After a rollercoaster day (and let that be the last time we use that cliché on Newsblog) the analysis begins. Emma Brockes' Woke up this mornin', got the election blues is a lovely read from today's paper; all about the disappointment of liberal Britain, which mostly went to bed with Kerry leading, and woke up to find Bush poised to win.
While her piece is all about the UK's reaction, I suspect there will be more than a few Americans feeling much the same way. As blogger Ken Layne points out, after such a polarised election battle, Dick Cheney's talk of "a broad, nationwide victory" doesn't quite wash.
Layne links to Kevin Roderick of the LA Observed blog who notes: "Some Republicans are crowing that George W. Bush racked up the most popular votes of any president in history. It's true, but misleading: John Kerry also got more votes than any previously elected president. Huge turnout will do that."
Lots of people are disappointed. But we've seen America unite behind a President before, and that's exactly what Jeff Jarvis is calling for over at Buzzmachine.
"Come on, say it: He's our President, too.
If you continue to treat him like the devil in a gray suit, you will only drive him to his fringe and drive his supporters toward their fringe and you will lose any hope of winning in four years. You will continue to divide America and give the other side license to do the same. So retract fangs and claws and empty the venom.
Treat him like your President and he might just act like it. "
