First, a quote from Theodore Roosevelt:

The great fundamental issue now before the Republican party and before our people can be stated briefly. It is, Are the American people fit to govern themselves, to rule themselves, to control themselves? I believe they are. My opponents do not. I believe in the right of the people to rule. I believe the majority of the plain people of the United States will, day in and day out, make fewer mistakes in governing themselves than any smaller class or body of men, no matter what their training, will make in trying to govern them. I believe, again, that the American people are, as a whole, capable of self-control and of learning by their mistakes. Our opponents pay lip-loyalty to this doctrine; but they show their real beliefs by the way in which they champion every device to make the nominal rule of the people a sham. – March 20, 1912

Teddy was speaking not just of Democrats, but of those Republicans who also mistrusted the wisdom of the people. For all of Obama’s talk of the people, as a liberal his heart is not where his words are. By nature, someone who goes into someone else’s community to “organize” them is someone who – even if unwitting – has contempt for the common man. We Republicans must be the real party of the people – it is either restore ourselves to such, or die as a party.

**********************************************

Palin is being hit hard by various McCain people who are clearly seeking to shift blame from themselves to Palin. Apparently, they didn’t heed McCain’s words of wisdom last night about how all the mistakes are McCain’s mistakes. McCain is a real man and a true gentleman – pity that some of his people clearly aren’t. Hurt feelings are natural after a hard-fought defeat, but forgiveness and love are the antidotes.

I also note that Palin is hated on the left, still. Why this should be is a bit of a curiosity – she remains, it would seem, a living challenge to the basic worldview of the left and they want her permanently out of national politics.

That won’t happen.

***********************************************

Talking to a friend of mine who voted Obama, I got the opinion from her that now that Bush will be gone, Obama will get rid of the tax increases Bush imposed on her. This is a sweet and well educated lady – who is laboring under an amount of ignorance which is flabbergasting. It is, however, a level of ignorance we will have to overcome.

***********************************************

While I expect the Obama Administration to be an unmitigated, Carter-like disaster, I am praying that it will be otherwise. After all, while double digit inflation, interest rates and unemployment would sweep us easily back into power, I’d prefer that my fellow Americans not have to endure that.

***********************************************

If Rahm Emanuel is the Obama Chief of Staff then we already have our first Obama mistake. Don’t get me wrong – Emanuel is a smart man with many good political qualities, but he’s also a world-class jerk. If half the stories about his grating personality are true, then he’s someone most people couldn’t be with for a day without getting angry. The CoS needs to be a smoothie – with guts, but still someone who can make the West Wing machine run smoothly. “Rahmbo” isn’t that man.

***********************************************

Russia’s growling about SDI is a gambit to see if Obama will abandon the program. Obama said he would, but now if he does it will appear to at least some in the world as weakness. We’ll swiftly find out if Obama has the backbone to be President.

***********************************************

The terrorists really are happy Obama won – viewing his victory as an indicator that Obama will take a conciliatory line regarding groups like Hamas and Hezbollah (which someone should advise the new VP is still in Lebanon) and nations like Iran. Make no mistake about it, the world views Obama as proof that America is throwing up the sponge in the War on Terrorism. It will be up to Obama to correct this – and a terrible tragedy if he doesn’t.

************************************************

The American people have voted, and part of that vote is a vote for a swift end in Iraq – which is not such a big issue anymore as we’ve won there. As Commander in Chief during wartime, President-elect Obama can count on my unflagging support for his overseas military policy. Any criticisms I may launch will only be measured against their ability to help America emerge victorious. All conservatives should keep that in mind – don’t be like the kook left over the past 8 years; its now going to be the mission Obama sends them on (even if the mission is to withdraw) and if we support the troops, we must support the mission.

I hope that Obama keeps his pledges about Afghanistan and that the growing alliances with Georgia, India, Djibouti, Eritrea, etc mid-wifed by President Bush are given proper attention by Obama. While Obama is pledged to breath new life into our trans-Atlantic alliance, my hope is that he’ll realize, for instance, that India is worth a dozen France.

*************************************************

We must pick our fights carefully – automatic opposition to whatever the President proposes is a leftwing tactic and unsuited to ladies and gentlemen. From what I’ve seen, many on the left are still bitter and wallowing in hatred – let them; pray they stop, but don’t let their misery infect you. Our job is to carefully select those battles which involve a core, conservative principle and which are winnable. An early read on such battles are “card check” (an anti-democratic, corrupt-union boss proposal which sounds like the scam it is), “freedom of choice act” (a difficult one to fight – how does one fight against freedom and choice, right? – , but it can be done if we counter with the “choice for life act”), “fairness doctrine” (this attack on free speech is coming, and we can score huge with it), energy policy (“drill baby, drill” wasn’t just a campaign slogan – the people want it, and if Obama balks at it and oil prices spike, we can reap a huge benefit).

Be vigilant and ready for the battle – but don’t think that every move by Obama is something sinister.

**************************************************

The defeat of gay marriage is now a 30-State event – and even California in a Democrat year voted against gay marriage. We are a center-right nation, dear people, and the left forgets that at their peril (and the good news is they have already forgotten it, making our eventual come back that much easier).

**************************************************

Be of good cheer, fellow GOPers and conservatives – from what I can see, the turnout wasn’t the stupendous vote the punditry said it would be; maybe there’s a lot left to count, but as of this moment I count 120 million votes…in 2004 there were 121 million. After every last vote is counted, we might match 2004’s totals or even slightly exceed it, but the supposedly stupendous turnout didn’t materialize. I was hearing estimates as high as 160 million votes on election day. Given that PUMAs and Obamacans probably cancel each other out, I suspect that a lot of GOPers failed to show up – perhaps not enough to give McCain the victory, but certainly enough stayed home to prevent it from being razor thin. In other words, can we but better motivate our side, we can win – even if we’re outspent 3-1 in 2012 as we were in 2008.

And keep that in mind – Obama did a bit better than Bush after spending 600 million dollars, having a completely in-the-tank MSM, an unpopular GOP incumbent, an unpopular war and a financial meltdown-cum-recession being blamed on his opponent’s side. The One did well, but he also lucked out – and he might not have that much luck on his side next time.

Mr. Obama, you have won a handsome victory and will have a commanding position in American political life when you assume office on January 20th. Use your power well for the benefit of the American people.

Now I’ll do a very Catholic thing:

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care.

Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection.

Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evils of abortion, commercialism and pornography and which threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God’s law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life. Guide your son, Barack Obama, in his duties as President of the United States to use mercy, justice and love as his guiding lights.

I offer my congratulations to Senator John McCain for running the best campaign he could muster in a very hard year for conservatives and Republicans. It is my belief that absent the financial meltdown things might have come out differently, but we play the hands we are dealt and McCain played his very well.

I offer my hopes for the future for Governor Palin – but also take note of Governor Jindal. My prayer is that both these fine servants will draw the correct lessons out of this election and work tirelessly to revive the Republican party for victories in 2010 and beyond.

I offer my congratulations to our liberal friends – you’ve elevated your man to the White House and it will be primarily your responsibility to keep check upon him. It is now for you to defend the government – and I who am now free to attack it.

UPDATE: We’re having some trouble keeping the blog up – please be patient.

Well, I went and voted – and that included voting for a black man…for a district court judgeship, but it shows that any attempts to say my Presidential vote was racist is a crock of you know what.

What I’ve seen ’round the web so far:

Gay Patriot hits a common GOP theme – don’t let anyone discourage you from voting!

Heard Jonah Goldberg on the radio – “cheer up, the worst is yet to come!” Funny but also brings to mind this from St Catherine:

…I want you to think about the shortness of life, for you are not certain even of tomorrow. We can indeed say that we do not have our past troubles, nor those which are in the future; all we have is the moment of time in which we are now. Surely then we ought we ought to endure patiently since time is short.

Black Panther intimidation at the polls. A stray thought came to me about an hour ago – just why, as a nation, are we supposed to keep up this angst over what some of our ancestors did to some of our other ancestors? Why do we even have such a thing called “Black Panthers” and just who the F do they think they are? Give it a rest, already.

We will be judged by how we vote.

Democrats working up voter fraud in Philly to try and save the State for Obama. It worked in 2004. I don’t think it will in 2008.

Marston predicting 310 electoral votes for McCain. Gotta admire the man’s guts, and I pray he’s right.

Colorado is very close – and might not have a result until tomorrow morning.

Just got a “knock and drag” call from Team McCain – advised them we’ve already provided 5 votes form this household for the next President of the United States, John McCain…but shows McCain GOTV is on the spot.

Excellent analysis on the election. Serious, must-read.

Obama votes in the same location as racist, anti-Semite Farrakhan and anti-American terrorist Ayers. Must be some interesting block parties in that neighborhood…

Gawker says first exits show tight races in battleground States.

McCain wins a round in protecting the rights of our servicemember’s to vote:

“We are pleased that the judge has ruled to preserve the ballots cast by our men and women in uniform currently serving overseas. This will help to ensure that local election officials do not destroy or dispose of these ballots before the court has had an opportunity to rule on our complaint. The McCain-Palin campaign strongly believes that no military ballot should be discarded as a result of a failure on the part of several counties and independent cities to mail ballots to service members in a timely manner. We believe without exception that the servicemen and women on the front lines protecting our freedoms deserve every opportunity to make sure their vote counts.” –Gail Gitcho, McCain-Palin spokesman

Team McCain confident about FL – as for me, I said a Rosary, read a bit of the Bible and am now just waiting for the votes to be counted…plus getting ready to have some dinner (beef stew….mmmmm…stew).

Anchoress reminds – Stop Freaking Out

Fox calls the IN governorship for the GOP but says its too close to call on the Presidential level? I mean, think about it – how many Indianans are going to go, “I love my conservative GOP governor, but what I really want is an ultra-liberal President”? Methinks the media is just keeping it interesting as long as possible….

Anyone know why Maine is only showing 3 votes or something like that in its returns?

McConnell wins, Dole loses – net of two for the Donks in the Senate.

Looking pretty grim out there boys and girls…but I have a light heart and am at peace.

Our prayers for the Obama family and for our departed sister.

God our Father,

Your power brings us to birth,

Your providence guides our lives,

and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,

their lives change but do not end.

We pray in hope for the Obama family,

relatives and friends,

and for all the dead known to You alone.

In company with Christ,

Who died and now lives,

may they rejoice in Your kingdom,

where all our tears are wiped away.

Unite us together again in one family,

to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen.

UPDATE: I just want to state my sadness at this – to die on this day, before the result is known. Regardless of the outcome, for Obama it won’t be what it might have been. Mere human to mere human, Obama has my complete sympathy. I can imagine what it would be like for me should my father die the day before some major event of my life…

Not my title, but the title of Marston Chronicle’s post:

Your first thought is that I am drunk on Kool-Aid when you see this title. I am going to show you why I am so sure about this prediction. Your next question is why should anyone pay any attention to me about such a ridiculous prediction. The answer is that in 45 years in politics, I have never been wrong about an election call even when I was called crazy. That includes get elected to office to prove I was right about winning an election. See my biography for details. I have to be very sure to risk a 45 year reputation so remember that you read it here first.

The next question is how could I possibly be so sure when the polls are predicting the exact opposite? Because I know the polls are wrong since they are not properly taking into account the P.U.M.A. Factor. I have explained previously that the mere fact that the polls violently disagree with each other is proof of something seriously amiss with the polling models. See my article on The P.U.M.A. Factor. On November 1st, I posted an article entitled How Big is the P.U.M.A. Factor?

That article pointed out that, at the time I wrote it, it required only a total of 493,636 PUMA voters in North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado to produce a tie in the electoral votes. Add a mere 35,935 more in Nevada and McCain-Palin wins. At the time, I was almost ready to bet the ranch that there were 529,571 PUMA voters in those six states, but I waited another 24 hours to make sure. Now the trend is so clear that it is obvious to me that a McCain-Palin landslide is in the works. It is amazing how few people in politics never apply some fairly simple mathematics to see what is going to happen in the next election.

The article goes on with a couple charts showing the States which are close and could possibly swing towards McCain on the strength of PUMA voters. Not bad analysis – we’ll find out tomorrow if he’s right.

The Anchoress predicts:

If McCain/Palin wins, the press and the Dems will stroke out and Obama will play The Ultimate Chutzpah Card and say that at least 14 states (the big ACORN states) must be challenged because “the rolls were suspect and the integrity of the election was compromised” – by his very own supporters. Then he’ll proceed to tear the nation apart, in an effort to wrest the White House from the GOP. If Obama wins, the Dems and the press will declare that this was the “cleanest” and most “widely observed” election in our nation’s history; they will declare the people have spoken, call it a mandate and tell John McCain that if he dares to challenge things, he’ll be a most dishonorable man willing to tear his nation apart to serve his own ambition.

Yep.

Fascinating take on the skewed political playing field in the United States and how the left might be deluding itself as we head into the end of the campaign.

Will the exaggerations become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as assumed, or are Obama supporters spinning further and further away from reality, constructing one unsupportable exaggeration on top of another — only to be stunned on election day when the actual results, once again, don’t match either their pre-vote opinion polling or their post-vote exit polling?

Yet it may very well be that an army of glum, dispirited and pessimistic conservatives will reluctantly trudge to the polls on November 4, each one imagining they are the only remaining person in the entire country voting for McCain, and lo and behold — they’ll turn out to be a silent majority after all.

Read the whole thing.

Some polls show Obama up, but a raft of polls from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, etc, etc, etc show a clear swing towards McCain. Will it be enough? Will Democrats resort to their tried-and-true method of ballot box stuffing? When Obama loses, will he become the first Democrat in 20 years to concede defeat on the night of the election? When McCain wins, will the left put it all down as a spasm of racism?

Discuss these and any other issues which come to mind.

Some Democrats are really getting the whole “country first” message:

In blistering remarks to a Saturday morning rally here, former Robert F. Kennedy aide Bartle Bull embraced Republican John McCain for president, hurled Barack Obama under the bus, and then backed it slowly over the Democratic nominee.

“America needs a president who is grounded in patriotism, not drowning in ambition,” Bull told a crowd of hundreds gathered in Lower Manhattan. “I have used that sentence many times in the last three months, and not once — never once — have I been asked which candidate is which.”

The lifelong activist and former Village Voice publisher presented his impeccable liberal-Democrat credentials.

“I had the privilege of serving as Robert F. Kennedy’s New York campaign manager when he ran for president in 1968,” Bull explained. “I was arrested as a civil-rights lawyer in Mississippi, and I campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment. But in honest conscience, I cannot support the Democratic ticket in this campaign.”

Bull aimed at his target and charged like a longhorn.

“Character in the White House should be more important than charisma on the campaign trail,” Bull declared. “Barack Obama does not want to ‘change’ America. Barack Obama wants a different country.”

Turning to Obama’s financial agenda, Bull minced no words.

“Obama’s notion of economic fairness is pure Karl Marx,” Bull said, “plus a pocketful of Chicago-style ‘community organization.’ ”

How many Democrats are there like this? Just a percentage or two of the normal Democrat vote switching over to McCain out of dismay about Obama could make all the difference. There are, of course, a few GOP turncoats, but no one is seriously considering such to decide the race – McCain is doing as well with GOPers as any recent GOP candidate…Obama, on the other hand, has shown some great weaknesses with some of the core Democratic constituency – most notably blue collar and older Democrats…plus genuine liberals like Mr. Bull.

We’ll know soon enough – but as I’m always saying, consult not what people say, but what people do…people are saying there is a massive groundswell for Obama, but when we look at what people are doing (including Obama, himself, with his choices of campaign stops this past week) we can see that, at best, Obama is narrowly ahead and in for a close fought battle on Tuesday.

With nearly 9% undecided:

The race tightened again Sunday as independents who’d been leaning to Obama shifted to McCain to leave that key group a toss-up. McCain also pulled even in the Midwest, moved back into the lead with men, padded his gains among Protestants and Catholics, and is favored for the first time by high school graduates.

Still a completely wide open race – it will all come down to who shows up to vote, so don’t allow MSMers to depress you, fellow GOPers! The MSM will do everything they can to carry this semi-socialist political hack over the finish line – but we’ve got the better man and the better plan and right makes might.