It's All Over But the Shouting

Well, the presidential election is finally over. Kerry hasn't conceded and there is talk of court fights in Ohio. But there is little chance Kerry would be able to overcome the president's lead there. The issue is provisional ballots, of which there are 250,000 or less according to Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. Bush leads in Ohio by 136,221 votes, so Kerry would have to get at least 193,000 of these provisional votes to overcome such a lead, and that's assuming there really are 250,000 ballots and they all get counted.

The Bush campaign scoffed at the notion that the uncounted ballots could make a difference in Ohio.

"There are 140,000 provisional ballots. Historically, only 7 to 20 percent of those would be counted," said Bush-Cheney communications director Nicolle Devenish. "Even if twice that many end up getting counted, he can't close the gap of his defeat in the state. It's desperate."

This election is not like 2000 where it all came down to 500 votes in Florida. Bush has a small but solid victory. To drag it out this time would be pointless.

At least Daschle is gone. The Democrats in general during the last four years, and in particular in the Senate, have been poorly led. This failure of leadership is one of the major factors in Kerry losing this election. To quote myself,

The Democratic party leadership made the incompetent, irresponsible decision in 2002 to fold to Bush on Iraq, handing him the issue. Two years later, by deciding to fight the campaign on Bush's strength, they have stupidly sentenced this country to another four years of Bush. Thanks. Can the party please get some new leadership?

Tom Daschle was a large part of the decision-making process. With his defeat, the Democrats will, hopefully, get better leadership.