Marvin Olasky writes: “Abundance and ease dull our senses. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was common in the 1950s and early 1960s, when the United States faced great danger of nuclear annihilation from an evil empire that had hundreds of missiles aimed at us.

Some now say that the Cold War had the silver lining of pushing Americans to rally ’round the flag. But even if that were the case, let’s remember one thing: It wasn’t worth it. Depending on a balance of nuclear terror is no way to live. Only God’s grace prevented disaster, and we should never assume that God will protect us from all our folly.”

Still, we can pray “America, God mend thine every flaw. Confirm thy good in brotherhood, Thy liberty in law.”

I hate presidential election days.

I don’t want to follow the results on Fox News’ interactive map, but I can’t seem to keep away from it. And since we’re informed every year that it’s a shoo-in for the party I don’t subscribe to, I watch the map changes with a sense of dread. That dread hasn’t been justified for the last few cycles, but this year… I think it’s gonna be a squeaker. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it ended up in the courts again. Obama may win, but I’m convinced it won’t be any blow-out. Call on me to eat crow tomorrow, if I’m wrong.

I voted bright and early this morning, in a crowded church vestibule with about a hundred other people, all winding around each other in six distinct but sinuous lines. The people in charge did a remarkable job, I think, in keeping some kind of order. We vote on paper ballots with those little Iowa Basic Skills ovals in this state. When it got to my turn in line, the volunteer told me the electronic ballot marker machine was available, “But it takes a little longer.” I figured that way I’d free up a booth for somebody else, and I planned to skip most of the judge races anyway (it only encourages them), so I used it. I think I figured it out.

I preferred that to standing and marking my ballot on a clip board, or sitting on a folding chair at a folding table, which a lot of people were doing rather than wait for a booth. I have this quaint idea that voting ought to be private.

If my guy doesn’t win, I promise to pray for wisdom for the other guy. I trust you will too.

But if you live in the west and haven’t voted, get out there and make that unnecessary!

Unless you’re voting for somebody I don’t like, of course.

Update: You know, with the proper blend of herbs and spices, crow might taste OK.



Update to Update: No. No, it doesn’t.

Have you ever been called by a pollster, human or (cue eerie music) inhuman? I have many times, lately it’s been robocalls. I can understand people saying they don’t believe the polls, but I don’t understand why they would lie to the polls, or worse, try to tell a pollster what they think he wants to hear.

If you were asked questions by a pollster, would you tell the truth?

In Georgia and Tennessee, we’ve had early voting for several weeks. My sweet wife and I votes last Friday, the practical option for her and a fear-based option for me. I had planned to get up early this morning and get to the court house where we vote by 7:00, but fearing a possible line or my inability to get out that early I voted midday Friday. The thing I hate most about voting is learning about a race for the first time when you’re in the voting booth (or at the stall as it is with us). I didn’t vote for one of the judicial candidates in my area because I’d never heard about the race, didn’t know any of the six names on the list, and didn’t feel good about sending up Hail Mary vote.

Anyway, tell us about your voting experience and whether you’re truthful with pollsters.