[SnicklefritzG]

We would be better off with Obama not in office. Obamacare alone was a reason to try to fire him. I'm personally not going to work with people who are trying to pass things that I think are damaging. I'll work on my own, individual to individual, to ensure that I can make a difference on some small level because I don't trust the current president to do so.

So many thumbs down? My efforts are not going to be well spent on "working with" Obama. My efforts are best spent doing what I can do locally because that can make a difference. Either that or working to make sure the democrats don't get elected next time around. If I feel the current president is not doing a good job, I'm not going to support him in efforts that I feel are setting the country back.

[HighFlyinBey++]

Don't be, Lex. The demographics are changing towards traditionally blue groups, which is not to say that the Democrats will have a lock by just throwing up any old candidate. Both parties have to adapt to the changes in the electorate in order to stay valid.

[Petstorejunkie]

When I went to bed, Obama had taken over 60% of the votes in Mass.... That should speak for itself as to who Mitt really is.

[Bluey]

We're not going to a better place with this man. It's going to be awful

Don't worry about the thumbing, almost half the country agrees with you, something those in the barely bigger half keep forgetting.

As for who said outsourcing was better under Obama must not be looking but as a few areas of our economy where maybe that is so, but is not for most industries.

For those of us here that own and/or work with animals, batten the hatches, as this administration has put many animal rights extremists in power positions all over.
As this election has shown us, this administration has the best master manipulators of public opinion.

I know that we won't be going forward with our expansion now, as what is to come, that we have already been told what, "the best is yet to come", are scary words after what we have seen for four years, will be the wrong environment to do so.

There is never an action without reaction, is there.
We have to be careful not to be caught with a bad guess and end up failing.

Good luck to those that will benefit from the current administration governance.

[Bluey]

When I went to bed, Obama had taken over 60% of the votes in Mass.... That should speak for itself as to who Mitt really is.

Not really, if you look at this with some perspective.
All it shows is who had the best political machine to demonize the other candidate where it mattered.
Both are guilty of that, Obama just was obviously better at it where it mattered.

[carolprudm]

I'm thrilled that my state VA went blue & in a big way!

Looks like we're still stuck with Cantor though

[leahandpie]

Don't worry about the thumbing, almost half the country agrees with you, something those in the barely bigger half keep forgetting.

As for who said outsourcing was better under Obama must not be looking but as a few areas of our economy where maybe that is so, but is not for most industries.

For those of us here that own and/or work with animals, batten the hatches, as this administration has put many animal rights extremists in power positions all over.
As this election has shown us, this administration has the best master manipulators of public opinion.

I know that we won't be going forward with our expansion now, as what is to come, that we have already been told what, "the best is yet to come", are scary words after what we have seen for four years, will be the wrong environment to do so.

There is never an action without reaction, is there.
We have to be careful not to be caught with a bad guess and end up failing.

Good luck to those that will benefit from the current administration governance.

Thank you.
I wish I could believe in the idealism of the Obama platform, but after living in the south for over a year I just can't anymore. I lived in Seattle my entire life and was 100% democrat when I moved down here. The level of entitlement in this country is out of control. If you don't believe me, come shop at Walmart near my house. Watch people pay for their groceries with food stamps, and then buy cigarettes and beer with the cash in their pocket.

Not all people will 'work harder' when you give them a little support. Most just take it, and expect more. It is human nature.

I hate the social conservatism of the Republican party. It is polarizing to my generation of voters. (I'm 26) However, our country is in deep shit and progressing towards socialism is not the right direction.

[carolprudm]

Not really, if you look at this with some perspective.
All it shows is who had the best political machine to demonize the other candidate where it mattered.
Both are guilty of that, Obama just was obviously better at it where it mattered.

When Romney left office after only one term and well before this election he had a 34-37% approval rating. He also lost MI and WI though Ryan did win his seat back

[pezk]

Not really, if you look at this with some perspective.
All it shows is who had the best political machine to demonize the other candidate where it mattered.
Both are guilty of that, Obama just was obviously better at it where it mattered.

No Bluey, it shows what the people think who were governed by Romney.

[horsetales]

Thankful for being in a country where women have a voice/vote. I hope the Congress can get their act together and work for the betterment of the country because it doesn't matter who is President if they are too busy bickering rather than finding solutions to important issues.

Also thankful that voters sent a clear message to elected officials who tried to define rape as anything but a violent crime with significant ramifications both physically and mentally. It is scary to think there are still so many who put the blame on women and a just deal with it attitude.

[CVPeg]

Thank you.
I wish I could believe in the idealism of the Obama platform, but after living in the south for over a year I just can't anymore. I lived in Seattle my entire life and was 100% democrat when I moved down here. The level of entitlement in this country is out of control. If you don't believe me, come shop at Walmart near my house. Watch people pay for their groceries with food stamps, and then buy cigarettes and beer with the cash in their pocket.

Not all people will 'work harder' when you give them a little support. Most just take it, and expect more. It is human nature.

I hate the social conservatism of the Republican party. It is polarizing to my generation of voters. (I'm 26) However, our country is in deep shit and progressing towards socialism is not the right direction.

Interesting observation. My family was Democratic in the 60's, my brother given an appointment to the Merchant Marine Academy by our Democratic Congressman, then became a pilot in Viet Nam, staying in the South where he met his wife. Totally turned to the other side over the years, but then again, they lived in Louisiana where so much thievery was going on by certain Democrats. He returned to live up here about 15 years ago and remarried, and is so conservative politically, that's almost all he and his current wife talk about. Sadly they choose all of their friends, base all of their invitations on their political alignments, to the extent it interferes with the natural consideration we all had for years among family at different holidays, birthday celebrations, etc. Of course still care for each other a great deal, and he has many other redeeming qualities - but they are very, very small minded when it comes to just getting along. And that brand of Republicanism is what I can't stand in so many today.

On another note, though, in response to your comments, the Southern states are quite overwhelmingly Republican, so not sure those you are observing are the ones who voted Obama in.

I'm glad he is in. As I've said elsewhere, feel a national health plan would be beneficial in several areas, including our overcrowded courts, and subsequently our ability to get work done, and people to move forward without needing handouts.

And that George W certainly did little to prevent the economic mess Obama was given, and hope this continuity helps get some things done. Now that everyone isn't wondering about whether or not he will be re-elected, they can get back to work!

[Canaqua]

Not really, if you look at this with some perspective.
All it shows is who had the best political machine to demonize the other candidate where it mattered.
Both are guilty of that, Obama just was obviously better at it where it mattered.

As a Massachusetts voter, I take exception to this characterization. I certainly don't choose who to vote for based on who paints the other candidate in a more negative light. And, since Massachusetts has the highest average educational level in the country (second only to DC), I know that I am not alone in going far deeper than advertising and talking points when deciding how to use my vote.

[Bluey]

Thank you.
I wish I could believe in the idealism of the Obama platform, but after living in the south for over a year I just can't anymore. I lived in Seattle my entire life and was 100% democrat when I moved down here. The level of entitlement in this country is out of control. If you don't believe me, come shop at Walmart near my house. Watch people pay for their groceries with food stamps, and then buy cigarettes and beer with the cash in their pocket.

Not all people will 'work harder' when you give them a little support. Most just take it, and expect more. It is human nature.

I hate the social conservatism of the Republican party. It is polarizing to my generation of voters. (I'm 26) However, our country is in deep shit and progressing towards socialism is not the right direction.

I am with you.
When someone posted a link to a survey about who you prefer, there were Obama and Romney and several others listed, after answering many questions, I came up with 96% for Obama.

Yes, he has a good talk, anyone disagreeing with what he is telling is made to feel bad, because his talk is about doing so much for so many.

The fly in that ointment, as we have seen for four years now and are being threatened with "more to come" is that talk is not cheap after all, there is going to have to be a way to back that with ways to make it possible for those that work to keep working to pay for all that we want to give all to raise our standard of living.

I have not seen that happening and don't expect it will if this administration keeps on this path and becomes even more socialist now that it thinks it has a free hand.

I will have to say that Obama has played his cards wonderfully, done enough to keep his supporters happy, held his hand so as not to become obvious where he is headed and for all to see the consequences.

I won't guess to what he will do next.
He may have grown up enough to realize what he wants is maybe not what is best after all, moderate his ambitions and hold his hand, making the changes suitable for our world today, our society.

If he goes hog wild and tries to use the next four years to push all he can cram in there following his way out socialist ideas, well, then we are in for a very rough ride.
Social engineering at that level, on a country the size and diversity the USA is, is like throwing a bomb in the middle of a crowded town square.
I don't think he will, but we will have to wait to see what happens, how far he does go.
That was my concern four years ago and it didn't happen, but it is still today and hopefully it won't happen this time either.

[showhorsegallery]

His opposition to marriage equality springs rather quickly to mind.

Marriage is not a basic human right. Life, ability to own property, an ability to live your life without being physically attacked by someone, able to live your life as you see fit without impeding on another's ability to the same; these are basic human rights.

I'm pro-gay marriage for what it's worth. But the ability to get a marriage certificate is not a basic human right.

[supershorty628]

Marriage is not a basic human right. Life, ability to own property, an ability to live your life without being physically attacked by someone, able to live your life as you see fit without impeding on another's ability to the same; these are basic human rights.

I'm pro-gay marriage for what it's worth. But the ability to get a marriage certificate is not a basic human right.

We will have to agree to disagree on that point.

Also, Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan's viewpoints on some women's rights issues were MAJOR problems in my mind.

[Bluey]

Marriage is not a basic human right. Life, ability to own property, an ability to live your life without being physically attacked by someone, able to live your life as you see fit without impeding on another's ability to the same; these are basic human rights.

I'm pro-gay marriage for what it's worth. But the ability to get a marriage certificate is not a basic human right.

The devil is always in the details, is it.

[caffeinated]

I hope the GOP learns some lessons from their platforms being resoundingly rejected in 10 of 11 swing states tonight. The Republican Party needs to figure out how to stop alienating vast portions of the population in favor of selling out to the Religious Right and $Big Business$ or else they risk irrelevancy within 2 generations.

You know, somewhere I read an analysis (this was months ago, too) that the whole election this year was about bringing the GOP back - let it get crazy, let it lose, then weed out and move the party in a more appropriate direction. I wish I could find that article now...

In any case, very happy with the results. I do not think Obama is the best president we've ever had, but I can't wrap my head around some of the ideas of Romney/Ryan, or how they would have helped the economy (and that's leaving aside the social issues, etc, that are very important to me).

For what it's worth - Republicans who are really upset right now: the world is not ending. America is not going to shrivel up and die. It's actually, RIGHT NOW, already, in a recovery according to every economist I've read recently. Things are actually getting better in the economy. Whether you think that's due to the gov't or in spite of it, America is resilient and bouncing back. More than likely, everything will be OK. You really will be OK, and the next four years are not going to be some cataclysm or armageddon.

[Bluey]

We will have to agree to disagree on that point.

Also, Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan's viewpoints on some women's rights issues were MAJOR problems in my mind.

Yes, they were problems with that, but not about how to get the country back on track economically and work with others and that is what we elect a president to do.
We will never know now how the other side would have done that, will we.

[Daatje]

Disgusted with the election results on the state and national level.

[horsekpr]

Whomever our President is, he/she is our Commander in Chief, the leader of our nation and deserves respect as such. I'm all over that. But I sure hope our Congress can deserve some respect this next few years. I'm disgusted with the lack of working together that they have shown. No matter who you voted for for president, we can't get anywhere with a house and senate unwilling to work with each other across party lines for our country.

Can I get an Amen up in here?