The long ordeal is finally over. All the speculation and the mud slinging and the finger pointing can finally be put to rest, for another four years at least. We have our new president. I have my misgivings about what has occurred but that has only prompted me to think more. So let's delve a little more.

I voted for McCain. I am a permanent absentee voter which meant I was filling out my ballot about a week before election day. I marked McCain/Palin and I knew as I was doing it I was voting for the loser. Obama has produced a campaign unlike any that has been seen before and is not likely to be seen again for a long time. Obama started an incredible phenomena. This election has always been about one man and that man is Obama.

First off let me say that while I voted for McCain I don't believe he would have been a much better president than Obama will prove to be. He is a good man and a patriot and a war hero all of which I believe sincerely. But I don't think his presidency would have been the answer to the current woes of America. For all his talks of being a maverick and changing Washington, after his term was over I don't believe that he would have anything truly significant to show for it. I think he would have kept the nation afloat for a term and give the next true great leader a chance to appear. Things may have gotten a little worse, but I don't think anything truly debilitating or wonderful would have come from it.

This election was always about Obama. The decision the voting public made was whether or not, whatever their reasoning, they could trust Obama to run this country. McCain is a good man with a pretty incredible story, but most people don't find him inspiring or even all that unique. Sarah Palin had a few moments in the spotlight, being a fresh face that most people had never seen before. I don't think she was adequately prepared for the experience and the media ruthlessly tore her a new one. She may have sparked renewed interest for some people but she didn't change the election. (Note to Tina Fey: Given the choice Sarah is way hotter than you 10 times out of 10). And Biden while he provided a few good laughs here and there was largely ignored and even hidden away to prevent him from shooting his mouth off when it counted. But, what they hey, no one really cares about the VP anyways.

This was Obama's story and I must give him credit, it's a pretty amazing story. I think it'll make a good movie someday. A young man's humble beginnings, his rise to the senate, the coming out speech at the Democratic National Convention, the back and forth with Hillary, the heated race with McCain, building to the final victory on election night, just one day after his beloved grandmother passed away but not before she could cast her ballot for her grandson, as he made history as the first African American President! Drama up the yin yang, the screenplay practically writes itself. And Obama has acheived something monumental and credit is definitely due to him for that.

But did he really change politics forever? All we've heard about how he's calling out voters like never before. He won in a landslide in the electoral college. He led in the popular vote by about seven million voters as well. He is the clear winner beyond all doubt. But if you count up the total ballots cast, almost 700,000 more people voted in the 2004 election that this one. That makes no sense to me at all. With all the talk, the elusive youth vote, the calling out of the African American voter, the crossing of party lines, and the actual turnout is less? Granted 700,000 isn't much compared to 60+ million that voted for the winner in both elections, but I still don't get it.

There could be more, but I'm still thinking.