Mr. Obama got about 40,000 fewer votes in Ohio than John Kerry got four years ago. Mr. Obama carried the state when Mr. Kerry did not because Republicans stayed home. Nationally, the anticipated record turnout didn’t materialize. About the same percentage of registered voters came out this year as in 2004.

This election was a fluke – a referendum on the arrogance, incompetence, and disgusting behavior of the Bush administration and the complicit bipartisan combine in Congress. It isn’t much difference than the disgust voters feel toward the Blago/Stroger/Daley kind of politics practiced here in Chicago.