Wednesday, 3 November 2004
Like Christmas With Two Scary Santas, That Is
This U.S. Presidential election is a bit like Christmas for me. Not so much for its possible presents, but for the timing. Because it's in-progress over (my) night, I wake up to the results.
At least, I did four years ago. This time I'm sitting here watching the election coverage on CNBC (the only U.S. channel I get). Well, also flipping around. Fashion TV is much nicer to look at.
There are so many things I could say about this U.S. Presidential election. And just about everyone of them would've already been said by someone else. So, I'll say a bit and leave it at that.
It's been interesting to follow the goings-on from abroad this time around, even more so than in 2000. Back then, I'd watched a bit of French coverage, shrugged, and gone to bed. I woke up to, and lived with, the Florida debacle.
This time, I'm a part of a "swing State." Not that Minnesota is a key State, but it certainly wouldn't hurt either side to win it. It's odd to see this late in the game, since even with a strong Republican minority (the ol' rural vs. urban thing) it usually swings full-on Democrat. It was, after all, the only State that Walter Mondale won in 1984 (not counting Washington D.C., which is a bloc of electoral votes but obviously not a State, besides which it makes for a better anecdote when people aren't so damn pedantic about it, like I'm being now).
I think, in true Minnesota inferiority complex-fashion, it's faking it for attention. ("Minnesotan inferiority complex" is a pet theory of mine, maybe I'll write more another time.) Just kidding. Sort of.
Oh, and don't you find that it's odd that, after living abroad for going on five years, my vote still counts in a State where I'm no longer a resident? I do. There's one unwanted byproduct of the electoral vote system - though I should say that, overall, I agree with it, in concept.
Anyway, I imagine that it's no secret that I voted against Bush. I don't particularly like Kerry, but at least he seems smart. Plus, I dislike him less than I disliked Gore.
Oh, and you Americans have a shitload of TV ads to put up with. Criminy, can't a major state affair go unbranded for more than five minutes? At least we get filler spots instead of U.S. ads, but the breaks are still extremely annoying.
I think I'll try to stay up for Minnesota poll closing, which is 3:00 AM my time (8:00 PM cow time). Then, it's off to visions of sugar-plums for me.