PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE:  This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Regardless of how the presidential election turns out, I am making a new pledge as I continue to write my blog.

I intend write no more about Donald Trump no matter if he wins or loses the presidency.  [I suppose this pledge could change if Trump does something so heinous that it compels a response.]

Overall, he doesn’t deserve any more of my time or my words.

If he wins, I fear for the future of this country because so many Americans bought his line, not to mention his character flaws, which reflect blatant narcissism.

If he loses, good riddance.  Here’s hoping that his huge debts and other illegal actions will catch up with him when he no longer has the protections of the presidency.

Meanwhile, it is likely the outcome of the election may rest with the U.S. Supreme Court.  Too bad.

Though I continue to hope the Supreme Court won’t decide the outcome on its own, but, rather, will assure that every vote, however its cast (by mail or in person) will be counted.  The future of U.S. democracy, under attack by Trump, deserves no less protection…as do voters.

At about mid-morning today, Biden operatives were quoted positively about the election outcome, though nothing will be sure for days, if not weeks.

This election was different for me, though I have been retired from my lobbying career for a few years.  In the past, I would usually stay up late to monitor results, including on-line, then join my colleagues to write assessments for clients.

This time, no.  I went to bed early.  One reason is that I already had far too much of national TV prognosticators plumbing the depths of every Florida county.  Time to turn off the TV and do what I do best the next day, which is read newspapers to get the best take on what happened or is happening.

And, about those polls…inaccurate for the second presidential election in a row.  I just think many of those called by pollsters don’t respond truthfully, especially when it comes to Trump because they are embarrassed by their support.