the citizen-viewer

Bush is gone, done, finished. The Republicans got the defeat they richly deserved last night.

If they must spin, here’s what they have: squeaking by in a few close Senate races and holding the House drubbing to about 20 losses. If they really want to they can celebrate the victory of convicted felon Ted Stevens in the Alaska Senate race.

Still at a minimum they lost the White House, five Senate seats, and 18 House seats, giving Democrats their biggest majority since 1993, and if one of the two outstanding Senate races and the uncalled 10 House races break their way, their biggest majority since 1978. And this Democratic majority is finally free of the unreliable right-wing southerners. It’s a more liberal majority than anything the Democrats have had to work with since 1964.

Whoever the Democrats turn out to be as the governing majority, one thing is clear. Most Americans do not like Republican candidates. They rejected them decisively, and they did so because of Bush and his legacy.

It’s morning in America. But not for the Bushes: George W. and George H.W. and Jeb, and Barbara, and Laura, and George P. and Neil, and the ghost of Prescott Bush, and all the loyal Bushies. The long night they brought us is over.