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Tonight Show host Jay Leno said the best thing about Election Day 2004 is that it will finally be over. Of course he was referring to the onslaught of political bashing we've had to endure for over a year. And while it looked like Floridagate 2000 all over again with Ohio, provisional ballots, and political and legal teams amassed by both Republicans and Democrats to monitor the events of the day and prepare to litigate even the slightest discrepancy observed at the polls, President Bush prevailed for a second term.

So now it's time to move on and focus on what's right for this country. Yes, this Presidential Election showed all of us just how polarized our country is, almost to the point of good versus evil. Campaigns for both Democrats and Republicans morphed into a frenzy of anger and bitterness.

I found it to be distasteful — no, down right disgusting! Over a billion dollars spent on educating the electorate on just how evil the opposition was and why that opposition needed to be defeated. And if you weren't in favor of crushing the opposition, then you were just as evil as the opposition.

Whatever happened to the democratic ideal of expressing your opinions and disagreeing with others, but doing so in a respectful manner? Don't we all want what is best for this country and for our loved ones? And when we cast our vote, are we not casting our vote for the person we believe can help us and our country achieve our goals?

Democrats and Republicans need to stop treating each other like enemies. If both would channel their energy on working together for the good of all American citizens, and less time blaming one another for the problems and challenges this country faces, at the end of the day we will be a stronger nation.