I guess the other thing that encourages me is that with the economy in the crapper, these guys would just as soon let the other party take the blame for the cleanup.

I get the vibe, and it may just be me, that Bush is going to be happy for it to be over. He doesn't seem like he has his old swagger to me.

I remember getting the same vibe off of Bush Sr. when he was running for his second term. For pretty much the same reason as above. I hope the results in terms of the economy are the same this time around, minus the stupendously dumb scandal material that Big Dog brought with it. I swear if he'd been able to keep it in his pants we'd be finishing up Gore's second term now.

Gud, I won't believe it until the morning after his acceptance speech when I see the headlines in multiple places.

This is totally me. I get cautiously optimistic and then I remember 2000 and get pessimistic all over.

And yet... yet...

Palin stylist draws higher pay than policy adviser

An acclaimed celebrity makeup artist for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin collected more money from John McCain's campaign than his foreign policy adviser.

Amy Strozzi, who works on the reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" and has been Palin's traveling stylist, was paid $22,800, according to campaign finance reports for the first two weeks in October. In contrast, McCain's foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, was paid $12,500, the report showed.

he believes the current administration is capable of declaring martial law or something to prevent the election from going on and extending the president indefinitely.

I agree with your friend. I won't believe anything until Obama is sworn in 1/20/09, and then I still don't trust that something bad won't happen.

Gud, The Onion reports that Swaggering is down 87%. Could be an epidemic.

he believes the current administration is capable of declaring martial law or something to prevent the election from going on and extending the president indefinitely.

I agree with your friend. I won't believe anything until Obama is sworn in 1/20/09, and then I still don't trust that something bad won't happen.

I feel this way, too. I'm on the paranoia train.

And as too much fuss made being made over Palin's 150,000 shopping spree (plus makup): anyone who thinks that can get back to me on that after they travel back in time and stop all the damn fuss being made about Edward's spending $400 on a haircut.

My commune living friend said this years ago; he believes the current administration is capable of declaring martial law or something to prevent the election from going on and extending the president indefinitely.

Here in NYC, we have term limits -- except the City Council just voted that the limit is three terms, not two LIKE THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR, because Bloomberg wants to run again. I don't even believe in term limits and this pisses me off.

I swear if he'd been able to keep it in his pants we'd be finishing up Gore's second term now.

If 9/11 hadn't happened, yes. I've often thought though that if it had happened and he'd been president, he'd have been blamed for being too weak (because he's a Democrat! Of course he's weak!).

So this is what it's like living in a battleground state, huh? It's interesting to see how the campaigns are managing their calls, though -- yesterday I got a message from Michelle Obama letting me know that Virginia allows early voting in some places and 3 different calls from Republicans letting me know that Obama's, you know, weak in one way or another and will destroy the country. Oh, and Rudy Giuliani called to let me know that Obama is opposed to minimum sentences, and if he has his way there'll be nothing to keep liberal judges from letting murderers GO FREE! Apparently I should trust Congress's vast sweeping generalizations more than judges' individual judgment. Shut up, Republican Party! You're just making me mad! While the Democrats are all, "Here, let us make sure you can participate in democracy."

Here in NYC, we have term limits -- except the City Council just voted that the limit is three terms, not two LIKE THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR

I think that's pretty outrageous.

And as too much fuss made being made over Palin's 150,000 shopping spree (plus makup)

I've read some defenses of that. Sure, I don't think it is that important to the issues. Ok, sure, she's on the national stage and you expect a crazy amount to be spent on appearance. It's reasonable to expect that a woman would have to spend more than a man would have to, not the campaign's fault there just the expectations of society. But one. hundred. fifty. thousand? It's hard not to be taken aback.