The folly of egg-stage chicken counting, "Dewey Defeats Truman," the 2000 elections, yada yada yada. Dammit I know better. But so hungry is my soul for even a faint glimmer of light, I pathetically gravitate anyway toward reports of high turnout, early exit poll numbers and other optimistic amateur punditry (and a few professionals as well) that hint, just possibly, that the "reality-based community" will have a chance to point this country back in the right direction.
I would unquestionably rejoice over Bush's ouster, but I'm not a diehard fan of Kerry, either. Should Kerry take this contest, and by a mercifully wide enough margin to provide a clear mandate for change, I know world peace and happiness won't suddenly break out. Heck, things may very well get worse before they get better.
But at least I'll be confident they will get better.
Of course, as I type this, I know I'm jinxing the whole thing. You'll know who to blame tomorrow.