On Election Eve ’04

No jitters, just a sense of calm and curiosity.

No matter the victor, the world will not end, the Islamist terrorists will neither immediately perish nor instantly bring about the downfall of Western civilization.

I’ll grant that a Kerry presidency will be a step towards a quicker peace and a greater acceptance in the global community. I do not view either of these issues a plus at this momentous crux in history. Kerry will pursue fuzzy ol’ Osama, and vigorously at that. It is a political requirement for his possible administration. He will work quickly to bring a state of stability in Iraq; however, not the longterm stability that is needed, as he will only work for a stable enough situation to tone down operations and begin an “honorable” draw-down. Other than Osama, the military aspects of the war against Islamic terror will begin to wane.

None of this means we are doomed. It only means that we would creep back to a pre-9/11 mindset. Osama’s capture or death would clinch this, and we would call victory and leave intact the dangerous environment that allowed an animal like Osama to grow and flourish. No, Western civilization would not immediately fail, but the long-term price for its survival would increase dramatically — a needed burden prolonged only to our children or grandchildren.

A Bush win would perpetuate the fight as is, pursued with energy and tenacity on several fronts. The war will be fought decisively; Bush simply and instinctively realizes it is better to fight it now with an iron gauntlet balanced by a promise of liberty. Whether now or later, that is the longterm formula for success, to offer opportunity of hope and destroy those who refuse.

Other than Bush’s tax plans, there is little domestically in either candidate that the libertarian side of me can support, but certainly Kerry’s plans are worse from my vantage.

Jitters, no. Doom, no. Hope, yes. Intrigue, definitely. Here’s some things I’ll be keeping an eye on tomorrow evening (and possibly Wednesday morning):

• Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and New Jersey. Not much enthusiasm for Bush success in these three, but success in any two of them would immediately signal a long night for Kerry.
• Florida. Duh.
• The effect of gay marriage ballot amendments on conservative and moderate turnout in eleven states, including Arkansas and Oregon but especially Ohio and Michigan.
• The South Dakota senatorial contest between Daschle and Thune.
• The local congressional battle between Sessions and Frost.

Okay, I’m calm. On the other hand, my girlfriend is fretting up a Texas twister. Apparently, so is blogger Phil Gray of Shades of Gray (Umbrae Canarum), who expresses his jitters at great length here.