Bush Has Won, Now What?

[ramKatori]

It is 00:30hrs (Wed) and the networks are being coy, but it seems obvious that Bush has won Florida and has probably won Ohio. The internet betting sites are giving 87:13 odds in favor of Bush. So, he has probably won.

If you were a Bush supporter, what would you like to see him do, now that he does not have to worry about re-election.

I'm hoping that Kerry was not making it up when he spoke of a "January surprise" on Social Security. I do not think it will happen; but, one can hope.

[ex_banana-eater]

It's 10:13 Pacific, and http://www.drudgereport.com/ is saying "Bush Wins"

[JRoberts]

Very rarely have I ever felt such a sinking feeling of despair. I can only wait and see the final outcome-but quite honestly, I have more examination of my actions now than the small tidbits of tiny battles.

[Jason Fowler]

It is not over yet, provisional votes will push the final count back 10 or 11 days. In Ohio the number of those votes mirror, and on a final tally may be greater than, the difference in votes between the 2 candidates in the state.

[Ed from OC]

The good news: Kerry lost.

The bad news: Bush won.

The bright side: the reverse would have been even worse.

[Tom Rexton]

The good news: Kerry lost.

The bad news: Bush won.

The bright side: the reverse would have been even worse.

Not quite yet. The election isn't technically determined until December 13, when the electoral college actually cast their votes.

But this is certain (and perhaps more ominous): the Republicans retain a majority of the US House (226/435), US Senate (52/100), and Governorship (27/50).

And I suspect--a majority of the State legislatures as well...

11 states have just passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.

The Religious right is certainly gaining even more momentum.

[tommyedison]

It is not over yet, provisional votes will push the final count back 10 or 11 days.  In Ohio the number of those votes mirror, and on a final tally may be greater than, the difference in votes between the 2 candidates in the state.

Bush has a lead of about 140,000 in Ohio. I think there are about 250,000 provisional ballots. Kerry would have to get more than 195,000 out of 250,000 if he is to beat Bush. Very very unlikely that Kerry will win in Ohio.

[A.West]

I'm hoping that every tin-pot tyrrany in the U.N. now realizes that the U.S. voter doesn't give a damn about their feelings, and they can't pressure the U.S. voter to abandon its interests to "world opinion".

[AisA]

The biggest losers in this election are the Hate America Coalition and Osama bin Laden. Both have taken their best shot at demoralizing America -- yet the support for Bush went up.

The message is clear: Americans will tolerate blunders, set-backs and casualties -- but we will not accept defeat. So come on, Mr. President, turn the Marines loose in Iraq!

[jfortun]

While I am pleased with the Presidential outcome, the increased Republican majority in Congress is cause for some concern. Now all we have to do is hold the President to his word regarding the war on terror and fight any effort to for social control his party seeks to put into place.

I think the message to Moore, Europe and Bin Laden is clear though.

[Oakes]

I second AisA and A.West. I'm absolutely ecstatic that the American people pulled through...and it couldn't have happened anywhere else Now I'm taking a sweet and satisfying look at the biggest losers of all: World wants to be counted in U.S. election

[Yes]

One of the great benefits of the election result is that we all can feel a sense of relief that this miserable campaign is, at long last, over.

This time Bush has pretty much won. Kerry should concede, as it is highly unlikely that the provisional votes will affect the final outcome of the election. Bush also has the popular vote this time around. Kerry's concession means that the country can put this miserable campaign in the past and move on.

The Bush administration, in my opinion,needs to take this campaign as a message that there is much hard, diligent work to do in order to revive the economy, and fight a more diligent war on terrorism, one with focus and principle.

[Soulsurfer]

Here in Sweden people seem to be suprised that Kerry didn't get 99% of the votes. "What's wrong with the American people?" is a common rhetorical question one hears these days. And it's obvious that what really differs Europe from U.S.A. is the degree of philosophical-cultural impact of Platonism and/or German Idealism. Just think of it: It was just some 60 years ago Hitler still was in power. The E.U. is developing to a more socialistic and collectivistic super-state, with the ambition to regulate anything and everything on whim.

I had lunch today with a fellow. He said that the most important thing for him to achieve with his business was to make so much money that he could support anti-American interests. I asked him why and he said: "Because Americans are still so god damn individualistic! I really hate that. Human beings are not supposed to live their lives just for their own little myopian happiness. They must sacrifice for the prosperity of mankind, see a little step further, and USA just thinks of itself. The fat egocentric American is a parasite who must be wiped out from the planet by any means necessary."

I finished my lunch and said I didn't want to deal with him anymore.

In 20-30 years from now, you'll see the full explicit Fourth Reich -- U.S.E. (the United States of Europe). Make no mistake: It is reason, egoism, individualism and liberty that most Europeans are out to destroy. Nothing has changed since the World wars in that sense. Of course, I hope that history won't repeat itself. But then I read today that most teenagers and young adults don't believe that the Holocaust ever happened -- so I have to say that I'm not too optimistic.

[AndrewSternberg]

I had lunch today with a fellow. He said that the most important thing for him to achieve with his business was to make so much money that he could support anti-American interests. I asked him why and he said: "Because Americans are still so god damn individualistic! I really hate that. Human beings are not supposed to live their lives just for their own little myopian happiness. They must sacrifice for the prosperity of mankind, see a little step further, and USA just thinks of itself. The fat egocentric American is a parasite who must be wiped out from the planet by any means necessary."

I finished my lunch and said I didn't want to deal with him anymore.

You forgot to vomit on him and his food, thus providing an artistic rendering of his mentality.

[Tom Rexton]

I had lunch today with a fellow. He said that the most important thing for him to achieve with his business was to make so much money that he could support anti-American interests. I asked him why and he said: "Because Americans are still so god damn individualistic! I really hate that. Human beings are not supposed to live their lives just for their own little myopian happiness. They must sacrifice for the prosperity of mankind, see a little step further, and USA just thinks of itself. The fat egocentric American is a parasite who must be wiped out from the planet by any means necessary."

I finished my lunch and said I didn't want to deal with him anymore.

"...wiped out from the planet by any means necessary." Are you sure you heard him right? I am aware of anti-Americanism prevalence in Europe, but THIS?

Sounds just like what a vallain in an Ayn Rand novel would say! His affirmation of the "egocentric" and "individualistic" American "liv[ing] their lives just for their myopian happiness" is his one good comment, though.

[tommyedison]

Kerry concedes.

There wasn't much hope for him anyway.

[Capitalism Forever]

Sounds just like what a vallain in an Ayn Rand novel would say!

...Or like what a Third Reich propagandist would say! And, living in Europe myself, I can confirm the widespread existence of some very ugly anti-American sentiments, especially in Western Europe.

[Godless Capitalist]

World wants to be counted in U.S. election

Then there's the Guardian, reaching out to voters in Ohio's Clark County -- a swing county in a swing state. In the campaign launched Oct. 13, the newspaper told readers they could log onto its Web site, put in an e-mail address and receive the name and address of an unaffiliated voter taken from the electoral roll.

Some Guardian readers have expressed concern that the campaign could backfire. If replies Americans have sent to The Guardian are any indication, they may have a point.

"Hey England, Scotland and Wales, mind your own business," an American wrote in a letter published on the newspaper's Web site.

"YOU ARE NOT WANTED!! Whether you want to support either party. BUTT OUT!!!" -- An American response to lobbying campaign targeting Ohio voters by The Guardian newspaper in Britain.

[Oakes]

Here in Sweden people seem to be suprised that Kerry didn't get 99% of the votes. "What's wrong with the American people?" is a common rhetorical question one hears these days.

Very interesting. Anyone else hear reactions to the election outside America? If Bush's win only served to back up that wonderful stereotype of us, it was worth it

[GoodOrigamiMan]

Here in Sweden people seem to be suprised that Kerry didn't get 99% of the votes. "What's wrong with the American people?"

We are special. I liked Putin’s comment, “If Bush wins... I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision.” I know some people voted on intimidation and even more on world opinion, but not more than half thankfully (that was not the case with the people who sided with Kerry on this forum). Anyways I should have bought some shares in Bush last night… I never knew you could make money off of a presidential election. ^^ -> Backing up the ‘cowboy’ stereotype might not be worth the whole election, but it was defiantly worth something.

[Megan Robinson]

The good news: Kerry lost.

The bad news: Bush won.

The bright side: the reverse would have been even worse.

I agree

[oldsalt]

I have not been on line here for the last ten days. I've been busy with my military "family", with emails flying through the ether between the US, Afghanistan, and Iraq. There have been a lot of very nervous young people within the military, fear that with Kerry they would be "supported" by being brought home in defeat.

Those who have read my posts know that my focus has been on the military. Coming from a military background, I worried most of all about the war and the men and women who are fighting to protect us. I will always do so because I love these people in a general sense and admire them for their character and fortitude. They put up with crap most of us wouldn't. It isn't just the fighting, but the unrelenting boredom, the days and weeks that melt into each other as they work 14 and 16 hour days, 7 days a week. It is being away from their parents, wives, husbands, and children and the acute loneliness that brings. One of the things that has hurt them the most, however, has been the perception that the American public does not support them. For all of that, they have remained steadfast about their mission.

Now, perhaps, some of the burden has been lifted from their young shoulders. For that, I am grateful. It is a nice bonus that America managed to flip off bin Laden and the anti-Americans of the world.

Now we Objectivists really have our work cut out for us. There is nothing new in this, though. We've made tremendous strides due to the hard work and foresight of those at ARI, and the efforts of individual Objectivists. I, for one, am happy with the challenge. I can't think of anything more worthwhile to spend my time doing than helping to build a world where reason rules and people don't waste their precious time on this earth being unnecessarily miserable.

Happiness and prosperity for us all!

[Areactor]

To be honest, lately I've been in such dispair that I feel like giving up caring. Either president would have bought out those feelings in me but just thinking about this elections and the ideals that put these men and women in the high places there at just terrifies me and I just feel like not really caring any more.

I'm just extremely upset for some strange reason like I feel hopeless. I'm not sure if it'd be any different if Kerry won but I just feel emotionally drained, almost tired.

Not to worry, I don't plan on lowering myself to nihilism any time soon but I do feel the desire to just regress.

Any thoughts on this? I honestly can't find the root on why I'm thinking what I'm thinking and why I'm feeling what I'm feeling.

[Toolboxnj]

Privatization of Social Security and a decrease in federal spending would be nice. Along with taking a stronger line on Iran.

[Tom Rexton]

To be honest, lately I've been in such dispair that I feel like giving up caring. Either president would have bought out those feelings in me but just thinking about this elections and the ideals that put these men and women in the high places there at just terrifies me and I just feel like not really caring any more.

I'm just extremely upset for some strange reason like I feel hopeless. I'm not sure if it'd be any different if Kerry won but I just feel emotionally drained, almost tired.

Not to worry, I don't plan on lowering myself to nihilism any time soon but I do feel the desire to just regress.

Any thoughts on this? I honestly can't find the root on why I'm thinking what I'm thinking and why I'm feeling what I'm feeling.

I get the same feeling when thinking about global and national politics in general, as well as current social and intellectual trends, etc...

I think such things will almost always seem negative (except during the Enlightenment), so I've learned to focus my mind instead to things which are within my firm control--my own life--and not spend any more time than necessary contemplating all the evil men and the shortcomings of what would have been heroic men, and all the predicted apocalypse and doom to come.

Much of life is still enjoyable. Focus on that. Don't look at Bush and Kerry. Look at your own personal hero(es). They do exist, and in numbers greater than you might think. They're just not as publicized as politicians.