Around the Water Cooler: Are you pleased with the results of this election?

Question of the week: “Are you pleased with the results of this election?”

Hank Miller: Yes! Does this mean I agree with every result? No. But the courage to stand side-by-side with people with whom they may completely disagree, or getting out even when weather makes it nearly impossible, this is what America is all about.

David Cohen: Yes I am. While the candidates I supported won their races, I am most pleased by the simple fact that the television ads have ended and my mailbox is significantly lighter.

Lisa Pampuch: Yes! We voted 4 more for 44, several states supported marriage equality and ending marijuana prohibition, Democrats picked up Senate seats, largely thanks to extremist Tea Party candidates, and nine Tea Party freshmen lost their House seats, including the especially obnoxious Joe Walsh and Allen West. Karl Rove tried to deny math and reality on live TV and lost. Overall, it was an excellent night!

Chris Bryant: Yes, while many countries have been continuing their economic decline, we have shown improvements. I expect we will continue to see slow recovery but that is better than a declining economy.

Julian Mancias: Yes. I was glad to see that Measure G had passed. The maintenance of our schools benefits everyone.

Dave Appling: Absolutely. It’s abundantly clear by now that climate change is no myth, and that we humans are causing or at the very least exacerbating it. And we don’t know where or when the tipping point is. Our children will pay an incalculable price if we don’t act, and lead.

Jeff Nunes: Not surprisingly, my answer is no. I believe that the single greatest and dangerous issue facing the nation and our state is our debt and continued deficit spending. It will change our standard of living and our opportunity for future generations if we do not get a handle on it now. I see very few people elected this time, and no ballot initiatives passed, that have presented a serious plan for or will effectively address this issue.    

Bert Berson: Yes. 1. Money couldn’t buy the election; 2. Lying didn’t help anyone get (at least this time) elected; 3. At least some of our citizens have their heads on straight; 4.Obama will a two term president; 5. America was saved (for the present) from a set of tax ideas that would have made things even worse and finally; 5. You will still be able to buy contraceptives.

Karen Anderson: Yes. As Republicans, my husband and I had to choose a way to express our opposition to the direction the party was going and help bring it back to center. Electing Obama was the only way to get its attention. We also believe he has done an excellent job with the cards he was dealt.

Kathy Sullivan: Yes the voters have showed they are willing to make sacrifices for the future of their children when they supported  Measure G and Prop 30. We must also remember how close the national election was and listen to both candidates when they called for working together for the good of this great nation in their closing speeches.

Dave Appling: Yes. The president has done a very good job on balance, amazingly good given implacable GOP obstructionism. He bears major credit for our ongoing recovery to date. His opponent’s chameleon-like campaign and foreign affairs naïveté failed to inspire confidence. I’m also very relieved that Prop. 30 passed, and that 32 didn’t.

Dennis Kennedy: Yes! Lots of difficult decisions for voters, but they got it right. (As usual!)

Jeffrey Smith: No.  Very disappointed.  Apparently our country wants socialism, and that’s what we’re now stuck with.  We’ve had four years of Obama’s miserable failed presidency, and people want more of this?  I honestly do not understand the mentality of anyone who voted for him.  I don’t know if our country can survive four more years of him.