— Does your thirst need equalizing? A Sarasota businessman’s got the solution.

— Representative Vern Buchanan might have crushed his opposition in his bid to retain his District 13 House seat, but those pesky lawsuits (11 in total) keep hanging around.

— Sarasota plots a couple new downtown roundabouts.

— Those roundabouts are probably just one of the issues new Downtown Partnership Executive Director Debra Torres will be taking up as part of her gig.

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Yep, this sucker’s going up next spring, right along 41 between 4th Street and Boulevard of the Arts (also known as 6th Street), meaning we here at CL are going to get first-row seats to the construction. According to today’s Herald-Tribune, the complex will include a Waldorf-Astoria and a performing arts center. The city commission voted unanimously to approve the project, despite past reservations about the Proscenium’s impact on Tamiami Trail traffic. I guess the chance to create 6,600 local jobs speaks pretty loudly these days.

Let’s hope the Proscenium lives up to its promise and gets built in a timely manner. Pineapple Square was slated to start going up nearly two years ago and, aside from a Brooks Brothers and a Tastings or two, construction has yet to begin.

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Since automakers’ debt has been devalued, the companies are forced to borrow money at double-digit interest rates from banks. That’s if they can find anyone with the cash and nigh-beatific optimism to throw in with a failing industry. The government already gave the automakers $25 billion in low-cost loans over a month ago (ostensibly to aid the development of fuel-efficient vehicles), after Ford and GM ran through over $16 billion in cash reserves the third quarter. How does a company spend more than three times its total value in a single quarter?The $50 billion the Big Three are looking for now is extra, with more to come if the companies can’t adapt quickly. And, if past performance is any indication, adaptation isn’t their strong suit. Cash reserves at all the U.S. automakers have dropped to dangerous levels, prompting some analysts to predict “bankruptcy-like” status for at least one of them in the coming year. GM predicts that they’ll need between $11-14 billion just to keep the doors open.

Obama and Bush talked about possible options yesterday. Obama’s for some form of help and some House democrats have asked that a portion of the $700 billion bailout package go to the automakers. Bush has been reticent to throw more cash at the failing industry. And really, why should he?

Job loss is one reason touted by folks pimping the deal. The three companies directly employ 350,000 people and are the nation’s largest purchasers of steel, aluminum, copper, iron, rubber and computer chips. Estimates peg 1 in 10 jobs in the country to the auto industry, in one way or another. Also, it is unlikely that GM, and perhaps the others, could continue to support bloated pension plans for its massive retired workforce.

We could just let them fend for themselves like the rest of the nation (not counting Wall Street). Problem is, although bankruptcy is designed to allow companies to protect their sales and revenue streams, some analysts predict that bankruptcy would be a death-knell for car companies. One survey found that 80% of potential customers would avoid buying a car from an automaker in bankruptcy.

So, bankruptcy is bad for jobs and the economy. Loans are bad because it’s unlikely the automakers have the know-how or time to force through the massive changes that will lead to profitability. Bailout? Considering the uproar over the $700 billion package last month, throwing wads of cash at the people who brought us the Pacer and the Fiero isn’t going to be popular. And it likely won’t accomplish anything over the long term unless the government actually assumes control of the companies to force the massive change necessary, something they haven’t been especially effective with after taking over AIG.

Wait, did you think this final paragraph would have a solution? No such luck. However, if the automakers get a bailout, then the publishing industry should be next. Newspapers and magazines employ more than 450,000 people directly, and we’re hurting too. Heck, I put our chances of survival above the automakers any day.

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Maybe I can supervise the White House dining rooms. Or walk that new puppy dog. Or clean the toilets. I’ll do anything!

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Hundreds of voters forced into provisional ballots because phone verification system is down. (H-T)

BREAKING NEWS (2 p.m.) — Just cruised a few polling places during the lunch hour. No waits. Most of the poll workers said that things have been very slow after a brief morning rush. If you still need to get your vote on, try leaving work a little early and you’ll be home in time to cook dinner. Pictures after the updates.

Thoughtful blog post on voting from Nada Surf frontman Matthew Caws.

Voting machines break at two precincts. (H-T)

WSLR will have live election coverage starting at 5 p.m.

Voters tricked into signing up for absentee ballots having trouble at polls. (H-T)

Start your election night right, or, uhm, left, with CL’s Election Night Drinking Game.

Speaking of drinking, here are some Election Night Parties around town.

Vote for Benson, or Benson?

Flash your sticker for free stuff at these places.

McCain and Obama supporters: getting along, playing with a tiny dog and hanging outside the demarcation zone of a polling place on 12th Street.

Poll volunteers on Bahia Vista, just a tad bored, waiting for the post-work rush.

And here’s the MSNBC Election Widget, just in case you’re too lazy — or too scared — to watch the TV or cruise other sites.

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Check out the asterisked p.s. in this election eve post from Matthew Caws, lead singer of power pop trio Nada Surf.

And a p.s. of our own: Have you voted yet?

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The thrifty folks at dealnews.com provide this handy rundown on how to cash in by casting your ballot tomorrow. From morning java and doughnuts to a chicken sandwich and happy hour scoop of ice cream, it’s democracy in action.

No word on what gyms are offering similar deals for how to take those LBs off.

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If you’re still undecided, curious or just keen to witness one for the books, you know where to go.

On that note, did you watch Sen. Obama’s half-hour infomercial last night? As primetime offerings go, what popped to mind? Deal or No Deal? The Amazing Race? or Dirty Sexy Money?

A couple of comments, courtesy of posters at Defamer.com:

“After Obama’s term ends, he has a real career in infomercials. He could sell ShamWows like nobody’s business. He’s THAT smooth.”

“I just hope I get to see what happens on this show next week. They set up a really good cliffhanger at the end.”

“Like ‘Who Shot Joe the Plumber?’”

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