The Kerry people have got themselves in a bind with this promise to “make

sure every vote is counted.” That means, on a strict interpretation, they

will have to wait out the eleven days in Ohio before formally conceding,

thereby massively ticking off the nation, since a great majority of

Americans want a speedy decision and can figure the math.

If, on the other hand, Kerry does the gracious thing and concedes without

having the Ohio ballots all counted and certified, he will massively tick

off that large segment of his base who have taken the “count every vote”

promises to heart, and are still burning with rancor over Florida 2000.

Another betrayal!

So: tick off the nation, or tick off the base? Politics sure ain’t easy.