[hot_pastrami]

With the snafus of the last election still fresh in America's memory, as well as the potential fraud to be done on electronic voting machines, this election is going to be under the microscope like none before it.

If the results are close at all, the after-election will probably be besmirched with recounts, accusations of election fraud, rioting, and other general unpleasantness. The population is not only polarized, but completely and passionately at odds with one another, and that produces a pressure-cooker situation. In the short term, regardless of who wins, a large chunk of the population will be unhappy about the results, some to a violent result.

As a once Rublican(ish) turned Democrat(ish) due to the actions of our president, I would like to point out that whether he meant to or not, George W. Bush engendered this environment of fervent polarity, and whatever post-election fallout occurs is due largely to his actions.

The American people have sacrificed our liberties, our economy, some jobs, and some lives, all at the behest of the president... and to what end? In what way has the life of the average American improved by the actions of this administration? What did we get in return? I can't think of anything.