FWIW, Newsweek's "take" on this is that the people chose the worse of two "evils," and that mideast peace-negotiations will come to a grinding halt. Now I realize Newsweek is Newsweek-but they have some pretty decent columnists like Fareed Zakaria...who seems to have an informed grip on the Middle East.

Interesting article if any of you feel so moved as to pick up a copy, or subscribe. Between the mess in Iraq (whether yer for the reasons we went in or not) a nut-job running Iran and wanting nukes, Hamas in power for the Palestinians, Sharon gone, etc. etc. I ain't real optimistic. I don't see how Sharon's govt. would have dealt with Hamas. Period.