Best line of the day, so far

“Above all, though, I want to see democracy vindicated, and the stain of 2000 eradicated, by a clean election in which as many people as possible get to cast their votes, and have those votes counted.”

- Paul Krugman in The New York Times

Adios

NewMexiKen would fail to live up to my name if I don’t mention this op-ed piece by Tony Hillerman in Monday’s New York Times.

Now, with polls showing the race undecided, our puny five-vote delegation looks very important. And New Mexicans are not used to this. We are used to being ignored. We love it that way. One of the most popular monthly features in New Mexico magazine is called “One of Our 50 Is Missing.” It consists of reports about folks in other states refusing to accept our “foreign” credit cards, asking if one needs a visa to visit a friend in Albuquerque, or demanding a foreign postage charge to send the pair of shoes you’ve ordered from their catalog. Now, it seems, our fellow Americans finally know what country our state is in. I’m not the only one hoping that after tomorrow, they’ll forget.

Kerry 333 Bush 205

NewMexiKen has been optimistic about a Kerry victory since spring (admittedly with some periods of doubt). With large voter turnout seemingly everywhere today, I’m thinking it will be a good day for democracy and Democrats.

Kerry will poll more than 51% of the popular vote and win the electoral college by more than 100.

The Father of His Country

Fittingly enough on election day, NewMexiKen bring you a link to Jonathan Yardley’s review of His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph Ellis.

The Father of His Country, Ellis correctly observes at the outset, “poses what we might call the Patriarchal Problem in its most virulent form: on Mount Rushmore, the Mall, the dollar bill and the quarter, but always an icon — distant, cold, intimidating.” Ellis’s aim is to get beyond the monument into the man, and he does so in a convincing, plausible way.

Best line of the day, so far

“I am preparing myself for either outcome today. Should Kerry win, I will post an important statement called “A Time for Healing,” or something equally noble-sounding. Should Bush win, I shall post a statement of philosophical resignation tentatively titled “Good, Go Ahead, America, Choke on Your Own Vomit, You Deserve to Die.” The latter will probably require a little more tweaking.”

- James Wolcott

It’s the birthday

… of James Knox Polk, 11th president of the United States, born on this date in 1795.

… of Warren Gamaliel Harding, 29th president of the United States, born on this date in 1865.

Polk is generally rated among the “near great” presidents. Harding who died while president, is generally considered a “failure.” See this NewMexiKen entry.

North and South …

Dakota entered the Union as the 39th and 40th states on this date in 1889.