[dd74]

The lines have already been drawn. Traditional Democrats will vote Kerry because they don't know any better, and remain overall, close-minded to any sort of thought other than their own party. The same can be said of Republicans.

Over here, where I stand in the center of things, I feel it's my vote that both parties want. Last night, Kerry didn't win my vote. He was dull, expository, unengaged. Even he looked bored with himself. Nothing new or compelling that came from him. To me, the man struck out. He just filled space. And here I was, silly me, watching him with the thought that his speech was supposed to be aimed at me. I felt it was aimed at no one but himself and those who have already decided to vote for him. Clinton was brilliant this way; Obama is an obvious understudy of Clinton. Kerry was smug. Or in the least, he seems heartless. Going through the motions as they say.

Now I have Bush and his speech to look forward to. And the debates, of course. And I really want to see those. Both men are so intellectually equal (and they are, too), that personality will be the deciding factor. And I have to say, Bush has ample more personality than Kerry; plus he is at least resolved with his need to do what he did. Kerry is conjecture and stiff. So I give the pre-debate nod to Bush, though they'll be like Rock-em-Sock-em robots.

But I know I'm not wasting my vote on grounds of kicking one man out of office to replace him with another - the de riguer trend here in L.A. To me that's like changing lightbulbs in a lamp for no good reason. Amber for white, though they still glow with the same intensity...or lack thereof.