I’ll admit it – until a week or so ago I had every intention of sitting this election out. So much of what this Republican Congress has done (or, to put it more accurately, failed to do) has torked me off to no end: dragging their heels on border enforcement, pork-barrel legislation, and the Patriot Act, the McCain “group of 14” making friendly with the Dems on judicial nominations, runaway federal spending, etc.; the list could go on forever. Compared to the rock-solid conservative principles contained in their 1994 Contract for America, this Congress seems to have embraced a “beltway mentality” at odds with the passions and interests of the people who put them there, leaving them with the prospect of losing one or both houses of Congress. Disaffected and disenchanted, I had decided I was going to sit this one out.

But then I wised up.

I can’t tell you exactly when it happened. Maybe it was hearing and reading about the state of Arizona’s pathetic 9/11 memorial (supported, BTW, by our ultra-lib governor Janet Napolitano), containing within it arguments as to why we “deserved” to be hit back in 2001. (Hat tip: Michelle)

…Or maybe it was seeing the hysteria surrounding Republican Rep. Mark Foley – granted, a creep in his own right – stoked by self-righteous Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean and their syncophants in the mainstream dino-media. Republican Rep. Christopher Shays was right – this from the party of Ted Kennedy (and, I might add, Gerry Studds!).

…Or maybe it was the same lack of hysteria over Senate President Harry Reid’s shady real estate dealings that, were he a Republican, you can bet would be at the top of the nightly news broadcasts and the front page of the Washington Post, Boston Globe, and New York Times.

Yup, hard to believe I was going to sit this one out.

But it ain’t gonna happen this year, and the same holds true for my lovely wife.

So fahgeddaboutit, Howard and Nancy – nice try, but you’ve pushed us too far. We’re voting this coming November 7, and doing it enthusiastically – possibly more so than we did back in 2004.

The Republicans may not be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but, as wanting as they may be, compared to those on the ultra-left wing of the Democratic Party waiting with bated breath to take power and exercise it to their own desired ends, the Repubs remain the best chance we have to get things back on track.

So, we’ve chosen to take part in this year’s election after all.

And I’m sure – regardless what the polls say – we’re not alone.

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BTW, a big welcome to one of my favorite bloggers, Lorie Byrd, who stopped by the other day. Welcome to the ‘Nation, Lorie – hope you enjoyed your stay and that you’ll drop by again!

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UPDATE 10/20/06: A big “Welcome!” to Wizbang! readers. And thanks to Lorie and Kim for the kind link. I hope you enjoy your stay in the ‘Nation. It’s a pretty eclectic place here, so if you see something you like (or don’t like), feel free to leave a comment and tell your friends!