|
What
Will
Matter?
It's
funny
in a
way,
that
for
all
the
talk
and
writing
and
grousing
about
elections,
sometimes
they
flat-out
sneak
up
on
you.
Do
you
realize
that
two
weeks
from
next
Tuesday--18
days
from
today--is
the
day
Americans
will
go
to
the
polls?
Politics
are
endlessly
fascinating,
but
not
just
for
the
obvious
reasons,
such
as
who
will
win
and
what
difference
does
that
mean.
To
me
the
electoral
process
illustrates
as
well
as
anything
I
can
think
of
Hemingway's
definition
of
courage:
"grace
under
pressure."
Please
understand
that
I am
not
confusing
combat
with
electing
candidates
to
office.
The
genius
of
our
political
system
is
that
we
compete
vigorously
and
when
someone
does
not
prevail,
they
take
their
lumps
peacefully,
knowing
there
is
another
day
and
another
election.
The
comparison
does
hold
in
the
sense
of
maintaining
your
cool,
your
confidence,
and
your
faith
in
those
who
agree
with
you
when
the
"mainstream
media"
is
gloating
over
what
it
perceives
[hopes]
is
your
demise.
I'm
obviously
talking
about
the
avalanche
of
stories
predicting/advocating
the
defeat
of
Republican
candidates,
most
of
whom
are
pro-life,
by
Democrats,
almost
all
of
whom
are
pro-abortion.
Could
things
be
going
better
for
pro-life
Republicans?
Sure.
"Politics
ain't
beanbag,"
as
Finley
Peter
Dunne's
"Mr.
Dooley"
once
famously
quipped.
The
steady
stream
of
assaults
have
been
ferocious.
But
on
November
7,
all
the
polls/predictions/prognostications
made
today
won't
mean
a
hill
of
beans.
Nor
will
all
the
smirks
you
can
practically
see
on
the
writer's
face
when
you
read
their
accounts.
And,
for
that
matter,
nor
will
all
the
attempts
in
the
world
to
discourage
the
supporters
of
pro-life
candidates.
Contrary
to
what
the
Washington
Post
and
the
New
York
Times
and
similar
outlets
think,
we
are
not
stupid
nor
are
we
gullible.
We
are
faithful,
in
season
and
out
and
absolutely
unmovable.
What
will
matter?
Who
cares
the
most
to
come
to
the
ballot
box,
especially
if
the
weather
is
ugly
and
cold
and
damp.
Who
cared
the
most
to
do
the
tedious
but
essential
work
of
identifying
like-minded
people,
the
recipe
for
success
in
any
election
but
especially
in
"off-year"
elections
when
fewer
people
vote.
And
who
cared
the
most
to
do
everything
that
was
necessary
to
ensure
that
people
who
agreed
with
their
choice
of
candidates
turned
out.
Many
people
vote
regularly.
Very
few
make
the
effort
to
ensure
that
others
who
feel
the
same
way
vote
as
well.
I
have
only
this
to
add.
Keep
calm.
Keep
collected.
Keep
confident.
If
you
have
any
comments
or
questions,
write
Dave
Andrusko
at
dandrusko@nrlc.org. |
