OT: voting (Late Night Edition from the Vanguard)

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 5370

Hi--

This is completely OT and partisan.  But as the US election is over, 
I feel as if I can reveal my personal views on this election now.  
Excuse the rhetoric, Republicans--it's been a great day for Dems here 
but a nail-biter for all nationwide.  (BTW, I've been laughing at the 
e-mails I've missed today.  Penny's Texas joke takes the cake!)

It's funny, but I feel as if I jinxed the outcome.  I've been saying 
for months that I was personally for Gore, and always work get-out-
the-vote messages, but told family and close friends that Bush would 
take the election.  A prophetess is not without honor save in tight 
elections like these.  :(

Now, Gore won my home state of Michigan (you don't understand how 
much contempt the average Michigan resident has for our Republican 
governor--this contempt cuts across all demographics and is the 
reason why we voted McCain over Bush in the primaries).  Detroit and 
suburbs had a PHENOMENAL turnout--and large turnouts here usually 
help Dems.  Also, the Big Three and the UAW gave the auto workers the 
day off.

Between the all-powerful unions and metro Detroit (go Motown!), I was 
sure the Dems would prevail.  But Florida is the key to the election 
at this late hour.  

Before tonight I was sure Florida would go for Bush--had a great jolt 
of joy when I got out of class around 9:30 EST and FL was shaded in 
blue.  But having participated actively in the 1998 gubernatorial 
election down there, and being a loud bipartisan activist (my 
political stance is schizophrenic beyond belief), I was very 
suspicious of a Democratic win of that state.

The only area in FL where Gore had a chance was in South Florida and 
he needed a huge voter turnout.  I spent a half decade in the 
Panhandle attending college, and let me tell you... it's very, very, 
(did I say VERY?) conservative.  "God's country."  Rural Florida 
above the imaginary horizontal line you can draw from Tampa to 
Orlando is typically Deep South in character--Republican.  Statewide, 
the Florida Republicans are organized to a fault.  In a tight 
election, they fight with intensity that reminds me of our own 
Michigan Dems.  Watching them put Jeb in office was like poetry in 
motion.  You had to admire it.

It's after 1 a.m. and Florida hasn't been officially declared yet.  
Well, the map is colored red.  Gore has the industrial North and 
Pacific seaboard, Bush has everything else.  The conclusion is 
obvious.

Well, at least the Canadian border is seven minutes from my front 
door.  I go over there enough to qualify for dual citizenship.  :)  
But if you guys decide on Bailicroft, just call me Angelina, 'kay?

Good night, and God bless America.  Next time, put Harry Potter on 
the ballot!  :)

--Ebony