What does it mean?

Here are some things we should learn from this election:

1.  The American people are not so dumb and not so easily mislead by lies as the Republicans thought.

2.  Big money does not necessarily win elections.   (Caveat:  Obama also raised big, big money.  But much much more of it came from small donors.)

3.  A campaign built on distorting the truth and pretending to be something you're not does not work.   People see through the phoniness (take note, Romney).

4.  Trying to win by intimidation and voter suppression does not work.  It backfires.   It makes people more determined to vote at any price.  And the beauty of our democracy is that they can vote and it will count.

5.  Speak the truth.  Be genuine.  Organize.  Organize.  Organize.   Obama's superior ground game on election day probably was one of the biggest factors in his decisive win in the battleground states.  

Now the lesson the Republican Party needs to take to heart:    Your rightward lunge has been soundly repudiated.    The Tea Party dragged you into defeat.   You will have to rebuild your party with the few moderates who have stuck with you.

Ralph