I voted today — took advantage of early voting here in the State of Georgia, and very glad that I did. There were no lines, the volunteers were plentiful and helpful, and the machines worked with nary a hitch nor a glitch. I scanned my ID, then after I had entered my choices, I personally placed my printed ballot into the sealed box. No one else ever touched it.

There was no apparent way anyone could claim voter fraud — not at that location, in any event.

I had but one disappointment: Elon Musk wasn’t there beforehand to offer me a $1,000,000 check to sign his “pro-U.S. Constitution petition.” Damn! I could have used that money.

But then again, I’ve always been fussy about how I earn my income; I rather prefer it to be unquestionably legal, and those million-dollar gifts from Musk are . . . well . . . questionable, at the very least. So, as difficult as it would have been, I’d have had to say “no thank you” to Elon for his largesse.

In fact, after learning of this latest of his genius ideas in support of Donald Trump, I don’t believe I’d take the time of day from him.

Sorry, Elon; but it’s a matter of principle. You do understand what that means, don’t you? In this case, it means you can’t buy my vote. Because however you try to disguise it, that’s what you and your America PAC are doing. And it appears to be blatantly illegal, both for you and for the happy “winners.”

Actually, there was a sign over each voting machine that clearly reminded the voters of the law stating that anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting” is subject to a possible fine of $10,000, or a five-year prison sentence. So nope . . . not for a million bucks.

Oh, it’s been established as some sort of lottery, with one winner per day to be drawn from those who sign a petition pledging to support free speech and gun rights. That doesn’t sound terrible, until you consider that only registered voters in seven swing states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina — are eligible to enter. And they must provide personal contact information, subjecting them to possible later contact by America PAC regarding their vote.

So it appears that the uber-bright, newly uber-right, and always uber-surprising Elon Musk and I are not destined to become BFFs. And I’ll never have a million dollars.

But what the hell . . . I’ve lived this long without either of them. I’m sure I’ll manage the rest of my life as well.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/21/24