No matter whom you talk to outside our circles, begin to perpetuate the (false, exaggerated) notion that George Bush’s victory was built not merely on values issues, but gay marriage specifically. If you feel a need to broaden it slightly, try depicting the GOP as a majority party synonymous with gay-haters, warmongers and country-clubbers. Because I, for one, am tired of hearing whiny complaints from conservatives that, not only do I not have values, but that I fail to properly respect the values of people who are all too happy to buy into, no less perpetuate, inaccurate caricatures of the 54+ million Americans who voted Tuesday for John Kerry. - Tom Schaller

Apparently not.

Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. - George W. Bush

The opposition will be fierce.

Progressives have only one course of action now: React quickly to every outrage—red state types love to cheat and intimidate, so we have to assume the worst and call them on it every time. - Jane Smiley

And bitter.

Had Kerry gotten us out of Iraq, he would’ve been blamed for “losing the war”. Now Bush will ineptly lose it for himself. - Markos Moulitsas

Oh, and have lots of advice.

First, President Bush needs to avoid appointing ultra conservative judges. Judicial extremists who are completely out of the main stream. - Dan Abrams

Lots of advice.

Instead of nominating controversial and outspoken conservatives who are sure to spark bitter challenges, Bush should begin his new term nominating acceptable conservative jurists. Let Bush show the country he wants to nominate the best justices, not the most conservative justices. - Debra J. Saunders

But let us be realistic.

This election validated not just freedom, but also the faith our Founding Fathers placed in average folks to navigate the course of this great nation. By weighing the greatest issues at the gravest times and choosing our path, ordinary people have again accomplished extraordinary things. With courage and caution, rather than fear and timidity, the voters chose a path to ensure others would enjoy the same freedom to set their own path. - Zell Miller

Some understand what happened.

Most basically, the Democratic strategists do not trust the American people. They do not believe that Americans will respond to a well-thought-out, open and honest discussion of the profound questions that vex our society. In fact Americans are hungry to be engaged about these issues. Just note what the “market” say by way of the political books on the best-seller list, the success of movies about politics, and the strength of both talk radio and Fox television. People love this stuff. - James Moore

Some haven’t a clue.

But best of all, we’ll continue to see this great resurgence in progressive activism - the kind not seen in American politics in over a generation. None of these new activists heeded the call to arms only to abandon the fight today. We are energised, and will continue to fight for a better future for our country. - Markos Moulitsas

The only question is now, which of the views above prevail? Because if it is the last one, you will be able to substitute the word “Democrats” for “Whigs” in the paragraph below.

Ultimately, however, the Whigs are best understood as an American major party trying to be many things to many men, ready to abandon one deeply held “conviction” for another in the drive for political power. The party died not because its unique aura no longer appealed to voters but because it could not cope effectively or persuasively with what after the Compromise of 1850 became the great issue of American politics, the expansion of slavery. - The Reader’s Companion to American History