Checks And Balances

Let's all take a moment to praise our remarkably efficient system of governance. The one that hasn't been disrupted since the Civil War. The one that is going to select a new Chief Executive today, or over the next few days, or however long it takes to pull those "lost" votes out of the ditches in Ohio. Savor the fact that we have a pretty successful track record when it comes to holding elections, and no matter what the outcome is, there are built-in safeguards to keep us from turning into a fascist state or a socialist commune overnight. Those three branches of government turned out to be a pretty good idea, so thanks to all the guys down om Philly who put this whole thing together. Nice work, guys.
By the time the newly elected or re-elected president finds his way to the stage at his inauguration, there will already be a heap of work to do sitting on the desk in the Oval Office. Getting America back to work and figuring out how to keep us all safe from the rest of the world and ourselves will not be the work of any one man.
That's why I've gone all zen on this election deal. I've lived through Nixon. And Reagan. And a couple of Bushes. If that's the worst they can throw at us, I guess I'll be fine with that. Tomorrow I will get out of bed without the expectation of an armed presence in the streets to direct me to the nearest indoctrination camp. Quite the opposite. I expect that whoever ends up living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the next few years will have to spend a little more time figuring out just what they can do to make things work for me. By the people, for the people, if I recollect. Given the gridlock which has become a way of life in Washington D.C., I suspect that it will be some time before the insurgency or counter-insurgency will take anything that appears like control. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Consider me established and ordained, fellas. I'll be watching.