I don't understand

I don't. I can't. I've tried. I don't understand how people could vote for George W Bush. Well, maybe hypothetically I do. I understand how people could be so focused on one issue they don't take others into account. I understand that people think that "liberal" means you don't care if the country goes to hell in a handbasket, or that it means you believe in taking money away from hardworking people and handing it out to crack whores. Neither of which, of course, is the case. I understand not wanting to change commanders mid-war- that's why Lincoln and FDR got extra terms. But they weren't lying scum, so...
To me, GW Bush is the guy in your class who refused to see other people's points of view, when he bothered to show up to class at all. And when he did show up, not only was he obnoxious, he was likely hung over. He's that guy who thought college was a non-stop party, and class was just a toll booth on the highway of fun. I guess what upsets me then is that seeing so many people vote for Bush makes me realize that there are a lot of those guys out there.
I want a president who's smarter than me. Not just better at getting people to like him and agree with him, because that is an intelligence, I admit that. But a guy who knows and understands more than me. My ideal partner speaks at least two languages (well, he speaks 3, going on 4), my ideal president speaks 5. My ideal president got a scholarship, graduated magna/summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. My ideal president was beloved by his fellow students and his teachers. My ideal president would never drink Bud b/c it's cheap and gross, but would drink good German beer. My ideal president understands the concept of noblesse oblige and wants to carry it out. My ideal president understands that some people can't pull themselves up by their bootstraps, because they don't have any boots. He may come from wealth and privelage, but understands that this is luck, and does not entitle him to anything.
If I wouldn't date you, I won't vote for you. And I wouldn't even give GW Bush my phone number, even though he is the most powerful man in the world. No amount of power is enough of an aphrodiasic to mask arrogance and stupidity. I have to stop now, b/c I'm supposed to be working. Maybe I can earn enough to move to Germany.

In other news

There is a part of me that hopes this really is the end of the world. Which is dumb. But I just feel like there are so many signs. And in heaven everything would be better. No, I'm not going to kill myself, so don't get all excited. It never even occured to me.

But I will inform you of other things, b/c you're all sick of reading about the election.
Kate is coming on Friday. This brings me much joy.
Mel Stottlemyre is leaving the Yankees. This makes me sad.
The semicolon key came off my computer. I can get it close to reattached, but not close enough. Oh well.
I put out a fire today. While waiting for the bus, I noticed smoke coming from what would be the gutter if there were one (you know, that spot where the road meets the curb). I walked over to see what it was. A piece of paper was burning, most likely due to a tossed cigarette. While paper doesn't burn so well, dry leaves do. I thought a fire was to be avoided. So I stepped on the glowing red paper and smothered it. I am a good citizen. And people who toss lit cigarettes are not.

On my walk to my group meeting (which was held in place of class), I was thinking about what I have to be happy about/grateful for.

( A list so long I put it behind a cut to spare my friends' lists )