Elite Delight

The scene is Harvard, that sine qua non of liberal elitism, that center of unAmericanism, where patriotism goes to die (and my wife's alma mater.) When the election was called for Obama.

One of the most evil parts of the McPalin campaign was the elevation to unseen heights of the ridiculous idea that liberals hate America. More than anything else, the election results afford a sense of cleansing, of being able again -- AGAIN!! -- to feel pride in our country. That it's been hard to conjure in these last eight years, with irresponsible wars, hate-mongering, torture, false imprisonment, arrogance, incompetence, false economies, and with knowing our former role as an emblem of hope and aspiration for the world had been tarnished and dashed -- that hardly indicates absent love of country. Frustration implies caring.

An election does not end it all. The difficulties facing us are immense; more than anything else, what's needed is shared willingness to recognize how serious is the mess left behind and how hard it will be to correct it. Electing a leader who calls for common purpose is not the same as achieving it. It will need to start in Congress, where Republicans will have to -- if only for a moment of history -- be willing to come on board, and where Democrats will have to -- in spite of themselves -- be able to be prudent and inclusive, mirroring their president. Who will, of course, have to mean what he's been saying.