Although the polls are tightening a little, one has to assume that the combination of these factors will ensure Obama's election:

• The Messiah's massive war chest, permitted by his broken promise to accept public campaign financing and comprised partly of illegal foreign donations (oops, that's a secret -- don't tell anyone!)

• The credit crunch and the associated dive in the stock market, due in large part to the Dems mismanagement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the pressure exerted on banks by Barack's ACORN to make high-risk loans (oops, that's a secret -- don't tell anyone!)

• The media lap dogs who, at the beginning of this election cycle, finally gave up trying to hide their biased reporting and switched to outright advocacy (oops, that's a secret -- don't tell anyone!).

• The amazing ability of The One, who was rated the most liberal member of the Senate, to hide his liberalism as he lurches to the center (oops, that's a secret -- don't tell anyone!).

• The lack of enthusiasm conservatives and moderates feel for John McCain. Yes, he is a war hero. Yes, he is great on defense and spending. Yet he is terrible on other issues like campaign finance reform, drilling in the Alaska wasteland, the treatment of terrorists, and climate change. He has a long history of poking conservatives in the eye and, in combination with his innate lack of charisma, he has left the Republican Party unenthusiastic about him. What enthusiasm we do have is strictly due to our fear of the alternative.

I hate doom and gloom. I hate end-of-the-world statements. I hate unwarranted hand-wringing. But I have to wonder if the election of Barack Obama will be the beginning of the end of the United States as we know it. I don't mean that the U.S. won't survive, but it might be in a form unrecognizable to our founding fathers.

I'm afraid we will see the Democrats move us toward their beloved socialism and Marxism.

I'm afraid the press, emboldened by the realization that they still trump the alternative press and having invested everything into The Messiah, will continue their worshipful ways and will continue to avert their eyes at his transgressions.

I'm afraid for freedom of speech since the "Fairness" Doctrine is lurking the in wings, and the Dems have already shown us they are more than willing to shut down the speech of those with whom they disagree.

I'm afraid that we will have reached a tipping point in our tax code, where majority will not pay income taxes and will realize they can make the productive minority pay the tab.

I'm afraid for our strong ally Israel and its fate, if a feckless Obama doesn't support them and stop Iran from developing a nuke.

I'm afraid our Supreme Court will be stacked with law makers instead of Constitution interpreters.

I'm afraid chimeras like global warming will stifle business and productivity with insane regulations.

I'm afraid corruption will go unchecked.

I'm afraid terrorists will be emboldened and will attack us on our own soil.

I'm afraid government will get so large that it cannot ever realistically be changed and that the nanny state will be with us forever.

I'm afraid the people of Iraq won't get the support they need, and our victory there will turn into defeat.

I hope and pray that my fears are unwarranted. I hope and pray that should my fears be proven justified, the nations will wake up, and a wave of conservatism will sweep over the mid-term elections, as it did during the Clinton administration.

All that said, my happiness isn't a function of which party or person is in the White House. Some people "own" the election internally, and will be extremely upset if the results don't go their way. I used to be that way. I'm wiser now. Yes, I'll be disappointed in the judgement of that portion of the electorate that voted for Obama, but life goes on regardless.