The post-election wrap up post

Wow.

What a night.

We may not know the final numbers for a few days, but by all accounts it was a huge day for Obama. He was right about where I thought in the popular vote (a resounding mandate for change) and he even picked up Indiana, which I thought would go to McCain by a few points. It appears late-breakers didn't flock to McCain, which is quite surprising but also very satisfying.

Once N.C. shakes out, I think it will be in Obama's column, which will bring his E.C. total to 364, right around where Bill Clinton was when he won in 1992.

I won't expound on this significance of this, or lament the shameful reactions of some right-leaning simpletons on Facebook. The former is beyond words in many ways, the latter isn't worth the energy. This is an exciting time in the history of our country.

The Democrats didn't sweep to 60 Senate seats, which is just as well. The focus on a filibuster-proof majority was misplaced anyway. Already we are seeing Obama call for cooperation and bipartisanship, with the possibility of filling his cabinet with members of the opposing party (like Lincoln). And he's talking about solving problems, not creating new ones. Unlike the White House's current occupant, I believe Obama will deliver on this promise.

McCain was exceptionally gracious in defeat, and I hope he will return to the Senate with the same passion and vigor he had before the campaign started.

Around the country:

• Prop 8 passed, banning gay marriage in California.  A dark cloud on a sunny day. Eventually, all of these discriminatory laws will get written off the books.  It just is going to take a while longer now.
  
• There was less than 1,000 votes difference between Norm Coleman and Al Franken in Minnesota, and a recount has been triggered (I think). Still, I doubt Franken will win, as he's behind right now.  That's too bad -- he would have been the most entertaining and intelligent Senators in a long time.
• Kay Hagen won despite a despicable ad that tried to paint her as an atheist, despite the fact she used to run a Sunday school.  I'm glad the N.C. voters rejected that kind of dirty politics.
• Alaska voted in Sen. Ted Stevens to another term despite his being convicted recently. Usually I would say something like, "All Alaskans have the intellect of their governor." But I think this just speaks to how huge Stevens is in Alaska.  He's like their George Washington.  I don't expect him to be in the Senate, which is a victory for the Internet. But it would have been nice to get a Democrat in there.