All of New York is very depressed.

I, however, am less depressed, because I always knew Bush would win. I voted for Kerry, of course, and encouraged others to do the same, but I happen to believe that America is in the midst of a third Great Awakening which will last probably 50-100 years, and that that's why we have an island, Manhattan, and that's why I'm on it. I hear San Francisco and Massachussetts are also nice.

I will admit to approximately six hours of hope on the day before the election, when the polls looked good and Salon ran an optimistic cover story. But six hours of hope, well, it's like "breaking up" after your first date. No temptestuous emotions. This, for me, has the beneficial effect that I'm pretty much raring to get started doing something for '08. Details are pending.

On a peripherally related note, I am very attracted to James Carville. I saw him on CNN, giving commentary while the electoral tally racked up badly. There's something about liberals with Southern accents that's very sexy; it's that Southern liberals had to work at being liberals: they're self-made. They're existentialists, responsible for defining themselves. Like people in New York who aren't from New York; we come here to meet each other, the ones who had to work for it.

James, thanks for the Clinton years. I appreciate it.