It's over. There are no recounts, no second chances. The American people have spoken and delivered unto President George W Bush a decisive re-election mandate. What he does with that is the story of the next four years, not just in the United States but around the world.
Incidentally, at this point, perhaps it's wise to point out that any talk of a world ballot in the US presidential election is spurious, silly and impossible. Lose that thought. It will never happen.
No, America has chosen President Bush and the rest of us must live with that. If we believe in democracy, if we insist that there is wisdom in majority rule, if consensus matters, then it's Bush for us. This doesn't mean carte blanche for more pre-emptive war or treaty busting by his government. But let us hear no more whining about 'illegitimate presidents' for there are none, at the moment, in charge in Washington.
So why did the voters who matter, those in Republican strongholds and several 'battleground' states, choose Bush over the earnest and intelligent John Kerry? From America's bruised left, you will hear talk of conspiracies, lies and mutterings about 'stupid voters in the heartland'. But perhaps there's a more magnanimous explanation.
First off, there's war. America has never ever voted a war president out of office. The proudest republic on earth makes its elected president the actual commander-in-chief of its armed forces. Not a figurehead like Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain but an officer who can send his troops into battle. We know this already, so do the Afghans and Iraqis.
This was an overwhelming reason given by many voters who chose Bush in the past week's ballot. You can't change horses in mid-stream and never mind if half the country and most of the rest of the world-perhaps mistakenly-thinks that the horse is lame, not overly bright, or incapable of finding a creative path through the thorn bush. You're on 'em. You r&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&'216; 'em.
Then there's terrorism. As Americans of all political persuasions stood waiting to cast their ballots this past November Second, one thought pulsed through their mind. There's been no terrorist attack on American soil since 11 September 2001. For many voters, even some Democrats, President Bush got credit for this. Again, forget the logic of the left or those in the know about the real reason for al Qaeda reticence (craftiness, long-term plans, the way fear mongering by the right wing plays into terrorist hands). Forget it all. America is safe because George W Bush is standing on guard. And wisely, the president's handlers had him repeat this over and over on the campaign trail.
Various other issues and attributes bestowed upon Bush played into his victory too. Such as the growing gap between the country's liberal, cosmopolitan urbanites on the east and west coasts and the people who live in the centre or the south. These are two worrisome solitudes and both political parties in the US encourage them to win temporary electoral advantage. Divide and rule worked for the British Empire for a time but it won't work for much longer in America. Both extremities of the country are changing, becoming more mixed and yes, even more cosmopolitan.
Places like Kansas are increasingly Spanish speaking, New York and Los Angeles are leaning Republican thanks to Asian, African and other voters who value conservative social values and fiscal prudence even above tolerance and welfare policies.
Within 25 years, America's largest ethnic group, larger than white Europeans, will be Spanish speakers from Latin America. These people voted for President Bush by 60 percent in this election. What will they do when they form a plurality of the American people?
And finally, there's Kerry. A fine, fine man in my estimation, but honestly, on reflection, rather challenged in the charisma department, too easily portrayed as a smug, elitist liberal from a dying breed in a dying part of the country. Not 'one of us' for most Americans.
There are lessons here for the still worthy and estimable Democratic Party. They have four years now to learn, and give it their best shot in 2008.
Ain't democracy grand?
