Impulse

Well, it's part way through the counting. MSNBC & CNN are reporting Bush ahead with 54%/156EV vs Kerry's 45%/112EV. That's about the ratio that it's been for the past hour & a half. Looks like my optimism may have been a fantasy.
It makes me wonder about people who voted for bush. I don't think they're crazy; I'm sure they had some reasons that made sense to them. I'd love to hear those reasonable reasons. [guess I better install that spam software so I can turn on comments]
From where I sit, it seems like there's overwelming evidence that this administration has harmed the country more than helped it. Do folks see this? Am I just not seeing all the data?
Or - is it that reality-based vs faith/fantasy-based thing that is so much talked about: Perhaps it's just that there is a group of people who hear factual arguments and disregard emotional arguments and there's a group of people who hear emotional arguments and disregard factual. Perhaps, there are just more of the later than the former. If so, it seems like the Dem strategy going forward would be to figure out how to be fantasy-based while staying true to the reality-based folks.
It gets down to knowing your audience.
Dems think everyone in the audience is just like them - that if you just explain all the facts, you can't help but agree. But the audience isn't that homogeneous. There are some that glaze over when presented with facts, but listen in to the emotional pull - something that makes them feel good. You have to speak with a different voice to these folks if you want to win them over. Put down your 9/11 report and appeal to emotions alone.
(meanwhile, I think that Republicans are a little more pragmatic than Democrats in this regard - they know there are other types of people in the audience; they just don't care).
Anyway, enough ranting. Time to go hit refresh on all the browser windows and see if Ohio's pink shade has changed.

Related posts:

1. Pre-election thoughts