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Why We're Grateful for the 2006 Midterm Election
Casey and I thought it might be a good idea to reflect on all the things we can be grateful for as the results of the 2006 midterms come in:
Here's one.
Here's another.
How about this one. (buh-bye Ms. Harris wherever you are...)
And I personally like this.
And speaking on behalf of the city by the Bay, I would like to add this:
S P E A K E R P E L O S I
And who can deny this one makes your heart feel quite full. (Thank you again for your courage, Michael J. Fox.)
We will be adding more updates as the tight races open up, particularly the ones in the Senate, where Montana and Virginia are still neck and neck.
I'm sipping a beautiful Cab Syrah. Last time I spoke to Karen, which was 4pm my time, she said Dick told her to get the champagne. It's 11:30pm in California, and the Daily Show Midterm Midtacular is on.
But before I go, Casey INSISTED I add this to the list as the most important reason why we should be grateful for the 2006 midterm elections:
We won't have two years of this.
UPDATE: More good news on the Senate front, from the great states of MT and VA.
Fe:
Sometimes you have to wait for everyone else to catch up. Tonight is what happens when you're patient.
Peace,
Mark
I woke in the early hours of the morning in both November 2004 and November 2006. I much prefer the news this time.
George Bush is now the Terri Schiavo of American presidents.
November 8, 2006
South Dakotans Reject Tough Abortion Ban
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 1:21 a.m. ET
South Dakotans rejected a toughest-in-the-nation law that would have banned virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest -- defeating one of the most high-profile state measures facing voters Tuesday.
The outcome was a blow to conservatives, who also had cause for worry in Arizona. An amendment to ban gay marriage was trailing there with returns nearly complete; it would be the first defeat for such a measure after prevailing in more than two dozen states in recent years.
Five states approved increases in their minimum wage, while Arizona passed four measures targeting illegal immigrants, including one making English the state's official language. In Michigan, voters took a swipe at affirmative action, deciding that race and gender should not be factors in deciding who gets into public universities or who gets hired for government work.
In Missouri, returns were too close to call on a proposed amendment allowing stem cell research. It had been a factor in the crucial Senate race there, with incumbent Republican Jim Talent opposing the measure and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill supporting it.
Nationwide, a total of 205 measures were on the ballots in 37 states, but none had riveted political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. Passed overwhelmingly by the legislature earlier this year, it would have allowed abortion only to save a pregnant woman's life.
Lawmakers had hoped the ban would be challenged in court, provoking litigation that might eventually lead to a U.S. Supreme Court reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Jan Nicolay, a leader of the state's anti-ban campaign, said voters viewed the measure as too intrusive.
''We believe South Dakotans can make these decisions themselves,'' she said. ''They don't have to have somebody telling them what that decision needs to be.''
It's 4:30 in the morning on the East Coast and I'm finally finding the time to sit down and catch up on my blogging. It's been a very long day at the end of a very long week at the end of a very long series of months spent fighting very hard to break the neocons' stranglehold on the legislative branch of our government.
My feet are still sore from beating the streets for miles on end today, getting out every single possible vote right down to the time the polls closed. My back still aches from schlepping box after heavy box of campaign literature in and out of the GOTV vans and from lugging coolers and cases of box lunches to the many dozens of volunteers spread out across my neck of the woods.
But my soul is at peace, my heart is full, and my mind is still grinning from ear to metaphorical ear as I sit here reading the political news on the internets and listening to the wee-hours election wrap-ups on MSNBC and NPR.
The blue team may not have won every race we entered, and we didn't quite win some of the races that were near and dear to our hearts. But we won enough of them to make a very real difference in Washington, this year and for many years to come.
These mid-term elections mattered, folks. They mattered a *lot*. Today's votes signaled a major change in the balance of power on the Hill. Today the people made their voices heard loudly and clearly. They told the neocons in Congress that enough is enough, it's time for them to hit the road and give us our country back. They put paid to the career aspirations of dozens of legislators, and put the White House on notice that their shameless games of greed and power have come to an abrupt and ignominious end.
Tonight's election results may indicate a major sea change for the ship of state, but they don't mean our side can sit back and rest on its laurels. Our shared ship's sails may have been reset today, and we may have steered it away from the crashing rocks at the very last minute this time. But the voyage goes on forever, and it's going to take us many years of hard, hard work to get this vessel back on course and sailing proud before the wind again.
That being said, there's still time to catch our breaths and take a well-earned break in which to look around and share our gratitude for all those who've been toiling away alongside of us.
There are hundreds of professional politicians and consultants and party operatives involved in so many campaigns, of course, and they deserve full credit for tonight's wins.
But the real kudos should go to the unpaid heroes of the day: to the many Team Blue volunteers spread out all across the country, thousands and thousands of them; to the many liberal and progressive bloggers and online correspondents (a key handful of whom are regular posters to this blog, and have been since its early days); to the many millions of average Joes and Janes who listened, who spoke up, and who turned out to cast their votes in these unglamorous but absolutely crucial mid-term elections today.
And special thanks are due to one professional politician in particular, of course, a certain senator from Massachusetts who worked harder than anyone else in Washington to bring new faces to the table this year.
Things are looking very different for We the People this morning than they were back in the deep dark days of late '04, when the Democracy Cell Project rose phoenix-like from the ashes of the online community that had formed around that certain senator from Massachusett's campaign for the presidency of these United States. The DCP blog may be just one voice among many in the exploding progressive political blogosphere, but the voice of the DCP community is heard in many more places than might seem obvious on the face of things.
So along with all the gratitude we share for Team Blue, with its pols and its vols and its bloggers and its voters... let's give special credit where special credit is due, and special thanks from the bottoms of our proud, blue, happy hearts to the very special people that have coalesced around the Democracy Cell Project.
What happened tonight is just the beginning; but it's the beginning of something huge, something that's going to change our lives and the lives of those who come after us. And it could never have happened without your help and hard work. So give yourself some serious props here, DCPeeps. You've certainly earned it, each and every one of you.
and now is when the *real* work starts y'all,
Otter
It looks as if we may have taken the Senate.
My gratitude to all knows no bounds. I took your initials (all of them) with me to the voting booth yesterday, and last night I couldn't stop thinking of Cindy Sheehan, and how much her voice has been heard in America. That should make her anguish and the way she was treated so disrespectfully by this administration worth alot.
Again, thank you to each one of you, and I am patting myself on the back, too.
John McCain, on a (Oct 18th) visit to Iowa to campaign for Republican congressional candidates, was asked his reaction to a potential Democratic takeover of the Senate in the November 7 elections.
“I think I’d just commit suicide,” McCain told reporters, to accompanying laughter from Republicans standing with him. “I don’t want to face that eventuality because I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
http://tinyurl.com/y8f2u8
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a likely 2008 presidential contender, said Republicans had lost their way, telling NBC News’ Brian Williams that “many in our base believed we valued power over principle.”
“I think people have a frustration,” he said. “It reflects on the president, as well. We can’t continue to frivolously spend on these pork-barrel projects and call ourselves fiscal conservatives.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15603424/
Sometimes you have to wait for everyone else to catch up. Tonight is what happens when you're patient.
Peace,
Mark
Posted by: Mark at November 8, 2006 03:05 AM
Thank goodness they did!!!! Two years ago I for one didn't think I'd ever see the day.....
TRUTH DID PREVAIL
Posted by: monkey at November 8, 2006 06:17 AM
And so it begins............
Voter rebuke for Bush, the war and the right
End of one-party rule set to transform Bush’s last two years in office
By Peter Baker and Jim VandeHei
The Washington Post
Updated: 5 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The political pendulum in American politics swung away from the right yesterday, putting an end to the 12-year Republican Revolution on Capitol Hill and delivering a sharp rebuke of President Bush and the Iraq war.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15618058/
Yup.
Sayeth the New York Times this fine blue morning, at http://tinyurl.com/yhrvem :
"Mr. Bush’s allies could argue that history was working against Republicans, that in a president’s sixth year in office, his party was ripe for big losses. They could also argue that Congressional Republicans brought their own vulnerabilities and scandals to the table. But this was a nationalized election, and Mr. Bush and Iraq were at the center of it.
"Nearly 4 in 10 voters said they saw their ballot as a vote against Mr. Bush, about twice as many as those who said they had cast their ballots for him. It was a remarkable turnaround for a president who just two years ago emerged triumphant from his re-election campaign, declaring that he had earned political capital and intended to spend it.
"That capital slowly drained away with an ill-fated fight on Social Security, a furor over the government’s mishandling of Hurricane Katrina, an aggressive intervention for conservative causes like the right-to-die case of Terri Schiavo, and, more than anything, pollsters said, the war in Iraq. In the final days of the campaign, Mr. Bush’s travels to some of the most Republican and least competitive regions in the country were a portrait of his political isolation.
"Geoffrey Garin, a Democratic pollster, said, 'An important feature of this election, with implications for 2008, is that the center of the electorate clearly doesn’t like to be ignored in an era of base politics. The Republicans played to the base at their great peril among the middle.' "
dear premier boosh: nanny nanny boo boo,
Otter
I wonder how Cheneys hunting trip went?
For the first time in six months, I woke up this morning and my back doesn't hurt.
I am truly humbled by the resiliance of you all. Congratulations.
Bill and I killed a beautiful bottle of Moet White Star last night at around midnight. It tasted as good as a cold beer on a hot day on a sailboat.
Cheney on 11/7:
"Shh! Be vewwy, vewwy quiet! I'm hunting watholes!"
big creeps must burrow deep,
Otter
Up at 4 AM and just took a Zogby poll.
How nuts is that?!!!
Seems I always find out political results from time zones
that are way ahead of us, such as France!
Love and thanks to DCP, the liberal blogosphere, the
conscious voters
Happy to see all the women in Congress and Senate
and good socially and fiscally responsible members
in general
Let's keep it going!!
Lame Duck Hunting
speaking of which...
Bush press conference, response at 1 PM EST
PULL!
In short, it was a night that ended an era of imperious one-party rule in corridors of the U.S. Capitol.
Joel Connelly, Seattle P-I
oK, the voting's done. So what's the new conventional wisdom? What do we know today that we didn't know yesterday?
That in our country, the conservative revolution is over — or at least on extended hiatus. That our state is as deep a shade of blue right now as perhaps it has ever been.
And that our supposedly uptight biggest city is shockingly fond of lap dances.
Welcome to the day after. Elections are like floods that wash away the old conventional wisdoms, replacing them with fresh, albeit equally temporary, truths.
Consider, say, Karl Rove. Yesterday: brilliant tactician. Today: hidebound hack.
Or President Bush. Yesterday: He had a mandate, or could still pretend so. Today: Everyone knows he's a lame duck.
Danny Westneat, Seattle Times
Mark:
Not only patience, but TENACITY. Glad we all had a bit of both.
Breathing in victory. Felt it all morning yesterday and tonight. Today, November 8th is a good good day.
COngratulations to all of us.
America has spoken, George Bush told the nation this morning two years ago, and it had given him its trust and his confidence. He would continue his policies at home and abroad, buoyed by the public's endorsement. Now, two years further on, America has spoken again - but this time in a very different tone and with the opposite conclusion, issuing a direct warning to the leader it re-elected 24 months ago to change his policy in Iraq. The cheering can be heard not just in America itself but around the planet.
Martin Kettle, The Guardian, UK
From another New York Times editorial this ayem, this one at http://tinyurl.com/yamzk9 :
--------------
Post-Election Job Number One
Whatever this election accomplished, it did nothing to end the rancor and distrust that define current American politics. Yet, as the campaign went on (and on) there was one issue on which people from both parties appeared to be finding common ground: Donald Rumsfeld has to go.
While Democrats have been demanding a new secretary of defense for a long time, Republicans -— worried about re-election as well as the course of the war —- began to join the outcry this fall. Some made it part of their campaign mantras. Many others have been complaining in quiet about Mr. Rumsfeld’s continued job security. Even people who are strong supporters of the continued presence of American troops in Iraq acknowledge that there needs to be a change.
It’s possible that no one could have turned the invasion into a success, given the fissures in Iraqi society that the fall of Saddam Hussein have exposed. But we will never know, since the shortage of American troops and the lack of postwar planning made disaster inevitable. Mr. Rumsfeld deserves to go simply because he has failed at his job. Denying that reality is presumably why the president is so bent on keeping him.
[snip]
There is absolutely nothing more for Mr. Rumsfeld to do as secretary of defense except continue to defend failed policies and tinker with unworkable strategies. Most of the men and women who will be part of the 110th Congress in January have come to that conclusion, whatever their party affiliation. They simply need to share it with President Bush.
-----------------
hey hey ho ho scummy rummy's got to go,
Otter
Recount in Wyoming this morning
Just so we all remember where we left off, there were about 35,956 votes in Yellowstone Co, and Tester was leading by about 1,273 when they pulled the votes for the recount.
Daily Kos
Webb had a lead of 4,745 votes over Allen. With 2,433 out of 2,443 precincts reporting Webb had 1,162,004 votes and Allen had 1,157,259 votes.
Washington Post
From yet another relevant op-ed piece in this morning's NYTimes at http://tinyurl.com/yz4qal :
----------------
The Democratic House
There was only one explanation for the crazy-quilt combination of victories around the country that gave the Democrats control of the House of Representatives last night: an angry shout of repudiation of the Bush White House and the abysmal way the Republican majority has run Congress.
It was a satisfying expression of the basic democratic principle of accountability. A government that performs badly is supposed to be punished by the electorate. And this government has performed badly on so many counts.
[snip]
The Democrats won a negative victory, riding on the wave of public anger about Republicans. The new House majority will certainly call the administration to account on any number of issues, but it will have to do far more than run investigations if it is to build on its victory.
For years now, the Democrats have been not only the minority party, but a particularly powerless minority, elbowed out of virtually any role other than that of critic. The House Democrats will have to shift from the role of tactical opposition to shadow government. They will have to pass bills —- bills that might not make it into law, but that would provide a clear idea of what their party would do if it were really in control.
And while they are trying to build a new majority, the Democrats need to remember what happens when a party in power loses its way.
---------------
remember that a lot of these votes weren't for us but against them instead,
Otter
Good (for MSM), detailed analysis, followed by state by state analysis:
GOP Bears Brunt of Voters' Ire
57 Percent of Voters Disapproved of Bush's Job Performance
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2637650
Democrats win majority of state legislatures
Reuters: http://tinyurl.com/ylzded
Democrats win majority of governorships
Reuters: http://tinyurl.com/yhezxu
Don't get too excited just yet.
Georgie is cornered like a wounded animal and wholly unapologetic. This is far from over.
We are stronger now yes, but we are also about to face the most dangerous form of georgie. He is trapped and even delusional.
We did real good yesterday and yall should be proud, but the most dangerous times of all has just came upon us.
'They' whom have blood on their hands will do whatever it takes to escape into history. After last night, they will be DESPERATE to make that escape.
No more political correctness, nail the bastards to the wall.
NPR analysis on Arnold's win in CA: he admitted mistake in strong-arm approach to Dems, stopped "girly-men" comments & became somewhat more willing to compromise
(Just a paraphrase of the analysis-I haven't followed CA closely enough to have an opinion)
Posted by: Christy at November 8, 2006 08:39 AM
I agree. Just resuming the work defined for Congress will suffice, without seeking vengence or political points--
ex, it's time to implement congressional oversight and return transparency to government. Simply opening the doors & windows to the truth will speak volumes & reveal the unspeakable.
Sweet Virginia
by The Rolling Stones
Wading through the waste stormy winter
And theres not a friend to help you through
Trying to stop the waves behind your eyeballs
Drop your reds drop your greens and blues
Thank you for your wine, California
Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits
Yes, Ive got the desert in my toenail
And hid the speed inside my shoe
But come on come on down sweet Virginia
Come on honey child I beg of you
Come on come on down you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes
People who showed up at the polls with brooms
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmflint/
for the sweep
mmflint = michael moore, flint, michigan
Hold your head, here comes the NEW SPIN!!!!
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says President Bush believes the new House will mirror his thinking on some issues.
-snip-
It would appear that in the wake of a Democratic landslide in the House, the White House is looking to make nice with Pelosi and her counterparts after tussling with them on a variety of issues for six years.
"[Pelosi] talked about energy independence, and we want to work on comprehensive immigration reform, some things we can get some action on," Snow said. "It will be interesting politically, a new opportunity to get things done. We're going to get a lot done. On energy, education -- those are clearly things we can work on."
The president wants to work with the new House leaders, said Snow, and was encouraged by several Democrats' calls "to get rid of partisanship."
"Bush wants to go back to the Texas model. He's always reached out. He's been trying over the last couple of years with limited success," Snow said.
But despite the new House leaders, White House officials are not writing off the chamber as a bastion of liberalism, Snow said, adding that Bush believes the chamber will actually mirror his thinking on issues -- and perhaps even reject Pelosi's on occasion.
"Three dozen blue dogs have voted against her on various issues," Snow said, using a nickname for conservative Democrats. "And it's the conservative Democrats who made real gains."
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/WH.reax/index.html
Two years ago, we fought the good fight to save our nation, with all our strength, with all our passion, and with every last ounce of our God-given intellect - but not enough Americans were willing to listen.
They're listening today.
Two years ago, America chose a decidedly wrong path - a path that it now seeks to depart from.
Two years ago, we may have lost an election, but know this: George W. Bush was the choice of the Red States, but John Kerry and John Edwards were the choice of the world.
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles
- Bob Dylan, then as now...
remember that a lot of these votes weren't for us but against them instead,
Otter
Posted by: Otter at November 8, 2006 08:14 AM
That works both ways - some people are terrified of people like Dean, Pelosi. We have an actual Socialist and an actual Muslim in Congress now.
We do need to build on the best of our Democratic heritage.
One tenet of the conservatives is that liberals will raise taxes.
I have a new name for those who do not wish to pay their fair share - tax evaders. Tax-evading sadistic selfish unchristian unamerican warmongers.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'...
-more Dylan
Matthew Carnicelli
I agree with what you said but would take it back six years to 2000. Americans should have voted more strongly and proactively to keep the younger Bush out of office. On top of that, we had the cheating. We have to go back before 9/11, which was used by the neocons to blackmail their way (war, hold on power - unless one wanted to be called a traitor to their country). That put them in position to retain midterm seats in 2002 and to mount another coup in 2004.
Perhaps we have a way out of the dark now.
wOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows
(CNN) -- With the House squarely in Democratic hands and the possibility of a Senate power shift still looming, President Bush made two back-to-back phone calls Wednesday morning: one of condolence to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and one of congratulation to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Bush will deliver the message that "the problems we faced this morning are the same problems we'll face tomorrow -- winning the war in Iraq, keeping the economy together, working on renewing No Child Left Behind," said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.
The president has scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m.
We won the cake nationally, but for my district, it's without the icing. But there were no tears at our victory party for our candidate last night because he won 47% of the vote mostly by grassroots organizing & very little $$ from DCCC/DNC. Instead, there were chants of "'08! '08! '08!"
I've never worked so hard for a candidate, and luckily, I did so this time for one who was so very deserving & gracious.
Next election, IL-10 is going to get the icing.
Hard work = miracles. {{{America}}}
Way to bang that drum, madame!
Beat D'Feet
How about a shout-out to the Hoosier state where we Democrats won all three U.S. Rep seats!! Thank you to Howard Dean for helping build the Democratic party in our state. We had been ignored for too long!
I'm from the 8th district and our candidate Ellsworth won in a landslide. We had hoped for a double digit win, but had no idea it would be such a sweep. What a night!!
Posted by: T Barnett at November 8, 2006 09:56 AM
It certainly was a Bobby Knight.
Nothin' but net.
Congrats.
"Simply opening the doors & windows to the truth.."
Sunlight is the only cure that can wither evil to its' root.
And Matthew, please quit blaming 'the red states'.
Either it was the Red States fault or they rigged it, it can't be both.
The deep south are traditionally DEMOCRATS. If they would quit disenfranchising blacks we would easily outnumber republicans 3 to one.
Only at the polls can that be changed or obscured.
Good people. Bad Government. It is all about Civil Rights, and our souls too of course.
They rigged it because they HAD TOO. The red states alone could never have given him that victory.
It is no longer a Southern Problem. It hasn't been for a very long time.
ALLL ALONG this breed of republicans have been using the fabled 'Southern Strategy' on a national level.
There is a reason this place is the way it is. It was a test that they mastered.
They told you to abandon us to them, and you did.
New Orleans fell as a DIRECT result of that abandonment.
No more blaming 'red states'.
Come together. Right now.
We have wasted enough time on this already, it is time to change it FOREVER.
November 7, 2006
A Neuroscientific Look at Speaking in Tongues
By BENEDICT CAREY
The passionate, sometimes rhythmic, language-like patter that pours forth from religious people who “speak in tongues” reflects a state of mental possession, many of them say. Now they have some neuroscience to back them up.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania took brain images of five women while they spoke in tongues and found that their frontal lobes — the thinking, willful part of the brain through which people control what they do — were relatively quiet, as were the language centers. The regions involved in maintaining self-consciousness were active. The women were not in blind trances, and it was unclear which region was driving the behavior.
The images, appearing in the current issue of the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, pinpoint the most active areas of the brain. The images are the first of their kind taken during this spoken religious practice, which has roots in the Old and New Testaments and in charismatic churches established in the United States around the turn of the 19th century. The women in the study were healthy, active churchgoers.
“The amazing thing was how the images supported people’s interpretation of what was happening,” said Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, leader of the study team, which included Donna Morgan, Nancy Wintering and Mark Waldman. “The way they describe it, and what they believe, is that God is talking through them,” he said.
Dr. Newberg is also a co-author of “Why We Believe What We Believe.”
In the study, the researchers used imaging techniques to track changes in blood flow in each woman’s brain in two conditions, once as she sang a gospel song and again while speaking in tongues. By comparing the patterns created by these two emotional, devotional activities, the researchers could pinpoint blood-flow peaks and valleys unique to speaking in tongues.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html
RNC Chairman-speak:
As cons begin their desperate spin campaign, Tom Renolds is holding a news conference (10 am EST, CSPAN). Bemoaning one of the losses, he said that (paraphrase) he believed she made a mistake by changing to positive ads to close her campaign, saying she should have continued to "define her opponent".
ie, negative smear = defining the opponent :p
10:10 am EST CSPAN 1
Conservative news conference
Started by blasting media headlines re election
Posted by: monkey at November 8, 2006 09:22 AM
What a garbage dump!
We see at least three different frames there:
1. Revisionist history
2. "Democrats wont' work with Pelosi" (on ocassion...like Duh here! People within parties do have different opinions.)
3. Pass the buck for the last six years by saying, "The President 'has tried' to work across the aisle." (Another lie.)
And so the spin goes on.
January, the time of miserable cold and dark days, will at least bring some light to the world! That light will shine through as Democrats and Moderate Republicans start revealing the layers of crimes and deceit that has occured in the last 6 years.
Posted by: T Barnett at November 8, 2006 09:56 AM
Couldn't believe my old home state turned so blue. What a night! New meaning to the term "Hoosier Hysteria," eh? ;-)
To everyone here at the DCP, you all do really good work. Congrats for staying together and fighting the good fight.
No more political correctness, nail the bastards to the wall.
Posted by: Christy at November 8, 2006 08:39 AM
I agree. They're desperate now, Herr Boosh still has dictatorial powers per the unconstitutional and illegal MCA '06 that so badly needs to be repealed (along with the so-called Patriot Act and its amendments and other crappy legislation that has infringed on our rights). He can still do damage before inauguration day in January, and we all know he will try to do damage even after that and before the '08 election....
We need to keep our eagle eyes on those vermin.
Posted by: aimzzz at November 8, 2006 10:10 AM
Interesting comments-- conservatives blasting Republicans-- blasting attack ads instead of issues
"Dems no longer party of 'tax & spend'-- Dems are party of 'tax' & Repugs are party of 'spend'"...
Hold your head, here comes the NEW SPIN!!!!
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says President Bush believes the new House will mirror his thinking on some issues.
Posted by: monkey at November 8, 2006 09:22 AM
WHAT is SnowJob drinkin' or smokin' or pill-poppin'...?!?
He needs to go to detox...!
Minnesota had terrific gains - this is the first time we've elected a woman to send to DC in the Senate, and Amy Klobuchar did well, was always ahead in the polls. There is sure to be controversy over Keith Ellison, the first Muslim ever elected to send to DC, MN 5th district. It was nice to see Tim Walz win over Gutknecht, since Walz was behind in the last polls I saw before yesterday. On a state level, we made gains or maintained Dem seats for the most part, but it seems the Dems will have a majority in the state legislature.
Not so good: Michelle Bachman, MN 6th dist., is a religious reich fundie (two videos on YouTube show her in front of the church audience - need a barf bag to watch them). Wetterling was by far the better candidate, so I don't know why she lost, other than the fact the 6th dist. is a Con stronghold. Coleen Rowley lost to Kline, incumbent; her very positive ad that ran the last couple of days should have been run first, since it showed the cover of Time when she and two other women made that issue for the whistleblowing they did years ago. Why she or her handlers didn't exploit that earlier, I don't know, but it could have made a huge difference, I think.
However, the incumbent Con governor claimed victory for himself in the wee hours last night after the Dem challenger announced he was going to bed to await results. I just checked, 98% of precincts reporting and Pawlenty's only 13,900 votes ahead. Last night it was said the precincts not reporting yet were on the Iron Range which is a traditional Dem stronghold, and, of course, the absentee ballots haven't been counted yet. Hatch is having a news conference at 10 a.m., and it's been announced local stations are going to air it live, so I'm going to watch to see whether or not Hatch concedes or if he insists on waiting for all the votes to be counted....
Heard on CSPAN:
- Webb & Tester both tenatively claim victory
- Spin line- repeated Repug comments about getting back to the "Party of Reagan" (2nd worst prez* ever)
- "San Francisco Democrats"-- not new, but out in force today
* in the case of worst ever, so-called prez)
Aw, nuts. Hatch conceded to Pawlenty, so we're still stuck with a con governor.
I woke up this morning to a great gift, I got a House :) and almost a Senate.
My mom called me at 8 am yesterday to tell her and her boyfriend had already woken up and voted, this gave me a lot of hope for Pa. That hope became reality last night, there were a lot of offensive Con Repubs but none more than Santorum getting him out was not a want for Pa but a need. Congrats Pa people.
I hear a lot about reconcilation between the parties, I am and have always been a conservative Democrat, but I am not ready for us to play nice to many things need fixed, and its going to be a hard fight to do that. Bush believes that other Conservative Democrats will side with him, I think he may be surprised, there are a lot like me who have gotten tired of the divisivness fostered by him and Rove, but that does not make us pushovers.
We will see if democrats deserved the gift they were given in the coming months. I am not worried about impeachment, but I want, no need, oversight of this runaway government!
April,
Our job is not done. We must keep our voices strong, lest we cultivate or allow apathy or ease of intention by our new leaders, and also some of the old ones.
Bush plays the game, of course. There was no dealing with him and them when they had all the power. It was their way or the highway. Now of course all of a sudden he wants to play nice because he doesn't want to be such a lame duck. Guess what, Mr. President - lame duck you will be. We can appear cordial and concilatory, but our leaders need to understand that we have all still got VERY BITTER TASTES IN OUR MOUTHS THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY. We have been BURNED BIG TIME. We almost lost our constitutional rights in many big ways....those thugs almost decimated and shredded not only our values, but our homes, lives, children and their lives, and our futures. It will take us years to recover, if we can. Now we are left with their mess. I will never forget.
I'M NOT READY TO PLAY NICE......we need to be cordial, but very, very FIRM.
Posted by: DiAnne at November 8, 2006 09:19 AM
I LOVED those broom photos. Who says America doesn't have a sense of humour?
Hey all you DCPer's....take a moment to scream out your happiness at taking back BOTH Houses of Congress. It's okay, you can do it.
HOME RUN!
wOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOt
Hello All,
And a very good morning, even though there are some disappointments. Win or lose, everyone here worked their tails off and we can justly own the feelings we have, singly and collectively.
And that is the DCP after all: a group of individuals, and individuals who have come together to make a group. We stuck together and bolstered each other along the way, and shared key information, links, research, and beliefs.
We don't know what's next for this community and we will begin to think about that soon, but just for today, I breathe you all in and am so deeply grateful.
I know one thing though: Joe Lieberman and Mark Kirk are going to be hearing from us often over the next two years...
Just finished watching presque-Speaker Pelosi's live press conference.
Looking good, sounding good.
Saying all the right, er, all the correct things.
Y'know what, peeps?
This really ain't gonna suck.
Nope. Not gonna suck a'tall.
here comes the sun,
Otter
On my way to the Nick Lampson victory party across from the Johnson Space Center last night, I saw a beautiful full moon in the background. It was so fitting, hopeful and symbolic of our finally ridding the Tom DeLay stinch from Texas. Our deepest appreciation to our friends oncall and dianne for your valiant efforts. If we end up winning the Senate that should wipe away your disappointment.
The still uncounted votes in Virginia are primarily absentee ballots in Fairfax and James City County. Fairfax is a strong Democratic voting area and James City marginally Republican, and Isle of Wright more Republican. Looks like these absentee ballots are either a wash or marginally for Webb.
"All but one of those precincts, in Isle of Wight County, were for absentee ballots. The counties where absentee ballots had yet to be counted were Halifax, Loudoun and two precincts in James City County. Absentee ballots also were yet to be counted in Fairfax City."
We had a lot of help for the Lampson campaign here locally and from D.C. staff. Senator Jeff Binghamam's chief of staff was down here helping Congressman Lampson and was telling me at 1 am he was thrilled with a pick up of 4 Senate seats and thought there was no chance of taking over the Senate even when I asked him how his job would change if that happened. Seems like the Democrats in the Senate had absolutely no sense they would take back the Senate, that looks a whole lot different today. Taking back the Senate Judiciary Commitee and having chairman Pat Lehey will be great news.
The media has no idea how much JK raised for Democratic races and how responsible he was for their victory. When will the dumping on him stop and the kudos given?
"Together, we helped provide $14 million to more than 260 candidates, committees and progressive causes over the last two years. Nineteen of those candidates received over $100,000 each in donations from our community."
From JK email
MSNBC handing out breaking news alert -- Rethugs have just officially announced that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is resigning his post!!
WOO, HOO!!!!!
and it couldn't'a happened to a nicer guy,
Otter
Rummy goes o_O
Shrub news conf now
How condescending.. shrub gave Pelosi names of decorators to help her pick new drapes for office...
Need puke bag now!!!
He's not looking so good :p
Congratulations to all who wanted a change, worked tirelessly, and remained enthusiastic despite doubts we could prevail.
Many who participated with machine fraud and disenfranchisement in 2004 also must have said enough. However, we'll never really know how much, and we can't relax until we know the results are accurate and conclusive.
With the vulnerabilities still out there with electronic voting, and its functions to manually vote and shift votes, we are relying on the opposition to play fair.
Open source software alone is not enough. We can never really guard against manipulation, and the chain of custody is always trusting too many people and companies. We never know, since all the functions of electronic voting are all concealed.
The paper trail simply asks the computer to audit itself, and the Brennan Center study showed voters caught only three errors out of 180.
The media spotlight, finally, reflected even their concern about e-voting. Will they now say we don't have a problem, and drop it?
I am looking at the oppotunities, and feeling positive, grateful, but also concerned that the media spin will be muddied and mindless. When I look at the ABC article above-aimzz, 8:28, I wonder why 43% still approve, as they did in 2004 at 53%, or more.
We have work to do in Congress, push back the media's effort to 50/50 everything to ignorance, and to work on the ID scam, amongst other disenfranchisements.
Have some bubbly, sparkling cider, or green tea to calm the spirit, and then we go to work.
If in Brooklyn/NYC, come to a small press briefing I cajoled our wonderful State Senator Velmanette Montgomery to give on our voting machine choice, 55 Hanson PL, Hearing Room on the 3rd floor, 11:00am. A town hall in January. Anyone want to help?
Dang, Shrubya's knees must be hurting like hell with him backpedaling so fast to the press like that...
Oh, and as far as Rummy's replacement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gates
Bush nominates ex-CIA chief Robert Gates to replace Rumsfeld.
LADIES AND GENTS, INTRODUCING THE THIRD IN LINE OF SUCCESSION FOR THE PRESIDENCY:
Pelosi vows to work for all Americans, with Bush and GOP
Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
(11-08) 09:34 PST WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to become the first female speaker of the House of Representatives, pledged this morning to represent the interest of all Americans and work with the president and Republican members of Congress.
At a press conference in Washington, D.C., the San Francisco Democrat said she had spoken with President Bush earlier this morning, and he also promised to work in a bipartisan manner. Pelosi said she and Bush planned to have lunch together Thursday.
"He called to congratulate me. He referred to me as Madame Speaker-elect, and I referred to him as Mr. President," Pelosi said to laughter. "Seriously, I welcome the president's call as a sign of respect for the votes of the American people, and recognize we will be talking about issues of national concern."
Pelosi also tried to assuage concerns that she will only represent "San Francisco values," a term Republicans attempted to paint the congresswoman with during the campaign.
"Democrats are not about getting even, Democrats are about getting the American people ahead," she said. "I will say, as I have said before, that impeachment (of President Bush) is off the table ... . I very, very much respect that I will be speaker of the House, not of the Democrats."
Pelosi characterized the Democrats' winning control of the House of Representatives as a clear mandate from the American people, who say the war in Iraq needs to change direction. She also said the election proved the public wants to see "civility" and bipartisan cooperation in Washington.
"Hopefully we can work with the president to solve the problem in Iraq," she said.
Gawdessawmightydamn, but this live Shrub presser is gonna be one for the ages. Imho he started off by laying the groundwork for his eventual concession & resignation, and now with the Q&A he's just digging his own collapsing hole faster & deeper. Suzanne Malveaux just smackdowned his sorry asterisk but good, and he's clearly on the ropes now.
w0000t!!! More peanuts! More popcorn! We're all gonna be watching this one over and over again on TiVo and YouTube and C-Span too!
'est', hell -- shrubiana is delenda'ing right in front of our deep blue eyes,
Otter
Man, I'm missin it? Did he cry yet?
There's no crying in brassballs.
Well, marc, he *did* just admit that there are no do-overs in his line of work.
Hmm... lemme see here...
Take back the House. Check. Take back the Senate. Check. Dump Rumsfeld. Check.
Hell of a day, folks, *hell* of a day. And it ain't even half over yet!
more popcorn! more butter! and some hot nachos too!,
Otter
PRESIDENT BUSH, PRACTICE SAYING THIS TEN TIMES EVERY MORNING WHEN YOU GET UP:
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Speaker Pelosi
Posted by: Karen at November 8, 2006 12:11 PM
Thank you, Karen, with all my heart. At our campaign party last night, we were all surprisely upbeat, even Dan. He said, "This is not the end, this is just the beginning." He will make a great representative of IL-10 someday, and hopefully in 2 years.
And thank you in advance to all of you who will help us hold Kirk's & Joe's to the fire. Let's make them prove that they are independent & moderate...and let's keep diligent records for the next time.
My sister just sent me this link to some really funny comments speculating & commenting on Georgie's big announcement...
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/the-white-house-claims/#comments
Wowzer! Lookit all them happy mediots circling around Shrubbie now like sharks smelling blood in the water!
Somebody spread butter and jam on him, he's toast.
can we get a yee-haw! on that,
Otter
Just watching press conf, with some plant about Pelosi's negative comments about Bush, and how can you work with her when she views Bush's leadership so negatively, blah, blah.
He SO doesn't admit anything about anything, and agree with DiAnne, as usual, about going back to 2000, to point to public not getting it.
While showing our country we can lead and govern, our primary goal, we also have a lot of work to show the damage and truly change direction.
Now he talks about volunteering being up in Iraq, about not leaving before job is done (without mentioning what the job is and insinuating everyone else-read Dems-is saying hands off, leave tomorrow). Now faith-based community/initiatives staying strong, playing to base. He has principles?
Also, where is the scrutiny to his misspeaks.
BTW, not Iraq as much as strong help from leaders, as Hillary and Ed Rendell. Promoting Hillary, like everyone else, and the media may want her to win.
They worked at ruining a true critic and idealist, with pragmatism to boot, in John Kerry. Be careful, Dems, about being led by what the media guides us to, because there may be backroom deals we don't know about. They will critize anyone who doesn't fit their needs.
Bush is crediting his early coerced, failed legislation as bi-partisanship.
Oh, please. I'm going to the TV to turn it off. The revisionism is ruining my hopeful day.
I'm still dazed by what I've been hearing on the teevee for the last hour now.
In a nutshell, Bush 41 has just finally admitted that Bush 43 was right all along.
Maureen Dowd must be dancing the Happy Dance like a whirling dervish even as we type.
holy kao on a stick with sprinkles,
Otter
Otter, maybe 43 admitting 41 was right along?
We know that papa's James Baker was brought in during the spring to change things. They were probably waiting for not changing the course to bring in a victory.
Political consideration while Iraqis and Americans are dying, and corporations have the potential to earn more.
Hopefully that will change.
(Whoops, yes, thnx for correcting my dyslexic numerical tpyo there, Marjorie...)
Rumsfield has RESIGNED!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes he has, Christy. Ain't that a pisser?
un-bucking-felievable,
Otter
Anyone hear Murtha on NPR this morning?
He was great - even more fearless than usual.
Pointed out that 43 should have listened to 41 &
chastised the administration for trying to blame the military for failed policy. The military doesn't make policy - they execute it.
It's logical that Rumsfeld goes.
Don't let the screen door hit ya where the good lord split ya, Donny...
John Kerry on Secretary Rumsfeld’s Resignation
“I hope that this change in personnel brings an overdue change in policy. A change of course was necessary before the political earthquake, but must be achieved now. The best way to honor the brave men and women of our armed forces is with a strategy for success that brings our troops home."
:-) Bwahahahahaha.....
I caught come of that stuttering, stammering blather....
On ABC, Stephanopolous was talking to Gibson, they showed a quote from last week when Herr Boosh praised RumDum to the skies, said he was staying right where he was... Ol' SteffenPops wondered if it was okay for the pretzelnitwit to "mislead" the American people last week about it... and Gibson, with a kind of tone of awe in his voice, said 'mislead, or lie to the American people.' (I'm paraphrasing, but Gibson did say 'mislead or lie'.)
Lucky I was already sitting down or I'd have fallen over. So, I yelled at the TV that it was never okay for a president to lie to the American people, you effing nitwit! I missed their analysis because I was talking over them.....
Jeez. Elementary ethics, even, and they are debating the whole thing?!?
On a lighter note: When I closed my eyes and 'listened' to pretzelnitwit blather (Seriously, I can't stand to watch his lying body language!) - he got a good shot in about Turd Blossom, too - I detected panic in his tone of voice amidst that stammering and yammering.....
So, as noted at the end of that dog and pony show, he stole the headlines the day after the election....
The LA AG has finally decided to call my mom back.
I do believe they may just be about to jump into Alines case after all.
Amen and Hallelujah!
It is about freaking time.
Sen. Conrad Burns is not conceding defeat in Montana where Democrat Jon Tester has a lead of about 3,000 votes in the only outstanding race and the key to who holds power in the Senate.
cnn.com