Commentary by Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

Well, the party known as the 2008 election is almost over. On Nov. 5, it will definitely be over.

As tired as I am of the bickering back and forth between two seemingly smart men and the campaign half-truths and outright lies, I will somewhat miss the election hoopla when it’s all over.

For starters, I wonder what I’m going to watch on television. For the past several months, I’ve found myself on my comfy faux suede couch not watching football or bikini contests, but cable news shows devoted entirely to the election.

It’s been a vicious cycle. From about 8 to 10 p.m., I flip back and forth between three channels, 36 (CNN), 51 (MSNBC) and 53 (Fox News), to hear the latest on the election and hopefully gain more insight into the two seemingly smart men who have decided they would like to run our fair country.

Even more amazing, there are two seemingly smart men who have decided they’d like to run the country in the midst of the worst financial turmoil and uncertainty since the Great Depression.

Nevertheless, without the benefit of the cable news pundits and talking heads, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all my spare time. There are several things I could, which include:

• Cleaning out the gutters

• Vacuuming

• Solving the financial crisis

• Brokering peace world-wide

However, all, and I do mean ALL of these tasks seem daunting and half of them seem insurmountable by any means. I guess I could always find something new to watch on television.

Stranger yet, I’ve already become nostalgic for an election that’s not even over yet. There are things that I already miss about things that are still going on.

I will miss catchphrases and names from the election that have already cut a clear path into the nation’s psyche. Here’s what I will miss:

• “Thanks, but no thanks”

• Spread the wealth

• Maverick

• Joe the plumber

• McCain’s sneer

• Palin’s glasses

• Obama’s freakishly large ears

Of course, depending on who wins on Tuesday, half or more of these things won’t have to be missed at all. They’ll be sticking around for the next four years.

This election is maybe the most important election since 1932, the year in which Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover. Our country is at war. We are facing an economic crisis that may get worse before it gets better. Our economic security and national security may be at stake.

With all that being said, it’s too important of an election not to vote. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, left or right or blue or red.

Exercise your right to vote on Tuesday. And after you finish deciding who will best lead our nation, help me decide what I’ll do with all my spare time.