Super-Duper-Tsunami-Whatever Tuesday

I'll be watching tonight. LOVE the Span. I've organized to have a night off to watch the whole show. Super Bowl on Sunday; Super Tuesday today. Does it get any better?

I have no predictions about Super Tuesday (save maybe a McCain win for GOP). What I have for you is who I think will win the Presidency in November if the following are nominated as their party's candidate. These are not endorsements either way. They are just guess-work for fun. Here we go:

>> McCain V Clinton = McCain becomes President.
Why? Except Ann Coulter, Clinton can't draw in any Republicans.

>> McCain V Obama = Obama.
Why? Anyone remember 1996? (Clinton V Dole?)

>> Romney V Clinton = Romney.
Why? ABC "Anyone but Clinton". Or is it ABH?

>> Romney V Obama = Obama.
Why? "Who would you have a beer with?" (See Gore/Kerry V Bush)

>> Huckabee V Clinton = Clinton.
Why? The 'Machine' will swallow him up. (See The Terminator?)

>> Huckabee V Obamo = Obama.
Why? In the Battle of Charm, Obama comes out one smile ahead.

>> Ron Paul V Anyone = Now, thats a whole new ballgame!
Ron Paul runs as an independent = Democrat win in November.

So... A Challenge:

Take my template and give us your predictions for November. No need to endorse anyone, just guess. If you come closer than me, and you live anywhere near NYC, I'll take you out for lunch on January 20th.

Or vice versa.

_______________________
Pic on Flickr by Musely.

Should voting be compulsory?

OK, we are knee deep here in the United States with a Presidential election that has 2 years to run its course. So it’s hard to get excited about a state election in NSW in Australia.

The truth is, wife and I forgot to let the Australian Electoral Commission know that we are out of the country. This means that as far as the AEC is concerned, we are not doing our civic duty by voting today. In Australia, my US readers might like to know (to their horror), voting is compulsory (with the threat of a fine). You heard it, compulsory. With a fine.

The idea that 24% (+/-) of potential voters elect the leader of the free world is unheard of in the Antipodes.

Now, to those who don't know, my wife is American. So she don’t have to vote in the country of her birth. But she married me, and she lived in Sydney for the requistite time. And so she became a (dual) citizen of Australia to the resounding sounds of Waltzing Matilda.

So today, in NSW, she is missing her first compulsory election.

She and I didn’t vote. We couldn't vote.

So here is my question: ought we to be fined (in principle)? Should voting be compulsory? Arguments for? Against? And I am very happy for American perspectives as well…