A Day In American History....The 2008 Election

[Mike Tarak]

2h 25m....That's how long it took me to walk into the church , cast my vote and exit today. You are damn right I took my sticker!

Saw a few familiar faces....a few people I recognized from my neighborhood...lot's of mom's toting youngsters...and a guy in scrubs who told me IU hospital gives them 3h to vote...he had taken a vacation day to honor his civic duty.

I didn't really complain about the time it took. I actually thought about how many times in my life I wasted at least 2h30m on something far less meaningful and painful than standing in line....like say, the Colts game vs. Green Bay or any one of a number of recent Pacers seasons!!

I'm not a big politics guy but I believe it's my duty to vote. I liked both candidates, not sure I like their plans and even more curious how the elected one will carry out that plan and turn our country around. So I voted for the one I felt is the less of two evils and know that I carried out my duty as an American citizen...thankfully and wilfully.

Regardless of my vote and the outcome...I await what will unfold in the coming hours, days, weeks and months. A little bit feeling nervous, a little bit knowing that niether of these guys is as bad as the other would make them out to be and neither is as good as touted. In the end, yes...one of them will be President but they don't get to do the job alone and I'll have to trust whomever goes in there will do as best they can.....God knows I wouldn't want the job!

I think this is an election that will undoubtedly go down in my 8 and 6 year old's American History books in JrHS and HS....I'm glad I was part of it and even more glad that I live in a country where we get to choose and not be told who our leader will be.

Stay tuned...the fun is just beginning!

[Brooke Randolph]

It was very exciting to me that so many people were invested in this. I hope this energizes our country. I was thrilled to wait in line 5 days early. Everyone waiting with me were talkative and smiling, simply happy to be a part of the process.

[Mike Tarak]

Emily, thanks. If you buy into Comedian George Carlin's idea...it's actually those who don't vote that should get to complain loudest....cause they didn't put the sorry candidate in office! HA! I always loved that bit. We'll see what happens...about to go turn on the news and start watching the show!

[Emily Myers]

Nice post, Mike. It is very nice to read a post from someone appreciating the process without the complete cynicism of the candidates. I truly appreciate that you voted, even if you aren't absolutely crazy about one or the other, because you decided who you thought could do the best job out of the candidates we have- and like you said, I wouldn't want the job either. Plus, if you don't vote, well- kind of hard to complain about the results later, right? I've got a 2 yr old- and this will be one of those things that they read about in history text books later- and I'll get to tell my "I remember that morning clearly. . ." story.