The post-debate five stages of grief

by Barbara Morrill for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 at 6:05:05am PDT

no image description available — Stage one

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gestures beside his wife Ann following  the third and final presidential debate with US President Barack Obama at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, October 22, 2012. The showdown focusing on foreign policy is being held in the crucial toss-up state of Florida just 15 days before the election and promises to be among the most watched 90 minutes of the entire 2012 campaign. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB        (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Stage one

There was a real five-stage-of-grief vibe on twitter after Monday night's pasting of Mitt Romney by President Obama.

Denial:

Talking to the press about Gov @MittRomney's big win tonight — 15 days until we elect him President ! http://t.co/...
— @Reince via Twitter for iPhone

Anger:

Hannity on Fox- Our troops did ride horses in Afghanistan and our Marines still carry bayonets. #ACTUALFUCKINGQUOTES
— @Johngcole via TweetDeck

Bargaining:

The "did what he had to do" refrain from Romney surrogates sounds like code for "we didn't win but we don't think we got blown out."
— @chucktodd via Twitter for BlackBerryÂ®

Depression:

Romney using kid gloves ag Obama tonight--WHY?!
— @IngrahamAngle via Twitter for BlackBerryÂ®

Acceptance:

Ari Fleischer just said the debate didn't matter, which means he thinks Romney lost
— @aravosis via Twitter for Mac

And if Republicans think they're grieving now ...

Please give the president a boost by chipping in $5 to help him close strong in the final days of this campaign.