I only hope that when I leave here I will not be looking forward to returning to a once prosperous nation slowly transforming itself into a carbon copy of Bangladesh… or Zimbabwe… or Venezuela. Hell, I don’t even want to come back to Belgium Mk II.

I’ll still be an American, unless my home changes into something that casts me out.

Your family should be proud of you.

I know I’m a center-left guy which classifies me as liberal. But I deeply respect conservative ideals. I understand Sarah Palin’s “real American” appeal. It’s alot like the Barack Obama’s “first black president and King’s Dream” appeal with black folks. So you won’t hear me bashing Palin and McCain over what they are. I just differ with them on stances. BUT I also have some bones to pick with Obama. I see flaws all the way around. But we’re human. And we feel how we feel. Some folks won’t vote for Obama ever. Some folks won’t vote for McCain ever. And that’s fine.

And if you look at it, the fact that Obama has gotten this far is also a tribute to conservatives that have been saying that black folks have the same opportunities as whites. An Obama win (if he wins) is more of an affirmation of conservative ideals than many liberals want to think about. I’m just being real.

My prediction for final tally is 51.04% McCain, 47.53% Obama. The trailing digits are the ones that will indicate if I was right or not.

That said the recent IBD poll shows it a 2pt race with close to 9% undecided. So the race is winnable, however how many McCain supporters will stand in line to vote or in rain (in NC)to vote if they believe the race is over.

The MSM will have a lot of splaining to do if this becomes a very tight race.

If the polls and most pundits are right and Senator Obama is the next president, I pray he has the wisdom to surround himself with men and women of your outlook and sense, and take their counsel often. I’ll be much more optimistic about America’s future if he does.

More like the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I used to get before final exams , but I know what you mean, ST.

I think people work themselves up into a tizzy paying too much attention to polls that come out almost hourly — and there are more this election year than there ever have been. Forget the minute details and concentrate on two things: the state-level trend is for McCain-Palin, and Obama regularly finished under his polling numbers in the primaries. The key states are within the margin of error, so we have a good shot.

That said, I’m making no predictions. At least, to publicly: I don’t want the gremlins to hear me and decide they have to mess things up.

And let me touch on the whole “white folks changing their mind in the booth” angle (I hate the Bradley effect name), so what. If a white man or white woman goes from Obama to McCain in the booth, it’s there choice whatever their reason. Just like black folks have thrown 96%+ to Obama, it’s their (our since I’m a black dude) choice.

See, I’m not going to roll in the racism slop. I was the victim of REAL and VIOLENT racism as a teenager. And it was white folks that came to my aid. One of them (who I’m friends with) is voting McCain/Palin. So I guess I need to slap “racist” on them? Please. Now, contrary to what some say, Senator Obama himself has never said a vote for McCain is a vote for racism. But I’ve sure heard some Obama supporters of all colors say so. Stop it.