I didn't get turned on I just got turned. I wasn't as aroused as I was concerned.

I have found a really cool website.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/index.html

It really doesn’t matter how as a country, we vote on Obama vs. McCain. What is much more important is how individual states are voting. What this website does is tell us on a state by state level, how the country is planning on voting. The website updates daily with the newest state polling data. Interesting enough, if the election were today, Senator Obama would win the total electoral vote 317 – 221. Obama would absolutely crush McCain and have almost 100 more points then McCain. Fortunately for McCain, the election is not today and is in fact a long way away. As you can see, if the election were today, Obama would win Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio and Virginia. Those are all states that Bush won. McCain would not win one state right now that Kerry won. Obviously, many states that Obama is winning in his lead is under three percentage points which really mean too close to call. I plan on following this website closely over the next six months. This website also has very interesting opinion articles that are updated daily plus updates on battle ground house and senate races. Here are a couple of ways that Obama and McCain can win.

-If the economy doesn’t improve then Obama will win. Right now, the most important issue to Americans is the economy. It is the first time war/terrorism has not held the top spot since before 9/11. Obama will pound the image that voting in John McCain is like electing George W. Bush. Bush and McCain do have very similar views on the economy and very different views then Barack Obama. Bush and McCain feel are both proud supporters of Reaganomics and that if we tax businesses and the wealthiest amongst us, then this will have a trickle down effect that will in turn help the middle and lower classes. Unfortunately, the trickle down effect does not work. There is healthy evidence that by allowing free market economics regarding taxing big business, this will help the economy by creating more jobs, stimulating growth in research and development, and obviously lower unemployment. However, giving lower tax breaks to the wealthiest does nothing but make the rich richer. Obama is for getting rid of the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy.

-If gas prices keep going up, this will help John McCain. Another key difference is that John McCain is for drilling in Alaska, making more refineries, drilling off shore in the ocean, and other places which have been off limits. Obama says this is not a good long term solution but will permanently destroy the environment. However, the more gas prices keep going up, the less Americans will care about the long term and the polar bears.

-I think this election will be won or loss on the Iraq War issue. McCain has been a huge supporter of military action in Iraq and the next six months will be critical. If there are heavy casualties and no end in sight, then that looks good for McCain. Because Bush is president, I would not be surprised if reports of HUGE troop reductions and major successes in Iraq begin to be reported, starting with Fox News and the Washington Times in about four months.

1. It is Game 6 of the NBA Finals tonight. I am not to be disturbed tonight as I plan to spend some alone time tonight with my 42 inch HD TV, chips and salsa, and a bottle of red win I bought at lunch today. What a way to spend a Tuesday evening.

2. Speaking of basketball, how great are the Univ. of North Carolina Tar Heels going to be next year? Besides having the Naismith Award Winner (player of the year) Tyler Hansbrough returning, they also have three men, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson, who all would have been drafted in the NBA draft in nine days, coming back. Oh yeah, and they have a top five recruiting class coming in to hang out on the bench including five star recruits Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis. It will be a good time in Chapel Hill next year.

3. My beloved Rolling Stone magazine took a turn for the worse. They have been criticized the past five years for going less and less from their rock and roll roots to be much more mainstream and pop putting singers and young actresses over musicians. I was informed yesterday that the cast from the MTV show, The Hills, is gracing the cover. You have got to be kidding Jann.