American Elections

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Originally Posted by Don Corleone

As House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi would have absolutely nothing to say about who the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee is. That will be up to the Senate Majority leader, most likely Ted Kennedy or Joe Biden.

Edit: Technically speaking, Harry Reid (current Minority Leader) should be the next Senate Majority Leader, except Dems are pretty pissed at him, and I'm not certain they'll back him as Majority Leader, hence my listing of Biden & Kennedy.

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That was a mistype on my part, I didnt mean the Senate Committee I meant the committee on Intelligence

I can't see what difference this election will make tbh. Different personnel, different style, different emphasis - identical corporate agenda. Same sh&t different day as far as I can tell.

Fior once I agree with Idaho. I think Pelosi will be fun to watch however.

I don't think she will have it as easy as everyone thinks, there are plenty of Dixiecrats in the House and Senate and quite frankly her ascension to speaker would be a mix of seniority and the novelty of having a woman. You never want the far most fringe to be the speaker.

Now, assuming Webb wins when all those navy absentee ballots come in :smash: who is gonna be Senate Majority Leader? I don't think Ted Kennedy would be up fpr the job, thats more crap than he wants to deal with (thank god) and Clinton hasn't been a Senator long enough too be considered a real candidate (thank god again).

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I don't think she will have it as easy as everyone thinks

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I think it will be easy for Rush Limbaugh and his ilk to use her as ammo. Thats what Im speaking about. Not as much fun as Clinton but at least shes the biggest democrat target hes had in years.

I'm not really a Republican, but I absolutely abhor the Democratic party. If the Democrats win in the 2008 election (please... ANYBODY but Clinton) and keep control of the Senate, then I fear a Nanny State will emerge.:no:

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Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny

I think it will be easy for Rush Limbaugh and his ilk to use her as ammo.

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A Democrat, a Californian, and (most importantly) a woman. He should have a fine old time.

After 6 years of playing apologist for the Republican excesses up in DC, Rush has lost credibility and doesn't hold anywhere near the sway he once did. There's a big difference between a "c"onservative and a partisan Republican. Rush has forgotten that, and in doing so, has become nothing but a shill. Let him whine about Nancy Pelosi, his show has turned into a demented Romper Room.

Spino thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was going to try to be an optimist about the next 2 years. Well, personally, I had to. It was my only option. I have to believe in something. The Republicans spent 40 years waiting to get both houses and the presidency back at the same time. They could have done a lot of good in the 4 years they've had. But instead, they laid down with swine like Abrahmoff and did nothing to actually reform government or Washington. So either I pray and hope conservative Democrats can do the job, or I abandon all hope and prepare Jillian for life as a slave to the political overclass.

I'm starting to think Chile doesn't doesn't look so bad.

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Originally Posted by Don Corleone

After 6 years of playing apologist for the Republican excesses up in DC, Rush has lost credibility and doesn't hold anywhere near the sway he once did. There's a big difference between a "c"onservative and a partisan Republican. Rush has forgotten that, and in doing so, has become nothing but a shill. Let him whine about Nancy Pelosi, his show has turned into a demented Romper Room.

Spino thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was going to try to be an optimist about the next 2 years. Well, personally, I had to. It was my only option. I have to believe in something. The Republicans spent 40 years waiting to get both houses and the presidency back at the same time. They could have done a lot of good in the 4 years they've had. But instead, they laid down with swine like Abrahmoff and did nothing to actually reform government or Washington. So either I pray and hope conservative Democrats can do the job, or I abandon all hope and prepare Jillian for life as a slave to the political overclass.

I'm starting to think Chile doesn't doesn't look so bad.

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Actually, this piece by Rush after the elections is the first intelligent thing I've heard him say:

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Originally Posted by Rush Limbaugh

Now, I mentioned to you at the conclusion of the previous hour that people having been asking me how I feel all night long. I got, "Boy, Rush, I wouldn't want to be you tomorrow! Boy, I wouldn't want to have to do your show! Oh-ho. I'm so glad I'm not you." Well, folks, I love being me. (I can't be anybody else, so I'm stuck with it.) The way I feel is this: I feel liberated, and I'm going to tell you as plainly as I can why. I no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don't think deserve having their water carried. Now, you might say, "Well, why have you been doing it?" Because the stakes are high! Even though the Republican Party let us down, to me they represent a far better future for my beliefs and therefore the country's than the Democrat Party and liberalism does.

I believe my side is worthy of victory, and I believe it's much easier to reform things that are going wrong on my side from a position of strength. Now I'm liberated from having to constantly come in here every day and try to buck up a bunch of people who don't deserve it, to try to carry the water and make excuses for people who don't deserve it. I did not want to sit here and participate, willingly, in the victory of the libs, in the victory of the Democrat Party by sabotaging my own. But now with what has happened yesterday and today, it is an entirely liberating thing. If those in our party who are going to carry the day in the future -- both in Congress and the administration -- are going to choose a different path than what most of us believe, then that's liberating. I don't say this with any animosity about anybody, and I don't mean to make this too personal.


I'm not trying to tell you that this is about me. I'm just answering questions that I've had from people about how I feel. There have been a bunch of things going on in Congress, some of this legislation coming out of there that I have just cringed at, and it has been difficult coming in here, trying to make the case for it when the people who are supposedly in favor of it can't even make the case themselves -- and to have to come in here and try to do their jobs. I'm a radio guy! I understand what this program has become in America and I understand the leadership position it has. I was doing what I thought best, but at this point, people who don't deserve to have their water carried, or have themselves explained as they would like to say things but somehow aren't able to? I'm not under that kind of pressure. Am I making myself clear on this, Mr. Snerdley? (interruption)

No, I'm not lying. Snerdley's concerned. I've not lied about anything I've said. Let me try this a different way. (sigh) I'm going to have to think about this. I tried to make it as clear as I can. I'm not going to eat my own, and I'm not going to throw my own overboard, particularly in a campaign, and particularly when the country is at war -- and I'm not going to do it for selfish reasons, and I'm not going to do it to stand out, and I'm not going to do it to be different. I'm not going to do it to draw attention from our enemies. I'm not going to do anything I do so that the Drive-By Media will like me or think that, "Ooooh, Limbaugh has changed! Ooooh, Limbaugh is coming around!" That's not my thinking. My thinking is: the left doesn't deserve to win. My thinking is: the country is imperiled with liberal victory. We may not have the best people on our side, but they're better than what we have on the left.

But it has been difficult sometimes, when these people on our side have not had the guts to stand up for themselves, have not had the guts to explain what they really believe and why they're doing what they're doing. When they haven't had the courage to be who they are, when they haven't had the courage to be conservatives. It has been a challenge to come in here and look at some of the weaknesses and some of the missed opportunities and try to cover for them and make up for them and make sure that the opportunities are not totally lost. But at some point you have to say, "I'm not them, and I can't assume the responsibility for their success. It isn't my job to make them succeed. It isn't my job to make elected Republicans look good if they can't do it themselves. It's not my job to make them understandable and understood if they can't do it themselves -- not in perpetuity, not ad infinitum." So all I can tell you is I feel a little liberated, and I think this is all going to result in a lot of cleansing in a number of areas.


BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Snerdley said, "Well give me an example of what you're talking about." Okay, let me give you an example. (I'm not going to mention any names.) I've been sticking my neck out to defend people who won't defend themselves and in the process of sticking my neck out, I get it cut off by other people who disavow what I'm doing and saying -- and yet if I didn't stick my neck out these people would have gotten swamped and defeated by far bigger margins than they did! I bring a lot of passion to my belief in conservatism, and my belief that liberalism is harmful to individuals in this country, that it leads them to lives of misery and unfulfilled potential. Those beliefs drive me, and I believe that we are the good guys, and when the people on my side, the good guys, don't have the guts to defend themselves as strongly as I'm willing to defend them, then you get to the point where, what's the point? I'm not running in their races. I'm not asking for votes. I'm not on the ballots. I'm not getting their votes. That is up to them. So it's a little liberating. All I'm saying is it's a little liberating now, once I see the direction we're headed and I look at the reaction to everybody in our movement after this loss. They can take it the way they want to take it, and I'm not going to defend whatever way they go just because they're on my side if I don't believe in the method they're using or the direction they're taking. It's that simple. Now, back to the phones. Thomas in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, nice to have you, and I appreciate your patience. Welcome.

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I quit listening to him. Too little, too late.

And you'll be interested to hear that CNN has announced Virginia is going to certify Webb without a recount. 51-49. Game, set, match.

Rush is a commentator. He's supposed to believe what he's selling. He just admitted that he's been lying to the public for 6 years. Yeah, somebody we should listen to....Like I said, he's a shill. If the Republicans had held on last night, he'd be going on about what a great, moral victory it all was.

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Democrats Take Control of the Senate
Nov 08 8:45 PM US/Eastern

By LIZ SIDOTI and BOB LEWIS
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON



Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994.

Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq. Allen was the sixth Republican incumbent senator defeated in Tuesday's elections.

The Senate had teetered at 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans for most of Wednesday, with Virginia hanging in the balance. Webb's victory ended Republican hopes of eking out a 50-50 split, with Vice President Dick Cheney wielding tie-breaking authority.

The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.

The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.

The victory puts Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in line to become Senate majority leader. He has led the Democrats since Tom Daschle, D-S.D., was defeated two years

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Yay! Also, it looks like there won't even be a recount.

Maybe Allen can drop a deer head in Webb's mailbox and sue. The only reason it was even as close as it was, was because of Allens shameful attack on Webbs writings in an attempt to sway the Harry-potter-is-teh-devil crowd. It almost worked.

There were plenty of races won by Republicans on a margin as small as Webb vs Allen, but no one is crying for a recount there, its just not needed.

Allen's staff has leaked he's going to announce tomorrow night, unless he sees something in the canvassing of districts tomorrow that he didn't see today. No lawsuits this time.

@ Don: thanks for your explanation of the system... I'll stand back now and watch the fireworks :beam:

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Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny

I think it will be easy for Rush Limbaugh and his ilk to use her as ammo. Thats what Im speaking about. Not as much fun as Clinton but at least shes the biggest democrat target hes had in years.

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And that's a good thing for Rush. His wit is not sharp enough to hit anything but the easiest of targets.

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What I like best about the election results is that Joe Lieberman is now one of the most powerful men in American politics, and doesn't have to toe either party line.

I don't see how that works. Surely any one of the democrats has the same power.

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Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

I don't see how that works. Surely any one of the democrats has the same power.

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Pressure can be brought to bear on Democrats to vote along party lines. The same can't be said of Lieberman. He and the other independent will be the "deciders."

They can still pressure him. Didn't he say he was running as democrat next time?

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Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

They can still pressure him. Didn't he say he was running as democrat next time?

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I hadn't seen that comment. But I still maintain that he has more freedom to do what he wants than elected Democrats will. If nothing else, Connecticut stands to benefit greatly if he chooses to use his power for evil (pork sandwich, anyone?). The Republicans are making friendly overtures to him as we speak, while the Dems are praying he'll allow bygones to be bygones.

Lieberman can be pressured, but since they left him swinging in the breeze for the primary, maybe he won't feel the urge to comply.

The thing I'm confused about is how this makes the Democrats the majority party? Isn't it 49-49-2 (or do I have my count wrong)? Even if the 2 independents are going to side with the Dems most of the time, technically neither party is in the majority.

Well, the one independent is very liberal, and lieberman originally ran as a democrat, so it's essentially 51-49

To establish who the majority party is, the Senate holds a caucus, not a straight vote. That means Lieberman and the Marxist guy have to pick one of the top two winners after they've been relegated to a 3rd or 4th place finish (assuming they're troublemaking enough to do that, because then it will take 2 votes instead of 1). Lieberman and the Marxist guy could caucus with the Republicans, but I think it's a pipe dream to imagine they would. 'Jumpin' Jim Jeffords got relegated to being a footnote after his big switch... the Democrats cast him aside once they got what they wanted out of him and the Republicans never forgave him. Lieberman will caucus with the Dems, even if they don't offer any peace overtures (which I'm pretty sure they will). I do think it's going to a hoot watching Ole Flip Flop explain to Joe that he was really on his side, even though he campaigned for Lamont BEFORE Lamont won the primary.

Ah, thanks for the info. :bow:

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Lieberman and the Marxist guy could caucus with the Republicans, but I think it's a pipe dream to imagine they would. 'Jumpin' Jim Jeffords got relegated to being a footnote after his big switch... the Democrats cast him aside once they got what they wanted out of him and the Republicans never forgave him. Lieberman will caucus with the Dems, even if they don't offer any peace overtures

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But imagine if he pulled a 'Jumpin' Jim Jeffords on them? We could have 'Leapin Joe Lieberman' :beam:

So does this mean that the economy will finally start getting good play in the news media?

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Take your pick, gents:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...nia/pelosi.jpg https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...201e4b3_ri.jpg

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ah come on, Pelosi actually looks suprisingly well for someone in their sixties. And lets be mature guys, im not saying I have the hots for her, you well know what i mean. Anyone in a poss like that would look weird.

I understand joking around, but seriously..

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Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny

But imagine if he pulled a 'Jumpin' Jim Jeffords on them? We could have 'Leapin Joe Lieberman' :beam:

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You'll see Snowe and Collins from Maine, two of the most moderate Republicans left in Congress now, jump to the Democrat side of the aisle before you see Lieberman or Sanders caucus with the Republicans.