Disclaimer: I'm nominally a Republican, but that's just a label. I'm a fiscal conservative, social moderate, and foreign policy Jacksonian.
So your candidate lost, or your referendum measure didn't go the way you like. So what? There's always next election. There's even a chance that the winner will do a better job than you thought.
Here's my take: I didn't vote for President Clinton, but it was still exciting to see him claim victory. I didn't vote for President Obama, but it was terribly, terribly exciting to watch his gracious and moving victory speech. I wouldn't have voted for Representative-elect Owens, but I wish him well in his new office.
My point is that even if you think the winner is a boob, how hard is it, really, to put aside the partisan acrimony for just one day and congratulate the winners? We've all got to get along somehow, and going around thinking that the other half of the voters are too stupid for you to respect their opinions is a bad way to be.
I'm sorry to see so many snarky remarks about Governors-elect McDonnell and Christie. I'm sorry to see a blanket characterization of those who voted "yes" on Maine 1 as bigoted haters, when we all know that it's not so cut and dried an issue.
I reject excuses that point out that Freepers or some other set of people make similarly snarky comments about the election winners they don't like. Are you telling me that you don't hold yourselves to higher standards than the "morans"?
Election Day is a unique opportunity to celebrate our form of government and to put aside partisanship once the voting ends. It's an opportunity for the losing candidates to put on a brave face and to lead by example in putting aside differences. Moments such as the concession speeches of Senator McCain (2008), Senator Kerry (2004), and President Carter (1980) come to mind, and they underscore the remarkable nature of the American Experiment.
If you don't get that or if you can't put the rancor aside for even one day, what the hell is wrong with you? Shame on you.