I live in a decidedly Red county. We are so Republican here that most of us Democrats whisper. Yeah, whisper. In fact, my most daring move since marching to end the war in Vietnam in the 60's was to put an Obama/Biden magnet on my car. It has definitely chilled the air at the hardware store.
But at the market women friends are motioning me into quiet aisles to shake my hand. This has slowed down progress a bit but made me feel that I was not totally alone in a sea of red? BTW why did the Republicans get red?
Anyway, New Mexico has been a red state on the electoral map the last few elections. But in the last week CNN has been painting it leaning blue. That is the lighter shade of blue given to states that have a history of being heavily Democrat.
And this morning as I was reading the latest polls I discovered that New Mexico is not even considered in contention any more. It is Blue. I'm dancing. Well, not actually dancing but I am no longer whispering. Still I am the only Obama sign in my window on my street. Too early to feel too sure of myself here, but not quite as alone. I may go to the local grocery store and see if I can actually talk out loud in front of the meat and cheese counters.
You know who must be feeling really alone these days is John McCain. His running mate Sarah Palin seems to be stealing all the news coverage (about her fancy wardrobe and hairstyling) as well as drawing all the crowds at speaking events. And Obama's crowds are huge. But he does keep on keeping on. And he is the comeback kid. Heck, even he thought his naval career was over after the Forrestal incident, but Daddy pulled him out.
What scares me at this juncture is that GW (also a very lonely person just now) may allow some terrorist incident to occur just to boost McCain's numbers. For all my UK readers that is not just paranoia. It is how far the political system and our faith in it has sunk here in the United States. Between hanging chads, Supreme Court rulings they had no legal right to make, 9/11, 2004 voter registration and poll number irregularities we won't believe in the result even after it is counted of McCain comes out on top.
Obama needs such a commanding lead going into election day that to pull a switcheroo on the American people would cause rioting in the streets.
The good news is NM is changing to blue. Utah is still the reddest of red. Indicates a certain sheep-like attitude here. But each day things are looking better everywhere. Good luck to all of us!
ReplyDeleteI certaionly wouldn't trust either Bush and his associates or Al Qaeda not to pull some kind of stunt. After all, McCain would suit Bin Laden much better than Obama would.
ReplyDeleteObama ought to win , now, but I still fear the unexpected. Not least an assassination attempt. We know of one half-assed effort apparently recently thwarted. But there may be others, more cleverly planned, with support from expert quarters.
I live in Arkansas and I know exactly what you mean. Especially in the town we live in. I still get asked if I am a "Yankee" when they hear me speak. I tell people I live here but that I am from Maine because honestly, it is two different worlds. Lots of good things about the people here but tolerance for differences is not high on the list with many of them.
ReplyDeleteI understand the secret service really watches him very carefully because they are afraid of the riots that would ensue if he was even injured.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope that the people that jerry rigged the last two Presidential elections keep their hands free of this one. One of the things that is happening is a lot of very alert poll watching.
As a UK resident I find your use of red and blue confusing having been brought up with the association of the red flag with communism and socialism.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if your colour choice predates the start of true left wing politics over here.
I live in the far edges of a small blue island here in Texas that is known as Austin. Unfortunately, that edge is so deep red, and hateful, that a couple of my neighbors have had an "incident" with their neighbors over the Obama-Biden sign they put in their yard. *sigh* So, the quiet whispers part I understand. As I have been cheering the "red-turning-blue" state by state, I'll probably never see this state even approach purple! Too many haters.
ReplyDeleteAnd I voted Monday. :)
As for election shenanigans, I agree with you that Obama will need to have a very big lead to offset any "irregularities." Not that the trolls haven't been trying: "Election Day is November 5th for Democrats" and other assorted nonsense! I guess the goblins just love Halloween...
I can at last comment. Monday now and the way I'm feeling anyone would think that I was a US citizen! I think your Governor has had a great deal to do with turning NM around.
ReplyDeleteMy son has a greater fear - a possible fatality (I hesitate to use the word assassination) in the event that Obabma is elected but I am aware of the unbelievable security surrounding him and his family.
If Indiana comes out early in favour of BO it's in the nag - here's hoping.
Sorry but Google was hiding my comments in moderation file. So I have just gotten to these and we know now that he won by a landslide - a huge landslide and that election irregularities seem to be held to state races in places like Alaska.
ReplyDeleteThe Republican party has been reduced to just the religious right and their hold on power is currently at risk. One of the good side effects of this election. Hopefully the Republicans can rebuild their party but not let it be hijacked by the poisonous religious right.
In God We Trust is not a Christian declaration. It is about spiritual connection of many religions and humility of our government. Sadly the ego of some leaders has definitely put that humility at question.