The only thing worse than living in a swing state -- trampled under a parade of candidates, their surrogates, and a paid media avalanche -- is living right next door. We get all of the media saturation and none of the opportunity to cast a vote that could actually make a difference.
(Yes, we are voting and going with our daughter to make sure there are no problems with her recent registration. But, it's a magnificent fantasy to believe we'd wake up on November 3 with Georgia as a blue state. This one is redder than its' collective necks).
We live 35 miles from the Florida line and draw our primary media from Jacksonville. There is no local television and the local "daily" makes banner page one headlines of Dale Earnhart Jr. cussing (I would have only considered that story for the front section if it was his Daddy who said it). The editorial page is so conservative that if George Bush read newspapers, he'd read that one.
The baseball playoff and World Series have been excruciating, offering several consecutive hours of destination viewing with an ad count in excess of Manny Ramirez's salary.
I have seen the "Kerry is not just a liberal, but the most liberal liberal who has ever been liberal" and "terrorist wolf in the woods will eat your children if you vote for Kerry" ads more that I've seen relatives I really like.
In the Series, it's not all presidential attack ads, occasionally we're treated to enticements for Fox's newest reality shows.
I've taken to online shopping for cyanide capsules just in case I'm ever in the situtation of actually having to watch "My Big Fat Fake Boss" or "I Will Abandon All Self Respect to Work for Richard Branson"
Who would have thought I'd find myself wistful for male pattern baldness and impotence?
I now "watch" the series working at my computer with my back to the television. If anything really good (or bad) happens , I'll hear my husband yell and ask. Otherwise, it's just not worth the bother.
I TiVo the shows I want to watch and take tremendous pleasure in the fast forward button eliminating commercials.
Yesterday I was working at the computer and Charlie was watching television. I heard an annoying used car ad and turned around, momentarily panicked that the election had gotten past me and I didn't vote.
No, he was watching a Savannah station. Within a few minutes I heard my first Georgia political ad. Apparently Atlanta Congressman Johnny Isakson is running for the US Senate. According to his ad, he is strong on defense and America. In the spot, Isakson himself says that on 9-11 "four airplanes were Weapons of Mass Destruction" and we will go after terrorists wherever they are.
So apparently any country with more than three airplanes is in big trouble.
It may be best to turn off the television until Nov. 3.


Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs