Two days before "the most important election of our lifetimes," but it's hard to focus. Here is a scattering of thoughts:
The Twin Cities papers have two widely divergent polls about the Presidential race in Minnesota. The liberal paper has Kerry up 8 points, 49-41; the conservative paper has a dead heat. Which basically means no one is sure what's going to happen (even if the votes are counted fairly).
Heard an independent ad on the radio yesterday by a coalition of environmental interests. Big blast on Bush, of course. I winced, though. The ad implied that kids are dying or going to die because of his policies. It's an arguable point -- but there's no need to make it. It smacks of the Cheney "vote for us or you die" rhetoric. Talk instead about the basic national consensus on conservation, the role of Theodore Roosevelt, protection of our natural heritage, the parks, the lakes, etc. -- appeal to the higher rather than the baser instincts. I know, I know, you've got to fight fire with fire, but at some point if you adopt the tactics of the right wing demagogues you become frighteningly like them.
Finally, there are apparently now computer robots that send out spam as comments to blogs. They usually contain links to Texas hold 'em poker, Viagria/Cialist, or job opportunities that will pay you nothing. I spend 20 minutes a day cleaning them out. One original spam came in this morning, however. Well, not original, but worth quoting.
"You may have heard that a dean is to faculty as a hydrant is to a dog."
-- Alfred Kahn