Voters in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 4, 2008. (AP)

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The pundits always have their say, but it’s ordinary people who live with election results.

Over the winding months of the ’08 campaign, we talked with many voters — young, old, rich, poor, white, black, and more.

They were invested in John McCain. Invested in Barack Obama. Invested in this country’s future in very tangible ways, and invested in the aspirations and ideals of America — but with many takes on those ideals and the best path to them.

Today, post-election, we’ve invited them back. This hour, On Point: Regular citizens — right, left and center — on the vote just delivered.

You can join the conversation. Whatever your political stripe, what do you see ahead for the country as we leave the elections behind? How are you sizing up this moment and its possibilities?

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests:

Joining us from Denver, Colorado, is John Scheppler. He’s 50 and married with three children, and owns the Orning Glass Company in Ames, Iowa. He joined us back in January before the Iowa caucuses. He supported Mike Huckabee then, and voted for John McCain on Tuesday.

With us from Indianapolis, Indiana, is Deb Peters. She’s a small business woman, and joined us in October to talk about the financial crisis and the campaign. She’s a registered Republican, but regularly votes for candidates from both parties. This time she voted for McCain.

From Waterville, Maine, is Suzanne Merkelson. She’s a 21-year-old senior at Colby College and editor-in-chief of The Colby Echo. She joined us last month to talk politics and the youth vote. She voted for Barack Obama.

And with us from Raleigh, North Carolina, is Brad Thompson. He’s 60, has four children, and is African-American. He runs an advocacy agency for non-profits. We met Brad at the Democratic National Convention, where he was a delegate in Denver. He voted for Obama.

Country singer Merle Haggard once said he thinks Ronald Reagan should be up on Mount Rushmore. Merle Haggard and a lot of other white American males.

Since Reagan marched on the White House with his “stand tall” message, white men have been the go-to backbone of GOP election victories — and the Democrats’ Achilles heal.

In ‘08, they may be exactly that again. But Merle Haggard is going the other way, back to Democrat land. He says the GOP hasn’t delivered for the guys he sings for.

Up next, On Point: we’ll talk to Merle Haggard and Politico.com’s David Paul Kuhn about American politics and white men.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests:

Merle Haggard, American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

David Paul Kuhn, senior political writer for Politico.com, former chief political writer for CBS News, and author of the new book, “The Neglected Voter: White Men and the Democratic Dilemma.”

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly.