Don't lose hope

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 . . . .