VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

A FEW QUICK PRE-ELECTION THOUGHTS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

**Bush chooses to lead (and I use the term “lead” loosely) only those who agree with him and NOT the entire country. He is supposed to be the leader of America, not just the leader of Americans who blindly agree with his policies. A president is supposed to UNITE a country, not attempt to divide it. He’s divided America, he’s divided Iraq, he’s divided the world. Let’s divide Washington. Bush and the GOP might have the White-house, but today we can give the Democrats control of Capital Hill. Stand up and tell the Republicans in power that their blind support for George Bush and his countless blunders will no longer be tolerated!

**John Kerry’s botched joke shouldn't be an issue. The media, by even insinuating that it should be an issue, is fanning the flames. Katrina was an issue. Iraq is an issue. Lack of healthcare and education are issues. The senate page scandal is an issue. A botched punch-line (which Kerry apologized for) isn’t even a story. That is unless you are a desperate Republican who’s looking for anything (and I mean anything) that you can try to use to take attention away from your own party and its countless blunders. Kerry’s joke shouldn't even make the news, let alone lead it. By even mentioning it here, I have given it more attention than it deserves.

**It’s not just the House and Senate that hang in the balance of today’s election. There are an almost record number of hot-button issues (205 issues total in 37 states) on voter ballets. South Dakota could make abortion illegal (unless the procedure is being done to save the life of a pregnant mother). Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio voters will have a chance to raise the minimum wage in their states. Sadly, all of the people that this will effect most will probably be stuck at their $5.25 an hour job and not able to make it to the polls while their wealthier bosses will no doubt vote to strike down the raise. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin have “ban gay marriage” amendments on their ballots. Will these states follow New Jersey and order equal rights for same-sex couples? Nevada and Colorado both have a smoking-hot ballot measure that would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by anyone 21 and older. If either state passes this measure, it will instantly move into my top 10 places I’d be willing to live. Michigan voters will get to decide if they should bar the state government from using race and gender to determine who gets into college, who gets hired and who receives contracts. In South Dakota, voters could make their state the first to strip immunity from judges, exposing them to the possibility of lawsuits, fines and even jail. These are just a few of the hot-button issues on the ballots for today’s elections. Tobacco taxes, land-use regulation, and immigration are also big issues in many states. Make sure to vote on the issues in your state. This election isn’t just about who will represent you, but also what you represent.

**Today my mother saw a big political sign that had Ed Rendell on the top (he’s the Governor of PA and a Democrat) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) on the bottom. The GOP (and its supporters) is obviously looking for a way to fool voters into thinking that Rendell and Santorum run on the same ticket. They do not. People will make a lot of false signs, flyers, t-shirts, and statements to try to trick voters as they head to the polls. Do not be fooled. Educate yourself before heading to the polls. Your vote shouldn’t unknowingly fall into the wrong hands (Diebold aside).

**I’m going to prime my children for politics by naming my first born kid Tricity. That way when s/he runs for President we can make banners that say “Energize America: Elect-Tricity”

NOW GET OUT AND VOTE AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! THE REST OF THE TRUTH CAN WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK. TODAY’S ELECTIONS HOLD ENOUGH IMPORTANCE. TODAY WE TAKE BACK AMERICA!