Election Reaction

So, it looks like Obama will win either 364 or 365 electoral college votes, depending on how one of Nebraska's counties turns out. He's sitting on a solid 6 point popular vote lead with 52% (ahem) of the vote. As Matthew Yglesias points out, that's the best showing for a Democrat since LBJ in '64, and the best showing for any non-incumbent since '52.

I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed. Not with Obama's win. That feels fantastic. But with the general reax around the Christian blogosphere. Is it really so awful that a Democrat won the presidency? Can we really not celebrate together upon this momentous occasion? I suppose I should've expected it. After all, I probably wouldn't be jumping up and down at the prospect of a McCain presidency. But that's really not the same thing. Oh well, it's a democracy, and the people have spoken, and they want Obama in the White House, and Democrats in control of both houses of Congress. Some center-right nation we are.

As is being said all over this morning, now comes the hard part. Obama inherits two wars, a crashing (pessimistically)/slowly recovering (optimistically) economy, and an electorate eager for him to deliver the change he ran on. I have no misgivings. I do not think Obama is the messiah (honestly, how many of his supporters really did?) and I do not think that merely the fact of his election will fix our deep problems. But it's a good start.

Some links for your patience!

• President Bush on his successor's "impressive victory."
• Mark Cuban talking some sense about taxes and the new Obama presidency:

  As any successful CEO will tell you, leadership, vision and motivation has far more impact on results than any tax cut or increase. While I prefer lower taxes, I can tell you that no entrepreneur or CEO worth a damn in this country gives up or works less because of a change in tax policy. In this country you work harder to achieve your dreams and goals.

• Paul Krugman's annoyed with all the over-explaining that's sure to go on for the next few months.