Scott Baugh and Frank Barbaro, Orange County’s top political bosses, on Tuesday had their traditional election-night dinner again.

This time the party chairmen dined at the Club House restaurant at South Coast Plaza. When I caught up with them the outcome of the presidential race was not quite clear. I figured Barack Obama for the winner, though, because three major networks had called Pennsylvania for him. John McCain needed to flip that state from red to blue to complete his narrow path to victory. Still, if he could get Ohio and Florida he had a shot.

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About a week ago I flew back to Chicago for the weekend to dash in to my 25th-year high school reunion. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. I only had a few days to spare, but I really wanted to do it because you don’t get another bite at that apple. I fully expected it to be weird, but was struck by just how much more odd it really was. I was greeted by a bunch of guys who I haven’t seen in 25 years and they were mostly unrecognizable to me because of not just the years, but my rapidly declining eye sight (note to self: make that appointment with the optometrist soon).

At any rate, I was also struck by the interesting political discussions I had while there. My classmates were all a smart bunch, if I might brag on them a little because I’m a big believer in a Catholic education, but several of them and their spouses were really frightened about the election outcome. And that goes for both Democrats and Republicans.

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You know that scene in “Goodfellas” (one of my all-time favorite films) when Henry Hill’s father whips out his belt and lashes his son for skipping school? Hill, in the voiceover, explains he didn’t mind so much because “sometimes you just have to take a beating.” I love that scene.

I thought of it this week as I got lashed repeatedly with e-mail nasty grams from supporters of Assemblyman Chuck DeVore after we published a “That’s Debatable” feature on our politics page featuring DeVore and his Democratic opponent Mike Glover.

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