Some good things came out of last Tuesday’s election. It’s over. We have a new president. This campaign seemed to go on forever, and now we have a decision. That’s a very good thing!

Obama’s election may herald a new era of post-victimization politics, with every socio-economic group no longer able to portray itself as deserving of special help. Obama has such a textured identity, being half black, half white and growing mostly among Asian-Americans and Asians themselves (in Hawaii and Indonesia). His experience can get us beyond the politics or categories based on mutually exclusive human experiences.

The moralizing about “too much money in politics” may end, now, as well. Many, especially liberals, have sought to replace “dirty” private contributions with “clean” public money to fund elections. But it was the Democrat Obama who raised $250 million from over 3 million mostly small contributors (average contribution: $86). Such a broad contributor base is far preferable to government-funded campaigns using public tax dollars. Tapping internet power to get more Americans contributing to candidates and causes truly democratizes the whole process.

For Republicans, a completely clean break from the Bush years will be cleansing and clarifying. We can again focus on principles, not personalities. After massive domestic spending increases at home, a $700 billion bank bailout, domestic spying programs and open-ended foreign entanglements, Republicans can return to advocating free markets, limited government, personal freedom and individual responsibility.

Soon will come the day to give Iraq back to its own people. The results will be uncertain, perhaps violent and chaotic. We’ve set up a Shi’ite majority government that many Iraqis don’t want, one that may not be able to hold the country together. But our indefinite presence there (at $5 billion a week) won’t make the transition any better.

I only hope that Obama does not trade one quagmire in Iraq for an even deeper one in Afghanistan. All of our money and arms will not make the Middle East the way we’d like it. Besides, we have huge challenges here at home.

Despite the looming recession, voters were in a generous mood in funding local government and specific capital projects. La Habra voters raised their own sales tax to an all-time OC high of 8.25%. School bonds passed in Anaheim, Los Alamitos, Tustin, Cypress and Westminster. The statewide $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond passed with 52%.

Perhaps the national race energized Democrats and depressed the Republican vote. McCain’s 51% share of the OC vote was the lowest since Alf Landon was swamped by FDR in 1936. Obama carried my own Fourth Supervisorial District by a 3% edge.

Recently appointed Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is trying to severely reduce the number of concealed weapon permit holders in OC. Law-abiding citizens who have long held such permits have been sent form letters telling them they are suddenly being revoked.

State law gives counties and cities wide latitude in concealed permit issuances. City police chiefs may issue permits, but generally defer to the sheriff. There is hardly a glut of permits in our county. At 4.7 permits-per-thousand residents, OC already ranks 43rd of 58 counties. We have only 1,479 concealed weapons permits, well below other counties such as Shasta, San Bernardino, Kern, San Luis Obispo and Fresno which have far fewer people.

My office has been inundated with calls and emails from concerned citizens confused and troubled by the new practice. Form letters have been mailed to permit holders explaining that their long-held licenses will not be renewed. Sheriff Hutchens will explain her new policy at the November 18 board meeting. All interested parties are encouraged to participate.

At that time, the Board will consider the following resolution:

The Orange County Board of Supervisors establishes the policy of the County of Orange that any person currently holding a concealed weapon permit be entitled to a renewal; and that revocation or non-renewal of such permits shall be done only when shown that the permit was misused.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors will work with the current Sheriff and future Sheriffs to articulate and maintain standards for permit applicants that are fair, understandable and in the interests of the safety of our citizens.