With GOP Senate, more gridlock ahead: #tellusatoday

Republicans took control of the Senate and grew their majority in the House on Tuesday. Letter to the editor:

While Republican winners in the elections from small towns and cities across America are slapping backs and high-fiving each other, they should pause to remember that this vote was not a mandate for their brand of leadership. Tuesday's vote was not a license to gloat or to get even. Far from it. Tuesday's result was a vote against all things Washington.

The message should be very clear: We are giving you a chance to do what others before you should have done. We are giving you a chance to prove that you can find middle ground and do the job we elected you to do. We are giving you a chance to make things happen. This is no game. Your ability to mend this political system and this country and get things done are all that matters.

Congratulations on your win. Now, get to work.

Peter H. Connelly; Vero Beach, Fla.

Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

The GOP taking the majority in the Senate is a good thing. It should serve as a wake-up call to the administration.

— @dmbk01

It's difficult to know whether the results are good or bad. The GOP mission appears to be to stop President Obama more than to help the people.

— @Letti4U

Hopefully, we will have leadership. How about a budget and holding some votes? The next two years are vital for 2016.

— @williamscasa

I am not happy. You can expect more harm toward minorities and the environment, plus tax breaks for the 1%.

— @sirkingjacob

This was a major statement against the leadership that Obama has provided over the past six years.

— @tfrazz

Obama will finally have to compromise and make an effort to work with Congress.

— @SAWARRIOR666

People didn't treat these midterm elections as business as usual. Americans' voting for GOP parallels Obama's approval rating.

— @PlumbbobGreen

Now we can be rid of the obstructionist Senate and put some bills to a vote. At that point, President Obama can sign the bills or veto them, but he can't blame someone else.

— John Haugen

Obama has been such a disappointment. I'm a Democrat, and right now I really don't care about some so-called mandate driven by either party.

I care about anybody being able to get some work done that's fair, meaningful and helpful to taxpayers.

— Michael Anthony Shea

This election has made things worse. The country will be frozen for the next two years. We have to ask ourselves if this deadlock is good for America. Is a two-party system what we want, considering members of Congress vote only along party lines and not their consciences?

— Michael Anderson

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