Voting, Fatstuff, Ashes & more

Turnout was very low at my place, but it was early and pouring out. I suspect between the rain and the Giants parade in NYC, turnout will be lower than expected here in NY – after the parade-goers have a few brewskis they’re not likely to go a-voting. While we wait for returns, a look around:

The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog.” – G.K. Chesterton, Radio Broadcast 6-11-35

I wrote this morning about the crucial right to a private vote – I do glory in it – it is the most fundamental of our rights. I’ve written from time-to-time about the problems inherent in socialized medicine, how each advance in “free” coverage is paid for with a dollop of personal liberty. This story brings it back to mind.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday: I notice with great joy that the local Methodist, Lutheran and Baptist churches in my neighborhood will be holding “ashes” services – more of us “marked for Christ” with an outward sign. As I wrote ages ago about Ash Wednesday:

With ashes, there is no room for misinterpretation. There are no “maybes.” This person stands before you, declaring himself or herself as belonging to Christ. Maybe not the best person in the world. May there is a struggle going on. We are all faulty humans, and none are perfect save Christ…but you look up from stirring your Starbucks coffee and you see someone wearing a big, black ashy cross on their forehead, and you know. The world knows. Another one for Christ. And another…and this kid over here – the big, brawny kid, with the great smile and the pleasant manner…he belongs to Christ, too. And another. And another…

What are you “giving” up? I am giving up all sugar, and if that sounds like nothing, you don’t know how much I like my hot, sweet, tea and my light and sweet coffee. No sugar means no sugar substitutes, either, otherwise what’s the point. I was going to give up blogging politics but my husband talked me out of it. He said that would be too much of a relief for me! Meanwhile Rocco is writing on confession.

Instapundit links to Bill Quick’s newly forming American Conservative Party. I’ll write more on that in a later post. My first question: will dissenting views be allowed? Will be interesting to watch it form and evolve.

Is it possible? A Clinton corruption chronicle that actually has legs?

Both Don Surber and Mark Hemingway have taken Erica Jong to task for her staggeringly out-of-touch, arrogant and condescending pro-Hillary WaPo OpEd. She deserved a right fisking; she got two very right ones.

I think the only “women” really stuck on voting for Hillary are the gals her own age, who went thru the feminist trenches. Younger women don’t relate.

Of course, if Hillary loses and Obama is the nominee – a big if – he will be more difficult to beat.

I love Drew Carey when he does his reports for Reason.com. Here he discusses the middle class squeeze and why things are better than they “seem.”

On the lookout for Rage Boy

Super Duper Exit Polling Stuff here.