Maybe you and me were never meant to be, but Baby think of me just once in a while, I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati

I loved that show. Actually I loved the traffic girl Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers). Loni Anderson was beautiful too, but Jan Smithers . . . I won't be at WKRP and I'm pretty sure I won't see Jan Smithers. However, I will be taking a road trip this weekend. Saturday I'll head the trusty (hopefully) Sebring northward on I-65 en route to Cincinnati. I'll stop in Nashville and visit Vann at Vanderbilt, although I haven't discussed this with him. I will try to locate and visit a few old friends on the way, and visit the most interesting truck stops and coffee shops. I love a good road trip.

In Cincinnati I will be a poll observer. I received one of those emails from Barack. When the front running presidential candidate sends you a personal request (the email did start with the personal "Bob") to protect that most precious right to vote, a true patriot must answer the call. When I sent in those $25.00 contributions he kept guilting me into with those same personal emails, I also gave the information that I was a lawyer. Apparently they invited all us lawyer contributors to observe the polls. So I am a member of an exclusive club of about a zillion lawyers.

But still, it is important. And it is an adventure. And I really need to put some miles between me and my normal digs, if only for a few days. Sometimes geographical distance gives me a better perspective.

"What will you be doing?" many have asked in a voice that sounded like "Why?". Actually, like everything I have seen the Obama organization do, the operation is impressive. I have received real personal emails and phone calls from a real live person (sure I don't recognize her name, it not being Barack, Joe, Michelle, David, or any of the rest of the headliners) who has sent me a manual to study, guidelines, a packing list, and a weather report. Also a warning about non partisanship. Very impressive.

It seems that I have volunteered to serve the poll officials in any way I can. If there are problems I am asked to suggest solutions that have been used before in similar situations. If I see problems that are too complex to address i am to report them to my supervisor by phone.

I will also be outside most of the day. I suppose it could be a bit cooler in Cincinnati than it is in North Alabama. But I will just layer up and see how it goes.

Training will be held on Sunday afternoon and evening at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. That will give me a bit of free time in Cincinnati. I'll probably find me a cool church to visit, a cool place to brunch, and explore the town. I have previously spent two nights in Cincinnati. However, both nights were spent on the floor of the airport. I am hoping the rest of the city has more to offer.

But I really don't know what to expect on Tuesday. Precincts will be assigned this weekend. I suppose I could be sent anywhere in the Cincinnati area. I love this process we go through to choose our leaders. We have been taking it for granted for so long that I am afraid we have lost the notion of how great a privilege casting a vote is.

One ideal that is shared by the whole political spectrum is "opportunity." That ideal is manifested in different ways when it comes to public policy, which is a subject for another day. But the ideal is especially important in this election. There may be more sinister and underhanded things going on in efforts to "steal" the election. But one very real danger is the inequality in opportunity to vote. It is already known that areas of poverty may not have the capacity to handle the number of voters that will come to the polls. Areas with more financial wherewithal are better equipped. Not very democratic. We've known of the problem for at least eight years. The problem is no better. Wonder why that is?

One of the things I anticipate seeing in Cincinnati, depending on where I am assigned, is long, long lines at the polls. And particularly in Ohio, I expect that there will be confusion about voter identification that will effectively discourage new or less experienced voters from trying to cast their votes. Unfortunately an intentional misinformation campaign has been waged in states like Ohio to discourage voters.

So, I expect a blessing and a curse. Who'd a thought it. Long, long lines of people excited about casting one vote . . . one single vote, that alone will make no difference. But at its best an election reminds us that we are not alone, we are part of a wonderful, miraculous experiment that has been unfolding for a couple hundred years, an experiment that reminds us that it is the will of the people that ultimately controls our fate. I love that feeling as I stand in line to vote. My vote counts as much as anyone else, and everyone else's counts as much as mine. It is a blessing.

But, what happens if the lines are still blocks long when the polls are supposed to close? Will the officials allow the voting to continue? Will voters tire of standing in line after several hours and darkness falls and it gets real cold like it probably will in Ohio in early November?

What can a poll observer do about that?

I'll let you know. I hope to blog the road trip and the Ohio election adventure.