Poppy Bush drew comparisons to Warren G. Harding, whose prose reminded H. L. Mencken of “a string of wet sponges. … It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it.” When Harding died, E. E. Cummings lamented, “The only man, woman or child who wrote a simple declarative sentence with seven grammatical errors is dead.”

Election Day; Starbucks reminds us that they’re giving away free coffee to those civically responsible. I spent the wee hours of this morning doing my last minute candidate research; and as always, I’ll be printing a little cheat sheet to take with me into the voting booth (or terminal, as it’s all electronic now.)

It’ll be my 3rd Presidential election. I was barely 18 in 2000, a lucky coincidence that made my first opportunity to vote more exciting than most. Firsthand, I’ve seen my political ideology evolve and mature like some sort of finely honed manuscript.

Surprisingly, even my status update feed on Facebook is inundated with friends posting articles and commentary blasting those they don’t agree with, praising their candidate and otherwise being rather dickish. While I’m happy that so many are taking an interest in this election cycle (and it certainly feels more energized than 2000 and 2004), I’m left with a bad taste in my mouth that people have forgotten how to debate their disagreements. 

Or how appreciate differences, for that matter. CNN contributor Bob Greene wrote “If you can’t (or can) say anything nice. . .“, a fun piece about ordinary Schmoes being asked to say something nice about their political enemy. If a McCain endorser, tell me why Obama is not the undoing of America. And if an Obama booster, tell me why McCain isn’t enough to head to our Canadian neighbor come 2009. “This just might catch on. In these last days of the campaign, this might start something– in city after city, in state after state, people might make themselves feel better by looking for the better side of the man they oppose.” I love the idea.

So enough of the bickering, enough of the hatred and pointedness we’ve endured for two long years. Vote merrily, if you haven’t already.