Following in my father's footsteps: should I do this?

[DFW]

I just got back from a radio interview in Köln, Germany. My dad was the journalist
in the family, and one so revered in Washington that there was no way I was going
to go into that field, as his shoes were just too big for me to fill.
However, a friend is a senior radio journalist for West German Radio (WDR), and asked
me to do a live guest commentary in German with a political analyst this afternoon. I
was introduced as a "Democratic Representative Abroad (close enough, I guess)," and
was on without notes for a little over five minutes with a moderator.

Here's the question: apparently they were impressed (there's no accounting for taste,
I know), and want me to come back during election night, and help them comment through
the night as the returns come in. They plan to have a Republican abroad there as well,
and I usually can't STAND those guys. I might well lose it if the returns come in that
are totally contrary to polls that point to a definitive Democratic win.

If the election goes well for us, I'll have a ball. If it goes badly for us, I'll probably
be a disgrace.

Should I do it anyway?

[eleny]

1. My first post of the day, pre-coffee, but I say Go for it!

Have a blast. It's a historic election. What an experience!

[bean fidhleir]

2. Stimmt.

[DFW]

3. Maybe I should ask Helen Thomas?

Helen is an old family friend since about 1960, and was a
close colleague of my dad's. She might talk some sense into me
one way or the other--on the other hand, why should she be able
to do that when my wife has had only modest success in 34 years? :shrug:

[hootinholler]

4. Why on earth would you ask *US*?!?eleven

It's not like we really know anything about you or you know anything about us.

If it feels good, then do it, but make up your own mind.

-Hoot

[gateley]

5. Would you enjoy doing it?

I'm guessing it's appealing to you since you're asking for input. If so, do it. If you're a disgrace, you'll get over it. But you'll probably do an outstanding job and have a blast - there's a reason they asked you back -- you're good. And don't even compare yourself to your dad -- this is YOU. You don't need to fill his shoes, walk in your own.

[tom_paine]

6. I would be wary about making life decisions from an internet poll.

Just FYI.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I think you should go for it, too.

And if the Bushies steal this "election" as I suspect they will, instead of losing it, have your facts ready from Florida 2000 (such as the Phony Brooks Brothers Riot) to Ohio 2004 (the purposeful denial of machines to heavily poor and minority Democratic districts, Repug Phony Registration Drives tossing out Democratic registrations by the thousands, Sproul Assoc., I believe was one of the many who were doing this, and they were the ones busted) to 2006 (voter caging, which stole the votes of African-American servicemen and college students, among others).

[Booster]

7. I think you'll regret it if you don't do it.