22 October 2008 - 11:58What election?

It’s interesting to me, considering how animated I was on commenting on things election-related during the last presidential cycle, that this time around I can barely be bothered to post. Part of it, I suspect, is that this time around it looks like someone I like may actually win, so there’s less angst. Part of it is alternative outlets for my quasi-exhibitionistic tendencies (Twitter and Facebook, I’m looking at you). And part of it is simple cyclic fatigue. I love writing, but I love not writing too. It makes sense to me, anyway.

One thing I will say, and I think I said this the last time around is that I actually sort of like being in a place where my political views are in the minority. It helps keep me honest. I think if I lived in Massachusetts or Chicago, or god help me, California, surrounded by good-hearted liberals, I would be truly mystified by people who held such divergent views as you’re likely to find pretty much anywhere around Kansas City. I like living in a neighborhood where McCain/Palin signs sit in one yard and across the street could be decked out with Obama/Biden signs, although I have to say I’m (secretly) pleased to see more of the latter.

Most of the people I work with are straight-ahead red-staters. One of them is even fond of regurgitating some of the rumor-mongering BS that’s been bandied about on Obama this time around. I’ve gently tried to call her on it, but she blusters a lot more than I do and I usually end up demurring. I think I get a pass on my lefty views because I’m from Canada. The logic is a bit dodgy, but there’s enough there that I don’t fuss too much about it. One of the guys is just really irked that Obama is doing as well as he is. I can’t feel too sorry, obviously, but in my mind at least, I console him with this: Given the perplexed frustration I’ve had that the current resident of the oval office could get elected once, forget twice, I can sympathize with your sense of ire, even while feeling much the opposite.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, I was actually leaning slightly for Hillary. I think it would have been a very different campaign. I can’t say if the (likely) outcome would have been different, but the rhetoric would have had a different tone. Probably meaner, if that’s possible. Anyway, that’s my armchair analysis. I think my audacity of lunch is done. Later.