The ballots are counted (and in some few places, recounted). The blame is being distributed (but only in one of the two parties). The lawn signs have been struck (but some are being kept as collectibles, reminders of dreams redeemed or dismantled).
Yet several mysteries remain, and a passel of new ones has emerged. It is, at times like this, the mysteries that matter as much as the certainties. They will linger long past Thanksgiving, but they provide a feast of their own. Here are some of them:
kAm• (92EVD E96 7FEFC6 @7 23@CE:@?[ 2?5 23@CE:@? A@=:E:4D[ ?@H E92E s@?2=5 %CF>A 92D 366? 6=64E65nk^Am
kAm%9:D BF6DE:@? :D DF77FD65 H:E9 9@A6D[ 762CD 2?5 F?46CE2:?E:6D] %9@D6 7F== @7 9@A6 =@@< 2E E96 AC6D:56?E\6=64EVD C@=6 :? @G6CEFC?:?8 E96 #@6 G] (256 564:D:@? 4C62E:?8 3C@25 23@CE:@? C:89ED] %9@D6 7F== @7 762CD =@@< 2E E96 D2>6 CF=:?8 2?5 D66 >@C6 E@ 4@>6 — :?4C62D65 ?F>36CD @7 4@F?E:6D 2?5 DE2E6D E92E 2C6 23@CE:@?\C:89ED 56D6CED[ C6BF:C:?8 E9@D6 H:E9 F?H2?E65 AC68?2?4:6D E@ EC2G6= :7 E96J 42? 2?5 DF776C :7 E96J 42?VE]k^Am
kAmxEVD E96 F?46CE2:?E:6D E92E AC6G2:=] %CF>A ?6G6C 92D 42C65 >F49 23@FE 23@CE:@?[ 6>A=@J:?8 E96 :DDF6 AC:?4:A2==J 2D 2 A@=:E:42= E@@= — E@ 5:G:56 p>6C:42?D 2=@?8 4F=EFC2= =:?6D E92E 2C6 =2C86=J D6E 3J E96 :DDF6[ E@ 4@FCE G@E6D 2D 2 >62?D @7 D@=:5:7J:?8 9:D A@=:E:42= 32D6] }@H E92E 96VD 9625:?8 324< E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 — ?@H E92E 96 42??@E CF? 7@C AC6D:56?E 282:? — E96 FE:=:EJ @7 E9:D :DDF6 :D :? 9:D C62C\G:6H >:CC@C]k^Am
kAmw@H 5@ H6 <?@H E92En q642FD6 9:D @FE=@@< 92D C2?865 H:56=Ji 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ !=2??65 !2C6?E9@@5[ E96? @AA@?6?E @7 23@CE:@? C:89ED[ E96? 46=63C2?E @7 E96 s@33D 564:D:@?[ E96? FD:?8 :ED 5@4EC:?6 @7 EFC?:?8 E96 >2EE6C E@ E96 DE2E6D E@ D<:CE 2?J H6==\56G6=@A65 A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAm!C@8?@D:Di p3@CE:@? 2?5 %CF>A[ ?@E @C5:?2C:=J E96 >2DE6C @7 E96 D@F?5 @7 D:=6?46[ 2C6 D@ J6DE6C52J]k^Am
kAm• (92E H:== 36 E96 ?6H C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? E96 AC6D:56?E\6=64E 2?5 E96 492:C>2? @7 E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 $JDE6>nk^Am
kAm$2>6 2D E96 @=5 @?6] (2CJ[ E96? 9@DE:=6[ E96? 2? 6?7@C465[ F?4@>7@CE23=6 A6246]k^Am
kAm%96 C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? %CF>A 2?5 y6C@>6 !@H6== 92D 366? 7C2F89E H96? :E 92D?VE 366? 7C@DEJ] !@H6== C67FD65 E@ E2<6 E96 7@C>6C AC6D:56?EVD 9:?ED @? :?E6C6DE\C2E6 =6G6=D :? %CF>A x] p?5 !@H6==VD C6DF>6 :D DEF5565 H:E9 ?@\7=J\K@?6D 7@C E96 ?6H 25>:?:DEC2E:@?i !C:?46E@?[ v6@C86E@H? {2H[ E96 r2C=:D=6 vC@FA :?G6DE>6?E A@H6C9@FD6[ 9:D 2AA@:?E>6?ED 3J E96 36E6 ?@:C6D @7 E96 |pvp >@G6>6?E] xEVD ?@E D@ >F49 9:D D6=64E:@? 3J q2C24< ~32>2 2?5 y@6 q:56? W7@C8:G6? 3642FD6 49@:46D =:<6 !@H6== H6C6 6IA64E65 :? s6>@4C2E:4 25>:?:DEC2E:@?DX[ 3FE 96 42CC:6D E96 E2:?E @7 v6@C86 w](] qFD9[ E96 C6:8?:?8 DJ>3@= @7 E96 4@FCE=J DEJ=6 2?5 3:A2CE:D2? :>AF=D6D E92E 92G6 366? 32?:D965 3J %CF>A 2?5 2C6 C6G:=65 3J ':46 !C6D:56?E\6=64E ys '2?46]k^Am
kAm!@H6== :D C625J 7@C E96 @?D=2F89E] w6VD AC6A2C65 E@ 7:89E 2?5 :D C625J:?8 2 =682= 42D6]k^Am
kAm!C@8?@D:Di %9:D =@@>D 2D E96 7:CDE @7 D6G6C2= :?DE2?46D H96C6 %CF>A H:== E9:?< 96V== 36 32:=65 @FE 3J 9:D 4@FCE 2AA@:?E66D — 3FE H@?VE 36]k^Am
kAm• (92E H:== '2?46VD C@=6 36nk^Am
kAm~C5:?2C:=J[ #6AF3=:42? G:46 AC6D:56?ED W#:492C5 }:I@?[ $A:C@ p8?6H[ E96 D6?:@C qFD9[ s2? "F2J=6[ |:<6 !6?46X 2AAC@249 E96:C ?6H ;@3D H:E9 9:89 9@A6D[ @?=J E@ 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D :? C@=6D 36DE 56D4C:365 3J E96 7:CDE G:46 AC6D:56?E[ y@9? p52>Di Q|J 4@F?ECJ 92D :? :ED H:D5@> 4@?EC:G65 7@C >6 E96 >@DE :?D:8?:7:42?E @77:46 E92E 6G6C E96 :?G6?E:@? @7 >2? 4@?EC:G65 @C 9:D :>28:?2E:@? 4@?46:G65]Q x?5665[ qFD9[ H9@ =:<6 p52>D D6CG65 EH@ E6C>D :? E92E E@@E9=6DD ;@3[ DF>>2C:K65 9:D C6>:E 2D 2 D6C:6D @7 G:D:ED E@ E96 7F?6C2=D @7 7@C6:8? =6256CDi Q*@F 5:6[ x 7=J]Qk^Am
kAm}@E D@ '2?46] w:D 5@?@C 8C@FA[ E96 #@4<3C:586 }6EH@C<[ =2DE H66<6?5 AC@G:565 E96 7@CF> 7@C E96 7:CDE 4@?D6BF6?E:2= A=2??:?8 >66E:?8 7@C E96 ?6H 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] %96 !pr E92E AC@A6==65 "F2J=6 E@ E96 $6?2E6 :? `hg_ 2?5 E92E AC@G:565 9:> H:E9 E96 G:D:3:=:EJ E92E =65 E@ 9:D D6=64E:@? 2D qFD9VD G:46 AC6D:56?E 96=5 ?@ DF49 6G6?E] }@C 5:5 2?J s6>@4C2E :? E96 C@=6[ 6G6? (2=E6C |@?52=6 2?5 p= v@C6[ 3@E9 4C65:E65 H:E9 36:?8 67764E:G6 G:46 AC6D:56?ED]k^Am
kAm!C@8?@D:Di '2?46 :D AC:>65 E@ 36 E96 >@DE :?7=F6?E:2= G:46 AC6D:56?E :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ[ 64=:AD:?8 s:4< r96?6J[ 2? :>A@CE2?E G@:46[ 6DA64:2==J :? ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ >2EE6CD[ :? E96 v6@C86 (] qFD9 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] %CF>AVD 36H:=56C:?8 2??@F?46>6?E =2DE H66<6?5 E92E 7@C>6C &?:E65 }2E:@?D p>32DD25@C }:<<: w2=6J 2?5 7@C>6C $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 |:<6 !@>A6@ H@F=5?VE 36 :? E96 ?6H 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H2D 2 4=62C D:8? E92E s@?2=5 %CF>A yC] 2?5 @E96CD 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 %CF>A E62> 5@?VE H2?E 9:89\AC@7:=6 4@>A6E:E@CD E@ '2?46 7@C E96 a_ag ?@>:?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm• $@ H92E <:?5 @7 A6@A=6[ 2?5 H92E <:?5D @7 :562D[ H:== 4@?DE:EFE6 E96 E@A A@D:E:@?D :? E96 ?6H 25>:?:DEC2E:@?nk^Am
kAm|2J36 ?@E E96 3C@D H9@ 96=A65 D6?5 9:> 324< E@ E96 AC6D:56?4J] ~?=J 2 76H G6E6C2?D @7 E96 7:CDE %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2C6 =:<6=J E@ H:? (9:E6 w@FD6 A2DD6D]k^Am
kAm{@@< 7@C E9@D6 H:E9 E:6D E@ |pvp\7C:6?5=J @C82?:K2E:@?D 2?5 >65:2 @FE=6ED] %CF>A >2J 92G6 5:D2G@H65 !C@;64E a_ad[ 3FE E92E H2D 7@C A@=:E:42= 6IA65:6?4Jj E96 w6C:E286 u@F?52E:@? >2J 36 E96 @?=J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 @C82?:K2E:@? H:E9 #6282? C@@ED E@ AC@G:56 AC@A@D2=D 2?5 A6CD@??6= 7@C %CF>AVD ?6H E62> — H9:49 H@?VE C6D6>3=6 E96 @=5 E62> G6CJ 4=@D6=J]k^Am
kAmqFD9 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 6IA6C:6?46 :D 2? 6DA64:2==J 5625=J DE2:? @? 2 C6DF>6] tG6? E96 >@DE E6?F@FD E:6D E@ E96 r96?6J 72>:=J H:== 36 72E2=j E92EVD 2? :>A@CE2?E :>A65:>6?E 3642FD6 r96?6J H2D (9:E6 w@FD6 49:67 @7 DE277[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 w@FD6 =6256CD9:A[ 5676?D6 D64C6E2CJ[ 49:67 @7 2 8:2?E 6?6C8J 7:C> 2?5 :D :56?E:7:65 H:E9 3@E9 H2CD :? xC2B 2?5 E96 @?6 :? p7892?:DE2? — 2== AC@G:5:?8 9:> H:E9 E6?E24=6D E9C@F89@FE 4@?D6CG2E:G6 p>6C:42] $@>6 @7 E96 %CF>A\6?5@CD65 $6?2E6 2?5 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42?5:52E6D H9@ H6C6 56762E65 WDF49 2D s@F8 |2DEC:2?@[ 362E6? 7@C !6??DJ=G2?:2 8@G6C?@C :? a_aa 3J y@D9 $92A:C@X 42? ?FCEFC6 72:?E[ 3FE AC@323=J G2:?[ 9@A6D] %CF>A 92E6D =@D6CD]k^Am
kAmw6 5@6D?VE >:?5 =2E6 4@?G6CED E@ E96 42FD6[ 9@H6G6C] '2?46 :D E96 >@DE AC@>:?6?E] p?5 =@@< H9@ :D 23@FE E@ 36 E96 ?6IE 2>32DD25@C E@ E96 &?:E65 }2E:@?Di xEVD #6A] t=:D6 $E672?:< @7 }6H *@C<[ H9@ @?=J 2 76H D64@?5D 28@ :? 86@=@8:4 E:>6 H2D E96 DJ>3@= @7 6G6CJE9:?8 %62> %CF>A 56DA:D6Di ?@E @?=J v6@C86 (] qFD9 =:?6286 3FE E:>6 :? E96 @77:46 @7 9:D 49:67 @7 DE277j E:6D E@ !2F= #J2? W?@H 6I:=65 7C@> E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ 7@C H9:49 96 @?46 H2D E96 7C6D9 ?6H 7246Xj 2?5 2 >@56C2E6 AC@7:=6 367@C6 %CF>A 3642>6 AC6D:56?E] !=FD[ 2 w2CG2C5 568C66]k^Am
kAm!C@8?@D:Di p>6C:42 C6>2:?D E96 =2?5 @7 @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 2?5 @AA@CEF?:DED]k^Am
kAms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.