I have spoken to quite a few people today, and there are certainly a wide range of emotions going around. Apocalyptism (new word?), morose, anger, emptiness. Although I have swung through each of those emotions myself, I have come to rest on a different set of ideals–on an idea of hope.

The core facts are that we now know how many people are like-minded, progressive thinkers who value freedom and community-related well being. We also know who does not. What we don’t know–or, have any clue about, actually–is the diversity of reasons that Americans used in voting for President Bush. In the next couple of years, we need to vigorously pursue those reasons. This is a priority. We need to be listening and asking questions so we can determine why people voted for him, and more importantly, how the information–the tangible facts, and the not-so-tangible speculation–missed the mark.

More speculation on this later . . . .