November 4, 2008: The TwoLads Election Day Special: The Lads Stake Out Their Positions

I appreciate that it's a violation of societal norms to disclose anyone's voting intentions aside from your own (if that). It's all the more egregious for a parent to be divulging their children's political leanings - something of a basic betrayal of that sacred hearth-and-homeland trust. And since Ian and Daniel can't read yet (well, Ian can read some words), it's certainly adding insult to injury to blast their politics to the world in a forum they can't even work with. ...But I will.

Ian decided to vote for John McCain, and he has been reiterating that message nearly every day for the past coupld of weeks. Being apparently a "typical male", his motivation is very straightforward: he likes Sarah Palin, and it was explained to him that you can't vote for Sarah Palin without also voting for John McCain. I asked him what he likes about Sarah Palin; he said "she looks nice." I think "nice," here, is the wholesome five-year-old "nice": she looks like a Mommy, which in fact she is, and she has a nurturant, feminine appeal. [But let's face it, by all criteria, she looks rather nice, and I can't help but suspect that aesthetics are a factor even for young Ian.]

Some people think that McCain's selection of Sarah Palin was a cold calculation to win over certain demographic elements. If so, it worked.

Daniel's selection was more unusual; he expressed an intention to vote for "Rakabama". The way he says it, it sounds rather like "Rock of Ages." Or perhaps it sounds like some banal rock group from the 80's. But in any case, he hasn't changed the identification; every time, it's "Rakabama". I do wonder if he's supporting Rakabama because Ian is a McCainiac.

In any case, it's safe to assume that their votes will cancel each other out. We live in "battleground" state, and the TwoLads' political stalemate is not moving this election any closer to a resolution of this critical turning-point in our nation's history.