the outcome of the election

[LiquidDamage]

I crossed over in the opposite direction (lifelong Republican to reluctant Democrat) in the last 12 years.  And the two biggest drivers of that crossing were the inexcusable behavior of the Republicans during Clinton's administration

But, given that Shrub claimed a 'mandate' with a *lost* election, I guess actually winning one does give him some bragging rights. ;)

Is it inexcusable for Republicans to hate a Democratic candidate so much when 57% of the nation votes against him, but excusable for Democrats to hate a Republican candidate when 52% votes against him?

Cover text of Time Magazine after the Clinton Victory in 1992: "Mandate for Change". Which is more of a mandate? 48% of the vote or 43% of the vote? I'd say neither was a mandate, but both of them apparently claimed one, pissing off the opposing party.

I did not vote for Bush, by the way. And yes, I did vote. I do agree that the Republican hatred for Clinton is what started us down this path, but the Democratic hatred for Bush was no better after he got elected in 2000. I understand that the reasoning for the hatred of Bush now is for what he did during his term, especially the Iraq war, but I have to wonder if things wouldn't be hunky-dory for Democrats if Gore had been the one that believed the intelligence reports and gone to war with Iraq. I know a lot of you will say Gore wouldn't have gone to war with Iraq, and that is a valid opinion to hold. I say we don't know what he would have done, and I think that is a valid opinion as well.

I talked to people I know and respect (for non-political reasons) before the election that firmly believe that Bush/Kerry is the better candidate, and Kerry/Bush will drive this country into the ground.

I see a lot of this as a big football game, where the quarterbacks of two teams are accused of rape, but the fans on each side firmly believe their guy is innocent and the other guy is obviously guilty.

I'm all for that third party you suggest, Pete.