We sold President Obama short Wednesday. Our editorial "The Unspeakable Tragedy in Tucson" expressed doubt that anything the president could say would serve the purpose of helping set the nation back on the path of "understanding and healing," given how polarized things have become after the Arizona shootings.

We were wrong. If ever anyone gave a speech that rose to a difficult situation, it was the moving address Obama delivered before a huge crowd at Wednesday night's memorial service.

Though some complained that the setting and the loud cheering made the thing seem like a campaign appearance, the president struck just the right tone - "the loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better in our private lives" - and largely managed to steer clear of jarring partisan references.

Even some commentators on the right gave Obama his due. "Well done, Mr. President," blogged the conservative National Review.

Well indeed. Closure is still a way off, but this helped move us all in the right direction.