Celebrations sprang up throughout the world last night — captured in a remarkable front-page slideshow on the Huffington Post – after the major networks made the call for Sen. Barack Obama. But nowhere was the jubilation more passionate or immediate than in our nation’s capital.

I headed downtown to enjoy some peaceful reflection on the Mall, placing the night’s events in the context of Abraham Lincoln’s immortal words enshrined in his memorial.

My plans were quickly scrapped, however, as I approached the White House. Throngs of ecstatic D.C. residents of all shades and ages honked their horns, chanted “O-BA-MA” and “Yes we did!” and hugged passing strangers.

Never had I seen such unadulterated joy in the streets of the United States. The scene most closely resembled a World Cup victory celebration.

In front of the White House, a swarm of revelers sang George W. Bush out of the presidency: “Na, na, na, na, hey hey, goodbye.” Even a Republican, had one been present, would have taken comfort in this raucous reminder of the persistent freedoms that are at the core of American democracy.