To political staffers, lobbyists, and correspondents everywhere, the first Tuesday of November must be the equivalent to April 15th for a tax accountant. Reporters must eat their spinach and Wheaties leading up to this day. I'll bet Red Bull sales go up. I'll bet narcotic sales go up too. Can you feel the rush? I don't. My "rush" came and went about six weeks ago when I watched the paint-drying marathon known as the "Presidential Debates". And I might as well put the truth on out there. As of right now, I'm feeling a bit conflicted that election results will be showing simultaneously with the "Cosby Show marathon" on Nickelodeon. Last I checked, this thing was never decided by the end of election day, so I think the the Huxtables might win me over. Besides, that's why we have the internet. Multi-taskers unite!

To be honest, it's really the local elections that interest me more at this point. Thanks to a sloth of a Democratic candidate, it's looking like Washington may in fact be getting their first Republican Governor in quite some time. We are desperately in need of a change in leadership and even the black community here recognizes that. I am excited at this prospect. But you probably don't care, because most of you reading this don't live here. Washington isn't a swing-state. It's blue. Very blue and thus federal elections are not entirely exciting as most of us know that John Kerry has the state on lock. But if it makes me earn cool points, I will say that I do have family in Pennsylvania (and a couple friends in Florida).

Something has occurred to me over the last eight or so months. People hate President George W. Bush. No I mean they really hate him like with a passion, like want to inflict harm on him, like would rather see Marion Berry in office than hear four more years of Bush's Texan accent. And while I have some series gripes with one particular past president of the era of "the definition of 'is'" and other verbs that shall go unmentioned, it's fairly safe to say that nowhere in my mortal body could I ever bring myself to even think thoughts of a hatred towards a president or his family. This hatred thing towards Bush and all connected to him is rather telling. I'm becoming more and more convinced it's not just hatred of the President, it's hatred of what he represents. And what does he represent? Well, that's debatable among many, but I believe our nation is headed towards some major changes in the moral climate of government and dare I say, I believe that whether knowingly or unknowingly, President Bush may be at the helm of that ship.

Here's a clue: this thing is bigger than a man with the last name Bush. The atmosphere is tense. The future of prevailing governmental philosophies and ideologies are at stake here and both ends of the political spectrum know it. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this election isn't purely about the debate on the necessity of the war in Iraq and our country's safety against terrorists, the credibility of military records or a CBS scandal. And for crying out loud, do people really think the draft is going to be reinstituted? That is an enormous smokescreen if you ask me.

Under pressure, the truth comes out. That is, the truth of how far people are willing to go as a result of their hatred. I must say, I am disappointed with behavior of both Liberals and Conservatives who've bought into the mud-slinging and diminished this election to how a candidate catches a football, talks, or picks out ties. Discussions on which candidate has the "hottest" daughters are trivial and belittle what's at stake in this election and the privilege we have as Americans to even have a say-so. Ripping up signs, smashing windows and making threats reduces citizens of this country to the barbaric nature that we accuse our international enemies of displaying. Let's grow up.

I make no predictions as to who I think will win, but I do pray God's will prevails. There are really only few things I can be sure of in this election. Among them are the following:

1. There will be a winner.
   
2. Ralph Nader will not be he.
   
3. If/when George W. Bush leads in the polls, somewhere, somehow, there will be charges of unfair voting practices. Bet on that.
   
4. If President Bush is re-elected, Democrats will pull out all stops to make it look fraudulent.
   
5. Probably vice versa.
   
6. When it's over, life will go on.
   
7. If John Kerry is elected...well, then he'd be the President.