] Palestinian columnists have recently published articles
] assessing the four years of the Intifada, in which they
] admitted that the grave harm caused to the Palestinians
] stemmed from their choice of suicide/martyrdom operations
] as the primary method of struggle. In addition, the PA's
] status as the leader of the Palestinian people has been
] undermined, and signs of anarchy in Palestinian society
] have increased. Some of the accounts described the
] Palestinians as closer to defeat than to victory, and
] complained about the lack of political achievements, lack
] of goals, and lack of strategic planning. The following
] are excerpts from the columns:

Fascinating reading, and fills me with more hope about that area than I've had in awhile.

The multitude of writers seem to be agreeing that random acts of violence against Israeli civilians are *not* having the desired effect. That "courage and bravery" are not enough, but that they need to think more strategically, and work to end the violence first, and then address the refugees' problems second.

If they can do that, I can definitely see myself supporting their cause with more fervor. Before, every time I started agreeing with the Palestinians, then some suicide bomber would go blow himself up in a mall, killing a bunch of innocent civilians, and I would lose sympathy for Palestine again. So I'm fully in agreement here: Stop the violence, and then let's talk and make things happen.

MEMRI: Palestinian Columnists analyze the Intifada

] Using County-by-County election return data from USA
] Today together with County boundary data from the US
] Census' Tiger database we produced the following graphic
] depicting the results. Of course, blue is for the
] democrats, red is for the republicans, and green is for
] all other. Each county's color is a mix of these three
] color components in proportion to the results for that
] county.

Thought-provoking graphic.

Electoral map by county rather then by state

Decius wrote:
] The Dems are going to be out for a long time if they can't be
] honest with themselves.

Yeah, I've been giving some thought about this. Like "Why did I vote for Bush?" I mean, I'm not a Republican, I'm an independent. In the past, I've voted Democrat, I've voted other parties. I could have voted Democrat this year, but I didn't, because I didn't like Kerry's message.

I've been listening to the opinion folks on the radio trying to make sense of why Kerry lost. For me, it's so simple that I want to scream at the radio: "Because of all the fucking mud!" Kerry didn't have his own message, he didn't have a plan, he wasn't offering to lead -- all he was doing was saying, "I'm not Bush. Bush sucks. Bush is bad. Vote for me, so Bush doesn't win." And that message wasn't enough for me. Further, it systematically alienated me, because I didn't see Bush as the anti-Christ, I didn't see Bush as an evil man, I didn't see Bush as a simpleton surrounded by corrupt Machiavellian advisors. I don't see the War in Iraq as a huge mistake, I don't think Bush systematically lied to the American people. And the more that Kerry pounded away at, "*Everything* Bush has ever done, or ever *will* do in the future is 100% wrong," the more I disliked the idea of voting for Kerry, and the more that I disliked the Democrat strategy.

There are things I still prefer on the Democrat platform than the Republican, especially when it comes to social issues. But I couldn't agree with them on the systematic demonization of the Bush administration. And I think that's where they really lost my vote.

RE: Two Nations Under God

Decius wrote:
] It appears that Bush has won. It appears that the Republicans
] have control of the House and Senate. This is a complete
] victory for the Reds.
]
] I offer the following predictions:

Interesting stuff, and I agree with quite a bit.

On a related note, I'm curious what your predictions are on staff? Or rather, not your predictions, but what would your recommendations be? Given that Bush is going to be President for the next four years, who would you *like* to see him appoint to various cabinet/advisory posts? For example, speaking for myself, I'd like to see Powell stay, I'd like to see Rice stay. I want Ashcroft gone. I wouldn't miss Rumsfeld. But then again, I'm not sure who I'd most like to see in those posts instead.

What's your opinion?

RE: Bush wins

k wrote:
] Anyway, if nothing else, i can be glad that the past 4 years
] have vastly increased my political knowledge and involvement,
] and i don't see that changing... this has been a
] transformative period for me, and hopefully for many of my
] peers, and I think the next four will be even more active.
] -k]

Then that's a great thing. :)

One of the ironies that's struck me about this election, is that in previous years, I often heard people complaining that "their vote didn't matter". Presidential elections were usually won with such a clear majority, that voting could feel futile for some. But this election (and the one in 2000), it's clear that individual votes *do* matter, and I think that along with that knowledge for many people is also the increased sense of responsibility. When people feel their votes matter, they become more emotionally invested in the process.

So yes, passions are running hotter, people care more, things are debated with more emotion and volume. I see all of these as *good* things. It's when people stop caring that I worry.

RE: Election Eve 2004

Decius wrote:
] Inspired by Elonka and Rattle, I'll offer my feelings on this
] evening.

] We are a deeply divided
] nation. Whatever the results of this election, they will be
] terribly bad for a large number of people who live here. Zogby
] says that most people won't accept the legitimacy of their
] opponent's government if their side looses. That worry isn't
] just about the outcome. Its about what happens afterward.

Decius, thanks for your thoughts. I found this interesting, and also found Rattle's essay interesting, and I'm glad you both wrote.

Speaking as someone who voted for Bush, I have to say this though: I don't hate Kerry. If he's elected, I will support him as President. I can't speak for everyone who's voted for Bush, but I know some who have, and I think they feel the same. We vote our conscience, but if the candidate that we choose isn't elected, that doesn't mean that we hate them or despise their decisions. I would hope that those who voted for Kerry can feel the same way about Bush, if he wins.

When Bush was elected in 2000, I was disappointed. I'd voted for Gore. I hoped that Gore would win the legal battles, and I was disappointed when he gave up. But I was encouraged when Bush appointed Colin Powell, and I've grown to respect many of the decisions that Bush made, especially after September 11th.

Ultimately, that's what I expect from *either* candidate that wins. Sure, there's a lot of crap that goes on during the election season, and a lot of lies flow from candidates' mouths. This is nothing new. But I firmly believe that both Kerry and Bush are patriots, who genuinely want what's best for America. If they make decisions differently than I would, well, so be it, but I don't think either one of them is a bad person. Bits of this could be seen from the candidates themselves during the debates. They'd rail and whine about each other's positions and decisions and votes, but when asked about the *character* of each other, they'd usually speak well of the opponent, and of the opponent's family. Neither one of them is a demon.

I can identify with some of your feelings though. As I've watched the election returns come in this afternoon and evening, I've felt worried too. I want to see the candidate that I voted for, win. There's a sense that I'll have lost face if I voted for someone that doesn't win. That I supported a "losing side". But I truly put this down to the passion of the moment, because when I reach deep inside myself and ask how I'd feel if the other side won, I know it'd be okay. Life would go on, the world isn't going to end. Democrats will fight against Republicans, Republicans will fight against Democrats, sure, but this is nothing new. Some countries won't approve of our choice? Well that's not new either. Countries are going to disagree with each other, but I don't see the outcome of this election leading to something like World War III.

Like Obama said, there are patriots who disagreed with the War in Iraq, and there are patriots who agreed with it. It doesn't mean one side is right and the other side is wrong. It means that we're human, and we think differently, and we debate things and try to make the best decisions we can in our muddled and imperfect human condition.

As I write this, I honestly don't know who's going to win the Presidency this year. But whoever does, I'll still be an American citizen, and I'll support our country, and I'll criticize our country, and I'll still believe in our system of government because even when it sucks, it's still a hell of a lot better than pretty much anything else out there.

And a couple years from now, there'll be another election, and again, I'll go to the polls, along with millions of other Americans, and we'll make the best decisions we can.

Elonka

RE: Election Eve 2004

A great resource that is posting election return results in detail. You can enter your zip code and see the results (President, governor, congressional seats) for your own area, or check the results for any other state too. You can even dig down and see individual results for each county, along with percentage of precincts reporting.

CNN.com Election Results

] With a quick computer key stroke, space station
] astronaut Leroy Chiao became the first American to vote
] for president from space, casting an encrypted ballot via
] e-mail and urging fellow countrymen to go to the polls
] Tuesday.

Astronaut makes voting history 

It's an amazing thing, voting. For me, entering the polling place and casting my vote is a profound emotional experience. Spiritual. Transcendent. A connection with 100+ million other people in my home country, all filing in and casting their votes. We are Choosing, for ourselves, who we want to govern. Not just President, but Senators, Representatives, Governors, judges, and countless other positions and issues.

It's a profound thing, this kind of bloodless coup. A system where every adult is allowed to have their say. Sure, there are flaws in the system, unfairnesses here and there, but overall, it's an amazing thing.

I think about this every time I vote. I think about the wars that have been fought to ensure that I have this right. I remember, "Freedom Isn't Free". I think about the long ago soldiers who sacrificed on battlefields, to secure and defend freedom for their families, their neighbors, and for future generations, of which I am a part. They didn't know me, but they envisioned a future where their children, their children's children, and on down the line could live in freedom, and have a say in how things were done. I'm a representative of the future they hoped for.

I looked around myself at the polling place today. I saw people who I didn't know, but who were nevertheless my neighbors. People young, old, dressed in anything from business suits to jeans and working clothes, but all with a common element -- We're citizens together, in our neighborhood, in our country, and we came together, peacefully, to make our choices known.

It's an amazing thing, voting. And I'm thankful for the right, and the privilege to do so. It's a responsibility I'm proud to fulfill, and I respect everyone around me who votes as well, regardless of whether or not we voted the same way. It's a process I'm incredibly proud of, and I thank everyone I know who voted (or who is going to vote), and participates. Good job! I'm proud to know you.

Elonka

] When he [Osama Bin Laden] said, 'Every
] state will be determining its own security, and will be
] responsible for its choice,' it means that any U.S. state
] that will choose to vote for the white thug Bush as
] president has chosen to fight us, and we will consider it
] our enemy, and any state that will vote against Bush has
] chosen to make peace with us, and we will not
] characterize it as an enemy. By this characterization,
] Sheikh Osama wants to drive a wedge in the American body,
] to weaken it, and he wants to divide the American people
] itself between enemies of Islam and the Muslims, and
] those who fight for us, so that he doesn't treat all
] American people as if they're the same. This letter will
] have great implications inside the American society, part
] of which are connected to the American elections, and
] part of which are connected to what will come after the
] elections."

Okay. I'm going to ramble here a moment...

Speaking as a game designer, and an avid gamer, there's a philosophy I often keep in mind when faced with a difficult decision during a game. If I have different choices of how to play my hand, and I can't decide which action to take, I ask myself, "Which play will annoy my opponent more?" That way, even if the play doesn't give *me* a specific gaming advantage, the fact that I've done something that messes up my opponent's hand in some way can't hurt.

So, this helps. The head of Al Qaeda would clearly rather have Kerry in office than Bush? Osama would be annoyed, or even afraid, if Bush won?

I had already decided that I was voting for Bush. But now, I get frosting on the cake. By my vote, I can clearly do something that gives the finger to Osama? Well cool, that makes my decision even easier. :)

Elonka

MEMRI: Osama bin Laden Threatens U.S. States Not to Vote for Bush