Okay, now it is over... so what happened?

Okay, so let's take stock of where we are now. George W Bush won a second term, possibly showing that he follows more in the mold of Reagan then Bush 41. John Kerry conceded without a lengthy judicial fight. Some liberal groups are already laying the groundwork for their own challenges without the Senator, while some pollsters are taking their lumps for wrong predictions. Republicans are already repeating their new spin that Bush "won with more votes than any president in history," while others note it was still a very close election.



Credit where credit is due. Both Bush and Kerry showed some class today. First, Kerry conceded without dragging the country through a recount/challenge process, which he could have done, despite the mathematical impossibility of ultimate victory, simply to hurt Bush. Second, Bush waited until Kerry conceded to proclaim victory, allowing Kerry to make his own choices in terms of wording and timing. And finally, both men ended one of the most divisive elections of my lifetime by calling for unity and healing. How easy would it have been for Bush to turn this into a call to arms on Gay Marriage, or Kerry to call for a "liberal stonewall" of Bush policies. Both resisted the urge.



And debit where debit is due (or however you say it). Republicans who are trying to turn this squeaker victory into a mandate are just plain silly. (Though no more silly than Clintonites who claimed a 40% plurality was a mandate.) And Democrats who are trying to turn this into a voter-suppression-and-intimidation story should just quit now. This was the most closely examined election in history, between party observers, foreign observers, and bloggers documenting every cast vote. If there was a real story to be had here, we'd know about it.



Personally, I am going to enjoy a few weeks of peace before Congress reconvenes, and the bickering begins again in earnest. After all, there is really big news on the way. I hear the STAR WARS 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH trailer will be showing on TV in America and England tomorrow or Friday!!!