Posted 4:55 PM by steve

Talk about mixed emotions, along the lines of watching one's mother in law* drive off a cliff... in your new car...

On one hand, the economy is going to recover quite nicely with an Obama win and rising tides usually lift all boats, yachts as well as dinghies. On the other hand, I don't want my taxes raised, perhaps so much so that it will more than offset whatever I personally would gain from a growing economy, leaving me worse off.

On one hand, all other things being equal, I'm happier with a growing economy and I have no doubt the economy is going to grow more (see above) with an Obama presidency than it will with McCain in the White House. On the other hand, I'm going to hate hearing liberals boast that the recovering economy is a result of their economic policies when in fact their policies will keep the economy from being as strong as it otherwise would be (note: Clinton's tax hikes didn't lead to the good times we had during the 90s, the economy was growing anyway and it would have grown faster if Clinton hadn't raised taxes).

On one hand, it both bothers me and makes me nervous that someone with such a lightweight resume as Obama could be the President come January. On the other hand, McCain has done nothing during his entire political career that made me think he's the guy I really want leading this country.

On one hand, Obama winning will put an end to accusations this country is so biased that it won't elect a black President. On the other hand, Obama winning will only lead to accusations of racism levied at anyone who disagrees with whatever Obama wants to do as President. Oppose his budget, you're racist. Refuse to confirm Bill Ayers as Education Secretary, you're racist.

On one hand, Obama winning will mean we won't have to listen to four years of liberals b***hing about how corrupt evil Republicans stole another election. On the other hand, since liberals think conservatives are the scourge of the earth, we'll spend the next four years having to listen to them b***hing about us for some other reason.

On one hand, Obama winning will serve as a complete, total and extremely justified repudiation of the Bush Presidency. On the other hand, Bush doesn't care that the American people think so poorly him, so what good does it do if the recipient of the snub just ignores the snub?

On one hand, Obama winning, along with the Congressional gains I expect the Democrats to make, will serve the GOP right for their trashing of the economy, their bloating of the budget, their refusal to give up the perks and the pork and their failure to fight for good old conservative values. On the other hand, it's going to annoy me to no end having to listen to liberals claiming the election gives them a mandate to remake society when in fact this election isn't about them as much as it is about getting rid of Bush and everything that is tangentially related to him (note: Bush made the same mistake in 2004 when he falsely claimed a mandate when what the voters were doing was saying NO to Kerry more than they were saying YES to Bush). And I really don't harbor any hopes that the next crop of Republicans is going to be any better than the current batch.

On one hand, Obama winning will lead Hollywood to get back to making more movies that I'm likely to see instead of the anti-Bush, anti-War on Terror crap they've been making for the past four plus years. On the other hand, I'm going to miss laughing at the pathetic box office numbers for the anti-Bush, anti-War on Terror crap these Hollywood liberals have been trying to push down our throats.

On one hand, an Obama presidency will mean more jobs in the DC area (both growing numbers of government workers and those who work for companies that feed off government spending), and as all those new workers will need a place to live, my house is likely to appreciate in value. On the other hand, all those new government workers will mean more traffic, more lines at the movies and, as government workers tend to be liberal, having to be around more people who think they're so much smarter than the rest of us.

On one hand, McCain winning will show there is a limit to just what the liberals can get away with. On the other hand, McCain winning will only lead to liberals ratcheting up the intimidation and the thuggery and the fraud and the distortions and the lies as they continue to seek the ever-elusive Presidency.

On one hand, McCain winning will be a great 'UP YOURS! to all the liberals for their trashing and belittling Sarah Palin (and, as it appears, Joe the Plumber). On the other hand, Palin is not going to be given anything substantive to do and I'm not really looking to have to deal with or listen to McCain as President for the next four years.

On one hand, McCain winning will keep the Democrats from doing as much damage as they would with a Obama presidency. On the other hand, McCain only looks good compared to the empty suit named Obama, I'm not going to like much of what McCain does and, by the time the 2012 election rolls around, things are likely to be so screwed up that Republicans would be lucky to have even 30 Senators and 150 Representatives.

And I know, I've long run out of hands.

* Not my mother in law, who I get along just fine with, but the proverbial mother in law who serves as the butt of so many jokes.