I'm usually pretty blase about storms -- but this one is different..and I'm panicking for a different reason than the people filling their gas tanks (done it), buying water (we're stocked) and bread (got it) ahead of Sandy.
I'm panicking about the election. Think about it: would New Orleans have been ready to vote a week after Katrina??
yes, here in my royal blue state, we have early voting. I voted yesterday --waited about an hour to do so (at the end of the day). Earlier waits were as long as two hours and today was insane... I could see the lines -- and heavy traffic heading to the polling place as I drove by. But that's just us in a heavily Democratic state.. and those of us who want to make sure our votes are banked before the election. what happens in those states that DON'T have a Democratic governor -- PA & NJ?
The only scenarios I see are worrisome. These are states the President can bank on -- but if the power's out and people can't vote-- what happens? Do we take it to the Supreme Court? Look how well that worked for us last time.
The storm has potential to disrupt the democratic process.. and land (God Forbid) Mitt Romney in the White House.. We, as a nation, don't react well to the unforseen in our elections -- because we've made them run smoothly since the late 1700's. Or at least our narrative tells us we have -- and we transfer power peacefully.
The only upside, so far, is that a lot of people feel like I do and hit the polling place yesterday and today.... the people in line I talked to - four of us women -- and a man behind us of the same political persuasion... were well informed Democrats HORRIFIED by the thought of the Ryan budget and Romney in the White House.
My mother found the same at her polling place... an hour-long wait at dinner time when earlier the line stretched around the building .. 2 hour waits were reported --and many many Democrats excited to bank their votes... She said the excitement level reminded her of when she voted for JFK in 1960.