Rep. Rob Bishop is pleased with his receipt of the highest percentage of votes among Utah's congressional delegation. These are great bragging rights to rub in the noses of Sens. Hatch and Bennett.

Sen. Orrin Hatch appreciates the jury that convicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens on corruption charges. Although they are friends, Stevens' departure launches Hatch to the top of the Republican seniority heap in the U.S. Senate. (Although Sen. Richard Lugar still needs to leave via an appointment to the Obama administration.)

Representative-elect Jason Chaffetz is grateful for Utah's party caucus and convention process, which gave him the opportunity to work hard for two years at the grass-roots level and knock off incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon. He's also thankful for emotional concerns over illegal immigration, which provided a ready-made issue for him to bludgeon Cannon.

Utah's education community (i.e. UEA, other teacher groups, school administrators, etc.) is thankful for the gift that keeps on giving: vouchers. Although most Utahns may not even understand a "voucher," the mere threat of this supposed apocalypse helped recruit volunteers, garner campaign contributions and led to the defeat of some incumbent legislators.

Utah polygamists are grateful for California's Proposition 8. Finally, when the nation again focused on Utah and the LDS Church regarding a marriage controversy, it was for a different type of marriage.

Utah District Court judges are all grateful (except for Judge Robert Hilder) that they were not assigned the University gun case. They all still have a shot at a higher appointment.

Despite declining advertising revenue and poor reporter morale, Utah's news media actually have much to celebrate: the re-election of Sen. Chris Buttars (sure to provide great copy), legislators wrestling over ethics laws (also to provide great copy), legislators' continued receipt of campaign contributions and lobbyist donations (lots of boring copy). Better yet, lots of information is available at a Web site financed by state government. They never have to leave their desks — and usually don't.

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is grateful that all he has to do to continue receiving the undying love of 2 million, or so, people is not be his predecessor.

Utah Democrats are grateful that Utah has been knocked off the perch as the nation's reddest state. Oklahoma and Idaho now have the honors.

Enthusiastic supporters of Mitt Romney whispered their prayers of gratitude that Obama won the election. They can now start sporting the buttons, bumper stickers and T-shirts sporting "Romney in 2012".