First off, I am just glad it's over! In what will sound like an old-fashioned, sexist, retro comment, I wanted to make known once and for all (because I know EVERYONE has lost sleep over it) why I couldn't vote McCain/Palin. But before that I just want to say bravo to America- this election was very unique, in that there were two well-qualified candidates who both seemed to be running for the best reason possible. That reason? They love America and want to make it a better place. Each of them had a long list of plusses and a short list of minuses, and that hasn't happened in a very long time. I followed the coverage from here, read the propoganda put out by both sides, shook my head a lot and was really saturated by the time November 4th came. We had our ballots, I wrestled for weeks, I prayed, and couldn't decide. What I did decide was that I couldn't vote for McCain based on his choice of a running-mate. I have no ill against Sarah Palin. I thought that given her experience (or lack) in the international spotlight that she made a very good showing for herself. The reason I couldn't bring myself to vote for her? She has 5 kids, one of whom is a special needs baby of less than a year old. Those children need a mom more than our country needs to have a woman in the VP office. I have no problem with women in office, really. There are women that I would vote for in a heartbeat. I feel very strongly, however, that at this stage in Palin's life, that her family needs her more than her country does. Sure she's governor of Alaska, but that really isn't even in the same category from a stress and time standpoint. Given this indecision and how long it took for me to arrive at that place, I still hemmed and hawed. I knew that if either McCain or Obama won, I wouldn't be overjoyed or upset. So, when I went to finally fill out my ballot, I discovered that it had been thrown away or colored on or something- it wasn't where I left it, and no one knew where it had gotten to. So I ended up not voting. It made me a little sad, but I truly was at peace with the idea of either man in office. I vowed not to be a non-voting whiner- I think you give up your right to whine if you don't take the responsibility to try and change what you can. There you go. A small part of me is a little ashamed that I didn't vote, but as I said, I couldn't vote for either and would have been satisfied with either as well. On the other hand I am really proud of America's voting a black man in office. I think it says a lot for the majority of Americans. I pray that he can stay safe and do an effective job. That is my role now, as an American Christian- to pray for my elected officials as directed in the Bible. The French are ecstatic over Obama's win, and have asked every American I know how we feel about it. I think his election has opened many eyes and only helped how America is seen in the world. So, how's that for a first-post-in-a-loooooong-time? snort. In other news, I love this site- http://www.bizarrerecords.com/gallery.html Remember record albums? These are some of the worst album covers EVER! | 
