"Yglesias puts up this NYT map showing the counties where McCain did better than Bush. Ah, yes, Appalachia and Arkansas. Obviously concerned about marginal tax rates for those earning over $250,000 a year, I suppose." Hey, that one white spot in North Alabama is Madison County. JUST FOR THE RECORD.

"We’re just saying that: Americans care about health care, education, jobs, and the cost of living. So we should talk about these things, not just taxes and national security. And when we talk about these things that people care about, we should offer conservative policies that are relevant and realistic." Take the opportunity in the loss, GOP, to re-evaluate that your message is just not resonating.

"Yes, it is heart-breaking: it is always hard to be in a tiny minority whose rights and dignity are removed by a majority. It's a brutal rebuke to the state supreme court, and enshrinement in California's constitution that gay couples are now second-class citizens and second class human beings. Massively funded by the Mormon church, a religious majority finally managed to put gay people in the back of the bus in the biggest state of the union. The refusal of Schwarzenegger to really oppose the measure and Obama's luke-warm opposition didn't help. And cruelly, a very hefty black turnout, as feared, was one of the factors that defeated us, according to the exit poll. Today this is one of the solaces to a hard right and a Republican party that sees gay people as the least real of Americans." Just terrible.

"So if McCain really thought he had a chance of catching up, he wouldn't have wasted time on an audience that might repair his reputation among liberals and journalists but does him no good with the crucial swing votes. And if he thought he were secretly ahead, he wouldn't comport himself this way. He would be more like the stiff character we saw in the debates." McCain knew. I bet he had his concession speech written a couple days ago—and it was honestly a very good one, calling his supporters to come together. I think that's important.

"So, like the rest of us, I am looking forward to the other side of things. I hope the new leadership will help toward resolution and progress toward peace in the middle east and diplomacy all over the world. I hope for the rebuilding of our domestic economy, starting by caring for the poor and the sick and the voiceless among us. I hope for the conservation of our environment and sustainable communities within our nation. Most immediately, I hope that we as a people can unify after this election. It seems like such a hateful cultural climate and I welcome some peace between us." Sandra wrote this before the election, but I've saved it until today.

Amen.