(But only because I can tally absolutely no way for McCain to get 270 electoral votes per http://www.electoral-vote.com) otherwise I would be freaking out.

False balance
1. As you know, the media perpetuate the “Both Obama and Mccain…” myth because of the false balance practice (and because this false balance is reinforced as per below).

(I know you are not asking about the media, but bear with me.)

Vanity
2. Many scientists, policy experts, authors, and other authoritative voices perpetuate the same myth because they are more concerned with not appearing biased than they are with not actually perpetuating a bias by overcompensating for their own political position, this is the vanity practice.

It’s mainstream! Everyone is doing it!
3. Additionally, many advocates, campaigners, and policy makers perpetuate this myth to give cover to Obama because they believe that progressive energy policy is a political liability; this is the make-climate-policy-seem-mainstream practice.

This everyone-is-doing-it practice is tricky, because if support for climate policy is actually stronger than the practitioners think, the practice only serves to confuse voters. (See Gingrich, Couch)

We’re nowhere near where we need to be!
Even trickier, the myth is also perpetuated by those who don’t believe in false balance, have no interest in vanity, do not think progressive energy policy is a political liability, but simply think that, despite the very real and important differences between the candidates, neither one of them is anywhere near where they need to be. (See Hansen, James)

I don’t know Boxer’s earlier statements in this context, but I’m actually a bit sympathetic to her perpetuating this myth, at this time.

With McCain having chosen a bona fide fossil fool for a running mate, those who are actually basing their vote on energy, in the sense of voting for the more progressive candidate because of that candidate’s position on energy, has “got to be” voting for Obama.

BOXER’S job at this stage, arguably, is not to get those votes for Obama, it is to prevent some of those for whom fossil energy is still a kind of security blanket from voting AGAINST Obama on the basis of his climate policy as presented by Palin/McCain.

Which is not to say that that is everyone’s job at this stage.

Thank God it looks like Obama will win, but whatever possessed Boxer to say that they are equally likely to pass climate legislation?

Juan Santos

“We must use all resources and develop all technologies necessary to rescue our economy from the damage caused by rising oil prices and to restore the health of our planet.”

Certainly no one could call that straight talk.

Combined with McCain’s support for “drill baby, drill” policies and his embrace of more coal use, there can be no doubt that McCain’s real goal is to increase carbon production and the temperature of the planet along with it. No other conclusion can be drawn from the impact of his policies and the reality of the world’s current climate condition. Perhaps he thinks he won’t feel the difference in Arizona.

I don’t think it’s going too far to say a vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for suicide and insanity. Fortunately neither is polling too high in this election.

Olbermann: Sarah Palin Is A Socialist
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2008/ 10/ 28/ olbermann-sarah-palin-is_n_138765.html

Best,

D