Today is Election Day here in the US of A and no matter who you vote for, the most important thing is that you get out there and vote. Today's election-related picture of Hoe/Hope Cakes comes from the Homesick Texan who says this about her cakes:

The best thing about hoecakes is their economy. They cost little to make but yield large returns for both the mouth and the stomach. A hoecake's simplicity is a palliative for these complex times.

Simple, but delicious food for challenging times. Consider settling down to watch the election returns tonight with a warm bowl of soup and a short stack of hearty hoe cakes.

George W. Bush. In the furor of elections, he's become back-page news. And, on January 20, he'll be out of our lives for good. Whether that prospect leaves you elated or crestfallen, you can celebrate it with the "Georgie Is Outta Here!" party in a box.

The set includes paper plates, cups, napkins, balloons, and a tablecloth decorated with our 43rd president's (rather caricatured) visage, as well as games and mock Bush "to do" lists. Suitable for both Republican and Democratic parties, though the latter might appreciate it a little more.

Sure, Halloween is tomorrow, but after tackling both pumpkin beers and beers with spooky names, Slashfood Ate Beer Edition is looking ahead to the next big event on the horizon: Election Day.

We're only a weekend away from one of the most historic elections anyone can remember. Maybe you've worked extra hard to support your candidate. Or maybe you've worked extra hard trying to avoid all the media madness. Either way, on Tuesday, do your civic duty, go out and vote, and then take a moment to blow off some steam. It's been an extra long election season: You deserve it.

1. Polling stations close first in Indiana and Kentucky. IndianaBeer.com lists over 20 breweries where you can start the celebration. The pickin's are a bit more slim in Kentucky, but why not give Kentucky Ale a try.
2. For equal parts patriotism and availability, you really can't go wrong with Sam Adams. And thankfully, unlike the vote for president, they offer far more than two styles to choose from.
3. A historic election deserves some historic beers: McCain supporters may want to consider sipping on Russian River's legendary Pliny the Elder, while Obama supporters might want to try to hunt down the more elusive Pliny the Younger. When it comes to those two choices, everyone's a winner.

Ah, the celebration that comes with a national election. The debate/return parties, the shared moments of victory and/or regrouping, the solitary, teeth-gnashing sessions spent on the couch in front of CNN. All go better with a drink, preferably something American-made--no Heineken, no Sapporo, no Hennessy, no Stoli. No, indeed, because it is the time to crack open a bottle of Jim Beam. What could be more patriotic than that? Actually, something can: An Operation Homefront bottle of Jim Beam. Operation Homefront is an organization that aids and supports military personnel and their families stateside. Disagree though people may on other issues, I think this is something we can all get behind. Even without the booze.

Unlike the Absolut New Orleans charity bottle, Operation Homefront Beam has no special flavor or, really, anything to differentiate it from regular Beam beasides the stars n' stripes on the bottle. Also, while the Jim Beam company has made six-digit donations to Operation Homefront, they do not receive a percentage of bottle sales, so one is deprived of the rare opportunity of insisting that you're downing that 12th bourbon sour for our brave men and women in uniform. Still, for their support of this fine charity (and perhaps after that 13th bourbon, you could write a check too), the good folk at Jim Beam deserve a round of applause. Or perhaps just a clink of the glasses.

The ever topical entrepreneurs behind Jones Soda have set up an ancillary site at campaigncola.com to tout their new line of politically-based sodas, and spill a little electoral info while they're at it. While copy touts the benefits of being able to ensure the victory of one's chosen candidate via financial support (the "winner" is the candidate whose bottles sell in greatest quantity), the site also contains a handy "Voting Vernacular" page, information about voter registration, and access to a politically-oriented section of the Jones Soda message boards.

While some might argue that save for a few cosmetic details, the "candidates" are essentially identical, or that Jones is just trying to make a buck off the partisan divide, I'm thinking that's pretty much politics as usual.

[via Campaign Cola]