I didn't compare Obama with either FDR or Johnson, I simply noted the good things that happened with the executive and legislative branches being under the strong control of a single political party under their administrations.

But you're right as far as I'm concerned--I am not a lifelong Democrat and I am voting against another four years of anything even faintly resembling the George Bush-Republican adminsitration of the last eight years.

As far as the country is concerned, we've already been damaged so badly that it will already take many years for us to recover. There are many dimensions to the damage we've incurred--fiscal, foreign affairs, healthcare, the environment, education, military strength, you name it. There's minimal additional damage that a new adminstration can do that would worsen our situation. If there is some hope for the free markets, it is that the free markets will quickly and severely limit what any new administration can accomplish, specifically any plans that require lots of federal spending. There are very limited additional sources of debt available to the U.S. to finance anything other than our most very basic needs and priorities. I hate the idea of Pelosi and Reid, but the risk I ran in voting for Obama was that there's little more they can do to worsen the damage already done by the Bush administration.

As far as socialism is concerned, we're already well down the slippery slope towards that. Our financial system has already been socialized and it's only a matter of time before other industries line up at the trough. The auto companies have already been nationalized (socialized) to the tune of $25 billion, and they've said that's not enough. They'll be back for more and we'll find no alternative than to add them to the industries on the public dole. Just one more step towards socialism caused by the political leadership of the last couple of decades, an erosion of our business morals and ethics, and almost complete inattention and ignorance of the American electorate. But from where we are now, there are few alternatives. Capitalism and the free markets have failed us and the government must now step in to stem the economic tide that's running against us.

I don't buy into the arguments that Obama embraces the ideas of Wright, Ayers and Aulinsky. If others do, that's their choice. I choose to place much, much greater weight on the evaluations others have made of Obama's intelligence, leadership abilities, management style and commitment to bettering the country. The smoothness and efficiency with which he's run his campaign is enough evidence for me to conclude that he can continue to bring the country together and begin to resolve our many problems. And make no mistake, he has run his campaign, making all the key decsions, very unlike the McCain campaign with staff firings, financial problems, everchanging message and internal disputes. My choice is a bit of a "bet on the come", I admit. But no worse than when I believed George Bush's campaign promises when I voted for him the first time. I voted against his re-election, but there weren't enough like me to prevent a continuation of the damage his administration was doing.

But there'll be no personal attacks from here, Bucco. I assume we'fve both voted and cancelled one another out. Now it's up to everyone else to elect our next President.