Posted 4:55 PM by Gene

Now comes the election, and the specter of the lesser of two evils hovers over the land. I have still not decided whether to vote -- I have three hours. If I don't vote I am in contempt of my "obligations" as a citizen; never mind the dispiritment that you may vote for lost causes, or candidates who shouldn't be. If I do vote I have to determine which candidates to vote for -- straight party line is stupidity, or worse. And the last time around I voted not for Dubya but against Sen. Hein-TZZZZZ, a bad choice either way. I'm tired of voting against. The only people who win in elections are broadcasters.

Which makes me think of the mess to come. If the Democrats win the House (at least) it will be two years of turmoil, and no different from the turmoil just past except that where Republicans would line their wallets, Democrats would brandish their cowardice. I suppose the party will first try to defund the war, but one suspects enough Democrats will play chicken to prevent that. I can see Mssssss. Pelosi losing control of her more righteous charges, and said clowns spending the next two years in the Wagnerian fury of impeachment -- which would mean more Republican misrule. Then again it could be two fat years of nothing, the likeliest outcome. What a revolting choice.

Which brings us to 2008 -- I'm guessing Mitt vs. Hillary. I can see Boobs McKeating having a Muskie on the trail; Rudy Giuliani has a "woman" in his past. But there is something green about Mitt, and there is a miasma of the otherworldly to Mormonism. Then again Hillary's a permanent tantrum. And the campaign starts when this election stops, so we have no surcease from the bloviating.

One other thing: there's been much gas about electronic voting. Why can't we go all the way and do it in our homes? It's inevitable. And it would be no less secure than this patchwork system of levers and cards and touchscreens. There's no reason it can't be as secure as Internet shopping, with every voter required to enter his name, DOB, driver's license and Social Security numbers, and his mother's maiden name. It would give voters a chance to talk out their choice; no fake veil of secrecy. And it might bring thought into voting, and start to wean us from the oppressive influence of the consultants and the greedmeisters.

And finally, perhaps the pollsters have this right; but the elections of '48 and '94 are good reasons to think they may have it wrong, either way.