Let me add yet another spice to the sauce. Romney lost because he was always mild-mannered and defensive. Obama kept fantasizing out loud about all the wonderful things he would accomplish in his second term. The same things he'd previously said he'd do in his first term, but didn't. Romney had one opportunity after another to hit back hard and he blew it. Not once did he respond on the order of: "Where were you these past 4 years? Why didn't it happen? And as for me, I've already accomplished, as governor of Massachusetts, all that you promised and failed to do. I know I can do it because I've done it." In short, Romney lost because he's a brilliant executive, but not a politician.

During the presidential election campaign in 2008, the Clintons initially made an issue of candidate Obama's qualification regarding the requirement for "natural born" citizenship. Then, quite suddenly and inexplicably, they dropped the issue. It's been reported that they dropped it due to behind-the-scenes threats of physical harm against one or more of their children. One must wonder if Roberts experienced similar persuasion. His admonition, written into the decision, should be noted as unusually pointed. Referring to the Court's role: "It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."