I agree. In fact, I was going to post a thread urging the repubs not to gloat too much, and I hope also that the Republican party does not take this election as a mandate for a position farther to the right which will further alienate many voters.
I suspect that Bush has won both the popular and the electoral vote, and only time will tell.
However, one thing that all of us should be proud of, regardless of who won or lost, is the immense voter turnout yesterday. This election has re-energized voters in America, and I can't help but think that's a good and exciting thing.
The right to vote is a TREMENDOUS blessing to Americans. It saddens me that so many Americans take it for granted. One needs only look at the people of Afghanistan who stood in line for hours, walked miles to get to polling places, and risked death and serious injury JUST FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF VOTING. We are truly a spoiled and self-centered group when we do not exercise the right to vote.
Bear in mind, there are some very brave young men and women in Iraq right now who are running for office, risking their lives DAILY for the chance to serve their people. For all the problems in Iraq, I find the human desire for freedom, and the chance to chose one's own destiny by voting, one of the most hopeful things of all this year.
Frankly, I can't tell you how excited I was to STAND IN LINE YESTERDAY TO VOTE, something that hasn't happened before as long as I have been voting. That meant that alot of people who normally couldn't be bothered to vote realized the importance of their individual votes. There are alot of states out there whose electoral votes were decided on the basis of a few thousand votes, not hundreds of thousands of votes. What that should tell us is that every vote DOES matter.
And, I hope I'll still be posting here in 2006 and can wish you congratulations, MUNKO, when you are sworn in as a citizen.
Go you!!!
A few things I hope will come out of this election:
1) Real electoral reform, including requirements that voters show identification and reforms of the absentee ballot issue.
2) Continued political activity on the part of most Americans.
3) More enthusiasm for the duties of citizenship, including running for office and voting, among 18-29 year olds who have been amongst the most lackadaisical group when it comes to politics.
And, I hope that enthusiasm spills over into the teenage group who will remember this election and be motivated to vote in 2006 and 2008.
Catz