Use of JS based on ajax operation information

// Requires prototype.js
function edit(action, obj) {
  Element.hide(obj);
  var textarea ='<p id="&#39; + obj.id + &#39;_editor"><input type="text" id="&#39; + obj.id + &#39;_edit" name="&#39; + obj.id + &#39;" value="&#39; + obj.innerHTML + &#39;" size="40">';
  var button = '<input id="&#39; + obj.id + &#39;_save" type="button" value="SAVE" /> <input id="&#39; + obj.id + &#39;_cancel" type="button" value="CANCEL" /></p>';
  new Insertion.After(obj, textarea+button);
  Event.observe(obj.id+'_save', 'click', function(){saveChanges(action, obj)}, false);
  Event.observe(obj.id+'_cancel', 'click', function(){cleanUp(obj)}, false);
  $(obj.id+"_edit").focus();
  $(obj.id+"_edit").select();
}
function cleanUp(obj, keepEditable) {
  Element.remove(obj.id+'_editor');
  Element.show(obj);
  if(!keepEditable) showAsEditable(obj, true);
}
function saveChanges(action, obj) {
  var new_content = escape($F(obj.id+'_edit'));
  obj.innerHTML = "Saving...";
  cleanUp(obj, true);
  var success = function(t){editComplete(t, obj);}
  var failure = function(t){editFailed(t, obj);}
  var url = 'poll-ajax.php?a='+action;
  var pars = 'id=' + obj.id + '&content=' + new_content;
  var myAjax = new Ajax.Request(url, {method:'post', postBody:pars, onSuccess:success, onFailure:failure});
}
function editComplete(t, obj) {
  obj.innerHTML = t.responseText;
  showAsEditable(obj, true);
}
function editFailed(t, obj) {
  obj.innerHTML = 'Sorry, the update failed.';
  cleanUp(obj);
}