Can't sleep. Bush will eat me. Can't sleep. Bush will eat me.

quelonzia's alarm doesn't go off for another 20 minutes, and here I am, wide awake.

Two hours until the polls open.

I'm as excited and hyper and nervous as a kid who's about to take his college board exams on Christmas morning. It's a strange combination of anticipation and dread.

The college board metaphor isn't a bad one. This is like a collective IQ test for America: have we done our homework? Have we paid attention, and learned from the last four years? Or have we bought into the lies and deception of the Bush Junta, people who insist that they can remake reality to their own liking?

Daylight Saving Time is another good metaphor. In the Untidy States, we just set our clocks back an hour -- are we going to set our calendars forward to the future, or back to the feudal, theocratic past?

There's the alarm. Time to post. Time to pace.

Can't sleep. Bush will eat me. Can't sleep. Bush will eat me.

quelonzia's alarm doesn't go off for another 20 minutes, and here I am, wide awake.

Two hours until the polls open.

I'm as excited and hyper and nervous as a kid who's about to take his college board exams on Christmas morning. It's a strange combination of anticipation and dread.

The college board metaphor isn't a bad one. This is like a collective IQ test for America: have we done our homework? Have we paid attention, and learned from the last four years? Or have we bought into the lies and deception of the Bush Junta, people who insist that they can remake reality to their own liking?

Daylight Saving Time is another good metaphor. In the Untidy States, we just set our clocks back an hour -- are we going to set our calendars forward to the future, or back to the feudal, theocratic past?

There's the alarm. Time to post. Time to pace.

And once again, Wil Wheaton says it better than I could.

This election is a referendum on the policies and leadership of President Bush. On November 2nd, we will take a simple test: will Americans succumb to terror? Or will we stand up and take our country back?

And once again, Wil Wheaton says it better than I could.

This election is a referendum on the policies and leadership of President Bush. On November 2nd, we will take a simple test: will Americans succumb to terror? Or will we stand up and take our country back?

And now, the suspense.

I voted -- and anyone who reads this journal knows exactly for whom and why.

I was the first person at our polling place to ask for a paper ballot instead of the electronic; quelonzia was the second -- and then several people behind us in line asked for them, as well. Good. I wanted to establish the precedent; hopefully, the chain will keep going.

And now, the wait.

And now, the suspense.

I voted -- and anyone who reads this journal knows exactly for whom and why.

I was the first person at our polling place to ask for a paper ballot instead of the electronic; quelonzia was the second -- and then several people behind us in line asked for them, as well. Good. I wanted to establish the precedent; hopefully, the chain will keep going.

And now, the wait.

I should mention...

...that there was a pretty decent line at the polls today. That does my heart good.

I should mention...

...that there was a pretty decent line at the polls today. That does my heart good.

Democracy

You might have noticed thatthe last two entries had Leonard Cohen songs in the "Music" header; I'm currently listening to his 1992 album, The Future.

I got that album because of two songs... and the lyrics of both seem appropriate today.

( Anthem: )

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

( Democracy: )

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

Good luck to us all.

Democracy

You might have noticed thatthe last two entries had Leonard Cohen songs in the "Music" header; I'm currently listening to his 1992 album, The Future.

I got that album because of two songs... and the lyrics of both seem appropriate today.

( Anthem: )

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

( Democracy: )

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

Good luck to us all.

Watching Election Results on FurryMUCK...

jirris_midvale: I await the riots.

normanrafferty hehs.

athelind: Yeah. Rioting. They'll have to call out the National Gua... OH, WAIT!

Watching Election Results on FurryMUCK...

jirris_midvale: I await the riots.

normanrafferty hehs.

athelind: Yeah. Rioting. They'll have to call out the National Gua... OH, WAIT!

Running some quick numbers

2003 population                         290,000,000
Population over 18                      215,470,000
# of Votes w/ 68% of precincts           85,000,000
Estimated Total Actually Voting         125,000,000
% of Eligible Voters Actually Voting             58%

58% is a pretty impressive voter turnout.

It's truly unfortunate that they seem to be turning out to send the United States of America careening into theocratic fascism.

Maybe things will look better in the morning.

Running some quick numbers

2003 population                         290,000,000
Population over 18                      215,470,000
# of Votes w/ 68% of precincts           85,000,000
Estimated Total Actually Voting         125,000,000
% of Eligible Voters Actually Voting             58%

58% is a pretty impressive voter turnout.

It's truly unfortunate that they seem to be turning out to send the United States of America careening into theocratic fascism.

Maybe things will look better in the morning.