Countdown to Election!!!!

(We are going to have a new President in 17 days!!! AAHHHHHH!!!!)

So I took the opportunity to vote early today - while I usually don't talk politics with people, I figure this is MY blog so I can do whatever I want! In my county, there are three places where for the past few weeks and leading up to the election, if you are a registered voter, you can walk in between the hours of 8:30-5:30 M-F and cast your vote. Both kids were in preschool today so that's exactly what I did.

After watching the debates last night and receiving numerous disturbing emails - I can honestly say I'm very scared about this election. I've never been SCARED about an election. 4 Years ago I wanted Bush to win and I would've been bummed if Kerry would have won but that's nothing compared to how I feel now. As I stood in line filling out my forms, there was this precious old couple in front of me- the man could hardly see or hear and his sweet wife could barely walk with the assistance of a walker. (If you are 70 and above, you can walk to the front) Sometimes I have these moments where I see people like this and it just reminds of me of my sweet grandparents and I truly believe we are losing the last of the best generation. Where is our country headed? What are we basing our morals and values on? I'm an emotional pregnant woman (as we all know) but I felt so much emotion for that sweet couple, this election and what our future holds.

In less than 20 days our new President could be a man that doesn't like the American Flag ("it's a sign of oppression for some people"), confuses his "Christian Faith" by accidentally saying "Muslim faith" (WHO DOES THAT???) and wants to reinvent our national anthem because it "displays a war like message with the bombs bursting in air and all - it should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose". Why would he even WANT to be President? It doesn't even sound like he's fond of America!

Here's a letter to our next President-who I keep telling myself is already decided upon by the One who decides all things...

Dear Mr. President-
One of the many things we don't envy about your job is the public's fascination with approval ratings. For the next four years you will be reminded on a daily basis of whether or not the citizens of this country approve of your performance.

Our hope is that you will set your sights on something of far greater consequence than our approval. We want you to lead in such a way as to gain and maintain our respect.

For that to happen, there must be consistency in what you say and what you do. This alignment will provide you with the moral authority necessary to lead and influence those who selected your name in November, as well as those who did not.

Conduct your public life in a way that positions you to confront without reservation those who have abused their power and influence. Conduct your private life in such a way that you can speak with authority to husbands and fathers about their responsibilities at home. Lead the way in personal generosity. Be the first President of our generation to give away 20% of your annual income. And do it publicly, so as to remove any doubt from either party that you are a man who truly cares about the less fortunate in our nation and in our world.

Our country is deeply divided over the economy, healthcare and national security. A significant portion of the population will not share your beliefs about how these issues should be addressed. There's nothing you can do about that. But please don't do anything that would lead us to wonder if you really believe what you have said you believe about those issues.

The late journalist Louis Fischer wrote "history is the chronicle of divorces between creed and deed." We pray that will not be the case with your administration. Our hope is that you will be a President whose actions reflect the promises you've made and the values you claim to embody. And if that is the case you will have something far more valuable than our approval. You will have our respect.

Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens of the United States