Who is "going forward with confidence and faith?"

Regarding yesterday's post-election predictions: There's a reason I'm a web designer/administrator and not a political analyst.

On the plus side, I clearly have a positive outlook on life. To a rose-colored fault.

I've listened to a lot of radio that involves callers phoning in today. Since I'm in the Chicago area, the majority of the calls have been from citizens who are in different levels of grief. Some are putting on a good face and saying things like "At least we still have John Kerry in the Senate, where he can keep an eye on Bush ..." or "It was a valiant fight!" Some are not sure how they're going to get through the next day, much less the next four years. The two calls that stuck out to me -- one on AM and one on FM -- both said the same thing, and it's where I am to. It's this: "I just don't understand."

When I heard this morning that the predominant issue for Bush voters was "moral values," I was dumbfounded. Moral values were important ... and so you voted for him? While John Kerry took a principled and difficult stand against a war that everyone hated (whether you liked his position or not, there's no question that it was principled), George W. Bush was best known by his Air National Guard as the guy who threw the best parties.

(And don't go telling me, dear Dubya supporters, that Bush's partying days are ancient history and that it has nothing to do with now -- not when, in the next breath, you're going to tell me that Kerry's anti-Vietnam stand was an affront to all current and veteran members of the armed services. You can't have it both ways.)

Moral values. And they pick him. I just don't understand. Reagan said it, and I'll make a small editorial change and repeat it. I'll speak for a slim minority of US citizens: "It's mourning in America."

Feeling positive.

I'll probably regret posting this in the morning, but ... I'm feeling really positive about the results tonight.

voted at noon today, and of my precinct of 515 voters, my wife and I were numbers 242 and 243. That's almost 50%, even before the big 4-7 p.m. rush. And based on reports I've heard, there are plenty of precinct with much higher turnouts than that. This can only mean good things, I think. It's gonna be an intense night.

I've heard a lot of people saying they don't think we'll have a new President for a few weeks. I feel like we'll know within seven hours. Maybe I'm living in a dream world. We'll see. My only "prediction" I'll make: After reading many reports on Florida voters (and talking with friends and family there), I think Florida is Kerry's. There are just too many pissed off people down there who want revenge on 2000.

We'll see.