Four more years of Bush.

Amazingly, after just one day (it takes more than a month in the Philippines), the next President of the United States has been decided and it's George W. Bush, re-elected to serve another 4 more years in the White House. Unlike in 2000, he won both the popular vote (51%) and the electoral vote (274), which put to doubt any legitimacy of his presidency. Indeed, in President Bush's own words, "America has spoken".

In my opinion, Bush played his cards well. His only strength, the issue of national security and the War on Terror, became the focal point of the elections and put others, such as the economy, social security, and healthcare, on the back seat. Religion and values also came into play as more voted for the traditionally conservative Republican ideals. No wonder majority of the Senate and the Congress are Republicans, the political party of President Bush.

With the dwindling economy and rising deficits, it makes me wonder how life in America would be like from now until January 2009 (when the next president takes office). Other things in mind are the military draft, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Would Bush go after the latter 3 countries? Would we have World War 3 (and the end of the world) in the making? If so, would there be a need for a military draft? And if there is, would I be on it?

Lots of questions and lots of uncertainty abound as Bush takes another 4 years in the White House. There is no telling what may happen, especially in a volatile time such as this.

As far as I'm concerned, I have resigned my fate and conceded to the fact that the events of the future are not on my hands. If I get drafted, then I get drafted. If World War 3 breaks out, then let it be. I have no control over what may happen and all I can do is hope and pray for the best.

I certainly would have wanted John Kerry as President but he lost Ohio and conceded it this morning. Had Kerry won Ohio, he would have been President of the United States. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be.

Below is his "personalized" letter to me, sent via email (I subscribed to the Kerry-Edwards campaign support trail):

Dear Jonathan,

Earlier today I spoke to President Bush, and offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need, the desperate need, for unity for finding the common ground, coming together. Today, I hope that we can begin the healing.

In America, it is vital that every vote counts, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail. But it is now clear that even when all the provisional ballots are counted, which they will be, there won't be enough outstanding votes for our campaign to be able to win Ohio. And therefore, we cannot win this election.

It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you. I wish I could just wrap you in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

To all of you, my volunteers and online supporters, all across this country who gave so much of themselves, thank you. Thanks to William Field, a six-year-old who collected $680, a quarter and a dollar at a time selling bracelets during the summer to help change America. Thanks to Michael Benson from Florida who I spied in a rope line holding a container of money. It turned out he raided his piggy bank and wanted to contribute. And thanks to Alana Wexler, who at 11 years old and started Kids for Kerry.

I thank all of you, who took time to travel, time off from work, and their own vacation time to work in states far and wide. You braved the hot days of summer and the cold days of the fall and the winter to knock on doors because you were determined to open the doors of opportunity to all Americans. You worked your hearts out, and I say, don't lose faith. What you did made a difference, and building on itself, we will go on to make a difference another day. I promise you, that time will come -- the election will come when your work and your ballots will change the world, and it's worth fighting for.

I'm proud of what we stood for in this campaign, and of what we accomplished. When we began, no one thought it was possible to even make this a close race, but we stood for real change, change that would make a real difference in the life of our nation, the lives of our families, and we defined that choice to America. I'll never forget the wonderful people who came to our rallies, who stood in our rope lines, who put their hopes in our hands, who invested in each and every one of us. I saw in them the truth that America is not only great, but it is good.

So here -- with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better and that prayer is very simple: God bless America.

Thank you,

John Kerry


Thank you, Sen. Kerry, for giving your all in trying to serve America as President. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. It was a pleasure to be on your side and I look forward to having you running for President again in 2008. May God bless you and America.

From now on, we move forward with life, hoping and praying for the best. May God bless us all.