The most important day

This is it. I say it's the most important day in my country that I can recall. I have a cautious sense of optimism that Kerry will win this thing. Some people are sure, but we've been through too much shit the last four years to even say this. Anything can happen, and the sense of general fair play in elections between the parties that seemed to exist before 2000 is long gone. It's going to be close, and there very well may be court battles that will drag this process out forever. But I'm hoping that it will be clearly, without a doubt, settled this evening.

Here's why I have a cautious sense of optimism:

--The polls have trended toward a statistical tie the last week or so. No break away for incumbent Bush. I believe that the polls are generally unreliable in 2004 anyway and do not consider those who weren't regular voters before this time.

--A record turnout. This has to help Kerry. Sure, there are many, many people that feel passionately about Bush, and they're energizing voters to go vote for him. But, I think he has done enough to piss off a large segment of people enough that they will go vote for Kerry. That segment of the population wants to win.

--Voting irregularities and shenanigans are out in the open. We're hearing about attempts to discourage and outright deny people the right to vote as they're happening. As we know, this election and traditionally, Republicans are the culprits in disenfranchisement. But this time, we're looking for it, and people are making a stink about it.

--There's a buzz in the air. It's there--outside, online. Change feels like it's coming. This isn't 2000, where two seemingly so-so candidates are trying to win by default. A new beginning is in the works. Hopefully.

--The declining Nader factor. Yeah, he might get 1-2%. But newly registered voters aren't going to him. There aren't many tales of disaffected Democrats leaning toward Nader this time. If anything, a good number have rejoined (or joined for the 1st time) the fold.

--Many X-factors. Who would think Howard Stern and Eminem would be factors working in Kerry's favor? They aren't the traditional high-profile liberal celebrities who will automatically pull for the Democrat. Stern has always been a libertarian Republican, and Eminem is, well, Eminem. Both have the ears of masses of people who would otherwise not vote for Kerry or even vote at all.

--Faith in American democracy. The people will come through and not be fooled. Enough people see what has happened and know they can right the ship. This is still the greatest country in the world.

Reasons to be afraid (paranoia):

--The GOP machine is the most formidable political operation ever. They are powerful and their tentacles are manipulating things even as we speak. Do not underestimate, ever, their power. They have no intentions of leaving office and will fight with everything--everything--to stop this.

--The US is on the wrong side of history. Since 9/11, we're on a decline. Everything we do is now wrong and we are no longer the good of the world. Is this true?

--Diebold. The electronic voting machines are completely fraudelent and have already been programmed for a Bush victory.

Let's hope the last 3 things don't pan out. Let's hope this ends tonight, with a decisive Kerry victory. Let's hope that tomorrow, we're not all dragging our heads and talking about what we did wrong and where do we possibly go from here.

Let's all think positive thoughts. Believe. Vote. Gets others to do the same. Be cautious. And don't concede this election unless we legitimately lose.