Election Day

I already voted early, so I will be able to avoid the long lines here in Ohio today. I don't know whats happening with weather in Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont, but here in the Buckeye State, northwest Ohio is getting 4-6 inches of snow, while the rest of us are strapping on our water wings and dealing with heavy soaking rains.

The question seems to be, on the democrat side, whether the weather will keep away the youth vote, which seems to be trending toward Barack Obama, or older voters, who seem to trend toward Hillary Clinton.

I voted republican. It is a foregone conclusion that John McCain will wind up winning the Ohio GOP primary and, barring some unforeseen turn of events, be the party's nominee for president this year. I however (and call me crazy if you must . . .) could not bring myself to vote for Mr. McCain just yet. I penciled in Fred Thompson for my write-in vote. Strictly because I don't want the McCain machine to think that every conservative in Ohio who might vote for him are in lock-step support of his voting history and stated views on various subjects.

Interestingly, on the democrat side, I have heard two thoughts regarding republicans crossing over to vote for Obama or Clinton. One widely publicized, and another, different approach.

There are those, including syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh, who advocate republicans crossing over and declaring themselves as democrats, so that they may vote for Hillary. This is to keep her in the race and keep the democrat party at war with itself until the party convention in late summer. And, because some polls suggest that John McCain can defeat Hillary Clinton in the November general election (at least today's polls), but that Barack Obama may carry the day against McCain.

Alternately, some of my colleagues who are republicans have discussed crossing over to vote for Barack Obama. Ostensibly, because he does not possess a political machine as do the Clintons. Obama's success has been from the grassroots. He has a way of motivating voters of all stripes from the stump. The thinking is that supporting Obama now would help put him in the White House. Some say the Clintons have unfinished business and would go after their opponents from Bill's eight years in office, and those who criticized Hillary. This would include individuals and, perhaps worse, entire constituencies such as firearms owners. An Obama presidency, as some have suggested, would be based on momentum but not a giant political machine.

The thinking is that he will run into a buzzsaw in Congress even among his own party members.
And somehow the White House and Congress would be at war with each other, even though they are controlled by the same political party. Which would preclude them, largely, from making mischief that affects individuals, particularly women and men who advocate firearms ownership.

But . . . he also would be in a position to appoint Supreme Court justices (shudder).

Complicated, yes? I play chess and as TRL readers know, I have stated more than once that, like chess, politics is a game of strategy. You are playing now, but thinking two, three, even four or more moves ahead sometimes.

I don't know how this will play out. But if these kind of discussions are happening at the local level, I can't help but think some of the same thing is happening behind closed doors in rooms filled with well-paid hired guns.

Pardon the pun.