It hasn’t exactly been the summer of love – at least not for Democrats.

After enjoying a welcome break, I’ve been struggling to find a way of summarizing what’s happened. Writing anew seems depressing enough that I’ve decided to take a brief tour though my earlier thoughts, adding a bit of contemporary commentary along the way. (Personally, I hate people quoting themselves, and no doubt you do too – so I beg your indulgence.)

Shortly after election 2008 I warned against “a creeping triumphalism in some party circles,” which had devolved “into tentative talk of realignment and permanent Democratic majorities.” Though it seems laughable today, two years ago, too many Democrats celebrated what they expected were enduring gains.

However, as I contended in January, “voters have given Democrats less a triumph and more an opportunity to perform.” “Citizens,” I wrote, projecting forward to 2010, “focus more on results