4 November 2004 @ 2:46PM >> For a real eye-opener about the political makeup of the United States, check out this county-by-county vote map published by USA Today.

Although a few counties remain to be counted (only those counties where 100% of the precincts have reported totals were included in the map), counties won by President Bush currently comprise 3.28 million square miles of land. Kerry’s counties constitute 741,000 square miles.

In other words, measuring by land, President Bush carried 82% of the country, while John Kerry took 18%.

4 November 2004 >> Now that it’s clear President Bush will serve another four years, I hope he can manage to do something that eluded President Reagan. I’m looking for real, systemic tax reform: something along the lines of a flat tax, a national sales tax, or a VAT tax to replace the current income tax. If President Bush fails to significantly overhaul the existing tax code—including abolishing the Internal Revenue Service—it will represent one of the greatest missed opportunities of his presidency. Reagan had an unsympathetic legislature; Bush does not. I hope he won’t be afraid to be bold on taxes. Let’s get the discussion started.