out:

FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/ born_in_the_usa.html

Once again: If it sounds like a conspiracy theory, assume Falsehood until proven true.

In other news, today's VP announcement was peobably delayed from Houses gaffe; they might wait until Saturday, depending on the media cycle tomorrow.

Just remember, the only pick who is a "known quantity" is Clinton. If the pick is more unknown, Obama's going to want lots of time to define his VP before McCain's camp gets a shot.

Also, the preferred pick of some PUMA's for Obama's VP: John Edwards. You have to wonder how someone can defind themselves so totally as being AGAINST instead of FOR.