When WM came home from school we meandered over to vote. Our polling place is in the same building as our apartment’s fitness center, which is very convenient. There were 2 machines. One was occupied by a lady who couldn’t figure out how to vote (I have NO patience that. They send out sample ballots with voting instructions ahead of time. There are instructions RIGHT on the machine. READ THEM!). The other was empty.

It was pretty scary how easy it was to get signed in. The poll worker asked for my last name. I gave them Dowd. She couldn’t find it in the book. Then I realized it was Turberville on my sample ballot – yet another thing I forgot to change. She found me under Turberville and I signed in. I didn’t have to recite my address, show ID, nothing. NOTHING! I think you should have to show ID to vote. That’s not suppressing a right to vote, it’s common sense. Just sayin’.

I voted for John McCain.

For months now I have sat quietly and listened to people (many of whom I know and value as friends) rant and rave about how HORRIBLE Republicans are and how STUPID McCain voters must be and how it’s so RACIST to call into question some of Obama’s connections. Not a week has gone by at work where my political beliefs haven’t been mocked openly by people who sit as close as 3 cubicles away. Not a week has gone by without a Facebook friend posting a anti-Republican article or joining an anti-McCain or anti-Palin hate group.

Not to say the (R) team hasn’t had their shining moments of pure bile and vitriol (Obama’s ideas are not socialist, geez!) – this has been a hateful campaign on both sides. And I’m tired of it. I’m tired of being depicted a monster and I’m tired of having to defend myself.

I am not against hope. I am not against change – I don’t like the way things are now. I am not racist, and I think Obama will make a fantastic president once he gets a bit more experience under his belt. In January, 2009, he will have been in the Senate for 4 years of a 6 year term, and he will have spent 2 of those years spent running for President! If the ticket was Biden-Obama, I’d have voted for it in a heartbeat, even though Obama broke his pledge to take the public campaign financing.

Likewise, if McCain (who signed the bailout bill, even though it’s chock full of the earmarks and pork he claims to be against) had chosen Kay Bailey Hutchinson as his veep candidate my decision would have been so much easier.

In the end I voted for John McCain based on his experience and because I think he’ll do better at getting our guys and girls out of this Mid-East mess safely. I read the issues, I watched the conventions and some of the debates. I believe the economy will right itself, but I don’t believe we should rely on the government to take care of us. We can be our brother’s keeper without the government forcing us to. And it’s easier for me to send money to charity each month when we’re not being taxed to death. I believe Congress will remain heavily Democratic, thereby preventing a super-conservative judge from being appointed to the supreme court.

Will my vote matter? Not this time. I am one red dot in a sea of blue in NJ. I think Obama’s going to take it all. Am I upset about that? No. In reality, he’s not going to ruin us as much as McCain & friends want us to think. He’s bright and articulate and young and hopeful. He has a lovely wife and cute kids He better pony up and get them their damn dog.

And if Obama wins, my job and my Facebook page will be much nicer to be around.

In other voting news, I voted for Dick Zimmer over Frank Lautenberg, Dale Glading over the liar Rob Andrews, and the non-incumbent Camden County Freeholders. If I were in California, I’d have voted NO on Prop 8.

Back under the quilts with me. Wake me when this election is over.

I turned comments off. Not because I can’t take them – Lord knows I’ve had enough people yelling at me about this for months – but because I can’t take you all fighting with each other. I’m fond of all of you, no matter what.

Forgot to turn comments off. Remember, everyone follow the example of the first 5 comments and be nice.