Don't let the voting booth door hit you on the way out Column By Ray Barrington Some final thoughts before we bid this election year a final, unaffectionate and long-overdue farewell: - You knew at least one of the candidates was going to be back here one more time, and it's President Bush on Saturday. What's interesting is that he's using the Brown County Arena, and not the Resch Center. No, we don't know why. Maybe he likes the job they're doing (finally) fixing the roof. - I'm old. They had a bunch of TV actor types at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Thursday, and I didn't recognize a single name. - It's sort of sad to see Ralph Nader's campaign. He was already 25 minutes late to his appearance at UWGB on Tuesday when his driver called for directions - from Lombardi Avenue. Then, 20 minutes later, another call - from the Perkins restaurant at Walnut and Shawano avenues. Just call his backers "Nader's laters." Seriously, this is a man who should be remembered for his amazing work for consumers - and he's going to end up as this generation's Harold Stassen. - Let's see - John Kerry brought Jon Bon Jovi to Green Bay this week, and he's been campaigning with Bruce Springsteen. President Bush brought Wayne Newton, although his rallies (and those of Vice President Dick Cheney) have featured recorded country music. I think the media ought to have its own band - Talking Heads. - It's sad - and I think we're partly to blame - that the only local race that has received any attention is the dustup between Tom Nelson and Becky Weber for Assembly that focused on the mudslinging by both sides. We've tried to fix that a bit this week with our election advances. These, after all, are the people who deal with most of the everyday issues; gay marriage, trade policy and the war in Iraq may be important, but the stuff the state Legislature does is the stuff that truly affects you. - It was mid-December when the first candidate, Gen. Wesley Clark, hit Green Bay to campaign in the primary. That's almost 11 months. It only takes nine for a baby. - I will admit that I totally blew what became a - well, semimajor - story in the Wisconsin campaign, one that received national attention. Yes, I was there when John Kerry said "Lambert Field." I just put it down as an end-of-the-day goof by a tired politician, something to laugh about later. I had no idea that something like that would have the legs it did. - So when did I realize this campaign had turned into something absolutely bizarre? Maybe it was the swiftboats. Maybe it was the mysterious Bush bulge in the back. Maybe it was "Lambert Field." But to my mind, it was a week ago today, when I arrived at work at 7 a.m. to be greeted by a Secret Service agent, who had been there early to sweep the building for the arrival of White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. (I don't watch "The West Wing," so I didn't know chiefs of staff got protection.) The fact that the second most powerful man in Washington - OK, third behind Cheney and Karl Rove - was visiting our old convent in an attempt to sway any votes he could through the media brought home to me just how desperate both sides are this time around. - I was going to close by telling you who I was going to vote for. Then I got the bright idea of pretending to be undecided and trying to wheedle whatever I could from the candidates. (A ride on Air Force One? Free Heinz ketchup for life?) Nope. Nah gah dowa, as the president's dad once said. I will say this - the republic, contrary to what supporters believe, will not end if the other guy is elected Tuesday. And that goes for both sides. Sit back, take a breath, drink heavily for a day, and then deal with the fact that we still have a darn good country and nobody can take that away. And if you're unhappy, just remember the quotation issued by former New York Mayor Ed Koch after he lost an election: "The people have spoken - and now they must be punished." Barrington is news editor for The News-Chronicle. His column appears here Fridays. Contact him via e-mail at [email protected] or call 432-2941.