CAHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,598
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Post by CAHoya07 on Nov 8, 2006 17:00:35 GMT -5
First off, I am a Democrat, and I don't think I could be any happier about how the midterm elections went. The Democrats not only took over the house for the first time in twelve years, but did so convincingly with a clear majority. Rep. Nancy Pelosi from my home state is now the first woman speaker of the House. I didn't think we had a real shot at the Senate, but now Democratic control of both houses of Congress hinges on Virginia, where Webb has an ever so slight lead that seems headed for a recount. Democrats also hold the most governorships for the first time in twelve years, even though Schwarzenegger won in California (and honestly, I don't mind him too much).
Add all this to Rumsfeld's resignation today, and I don't think Democrats as a whole could be any happier. All the ill feelings we had after the 2004 election seem to have washed away.
So, I guess the real question is... what's next?
What does this mean for the last two years of Bush's presidency? What does this mean for the war in Iraq? What does this mean for important domestic issues like immigration? And what effect will this power shift have on the 2008 election?
I have no idea. I have a few opinions, but I'll save them for later. Discuss.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Boz on Nov 8, 2006 17:17:05 GMT -5
I don't know if this means anything, but just before the Democrats won, I found out a friend of mine who went to Michigan got engaged to someone from Ohio State.
I don't really care about gay marriage, but I sure hope the Democrats can do something to stop that unholy union.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Nov 8, 2006 17:43:38 GMT -5
Minimum wage will be raised to $7.50, immigration reform (guest worker program), and middle class tax relief all seem to be priorities. I would also selfishly throw in a reform of No Child Left Behind which I really hope happens.
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vagrant
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 182
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Post by vagrant on Nov 8, 2006 18:15:28 GMT -5
As someone who has been voting for close to 40 years, there will be an initial period of euphoria and bipartisanship, followed by a stage of lethargy, and finally a period of bickering and disillusionment which leads the voters away from the party in power. But this greatest country on earth is so well constructed that it will flourish despite its leaders. What a masterful job by the 1776'ers!! Now I think the Hoyas win by 29 on Saturday.
may you have peace profound, vagrant
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Nov 8, 2006 18:35:20 GMT -5
I was very psyched because this was my very first oppertunity to vote seeing as i turned 18 after the last presidential election. Couldn't be more happy about the way things went in my home state. Of course Maryland was already a blue state but we got the govenorship back from the republicans.
Some one was telling me though that it's the normal trend for the party with out the president to win in the midterm electionsin this situation and that the same thing happened at this point in clinton's precidency.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Nov 8, 2006 19:38:30 GMT -5
One very interesting development is the emergence of Republicans Jim Baker and now Robert Gates.
Baker and Lee Hamilton (D) are running the Bi-partisan Iraq study group to try to find a way out of Iraq. Baker is a close ally, confidant and friend of Papa Bush. Robert Gates is also on the Iraq study group and was the Director of the CIA under Papa Bush. Gates also served under presidents of both parties and is a professional, not a partisan.
What this indicates is that Bush Jr. is finally reaching out to his dad for help (or being forced to accept it) in an attempt to fix the catastrophic disaster in Iraq.
As a highly experienced veteran of the CIA, I would guess that Gates will also redirect US efforts in the "war on terror" to focus on the real threat, which is Al Qaeda and its affiliates.
These are very good developments for America, and they are a direct result of the American people letting the Bush team know that we won't stand for their incompetency nor their ideological rigidity.
As for 6 year elections, yes, a President's party often loses seats at that point. But Clinton gained 5-6 seats in the election in the 6th year of his presidency.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Nov 8, 2006 20:15:09 GMT -5
One very interesting development is the emergence of Republicans Jim Baker and now Robert Gates. Baker and Lee Hamilton (D) are running the Bi-partisan Iraq study group to try to find a way out of Iraq. Baker is a close ally, confidant and friend of Papa Bush. Robert Gates is also on the Iraq study group and was the Director of the CIA under Papa Bush. Gates also served under presidents of both parties and is a professional, not a partisan. What this indicates is that Bush Jr. is finally reaching out to his dad for help (or being forced to accept it) in an attempt to fix the catastrophic disaster in Iraq. As a highly experienced veteran of the CIA, I would guess that Gates will also redirect US efforts in the "war on terror" to focus on the real threat, which is Al Qaeda and its affiliates. These are very good developments for America, and they are a direct result of the American people letting the Bush team know that we won't stand for their incompetency nor their ideological rigidity. Does this mean Bill Kristol is back in the loop, too? Another connection -- Gates' last job, until today, was President of Texas A&M University, home of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. Gates made a lot of changes at the CIA and it would not be surprising to see him make a lot of changes right off the bat at the DoD. I think you are right that we'll see a change in the way this war is going to be managed, but I also doubt we'll see the "responsible redeployment"/withdrawal that some D's want. SirSaxa, do you know when the Iraq Study Group report will be released? Only thing I heard was "post-election."
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,920
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Post by Filo on Nov 8, 2006 21:06:02 GMT -5
Vagrant called it about right. Deadlocked and little of nothing agreed upon, until at least the next president takes office.
Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker is just as scary to me as an ultra-right winger -- what ever happened to moderates, on both sides? By the way, Pelosi's daughter went to GU (classs of '88).
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CAHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,598
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Post by CAHoya07 on Nov 8, 2006 23:17:55 GMT -5
Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker is just as scary to me as an ultra-right winger -- what ever happened to moderates, on both sides? By the way, Pelosi's daughter went to GU (classs of '88). Actually, Pelosi's husband and all of three of their children went to Georgetown, I believe. I saw her speak at the ICC Auditorium just about a month ago. This just in: AP reports Webb will win in Virginia, and the Democrats will control the Senate. www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.main/index.html
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Nov 9, 2006 0:19:36 GMT -5
SirSaxa, do you know when the Iraq Study Group report will be released? Only thing I heard was "post-election." Austin, the only thing I have read is it is likely to be presented within a few weeks of the election. January was the outside target, but I think it will be sooner. However, I am not sure it will be "released", at least to the public. One thing for sure, there is no easy solution. It is an enormous mess and both we and the Iraqis are going to suffer more.
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Post by hilltopper2000 on Nov 9, 2006 8:51:12 GMT -5
BTW: In addition to the Pelosi family, both Gates and Webb are Hoyas. Gates got a PhD in history and Webb graduated from GU Law.
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TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 9, 2006 8:58:52 GMT -5
First off, I am a Democrat, and I don't think I could be any happier about how the midterm elections went. The Democrats not only took over the house for the first time in twelve years, but did so convincingly with a clear majority. Rep. Nancy Pelosi from my home state is now the first woman speaker of the House. I didn't think we had a real shot at the Senate, but now Democratic control of both houses of Congress hinges on Virginia, where Webb has an ever so slight lead that seems headed for a recount. Democrats also hold the most governorships for the first time in twelve years, even though Schwarzenegger won in California (and honestly, I don't mind him too much). Add all this to Rumsfeld's resignation today, and I don't think Democrats as a whole could be any happier. All the ill feelings we had after the 2004 election seem to have washed away. So, I guess the real question is... what's next? I redo my resume, write some cover letters and find a new job before I become unemployed on Jan 2. 007--if you want, I'll give you the hat to burn. F'in Domers...
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Post by Boz on Nov 9, 2006 9:17:56 GMT -5
I was very psyched because this was my very first oppertunity to vote seeing as i turned 18 after the last presidential election. You know, the election results didn't depress me, but that sure as hell just did. Knowing that Dems have almost certainly won the Senate, I would have been much happier in retrospect if Steele and Ford had won their races, instead of the other way around. Wouldn't change the balance of power and I think we'd have had two much better Senators than what we got.
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CAHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,598
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Post by CAHoya07 on Nov 9, 2006 11:24:34 GMT -5
First off, I am a Democrat, and I don't think I could be any happier about how the midterm elections went. The Democrats not only took over the house for the first time in twelve years, but did so convincingly with a clear majority. Rep. Nancy Pelosi from my home state is now the first woman speaker of the House. I didn't think we had a real shot at the Senate, but now Democratic control of both houses of Congress hinges on Virginia, where Webb has an ever so slight lead that seems headed for a recount. Democrats also hold the most governorships for the first time in twelve years, even though Schwarzenegger won in California (and honestly, I don't mind him too much). Add all this to Rumsfeld's resignation today, and I don't think Democrats as a whole could be any happier. All the ill feelings we had after the 2004 election seem to have washed away. So, I guess the real question is... what's next? I redo my resume, write some cover letters and find a new job before I become unemployed on Jan 2. 007--if you want, I'll give you the hat to burn. F'in Domers... Sorry about that, man. Good luck with with the search. And if you want, bring the hat to our apartment, we'll rip it to shreds, and then attach the pieces to the wall. Right next to the "Cuse s-u-c-k-s" shirt perhaps.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,899
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Post by SFHoya99 on Nov 9, 2006 12:41:17 GMT -5
Vagrant called it about right. Deadlocked and little of nothing agreed upon, until at least the next president takes office. Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker is just as scary to me as an ultra-right winger -- what ever happened to moderates, on both sides? By the way, Pelosi's daughter went to GU (classs of '88). I'm (generally) a Democrat living in the Bay Area -- and Nancy Pelosi as speaker makes no sense to me either. Why not pick someone representative of your party? Hopefully, the party leadership will pull her more to the center. Regardless of personal beliefs, I doubt a Democrat in Ohio was voting for Pelosi when they cast a vote for the Democrat running for their district. Neither party reall gets. Also want to echo how upset I was that Ford lost -- apparently for folks in Tennessee, interracial dating is still a no-no. Way to represent the human race, Tennessee.
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,920
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Post by Filo on Nov 9, 2006 12:55:25 GMT -5
Do you think the Dems are approaching this somewhat like a negotiation -- start with the extreme position (which is needed to counter extremism on the right) and hopefully meet somewhere closer to the left side when compromising? Or is this just too simplistic?
Good point. Pelosi was pretty quiet during the last couple weeks of the campaign.
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 9, 2006 13:21:08 GMT -5
"Way to represent the human race, Tennessee." Why did you leave out Maryland? Or Pennsylvania?
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Nov 9, 2006 13:59:25 GMT -5
I don't know where you guys are getting this information that the Democrats are starting with extreme positions. So Nancy represents SF. So what? Actually, that gives her far more flexibility because she knows she'll be re-elected no matter what she does. SF is not going to send a Republican to the House.
And what has she said that is so extreme? Raising the minimum wage? promising the most open and ethical House we have ever seen?
OK, I will admit that I don't know what Nancy is going to do or how effective she will be. But neither do the critics on this board who are accusing her of extremism.
She has been talking about Bi-partisanship and civility. is that just talk? we'll see. We sure know the Republicans didn't believe in those things.
Finally, I get a big kick out of these rough, tough, war on terror, gun toting, boaShut upl Republicans, swaggering all over the world, making (empty) threats against IRAQ and KOREA and Bin Laden, and now they are terrified of a little, Italian grandmother from San Francisco?
One thing we do know about Nancy, she is a helluva politician to get to be the first woman leader of the House. Quite remarkable. Maybe we should sit back and give her a chance instead of accusing her of being an extremist. It is one thing to represent a district, it is another to be the Speaker of the House -- representing all of America -- and being the third in line to the Presidency. I think she knows the difference. I mean really, do we think she will be worse for the country than Tom DeLay?
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Post by hilltopper2000 on Nov 9, 2006 14:00:42 GMT -5
Because there was no example of race-baiting in either state, unlike Tennessee. In fact, the lowest tactics along those lines were taken by Steele in PG County where homeless people from Pennsylvania were bused in to hand out flyier identifying Steele and Ehrlich as Democrats.
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,852
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Post by DFW HOYA on Nov 9, 2006 14:08:58 GMT -5
She has been talking about Bi-partisanship and civility. is that just talk? we'll see. We sure know the Republicans didn't believe in those things. Your comments read as very angry at Republicans. People aren't the enemy in this--this is coming from someone who didn't get utterly consumed in government at Georgetown, despite my minor in the subject. Frankly, there are more important things in life than partisan politics. As I was trying to state above (and yes, I know of New York electoral politics), people are less likely to throw stones if they understand the other side and exhibit some civility. If Democrats do nothing more than follow the same incendiary tactics of their predecessors, their stay in the leadership will be a short one.
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