I gave this some thought this morning, figuring the road was fairly well laid out. But as I looked at it, I realized it was anything but.

Some random observations:

There was no decrease in conservative turnout (although the Democrats sure tried to create one), or increase in liberal turnout. One key apparently was a HUGE swing to Democrats on the part of independents, like 60 to 40 percent. To put this in perspective, independents favored Kerry over Bush by 49 to 48 percent.

So what does the voter really want? Ted Kennedy liberalism? That doesn't seem to be the case.

Here's a list from a columnist in the Philadelphia Daily News:

Bin Laden: I want a commitment of manpower directed toward finding and killing Osama bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri. I want them hunted, found and caused to suffer a heinous death. The full court press should never end.

Profiling: Let's look for terrorists who look like terrorists. In virtually every instance, they have race, gender, ethnicity, religion and appearance in common. Those characteristics should be considered as we seek to prevent strikes against us. Everyone must screened, but some more than others.

Torture: Once we identify the bad guys, we have to get from them the info on impending attacks by any means necessary, and that includes torture. If you believe it NOT to be efficacious, tell me why our best interrogators continually seek to use it as a technique? Answer: It works.

Preventing terror: We need to implement all the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, entrusted to study what went wrong pre-9/11 and recommend how to prevent its recurrence.

Iraq: We need an end game. And don't call it "cut and run." It's time to articulate an exit strategy to let the Iraqis know they need to stand on their own two feet sooner rather than later.

Immigration: Our borders are porous. Only when they are closed should we decide what to do with the millions already here illegally. It is impractical to believe we will ship them back. But attrition, and ensuring no more friends and relatives join them, will probably diminish the herd.

Gays: Homosexuals don't threaten my marriage. As we seek to find some accommodation for same-sex couples, we need to end that false argument.

Abortion: I want a party with room for pro-life and pro-choice views. Plan B should be sold over the counter if you're 18. And I don't want politicians determining my end-of-life plan.

Embryonic stem-cell research: Pardon my callous nature, but that which exists in a petri dish is undeserving of the full rights that are afforded a viable fetus.

Term limits: We need citizen politicians, not professionals. Two Senate terms and six in the House will ensure we get grounded folks who are capable of earning a living when not serving us.

Campaign finance: Stop trying to regulate donations. Someone will always find a loophole. Let anyone spend whatever they are willing, as long as there is full and immediate disclosure.

Entitlements: Social Security, Medicare and other programs make up more than half our federal spending. The number of people on Social Security and Medicare will double in 15 years, and life expectancy continues to grow. We can't afford to continue the status quo. Yo, AARP: The retirement age has to be raised to 70. "Balanced budget" shouldn't be dirty words. I don't want my children and grandchildren saddled with paying for our wasteful spending.

Death taxes: We work hard trying to lead a comfortable life and leave a nest egg for our children. It's un-American that when we check out, Uncle Sam will stand there with his hand out to tax our earnings for the second time. The estate tax must go.

Global warming: Beats the hell out of me. But given the apparent stakes if the concerns are valid, err on the side of caution.

Guns: A symptom, not a cause. Single-parent households pose more of a threat to safety than firearms. Let's address that issue.

Nobody is going to agree with every one of these. I don't. But I believe an astonishing number of Americans would be comfortable with most of these positions. I am.

As I said in an earlier post, I really believe the future of American politics will come out of a third party. Not so much a compromise between the Left and Right as a whole different area. I'm still working this out.

So what happens now?

Again, I originally thought the answer would be obvious. It isn't. I have no idea what's going to happen next year.

Bush.

Is he going to go Reagan, or go Schwarzenegger? Is he going to take a stand on conservative positions now, or just go along to get along? I'm betting the latter. Arnold emerged a meeker and maybe wiser Arnold from his beating in the special elections. It paid off big time in popularity and votes. Bush has got to be wondering why he shouldn't just go with the flow. If he plays "willow" instead of "oak" with the Democrats, it's going to throw them off.

The Democrats.

Key question: WHICH Democrats? Many on the Left are ready to light running, nail Bush's hide to the door, surrender in Iraq, and shove the U.S. firmly in the socialist direction. The "Kos Crew." However, I've seen others who have taken this victory like a bucket of cold water in the face. Maybe this isn't a license to go nuts, but a call to statesmanship.

It's all a lot of fun when you're in the back seat kibitzing. Not so easy when you get handed the wheel, and are heading up the Pikes Peak road.

The proof will be in what happens in the first quarter of next year. The nuts are going to start firing legislation out. Who will vote for it? Where will the leadership stand? Pelosi is talking the statesman talk now, and getting a lot of fire from the leftist blogs for it. Will she play that through? Are there enough of one group or another in the Democratic Party to change the leadership if Pelosi isn't playing the right game?

Maybe we'll get enough hints even before January.

We'll see what happens.