tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253529165034405240.post-20956094603627668972008-04-02T12:56:00.002-04:002008-04-02T13:00:53.140-04:002008-04-02T13:00:53.140-04:00<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Okay, I was asked to enter a "blogging tournament" by the guys at plantingspace.com. And because I'm stupid, and because I like those guys, I said yes. There's no prize or anything, but I guess I still need to try to win. So, the winner is determined by who gets the most votes. If you're feeling bored, go to: </em></span><a href="http://www.plantingspace.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>www.plantingspace.com</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> and cast your vote for me. Here is my entry in the first round of this contest:</em></span><br /><br /><br />So I'm supposed to answer the question: <strong>Does the presidential election matter?</strong> Are you kidding me? Of course the results of the presidential election matter! I mean, let's think about it:<br /><ul><li>In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes beat Samuel J. Tilden which matters because if he hadn't, you and I would never have even heard of Rutherford B. Hayes.</li><li>In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson. This changed the course of American history because, seriously, can you imagine having had a president named Adlai??!</li><li>In 1972 Richard Nixon beat George McGovern. If he hadn't, "I am not a crook" would not be an American catchphrase!</li><li>In 1976 Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford. Do you realize what that did for the self-esteem of peanut farmers?</li><li>In 1996 Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole. This victory eventually gave hope to interns everywhere that they would no longer have to toil in obscurity, but could (with a few calculated moves) become front page news.</li><li>In 2000 George W. Bush beat Al Gore. (Wait, did he beat Al Gore?) Anyway, if Al Gore had become president, we would not have the film "An Inconvenient Truth" sitting on the shelf at Blockbuster, and what DVD would be sitting in its place?!?!</li><li>In 2004 George W. Bush beat John Kerry. If he hadn't the word "strategery" would not have been introduced into the English language.</li></ul><p>Okay, let me get serious for a moment. We can see that presidential elections matter by looking back at how presidents have been able to do away with poverty, and eliminate homelessness, and give meaning to those without purpose, and solve the AID's epidemic in Africa, and stop war so that peace prevails in the world, and provide quality education and health care for every American citizen and ... wait ... presidents haven't been able to accomplish any of that?<br /><br />Oh. I guess the presidential election <em>doesn't</em> matter. And it turns out, once again, that stinking Bill Hybles is right, let's all say it together now, "The church is the hope of the world." (Did Hybles trademark that phrase?) (If not, can I?)<br /><br />vince antonucci<br />forefront church - virginia beach</p>Vince Antonucci:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01577695138497215119noreply@blogger.com