Carl Orr, has written a good summary of why people are concerned about the re-election of George W Bush. I would add two: the illnesses of Arafat and Rehnquist.

the county-by-county electoral map at USATODAY.com. It tells a story of an urban/rural split that transcends all the talk of red states/blue states. There are no red states or blue states. Rather there are small blue urban areas completely engulfed in red. And interestingly enough, the most concentrated blue on the map behind New England is in Texas, not in California, at least by this view.

Thirteen months ago, Keven Drum (then of Calpundit, now blogging at Washington Monthly), posted a shocking piece quoting extensively from the official party platform of the Texas GOP: The New Model Republican Party. Is this what we’re in for? I don’t think so, but I won’t be surprised. Republicans are great at gradualism, at getting a tiny foothold in an area of legislation and using that as the this wedge to open up huge gaps in public policy.

I was speechless yesterday. It won’t last for long, but what was there to say yesterday? I was as shocked as anyone. The culture of denial is stronger than ever, and getting stronger. How does one argue against that?

Jason at QDN correctly identified that CNN’s Election results page is the state of the art this year. go and click around – it’s clearly a great resource for junkies like me who follow this stuff in minute detail. Check out the county breakdowns for each state!