I am glad to see that the Reason symposium on the presidential election includes Bill Kauffman’s endorsement of Ralph Nader. Kauffman’s best answer was:

3. Is this in fact the most important election in your lifetime? Nah, it’s Coke vs. Pepsi. Though I’d prefer not to have Pepsi’s finger on the nuclear button.

Like Kauffman, I supported Nader this time, as I did in 2000. While I prefer Obama to McCain, the election is only of limited importance. Here in Knoxville, it has already being overshadowed by the departure, at the end of the season, of The University of Tennessee’s football coach, Phillip Fulmer. Like President Bush, Fulmer has had a rough time in the last four years. Unlike Bush, Fulmer has some genuinely great accomplishments and his time at the helm will be fondly remembered. Most people around here vote Republican, but in the coming days the Big Orange transition will eclipse the Red Blue one.