Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our Democracy...

I have already voted today. It took me exactly one hour, which is not bad at all. If I had to do it over again I would have worn more comfortable shoes. Directly behind me in the line were two nurses who work together. They talked the entire hour. This wouldn't have been bad, but they did nothing but complain about the line. Here's a sample of their conversation:

Nurse 1: I can't believe it's taking this long.

Nurse 2: I know, I know.

Nurse 1: It shouldn't be taking this long.

Nurse 2: It seems like there could be a better system.

Nurse 1: I know, I know.

Listening to them was a real test of my patience and civility. Two years ago I voted at the same place and the line was much shorter. It took an hour and a half then. Other than the nurses and my shoes it was just peachy; as long as your definition of peachy is standing in a middle school gym with a sense of quiet disconnection and complete joylessness concerning the process in which you are about to participate.
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I read this from Bill O'Reilly's radio show last week:

CALLER: I'm calling today because I think it's fair to say that a large amount of the youth that are involved in this election now, this time around. And I just think that the majority of them are voting Kerry. Is that crazy?

O'REILLY: Yeah, I think the stoned slackers'll go for Kerry. I think he'll carry that vote. ... The stoned-slacker vote. Ummm -- but I don't know if they're gonna go. You know, look, Puff Daddy and his crew -- they're running around, "Vote or Die!" and all that. Yeah, it's good publicity to get on TV. Are they gonna get out? Are they gonna leave the bong and stand in line for an hour? I don't know.

I, for one, decided to take my bong with me and outside of being asked to obscure the "Badnarik for President" sticker on the base, it was allowed.
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I saw this headline today:

Bin Laden: Goal is to bankrupt U.S.

Uh, Mr. Bin Laden, we do a pretty good job of bankrupting ourselves with the people we elect. Thanks for your concern though.