I really have trouble believing that the substance is missing; I see those elections from a distance, and they don't look at all like what is going on here. Kerry has a reasonable chance of winning, and countries that only pretend to have an election don't have such a strong opposition candidate; the electorate when polled is close to evenly split, and that much opposition isn't tolerated.

Is it so far from believable that a slim majority would elect Bush? It was only a slim majority of the popular vote that Gore got, last time. There really are a lot of people in this country who are more accepting of Bush than of Kerry. We'll see whether it's a majority or not.

Even though I am voting for Bush, I would still object strongly to the electoral chicanery you fear. I want a fair and clear win for the next president, whichever it is.