Even Barack Obama's most ardent supporters acknowledge that his victory provided little of the euphoria of four years ago.
Still, even Democrats acknowledge that a victory might only be temporary: In November, half of the State Senate seats and all of the State Assembly seats are up for election, and in districts with boundaries newly drawn by the Republican-dominated Legislature. Republican-dominated Legislature
Yet some compromise on taxes must be found within weeks to prevent America from plunging over the "fiscal cliff" (see article).Mr Obama himself seemed to acknowledge that his victory has complicated underpinnings in his speech on election night, when he refrained from using the word "mandate", and pledged to work closely with Congress.
Petraeus and others, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, acknowledge that a military victory is impossible and that political negotiations are inevitable.
"This makes it all the more important to acknowledge that while the victories of independent life are often emblematized by the country's most privileged women," Traister writes, "the war was fought by many Americans who have always had far fewer options to live free: women of color, poor and working-class women".
It is generally acknowledged that the victory record without the World Series victory would dilute the impact of the Mariners' season.
The challenge of holding Trump at arm's length, while acknowledging that victory may elude them without his enthusiastic army of supporters, was apparent as Republicans sought to mitigate the damage from his comments about women.
The "12 Years a Slave" crew had to acknowledge that they were riding to victory on the legacy of slavery (and generally did a gracious job of it), as did "Dallas Buyers Club" with the AIDS crisis (not so much).
Weatherford also acknowledged that a victory over the Jets in Week 16 last year was the team's turning point.
If Democrats ultimately succeed in winning control of the chamber, even some among them have acknowledged that the victory may be more symbolic than anything.
