I assumed Bush would win, and so last night watched the returns with the feeling that I least I had avoided soiling myself by voting for either candidate.

I based my prediction on the fact that there are more Democratic hawks than Republican doves, and defectors breaking for Bush or abstaining would add to his solid base. And if Kerry could have articulated a security and non-euro-pandering foreign policy posture to reassure that part of the Democratic base, he would have gained my vote. But I don't think that was in his nature, and it wasn't in my nature to vote for Bush's domestic policies. Anyway, a hawk Democratic candidate would probably have fractured the liberal vote.

Speaking of which, it sure is a fucking relief to wake up and know I can't be forced to go and get gay-married in Oregon. Now my marriage is re-sanctified. Oy. Of all the issues this election, Measure 36 was the one I had an interest in. The presidential election was a foregone and distasteful conclusion in my mind, and my Senate and House votes were cast for the Democratic incumbents in no danger of being thrown out, especially in my very liberal House district. I just hoped there was a majority of Oregonians with the decency to see through the bigotry of Measure 36, as they had done with anti-gay ballot measures in the past. Alas not.