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First, I surely hope the GOP learned something from this, although we can be a "stiff-necked" bunch as well as anyone in ignoring the decency attraction of the Bush agenda. All the next candidate needs to do is imagine picking off another one or two blue states by catering to moderation. He will see the advantage in the red states evaporate like the dew in Death Valley. That's what I took from this election.

Second, if I understand a Gallup result I read, blacks in this country only shifted an additional 2% to Bush, from 9% to 11%, perhaps even a smaller jump than that. If that's true, then the Democrats stand on moral issues hasn't caused all that much erosion to the extreme liberal bent to the black population. It's simply an overwhelmingly liberal demographic, and conservatives may have better luck working with Jews and Hispanics. We keep hearing messages to the contrary, but there is no evidence in real life.

It's been a fun wek for me, almost euphoric. I have to temper that with one caveat. I live in Minnesota. In a state that lead the nation in voter turnout, even as high as that nationwide turnout was, Kerry still won Minnesota by a nearly insurmountable 98,000 votes. For the life of me, I can't see where we will find 98,001 more sensible voters. I have this gnawing fear that Minnesota is simply a liberal state...like Massachusetts. Still, I'd much rather lose this battle and win the war rather than have it the other way around. And, I've been active in the party for a dozen years so will likely relax a few more days and attack again.

No matter what, it's been a satisfying week, so let's enjoy the moment.

We're in Maryland and the vote moved from 40% for Bush in 2000 to 44% for Bush in 2004. It's going in the right direction.

Check this out ***...George W Bush did not promise a great deal to the religious constituency. I bet, for example, that abortion will remain legal during his presidency. But he did get alongside people who resent decadence, the trashing of our culture and the condescension of a rich media elite. Some say that America has stepped back into the past. I don't think so. As so often with that country, what happens there, will start to happen here. I hope so.*** [England]

Do not despair, our Minnesota friend. Thanks to Newt Gingrich ('94 Revolution) and Karl Rove (who devastated Democrats in Congress in '02 and '04), the Democrats are running out of presidential-caliber talent. They've got Hillary in reserve, but after her, the list gets pretty thin.

Candidates win elections. It's that simple. Maybe Bush's Texas drawl and fractured syntax didn't attract Minnesotans. But maybe in '04, the Republicans will nominate a Midwesterner (I'm thinking John Kasich of Ohio) and that will help tip Minnesota (and Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania) into the GOP column.

MN: Bush lost by only 98,000 votes! Wow!

You're nearly there! Don't despair at all! The next election you will get the R over the top, if we keep on keepin on like that!

You want to be discouraged, come to NY ... Bush lost by over 1,192,000 here... now, that's a hill to climb... (and, actually, I'm happy it is that close, LoL)