... went up at our house when Obama's victory in Ohio was first announced.  We had a good crowd of friends and neighbors over for a pot luck evening, to watch the election results as they came in.  There was another great shout, an hour and a half later, when Mitt Romney appeared at the podium to make his concession speech.  It started out uncomfortably close to derision, but the feeling changed to sympathy, I think, as Romney gave what we all agreed was the most honest and believable speech of the entire election cycle.  He revealed more about himself in last night's words than he had in months of debates and public speeches.

The Republicans, I believe, shot themselves in the foot by hewing so far to the right.  They were defeated as much by their own intemperate words as by the words of their opponents, and Mitt Romney was no exception.  By the time it came, his embrace of moderate values was simply unbelievable, especially when accompanied by those lies generated, it seemed, by sheer desperation; he came undone Ohio, surely, because of the reiterated falsehoods about the export of Jeep jobs to China. In a weak economy, only now beginning to show signs of recovery, the far right wing of the Republican party willfully destroyed their chances of success with their own intransigence.

What a speech Obama gave!  Congratulations to him, and to his campaign team.  And what a great spectacle, for those of us who supported him, when the families gathered on the stage.  A great tip of the hat to the "Happy Warrior," his vice-president.  And heart-warming hugs all around--hugs that were in no short supply in our own small gathering.

Now the work begins.  If Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's ungenerous statement last night is an indication of the further obstructionism Obama can expect, his work will be cut out for him.  My hope is that Republicans will now be looking toward the next election, with the conclusion that further obstruction will not only be of disservice to the nation, but also subvert their own political chances.  It will be to their advantage to show good faith to the American people by getting the people's work done.