Michigan has a Republican governor. So no, we don't always vote Democratic. If the Republicans haven't realized by now that they need to change themselves then they will lose the next election too. People see through the lies and are tired of being treated like the 47%. We are not stupid. The voters have spoken. Be gracious and try to work on making things better for all by working on compromise and there will be no havoc, as you put it.

I am literally HORRIFIED at what I witnessed last night.

How can even ONE JEW vote for that traitor???

How can even ONE PENNSYLVANIA resident vote for that swine???

How can even ONE business owner vote for that monster???

Other than sitting here at my desk today STUNNED... I am cancelling my employees' Blue Cross Blue Shield at my small business and heading out to get the oil changed on my used car - which I will be driving for another four years.

Or more.

That was President George W. Bush that " WRECK HAVOC" on the country.

Actually, wrecking havoc is a good thing, especially after Bush wreaked so much of it, and Romney would have wreaked even more.

President Obama truly cares, you can see that.

What in the world is a "hater"?

@Sam123

What in the world is a "hater"?
Answer: Anyone who disagrees with a liberal or a minority.

Felon? Hmmm!

I don't see a mandate. I see as many people fed up with having to choose the perceived lesser of two evils, as I see either side touting their supposed core-constituencies.

Republican obstructionist? Are there some? Of course, but blaming them is laughable. The man in the white house ran his first campaign on a promise of transparency, and coalition building. This same mad demanded a bill to sign before that August congressional recess. Said bill was famously passed and signed without having been read or debated. He's the same man that has invoked 'executive privilege' time after time in response to congressional investigations.

Neither the left, or the right truly want compromise - and the middle/moderates have been marginalized and cast aside in part because a sensationalist media delights in "retweeting" radical/sensationalist drivel from both extremes.

All in all, we in the middle know full well that neither side has a true plan in place to fix the mess. Perhaps I can find a job with the only industry likely to see a meteoric expansion - The Federal Government...

Executive Privilege 'time after time'? Really? Try exactly ONCE. As someone in the "middle", I hope you also complained as loudly when the former president invoked Executive Privilege 6 times. This was in response to a political fishing expedition. The documents for Fast and Furious have been released. What they wanted to go after was documents outlining the President's and the Attorney General's reaction to it - which is obviously privileged information.

The Republicans have led the most obstructionist Congress in history. This is not opinion - it is fact. http://www.ourfuture.org/fact-sheets-briefs/record-breaking-republican-obstructionism.

Only 2 TEA Party candidates lost, and I don't even consider West a true TEA Party candidate . He voted for spending bills that legitimate fiscal conservatives shunned.

And on the bright side, about 8 new TEA Party members will be seated in the next session. So the best interests of the United States, which are small government, personal responsibility and fiscal conservatism, will be represented in even greater numbers.

Good example of whats wrong with American politics. Anyone that disagrees is a moron. Nice attitude. Pass that on to the generation, won't you?

Bowl? Hmm....

You're using quote marks incorrectly.

FHVoice...very well said.

The country says you are wrong - deal with it.

yeah right. stock market doubled during his first four years. darn it, that's terrible.

are you really basing an opinion on the economic success based upon how the big banks, healthcare firms and day-traders make money and escalate stock bubbles? gasoline prices more than doubled in his first 4 years. housing values are down 70% in many areas

pick your favorite demographic or economic metric, we can go back and forth for years showing what an abomination his 'leadership' has helped foster.

Because America voted, that's why.

Because it's sad how many people are sheep in this country and are glamored by the idea of him, not what he did or is capible of doing. The stock market is already down almost 300 points today because his reelection is horrible news for the economy. There are articles already out there talking about how EVERYONE'S taxes are going to go up 5-10% now. And get ready for war with Iran. I'm very worried for the direction this country is taking.

The stock market is down because of Europe and fears of further Congressional obstructionism on the budget.

Brad - actually ACA looks sort of like the German model. Sort of.

Where have you been the last two years? The only way anything you say is going to happen would have happened is if Romney had gotten elected.

America, and Michigan, have spoken.

and each one of them that voted that idiot into office DESERVES to lose his job. Stupidity is dangerous.

Incompetence rest on the Republican/Tea Party that vowed to obstruct the country and President Obama. Remeber that BinLaden is dead and G.M. is alive.

Don - and I wonder how many dead people have spoken? Countless, I'm sure.
Duke - True, but to bad that Ambassador in Libya isn't.

True patriots respect the office even if they didn't vote for the man. To quote Republicans in 2000-2008 - "Don't criticize the President in the time of War, you are making us look weak and playing into the hands of the Taliban" and "America - love it or leave it". Those apply even when your guy loses, right?

Please explain how he has made our country socialist.

Robo- they can't come up with a real argument so they throw those terms out there. By the way, did you know Einstein was a strong supporter of Socialism and thought that Capitalism was evil? Not that it means anything, just a neat nugget of info. Socialism:" any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods." SO in reality it may not be that bad because most of the Repubs complain the lazy dems are living off of them. Well, with Socialism they would basically be assigned jobs and be forced to contribute something. Their argument about the US being a socialist nation is probably not what they truly mean. Welfare is not part of socialism. People all have to contribute to the society as a whole. No, I'm not a socialist. Capitalism serves its purpose and should motivate people. That would be people motivated by money (most are). Some people are not motivated by money and that is where is can fail.

We've always had a mixed economy, and heathcare before ACA wasn't exposed to the free market -- and it shouldn't, because it doesn't behave like a commodity. The paradox with the healthcare we had pre-ACA is there needed to be government intervention in order for providers to be both profitable and efficient enough to stay affordable for the companies that paid for it.

ACA isn't 'socialist': it's actually corporatist... in ACA, the state doesn't 'own' healthcare or distribute it... it sets up parameters of the marketplace, which, while that sets up it's own sort of problems, it's not socialist. If you want to call it something bad, call it fascist, which it is technically closer to.

We currently have a more "socialist" health care system than countries such as Germany. Germany has universal health care yet the hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies are all private. They do not have anything like the VA system - one of the largest "socialist" health care systems in the world.

Brad - ACA sort of looks like the German model. Sort of.

It will take many years to repain the mess that was left by the Bush/Cheney presidency. It took many years to recover from the Great Depression, which is where the Republican/Tea Party brought the country to. The greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression.

Even as Europe's economy has imploded, you won't have to move there. Europe's policies are going to continue to come here for another 4 years...

" THE WORK GOES ON,THE CAUSE ENDURES, THE HOPE STILL LIVES AND THE DREAMS SHALL NEVER DIE." Seantor Edward Kennedy

True, All super power country's have had their day of world power going back to EGYPT,ROME,SPAIN,UNITED KINGDOM, etc.etc....

Contact britishairways.com

Duke, you make the reservation for GIGI and I will pay for it. Europe is doing so much better...go there. LOL

Why would you think that Europe wants you? In surveys, over 85% of Europeans said that they would vote for Obama if they had the chance. You need to move to a country that is more conservative like ... well, like nobody. Maybe Vatican City?

Brad nailed it!

OHNO! EUROPE! MARXISTS! Yeah, right. Read a little, travel a little, and find out some more about the world before you make such absurd statements. There are problems in Europe as there are problems everywhere. But the hugely economically successful countries of Europe like Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, Sweden, Finland etc etc. have great standards of living, excellent education, and wonderful universal healthcare. Most are social democracies, which is NOT in any way equivalent to Marxism, and most individuals in those countries would consider their ability to influence government to be greater than most people here.

The Marxists are not coming to get you. Obama is not a foreign Muslim. The President has, despite the most obstructionist Congress in history, managed to achieve an (albeit slow) economic turnaround after the worst recession since the Great Depression. The Dow Jones Index has doubled. Taxes are the lowest they have been in decades. Job creation has been positive for over 50 months. Corporate profits are higher than they have ever been. The USA is respected more around the world than it was 4 years ago. Four More Years and we should be on the way to reversing the damage of the Bush years.

the Current Popular vote ticker I see is:
51% Obama
48.8% Romney

what exactly constitutes 'close' in your eyes? o.O

Benefit from Obamacare, really? Small business owners who now offer medical benefits are now going to terminate them and make their employees pay for their own via Obamacare. That's going to stimulate the economy? If you do not currently have health benefits wait until you are forced taking a federal sponsored health plan and see how much you are going to HAVE to pay - not by your choice. Just what we don't need - more government telling us what to do.

Sue totally agree.

One simple question to you Sue ---"how will the country benefit from Obama Care?"

I know many physicians who are leaving the practice when that goes into place in 2014. I know what I am talking about --- relatives who are doctors who are leaving their practices ---they will not stand for government managed health "uncare".

Yea, I heard Obama was really popular in the previously disenfranchised 'deceased' demographic...racking up 100% of those votes previously seen as unattainable.

Les, there's more people in medical school now than ever before in history. You honestly think that doctors are going to stop working altogether because reimbursement rates get cut? The medica
Industry is incredibly inefficient. When their largest customer - Medicare- refuses to fund their excess and inefficiency, they'll figure out real quick how to irove. You know, like the private sector the GOP is so fond of touting...

Obamacare will be better than what we have, for all.

As far as I see most small business owners already charge their employees an arm and a leg for their health care. People without health care go to the emergency room, etc. Those costs are passed on from the hospital to the insurance companies who then pass the costs to us that do have insurance.

We pay twice as much for health care than average country with universal health care and have worse than average health outcomes. Anybody who sees these statistics and thinks we can continue with our current "system" is delusional. Why do you want to pay more for less care? Why do you insist that Obamacare would cost more even though all evidence says that it will cost less?

They all thought they would win though because they were the loudest group out there. The Dems sat back quietly and watched them sink their own ship. They didn't know Obama would win because they were too busy shouting their opinions everywhere whether you wanted to hear it or not. I didn't unfriend anyone. I don't care who people vote for, yet I see all over the place Repubs unfriending people because they can't stand differing view points. Its their way or no way and that's why they lost. I didn't lose any friends because I choose mine wisely and no...party affiliation is not one of my requirements.

Exactly what rights and freedoms are you getting?
We will ALL be forced to buy health insurance or be fined if we don't. We are being told what our children CANNOT bring to school for lunch (remember the child whose homemade lunch was thrown out and she was given chicken nuggets that the school then charged the parents for)?
No one can sell soft drinks larger than 16 oz in New York.
Next we will be told how often we can go to the bathroom.

Michelle I couldn't have said it better!

Hey Whatthe- I agree with you on some parts. I don't think the healthcare plan is perfect but we need to do something. I have a picky eater and if they threw my kids lunch out (which is basically a snack since he eats at home) I would be knocking on their doors. I thought the 16oz soft drink rule was TOTALLY ridiculous. You are picky on some silly things though to argue your point.
I want my child to have opportunity for a great education and the Repubs keep making cuts there. I'm sick of us barging into other countries and telling them what they need to do (and wasting the money to do so). Would you want them coming to our land and telling us we are doing it all wrong? I think the churches have their rights to believe in what they want just as I think gay people should have their rights. It shouldn't be up to us to judge. I want more freedoms not less. I don't want a man/government to tell me what I can or cannot do with my body, what I can or cannot believe. You were allowed to vote how you choose and I voted how I did. I respect your choice, please understand we won't agree on everything, but may on some things. Your points below...I agree with you probably about 75%. Funny, eh? Not bad for a Dem...Most Dems I know think that the lunch thing, the soda thing are ridiculous. Most of us are torn on the Obamacare and agree it needs work (but not to be thrown away completely). I hope this helps.

I laugh when I hear Republicans threatening to leave the country - where exactly do they propose to go?

OHNO. The Marxists are making my children EAT VEGETABLES!

4 more years!!!!!!!

you've got it wrong, Amanda. Liberals love America. Republicans simply don't care about anything other than themselves. That's why no Republican community is willing to pay a millage that amounts to 25 cents a day, even if the money goes to disabled school children.

Republicans are willing to sacrifice NOTHING to better our country. There is not one thing a Republican will compromise on.

Yes, Taxes suck big time. But they are necessary. Paying your fair share is your civic duty. Instead of paying for 5 toppings on your pizza, get 1 topping and use that extra money to fund our nation's recovery. That is a small sacrifice which will add up. Amanda, are you willing to make a small sacrifice? Or are you just going to recycle garbage you hear on TeaParty.com?

Did you know Einstein was a socialist too? LOL. I think you are a little extreme my friend. It is that attitude that sunk your party. Better luck in 2016. Maybe they can find someone to represent the majority and not just the strict conservatives.

Rainbow....people don't like paying taxes? Come on...I love it! Everyone loves taxes, you are kidding right? It stinks to make obvious points (but you have to). All Repubs think the Dems are lazy, uneducated, Jerry Springer watching fools. I have worked full time my entire adult life and while I don't complain about paying whatever taxes they say I owe, you are right, none of us like it. They think we are sitting here on our butts collecting welfare. I pay my share of taxes too. I am willing to make cuts (less topics, more sales, whatever) and pay more to get things back on track. The government needs to follow our lead. I would hope a bit of an increase in taxes should be easier to swallow if we see the government making the necessary cuts. They are all so far removed from reality though. It takes forever to achieve ANYTHING in Washington.

Look at the map. The states that went for Obama are the richest and most industrialized States in the country. I think your little "war" would end quite quickly.

Since blue states tend to subsidize red states, it'd be interesting to see how red states fund themselves come the revolution.

I don't understand... i like country... Hank Williams, George Jones... great stuff!

It's been 4 years already and things are worse. My house value continues to fall. There are no raises or bonuses coming from my job. More and more people are on welfare.
As far as taxing the wealthy, I don't see the Obamas or their Hollywood friends paying their fair share!

To whatthefrack - your home value has more to do with living in a region that is dependent on one industry that has a lot of exposure to the vagaries of the world economy. Homes in more diverse economic regions have retained or increased their value.

michelle, Very well said. The sterotyping of Democrats, or for that fact any group of people is a most ignorant statement!!

Exactly! If they didn't lean all the way to the one side they would get more support. Most of the country is somewhere in the middle, not leaning all the way to the right or left. Romney would have had a shot if he didn't bow down to the pressure of the tea party and the extreme conservatives. I even liked McCain until they added Palin. I try to choose what I feel is best from the choices given to me. It doesn't mean I agree with them 100%.

The Republican/Tea Party is so far off base on social issues and spew so much hatred. Until these issues change I cannot even consider voting for them.

GTMills, very intelligent observation.

Clearly, Duke, you are of quality.

Wow...

They????? Having a philosophy based on a movie. Interesting.

You do realize that Wall-E was a Disney movie and not a documentary? You do realize that the message behind Wall-E was environmental protection and not the role of government?

Thanks Brad for explaining it that way (about Wall-E). It is true and to the point (I can get long winded myself). I just hope your words were not too big for frack to understand. hahaha
Oh wait...I forgot. we are the lazy, fat idiots getting waited on and he must be in super shape, have a doctorate and work non-stop. He's perfect and anyone that isn't him or believes what he does are (see above).
I love the generalizations people can make without any fact and use a Disney movie as his basis/reference. If you want to examine Disney, Thumper "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all" (from Bambi). In Cinderella, you have the prince who marries a maid. Lion King you have the terrible uncle who rules by promoting his own interests at the sacrifice of the other animals and of the land and when Simba comes back he is friends with all types of animals, they work together to restore the balance (diversity, environmental protection...). Disney movies are so delightful. I'm sure I can find examples from all. Disney doesn't pick on the poor, the weak, and those that are down. They bring issues to light and have done more so as the years have gone by. Don't forget they even did an animated version of Robin Hood which I'm sure Frack would detest the most...

Greg Thrasher, You go boy!!!!!!! Congratualtions....

Yeah! Totally right. I've not been perfect either. Thanks for the reality check. Hugs!

Chuck- no social degredation when you state basically those who differ in opinion are " drunks, drug addicts, and other people that lack the self respect to support themselves"? Hillarious!

Chuck Zito boasts:

"I don't need to persuade anybody, I'm not selling used cars. " Clearly.

"I vote strictly on facts acquired from non bias sources and on issues that threaten the well being of our country." That's a hoot! "non-biased"? Just what would those be?

"I am simply sickened by the amount of uninformed voters and people voting strictly to continue living a life of leisure at the expense of hardworking Americans, regardless of their political affiliation." I am heartened byt the number of very informed voters and people voting for the benefit of the country and the well-being of their fellow citizens. There is little to show huge segments of the population "living a life of leisure at the expense of hardworking Americans", save for the 1% that is "living a life of leisure at the expense of hardworking Americans".

"Unfortunately reaching people with rainbows and unicorns very rarely gets the point across." that's ironic - given the fantasy based political and economic policies you seem to support, unicorns would fit right in.

Chuck, show me those statistics. There is no statistics showing that people who receive government benefits vote one way or the other. There are statistics that show, however, that the largest number of people on welfare are poor whites. There are also statistics that poor whites (particularly rural poor whites) tend to vote Republican. Make you own conclusions.

Thanks Brad for pointing that out.
Chuck- you should be a politician. No (unlike Romney) you didn't specifically say "liberal" or "democrat" but you insinuated and reaffirmed it more closely in your response to me. I'm sure you think all blacks, women and hispanics are "voting strictly to continue living a life of leisure at the expense of hardworking Americans". This attitude is why your guy lost. They need to get off the pedestal and come back to reality and their fellow man.

Fair enough Chuck but it is the Republicans that make those generalizations...not the Democrats. Seems maybe we have more in common after all. I am not the one saying that certain people vote to continue their life of leisure and concluding it tends to be liberals. Just be careful in making generalizations.
I hear from Republicans all the time that it is the minorities dragging this country down and it makes me sick. My step mom happens to be Hispanic and works her butt off. Most of the people I personally know on welfare are white people. So it really bothers me when I see a large group of Republicans make such generalizations. Just as they claim we have no morals, or are stupid for voting against them. I think we should all have the right to vote whatever way without being called names. I think it is the comments made the big mouths in the republican party insulting large groups of people that helped sink them this time.

Ray Smith..well said my man.

Don't forget corporate welfare as well as the 15% income tax rate. Good if you can get it....

I was not a fan of Bush but even I know he isn't all to blame. Just as Obama isn't all to blame for the mess here. We all are to blame because we can't work together.

Lenny, no. Just that the Bush/Cheney presidency and the Republican/Tea Party controlled congress brought the United States to the second greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression. Oh yes, it was under President Hoover (R) that brought on the Great Depression. HMMMMM!

Unless you are Republican - then it is Clinton's fault.

Well stated Baylea. The good news out of all this heated dialog is that everyone here is very passionate about their country. However, they are clearly different opinions on how it should be fixed. I don't 100% agree with either party in this political system we are stuck with, but I do believe the republican platform is the route to economic success for the country as a whole. Also, has anyone here talked to someone who lived in a country with government provided health care? Just ask them how it works. It's probably not the answer you are looking for. Why do you think everyone comes to the USA when they get sick? I just hope the checks and balances in your political system we keep us afloat so we do not find ourselves in a worse situation, forcing our kids to clean up our mess. I see us on the path of Europe right now, who is sitting there in ruins.

Some of what you say is true. Everyone needs to compromise. We each have to do something because the financial crisis is out of bounds. Our kids are going to pay but it was a mess before Obama even got into office. It was created from housing bubbles and lax rules on the financial industry (I'm in that industry BTW). Taing the rich isn't going to solve everything. We have to all make cuts, we all are going to pay for this. I still don't think Romney had my best interests at heart as a member of the middle class. I did not agree with the party on many issues. Does that mean the Dems are perfect...heck no. I just agree with them a little more. Sorry you probably hate my guts for it. I did what I felt was the best thing for me and my family.

Oh my!!

Oh please. The Republicans will forget Benghazi two weeks after the election. Were you equally upset over the Anthrax attacks, the two people killed at the El Al ticket counter in LA, the attack on diplomats in the Gaza Strip that killed three, and the three American security who were killed in Tel Aviv - ALL UNDER BUSH? Was that Bush's fault? How about 9-11? Diplomats are doing a tough job and they understand the risks involved. If it wasn't the Ambassador that was killed or if it wasn't an election year, do you think that anyone would have noticed?

CBS - Under ACA, the government doesn't provide healthcare. They moderate the insurance coverage.

CBS wrote "Why do you think everyone comes to the USA when they get sick?"

Hum. Why are Americans going to India for surgery?

Baylea, I think Fox News is an absolute trainwreck. And that's why I can't stop watching it. Don't assume the haters only watch MSNBC (Morning Joe=??). And I love the fact that Fox News is responsible for the Romney camp feeling blindsided by the crushing defeat. Love it! LOL!!!

Obama won't compromise? You are mistaken. Don't you know a lot of liberals and democrats are not happy with Obama for wasting his whole first term trying to endure himself to moderate Republicans? We kept telling ourselves, he'll deliver in his 2nd term when he has nothing to lose... So yeah, you know what, maybe you're right, and he won't compromise. He owes it do us;)

CBS, yes I have talked to people who have lived (are living) in countries with government regulated health care. My mother-in-law gets chemo treatments. Of course the chemo is fully paid for and she has no bureaucratic burden at all to try to get reimbursed (she doesn't pay anything up front so she doesn't need to be reimbursed). In addition, they paid for and organized a taxi ride for her to the clinic and then send her to a spa to recover afterwards. Sound pricey? Germans pay half of what we do for health care. About to go bankrupt? The German health care system had a $5.28 Billion surplus in 2011 and has been around since Otto von Bismark. None of my in-laws have a clue what I mean by medical bankruptcy. There is no such thing there.

Fox news is a not public service (and neither in NBC/MSNBC etc.) it is a business. Its business is not 'accuracy', its business is to deliver an audience. The truth, while sometimes profitable, is also fungible - nobody 'creates' it. What's true is true. A = A.

As such, Fox (and MSNBC, et al.) isn't interested in the 'truth', it's interested in attracting and retaining an audience so it can sell media. 'Conservative' is a demographic that has its own interests and emotional cues. Fox understands that, so 'truth' is filtered through a editorial voice that will deliver eyeballs. I'm not saying that Fox (and MSNBC, etc) lies ALL the time, but am I saying that Fox's bottom line isn't riding on on your edification.

I work in advertising. Media companies can and will work with advertisers to mold content. Understand that Fox doesn't love you, Fox isn't here to protect you, Fox would be just as happy if you lied about watching them in your Neilsen diary so they can say your eyeballs were on their programming when they sell try to sell advertising space to my colleagues in late Spring. I generally avoid TV news for that reason.

You feel the same way about Obama as I did with Bush (insanity). Oh well. I put up with him for 8 years you can put up with my guy. I'm still waiting to see those weapons of mass destruction. Even Colon Powell had to turn his back on them because he couldn't handle their deception and lies.

"What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

Calling half the population of the nation you live in stupid, lazy, greedy and expecting a landslide is kind of nutty, too.

Or... calling the president a secret Muslim, a Communist, a traitor over and over again? Did that tic move the needle?

Look, ANY president is going to run on his/her record... the opposition needs to provide an alternative. The GOP didn't articulate one, other than tax cuts. But that's all the GOP offers. Oh... and policing gay-immigrants-muslims-sexually active women like mullahs. How about switching THAT up? How about coming to the electorate with something other than the same thing you've been peddling since Reagan?

There's nothing wrong with Burkean conservatism. The GOP brand stinks on ice, however, largely because for every, say, Allan Simpson, there are 50 paranoid cranks who feel they are surrounded by enemies at all times. Pretty nutty and I wonder why you deign to stay here if fully half of your compatriots are involved in a conspiracy. Here's the thing though, any country you'd want to move to offers subsidized or socialized healthcare.

As Hayek himself stated: Nor is there any reason why the state should not assist individuals in providing for those common hazards of life against which, because of their uncertainty, few individuals can make adequate provision.

So now we criticize the campaign. "Stop the whinning" as I was told in 2004.

Hey, Keith - I see you are in PR for the GOP. So, what's next? How are you going to change your message? Are you going to address it in a way that recognizes a globalized economy, that Hispanics and women feel the GOP doesn't address their needs, and with an understanding that empirical data is a better model of reality than folklore and conspiracy theories? That maybe a Pete Hoeksta-style Suzie Wong ad will bite you in the rear? That adults have their own personal values and they don't government dictating to them?

I say let them bootstrap themselves to sanity. That's what individualists do, after all.

Their reaction will be that they weren't conservative enough. McCain was definitely more moderate than Romney and definitely more moderate than almost all of the Republicans who ran in the primary. So, you don't like McCain - let's try Romney! Don't like Romney? How about Newt/ Bachman?

Rainbow - No problem - they can just wait till three weeks before the next presidential election. Then in the debates introduce "Moderate Republican Guy".

FHVoice, well said. A feast at the Castle for a celebration is in order my good man.

Just saw McConnell forecast more doom and gloom if we raise taxes on anyone. Not a dollar more from anyone? Really?
That's not what Bill Kristol is saying now - singing a different tune. Even the Conservative opinion-makers are changing on revenues -

It's funny how politics requires you do politics.

Well, your president has nothing to do with your home value and your gas prices. House prices have been going down in the places they've been going down for six years. Bubbles are crazy things. My point is, your facts have been trotted out over and over again, and I guess history will tell us if your facts are indeed facts. Don't confuse facts with opinions. The world is the world.

Mark - congrats on keeping your vet owned companies going during the worst economic downturn since the Depression, and keeping it "vets first".

I agree that there is great uncertainly to the deal that will be struck on debt, cuts and tax overhaul. RE: the ACA - provisions effecting your business won't take effect until 2014. And now that election's over, I suspect there will be some tweaking in 2013 - particularly with business size that would need to provide h/c coverage. Probably moving from busin size from 50 to 100+.

2013 tax increases - not certain, but my sense is that will be they'll extend all Bush level up to $1 mill, not $250K.

Fuel is up, because the economy rebounded, and demand is up. Gas was cheap end of W era because oil collapsed on the market along with everything else. I'd rather pay more in gas, then take an economic Depression any day.

RE: Housing - I just received my home appraisal this week from bank. It's up $100K from the end of 2009, now near original purchase of my home. Between that and Obama's HARP 2.0 (for the "responsible, never been late mortgage payer) - I was able to re-fi and take advantage of the historicly low mort rates. Between that and our area's housing price bounce - I'm essentially whole again on my house, actually, just calculated in savings on re-fi - I'm UP $62K.

Mark - sorry didn't say it yet - Thank you for your service!! USMC family here.
One of the concerns I had w/Romney was who he hired as Veterans advisor and likely Veterans Affair Chief: James Nicholson. Nicholson was secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under President George W. Bush. Nicholson had to abruptly resign from the VA in 2007 amid horrific Walter Reed scandal, among other failures. Why we we trust him with fair treatment of our wonderful vets?? Also, Vet Affairs were slated for significant cuts in Romney's plan. As you know, Military budget (which he planned to grow $2 Trill) is completely SEPARATE from Veterans budget.

Also, the Repubs just voted DOWN a Veterans Jobs bill (which was PAID for, no adding to debt) just 7 weeks ago. The new job-training programs would have helped veterans find work in targeted fields such as national park conservation, historic preservation projects, healthcare, police work and firefighting, among others.

Obama's extensive legislative work on Veterans needs is too long to list, so here's a link. In a vet family, I've followed this stuff a long time. This POTUS has the BEST record on vets in decades, hands down.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/veterans_and_wounded_warriors_record_0.pdf

I know you're frustrated right now, but we will meet our challenges with this admin, we will continue to recover. But it will occur more quickly if we encourage our politicians and citizens to work together.

FH Voice - further clarification-

Bloomberg - a two-term REPUBLICAN Mayor, one term (current) Independent. He is the self-made billionaire Wall Street guy. Another important reasons why his endorsement meant so much - Republican, Wall Street business guy.

He was my Mayor when I lived there and he was (and is) awesome. He made the tough budget calls, city is clean, organized, and safe (violent crime lowest since 1950's), put in place a multi-agency local/state/federal coordination that literally reaching across the world. Also, my friends in NYC said hurricaine was horrendous - electricity promised by Sat night. They got it by 5pm Friday. Under promise, over deliver. Nice.

So that's the quality and power of just ONE of the endorsements Obama received, and just one of the Republican endorsements, and an indication of their confidence in him as well as his ability to work across the aisle - with a willing participant.

Congratulations President Obama!!!
Let's get to work - together!!!

MARY, IAM BETTER OF NOW THAN FOUR YEARS AGO,BETTER OFF THAN 8 YEARS AGO TOO,AND BETTER OFF THAN 12 YEARS AGO! THANKS FOR ASKING DEAR.

That was my favorite question "are you better off" Yes I am. 4 yrs ago I didn't have a job. Now I have gotten 3 raises in 3 yrs at my current job and make $20,000 more a year. My husband "lost" his job because his company closed. Not because of the economy but because his employer didn't want it anymore. He was union, so placed at another company, makes $10,000 more a year. Yes we are better off. I voted for Obama. I believe. However, we're better off because we did something about it. How about everyone stops complaining and gets off their lazy butt and stop thinking the government owes you?!!!!!

I'm better off. I have a great job. 3 years and 8 months ago I was laid-off. Now I'm in management. My kids are going to a great public school. My sister's ability to pay for her cancer treatments is going to be addressed. I have gay friends who are happily married. I own my house. I'm doing really, really well.

The Republican /Tea party need to go back to talking about abortion to inspire their base.

Erich nailed it. Thanks, Herr Zipper.

"Less name calling" then you call people an idiot. Priceless.

Wow, no one has tried to deny this yet? HAHAHA

Because some folk believe that what ever the Republican/Tea Party says is gospel and they are the only ones that have morals.

But isn't that the very argument against Obamacare? The Government can't run anything effiiciently (e.g., Post Office, Social Security). Now they have a massive role in your health care, which is 1/6 of our economy. Don't flame me, that's just a fact.

The government can't run anything efficiently? Private industry can? So tell me how Enron (WorldCom, Bears and Stearn, Lehman Brothers, etc.) was a model of efficiency and the Jet Propulsion Lab is filled with incompetents? Every time I spend on hour or more on the phone with my expensive private insurance company trying to straighten out THEIR screw-up I am reminded of the efficiency and competence of private industry. Sorry, but there are inefficiencies and incompetence everywhere - not just in government.

Brad has a point - A lot of corporations, especially the Too-Big-To-Fail variety, are NOT run efficiently and many are not run wisely, yet they manage to hang on. The idea that private enterprise is inherently somehow efficient has not spent much time looking at the guts of a Fortune 100 company.

There are good and bad varieties of capitalism - just like any human endeavor, to Brad's point

But government can do things that it wouldn't make a huge hunk of sense for a private enterprise to do... like taking on projects over a long haul, or investing in pure research.

Greg - Exactly right! Thank you!

If the culture of entrenchment within the populice doesn't subside, it will be difficult for Congress to act like grown-ups and get the job done.

Everyone who worked on hard fought campaigns on BOTH sides are wonderful, engaged citizens. We must harness that energy towards coming together and pressuring our legislators to fulfill the ONE mandate that came out of the election: The Mandate of Compromise.

Folks, starting emailing, calling and/or writing letters to all your Rep's and Senators. WE the people must get behind this. It will force them to ACTION - they must realize INaction is not an option. The Do-Nothing Congress has done nearly nothing the last 2 years, and literally been off since mid-September!!

Time for all of us to get back to work!

Jim -
Just curious(without trying to come off as a wacko to you), but you mentioned people have ensured 4 more years of "moderate, responsible leadership". Can you tell where the "moderate, responsible" part fits in with this President/Administration when under it's watch: Guantanamo is still not closed, Bush's Patriot Act extended, the NDAA has been imposed, drone strikes allowed in other countries that are continuing to kill innocent children, women and men, gun running at the border(Fast and Furious), proposed International ban on guns for all sovereign states/countries including the US....through the UN), still arming Al Qeada in the Libya and Syria, the Benghazi ordeal, continued groping and radiation of US citizens at airports by the TSA still allowed, increased police surveillance on civilians in the US, etc. Are these facts anywhere important to you, or anyone for that matter? If not, OK, your choice. I do agree with the President where he chose to nix DADT to show some sort of civility, and I'm not gay. In my opinion, Romney would've easily continued most of these same old bad policies and changed others, which is why I voted for neither.

I hope I'm not going crazy, Jim.

Well stated Jim,
I have been nauseated by many comments made here, the personal attacks, name-calling and silly remarks. Thanks for stating the case of the silent majority who agree with you Jim.

Brian - wow, market volatility after an election? Gee, never heard of it. (snark)
There's uncertainty over the fiscal cliff/curb, especially since they saw how willing the GOP was to drive full speed off the cliff in the 2011 debt debacle when they passed up a very good deal (from a Republican perspective) - the fallout of their stubborn obstruction was a credit downgrade. And there's the possibililty of another if they take their ball again and go home. (arms folded, foot stomping)

CEO's don't have too much faith in GOP to come to their senses; that's why they came out the end of the White House meeting saying - a slight hike in upper level rates won't hurt, let's get this done and move on.
"CEOs offer Obama support to avoid fiscal cliff"
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/14/15171606-ceos-offer-obama-support-to-avoid-fiscal-cliff?lite

Everyone else is ready to fix the debt and get onto more jobs. GOP? Still wailing about taking a whole 14 days to investigate an international incident (Benghazi). Gee, 10+ years, and still waiting to hear why Americans had to die in illegal war in Iraq. Also waiting for the GOP outrage that there's never been answers, and why Condi Rice said: "We don't want the Smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
Answers and outrage, any day now, I'm sure. In the meantime, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Right??