I just wanted to say that this has been a landslide victory for the Democratic Party. It is a stunning defeat for the GOP and for George W. Bush. The margin is greater than I expected, and I've been one of the most optimistic Democrats here for a very long time. A sweeping victory. How sweet it is! D&D... Party Time!
When you take into account the structural disadvantages the Democrats faced, especially in the House, it is quite remarkable how big this seems to be.
It's not over in Montana and Virginia, especially Virginia. I am also glad to see the Republicans lose, but I'd hold the joy in until it's confirmed that they have lost both Houses of Congress.
The lead in Montana seems to be shrinking by the minute so I concur with your statement. There's plenty more before anyone can claim victory. Although, it looks like Virginia is over at this point (although there seems to be a pending recount)
Indeed. What may turn out to be of equal, if not greater, importance is the nationwide Democratic victories for governor, and in the state legislatures. This is going to be huge for redistricting. I am one happy camper. I've popped open a Turbodog, a most delicious Louisiana dark ale. Cheers! D&D... it's Party Time!
Congratulations Democrats. I'm happy you all won. (now lets all root for the election in Holland, the party i support this election are probably going to loose )
Thank you! My favorite foreign country is the Netherlands, with Canada being close enough to tie, if it weren't for the cold weather. Keep D&D Civil-ized!
its 3:22 am houston time, and by my math (based on percentages and precincts) Burns will fall 1000-1500 short, 144.5 to 146.0 or something. much tighter than Macacafest 2006, this will be florida-close. But holy crap this is close...I am literallty falling asleep but can not look away. As of a few minnutes ago, I have noe nicknamed all candidates, pundits and commentators "macaca." I still do not know what means, i just know it sounds bad. down to the wire! macaca
CNN projects that a proposed law in South Dakota to ban nearly all abortions will be defeated. A crushing defeat that Pro-Back-Alley-Abortionists will simply ignore.
Jim Webb (D) 1,170,564 49.6% George Allen * (R) 1,162,717 49.3% Glenda Parker (IG) 26,048 1.1% Precincts: 99.8% | Updated: 6:28 AM ET | Source: AP http://projects.washingtonpost.com/elections/keyraces/56/ This has got to hurt Allen's Presedential aspirations
Jon Tester (D) 173,259 49 Conrad Burns * (R) 171,207 48 Stan Jones (Lib.) 9,061 3 Precincts: 90% | Updated: 6:28 AM ET | Source: AP http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/elections/2006/mt.html
Gay Marriage Ban Rejected in Arizona Nov 8, 5:47 AM (ET) By DAVID CRARY In a triple setback for conservatives, South Dakotans rejected a law that would have banned virtually all abortions, Arizona became the first state to defeat an amendment to ban gay marriage and Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research. Nationwide, a total of 205 measures were on the ballots in 37 states Tuesday, but none had riveted political activists across the country like the South Dakota measure. Passed overwhelmingly by the legislature earlier this year, it would have been the toughest abortion law in the nation, allowing the procedure 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 - which lost by a 55-45 margin - 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." Arizona broke a strong national trend by refusing to change its constitution to define marriage as a one-man, one-woman institution. The measure also would have forbid civil unions and domestic partnerships. Eight states voted on amendments to ban gay marriage: Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin approved them. Similar amendments have passed previously in all 20 states to consider them. "What we're seeing is that fear-mongering around same-sex marriage is fizzling out," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. He noted that the bans that succeeded won by much narrower margins, on average, than in the past. Conservatives had hoped the same-sex marriage bans might increase turnout for Republicans, though the GOP had a rough night. Democrats had looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states. The wage hikes passed in Arizona, Colorado. Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Nevada. The Missouri stem cell measure passed by a narrow margin. It had become a key factor in the state's crucial Senate race, won by Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill, who supported it, over incumbent Republican Jim Talent, who opposed it. Celebrities also had plunged into the campaign: actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from Parkinson's disease, endorsed the amendment, while several sports stars spoke against it. 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. Arizona voters faced the most ballot measures - 19. They approved four that arose out of frustration over the influx of illegal immigrants: One measure makes English the state's official language, while another expands the list of government benefits denied to illegal immigrants. Voters weren't keen about another, more quirky Arizona measure: They defeated a proposal that would have awarded $1 million to a randomly selected voter in each general election. In Ohio and Arizona, anti-smoking activists won showdowns with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Voters in each state approved a tough ban on smoking in public places and rejected rival, Reynolds-backed measures that would have exempted bars. Voters in Arizona and South Dakota approved increases in tobacco taxes, while the proposal was rejected in Missouri. Nevada and Colorado voters rejected measures that would have legalized possession of up to an ounce of mar1juana by anyone 21 and older. South Dakotans voted down a proposal that would have allowed mar1juana use for some medical purposes. A winning measure in Rhode Island will restore voting rights to felons on probation and parole. Elsewhere, land use was a hot issue, part of a backlash against a 2005 Supreme Court ruling allowing the city of New London, Conn., to buy up homes to make way for a private commercial development. Nine states approved eminent-domain measures barring the government from taking private property for a private use. Arizona's winning measure went a step further, requiring state and local authorities to compensate property owners if land-use regulations lowered the value of their property: Idaho rejected a similar measure. South Dakota voters defeated a measure that would have made their state the first to strip immunity from judges, exposing them to the possibility of lawsuits. In Maine, Nebraska and Oregon, voters defeated measures that would cap increases in state spending. Pennsylvania voters gave the state the go-ahead to borrow $20 million so that nearly 33,000 veterans in the state who participated in the Persian Gulf War could collect one-time payments up to $525.
I am stunned ~ elated, no one I think could have predicted this much anti-repub sentiment across the country.
The Republicans I am most happy to see go, or JD Hayworth, Rick Santorum, and hopefully when all is said and done George Allen.
