All the poll-tracking is over. All the speculation about the meaning of the 2008 election is over. All the wondering about the vitality of the Obama magic is over. Elections have a nice way of clearing the air of prognostications and predictions. We have results. We have actual votes, not polls of possible voters. And the lesson this year is very simple.

Independent voters utterly loathe the Democrats.

There really is no other way to spin it.