A concrete agenda and landslide victory might not even guarantee a president his mandate in a capital as polarized as Washington.

Historians will likely give Obama credit for steering the country away from the brink of economic collapse in 2009.

Obama still has work to do with the vision thing. Convincing voters that he has a credible, practical plan to turn the nation around is a process, not a speech.

Don't kid yourself. President Obama's decision to withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan before he stands for reelection is not driven by the United States' 'position of strength' in the war zone as much as it is by grim economic and political realities at home.

It's a bit unfair to accuse Obama of dividing the nation when the facts show that it already is.

If acknowledging that racial misgivings and misunderstandings are still a part of politics and life in America, I plead guilty.

Election night is the easiest time to act like a grownup.