That’s over and done with, finally, so now what?

I’m referring to yesterday’s presidential election, of course and ... well, I’m not going to gloat, jump up and down or run around the office giving out high fives, if you’re wondering. And while some people probably did just that, are doing that or will do that throughout the day, I have to wonder if it’s really necessary.

This isn’t Monday Night Football, although you’d almost think so, considering the crowds, the highlights, the electoral college “scoreboard” and so on. Sure, Obama won, but the margin of victory was a whole lot slimmer than many might have expected; there’s still an extraordinary amount of work to be done (the understatement of the decade); and we all know things haven’t been all that peachy for the past four years, let alone twelve.

Regardless, I’ll admit I was amused by some of the comments coming from the far right following last night’s election results, one of which went something like, “America has made its decision, now is the time for Americans representing both sides of the political fence to join together and move forward as a nation.”

Sorry, but for the past four years, both Democrats and Republicans have had more than one opportunity to do that very thing, instead focusing on the goals and desires of their respective parties, literally holding this country hostage in the process.

America – and more specifically the American people – simply got stuck in the middle, needless to say, but at least we know where we stand, right?

Republicans and the GOP, however, only have themselves to blame for last night’s loss, from their determined stand to make Obama a one-term president (there were, I think, more pressing issues to deal with) to any number of comments that made headlines, such as a woman’s body having natural defenses to avoid pregnancy when raped, not to mention that such a pregnancy – if those “defenses” should fail – must be God’s will.

No offense intended whatsoever, but can we please leave God out of politics in the future? Pretty please?

That’s not to say Democrats countrywide didn’t have their own gaffes along the way, as well, and looking back, the morning after, from bayonets to binders, the months leading up to last night’s election were as frustrating, depressing and – ultimately – wasteful as I could’ve imagined: millions of dollars spent on campaigns of all sizes across the country, the finger pointing, the half-truths, facts distorted (or completely glossed over), the outright lies, the ignorance, the petulant, childlike behavior displayed by so many (again, both Democrats and Republicans).