And the Name Calling and Demonizing will Continue on Brownwood Airwaves ?

Time to put the divisiveness of the past few months behind us -- Bill Crist
One of the good things about writing a column that publishes on Wednesday, this year especially, is that I get first crack at commenting on the election. After what seemed like a very ugly four-year campaign for president, the only sure thing is that all the votes have been cast. Now all that is left are the three Cs; the counting, challenging and certifying of the ballots.

The first and final of those three seem simple enough. On a countywide level, all the ballots cast in Brown County were counted Tuesday evening, and the results ought to appear elsewhere in this edition today. In addition to Brown County results, we also know who our state and U.S. Representatives for the coming session will be. In a couple of weeks, Texas and other states are scheduled to certify the results of their elections, making them official. This is the way an election is supposed to work.
It is the second of the Cs that seems to have caused the greatest deal of concern among the public. It was reported that tens of thousands of lawyers were poised and ready to pounce on any perceived problems that arose at the polls. Even before the polls opened Tuesday morning, the courts were involved in settling a dispute over poll watchers in Ohio. That case, in which the Republican Party was concerned about unregistered or illegal voters casting ballots Tuesday, was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, which chose not to hear it.
After the debacle of the 2000 election, and the five-week court battle over hanging chads, recounts and voter disenfranchisement, many people believed it was important for this election to go more smoothly. All indications are that it did go fairly smoothly, although there are still ballots to be counted. Unlike 2000, it appears that George W. Bush has a solid lead in the Electoral College and should win this election. As E.D. Hill of the Fox Network said Wednesday morning, though, that is not what is in the best interest of some of the media, which would seem particularly true of television and talk radio.
A member of the conservative network's morning program, Hill explained that it makes for better ratings when there is controversy surrounding any issue, particularly one as important as a national election. By fanning the flames, all in the name of objective coverage of course, the media seems to have played a role in creating an even greater divide among the right and left during this campaign. How much of the controversy, and perceived problem, was fueled by the media is anyone's guess. As the media continues to fragment itself, the messages become much more specialized. They are tailored for specific audiences, and the number of so-called experts, spin doctors and talking heads grows. Both sides of the issue seem to spend more time building public opinion before something happens than they do addressing the issue.
In Monday's Bulletin there was an article about presidential historian Dr. Paul Boller, and his recent visit to Howard Payne University. He explained that early in the nation's history, candidates did not campaign for office because it was considered in "poor taste." Given some of this year's campaign tactics, and tasteless advertising, candidates have found new ways to stump for office employing methods that can only be described the same way.
Here's to hoping that whatever the outcome of Tuesday's election, our country can put the messy campaign behind us and begin to figure out ways to make our nation even stronger, more prosperous and still continuing forward. After what has been a divisive, and when it comes to addressing issues an utterly disappointing and non-productive campaign, it is time to put the past several months behind us. Several weeks ago, in endorsing President Bush for a second term, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said it hoped that the Bush who served as governor, who worked to build coalitions on both sides of the aisle, would be the Bush that went to work during his second term. Although the endorsement drew criticism at the time, it seems even more appropriate now.

http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2004/11/03/op_ed/columnists/opinion04.txt

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Steve Blow writes about local news for The Dallas Morning News.
Enemies? Nope, just Americans

07:24 PM CST on Tuesday, November 2, 2004
By STEVE BLOW / The Dallas Morning News

I'm a lukewarm kind of football fan. But there's a moment in most every game that I like.
It's when the last few seconds tick off the clock and these fierce competitors suddenly stand up straight, their shoulders go slack and they reach out to shake hands with opponents across the scrimmage line.
I mean, one minute these hulks are smashing and bashing each other with bone-crushing intensity. And in the next, they are patting helmets and greeting old friends on the opposing team.
Some walk off the field arm-in-arm. A good number from each team will often huddle up for a quick prayer together.
I love that.
My wish is that we could have a day like that today.
We've had some pretty fierce smashing and bashing in this long political season, haven't we?
But now it's over – thank goodness. And regardless of the winner, it's time to extend a hand and say "good game."
Now, I know that strikes some as naive. Maybe even dangerous.
Some have bought into the idea that these elections really are a battle between good and evil, between hope and doom. There are certainly plenty of people selling that line of thinking.
I have had a hard time listening to talk radio in the last few weeks because of the shrill, alarmist tone.
Radio commentators have become like the picadors of the political process – the fancy pants in a bullfight whose only job is to prance around and inflict the little flesh wounds that enrage the bull.
Did they have you seeing red by Election Day?
Well, let's try to unclench our fists and jaws on this day after.
Let's try to remember that passionate, ferocious conflict is exactly what our political system was designed to create.
It seems like there is a tendency to proclaim every major election as "the nastiest one yet." I don't know. They all look remarkably the same to me.
It's been a good while since anyone took up dueling pistols to settle a political feud. On that score at least, we've made progress.
But here's what we tend to forget in the heat of battle – rough-and-tumble political conflict is a wonderful, productive thing.
Like steel striking flint, the clash of ideas provides the creative spark of democracy.
But to work, it requires both flint and steel.
There's a phrase you don't hear much anymore – "my worthy opponent." Perhaps it was always mostly a rhetorical flourish.
But if we love democracy, it's an attitude that ought to be seared on our hearts. Worthy opponents make the system go. Ask any coach: A team rises to the level of its competition.
An opponent's views help us clarify and crystallize our own. Opponents point out our weaknesses and force us to shore them. Opponents often teach us new tricks and better ways to achieve our own goals.
"Worthy" – full of worth – indeed, that's what opponents are.
I also like the phrase they use in British government – "the loyal opposition." It's a reminder that though they may be opposed politically, they are nevertheless steadfast allies in support of the nation.
We need a phrase like that to help us keep perspective.
For reasons of passion or personal gain, some people push us to see fellow citizens as our enemy.
They are not.
Together, from all of us, with our many points of view, comes the collective wisdom that has guided this nation so well.
As I write this on Election Day, I have no idea who the winner of the presidential race will be. My first and foremost hope is simply that we have one – a clear, uncontested winner, I mean.
In every race, let's hope winners, losers and their supporters will be equally gracious in accepting the outcome and congratulating the other side.
Let's find a way to walk off the field today arm-in-arm, knowing we all gained from the contest.
E-mail sblow@dallasnews.com
source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/110304dnmetblow.9782d.html