DanTheFoxBhoy Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 Source Democrats swept Republicans out of power in the U.S. House of Representatives and made gains in the Senate on Tuesday, riding to victory on a wave of public discontent with the Iraq war, corruption and President George W. Bush's leadership. Nice one... good to see that raising the minimum wage is on the Dems' agenda. Hope they take the Senate as well, they only need 3 more seats. That'll cut Bush's balls off good and proper.
Jordan Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 Election Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Looks like the Dems have taken those three remaining Senate seats: Missouri's in the blue column and the Democrats in Virginia and Montana have slim leads pending recounts and legal challenges. If the Virginia and Montana Senate seats go Democrat, as I expect they will, it will set up a most interesting majority set-up--Democrats won't actually have the 51 seats necessary for the majority, they'll have only 49. Two seats were won by independents--in Vermont, Bernie Sanders becomes the first socialist to ever be elected to the Senate. In Connecticut, Joe Lieberman, a staunch supporter of Bush's Iraq and defense agendas, actually lost the Democratic primary but then ran as an independent and won the election despite heavy Democrat support for their party's candidate, Ned LaMont. Both Lieberman (who won with plenty of Republican support in his election and who may still be bitter about the way his party treated him) and Sanders will caucus with the Democrats so that would give the Dems enough to form a majority in the Senate. So, the Democrat Senate majority will be officially formed when two politicians who are nearly polar opposites will join the same side. Add to this the Dems' very liberal leadership (DNC chairman Howard Dean, NY senator Charles Schumer, future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, etc.) and their excellent success yesterday with very centrist candidates, and you've got IMO much more diversity within the Democratic party than they've had in years. I'm excited that Democrat control of Congress may give the country a chance to move towards meaningful reform in health care, environmental and energy policy and minimum wage. The Democrats have also spoken a lot about the need to change course in Iraq, but they actually haven't offered any tangible alternatives. It'll be interesting to see what they do about Iraq, if anything. Don't expect the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq anytime soon, however.
Daggers Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 Dumb Americans: it's "Democrats take their house", not 'us'. They know nothing of diction.
Daggers Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 The end of the Bush presidency as we have known it - BBC News :thumbsup:
lookwhaticando Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 In related news, Bush has finally done what he should have done about 3 years ago and replaced Rumsfeld. If only he'd made this change 3 years ago, the Republicans may not have been overturned in such fashion.
Daggers Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 If only he'd made this change 3 years ago, the Republicans may not have been overturned in such fashion. Well, that and killing himself
Smudge Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 In related news, Bush has finally done what he should have done about 3 years ago and replaced Rumsfeld. If only he'd made this change 3 years ago, the Republicans may not have been overturned in such fashion. I don't agree.........Bush's continual "Stay the course" and Cheney's "Full steam ahead" as recently as last Sunday, has landed this Administratiion on the rocks and ousted the Republicans. The last Senate race is the one I voted in last night whereby George Allen is likely to be ousted from a very red state. Allen supported 96% of Bush's legislation, as did many rubber stamoing Americans and that's why there is the desire for change.
Smudge Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 Election Day is one of my favorite days of the year............... future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, etc.) and their excellent success yesterday with very centrist candidates, and you've got IMO much more diversity within the Democratic party than they've had in years. The first female Speaker in US history............The bit I can't wait for is the first subpoena.........Carl Rove and Cheney must be crapping themselves.......... again. Whahaaaaaaaa As Dr. Dean once notoriously said
cisono Posted 8 November 2006 Posted 8 November 2006 Strange listening to US news. They usually assume that everyone listening lives in the US.
DanTheFoxBhoy Posted 8 November 2006 Author Posted 8 November 2006 So it's down to Virginia now... Source The balance of power of the US Senate now depends on the state of Virginia after a Democratic victory was confirmed in Montana. If the Democrats - who have already won control of the House of Representatives - maintain their narrow lead there, they will win control of the Senate. But with the vote is extremely close and will leave open the possibility of a recount in Virginia. I honestly didn't think the Dems had a chance of snatching the Senate. Don't suppose it means much, as I understand crossing the floor is quite common in the states
lcfcalan Posted 9 November 2006 Posted 9 November 2006 I'm excited that Democrat control of Congress may give the country a chance to move towards meaningful reform in health care, environmental and energy policy and minimum wage. The Democrats have also spoken a lot about the need to change course in Iraq, but they actually haven't offered any tangible alternatives. It'll be interesting to see what they do about Iraq, if anything. Don't expect the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq anytime soon, however. It is all quite precarious, this is the perception I have from being 'over here' , the vote is really an antiwar protest, but it does include some popular policies such as health care, and minimum wage reform. Bottom line is though, the USA (and britain to some degree) has to find a way to conclude the business in Iraq without getting even more egg on its' face. Good to see both Bush and Rumsfeld with a little humility and embarrassment , maybe things will get a little better for our troops now , and maybe get them home quicker .
Rincewind Posted 9 November 2006 Posted 9 November 2006 so who's president now? or have the Americans got to vote again.
lookwhaticando Posted 9 November 2006 Posted 9 November 2006 so who's president now? or have the Americans got to vote again. Bush. Presidential vote isn't for another 2 years. These were just the 'mid-terms' - for control of the house of Reps and the Senate.
Smudge Posted 9 November 2006 Posted 9 November 2006 so who's president now? or have the Americans got to vote again. It's not like the UK system wherby the leading party that controls the House of Commons elects the Prime Minister. Over here there are seperate elections for the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House. The presidential elections are held every four years, Senatorial every 6 years and for the House every two years. I hope this helps.
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