It was and still is. A Bush presidency, this time no longer plagued by the issue of popular legitimacy. With a significant and comfortable majority, the sins and memories of Florida 2000 are bent to be overcomed. The magic number was 3.5 million. 3.5 million more for Bush than Kerry. 3.5 million more for a perceived just war leadership than a reluctant 'just for kerry'. 3.5 more for forgetfulness or forgiveness than forsakeness for a misleading reason to occupation. 3.5 million more undisturbed than unconvinced of his economic policies, his role in the growing deficit and his tax cut for the rich. 3.5 million more frightened of terrorism than its handling. 3.5 million more for the centre-right, and those pretending to be in its pragmatic grasp. Even among the presence of much more pressing issues, one came up to define this round, this bout, dominating the rest with a zealous demand and drive which only a deep,intense belief on its value could bring;moral state of america. By beating up the Bush base, Karl Rove did the unexpected, or at least unanticipated. Social conservatives and evangelicals poured into the polls, garnering a straight, coherent, organized punch against an ambigious protest movement. Such muscle pushed and pulled in the Bush vote further and deeper into the marginally Red and Blue and those critically swing states. to be continued...