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macnumpty
Getting on a bit!
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
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Location: Exiled down south.
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 Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:56 am Post subject: Democrats to take control of the US House of Representatives |
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Well, Bush has definitely lost control of the House, so we might be in for a Congressional inquiry on Iraq. Shame the UK didn't have the guts to vote for one last week.
| CNN wrote: | (CNN) -- Democrats picked up at least 28 seats in voting for the House of Representatives on Election Day, enough to take control when Congress is seated in January, CNN projected.
Democrats said the turnover was a clear signal that dissatisfaction over the Iraq war, the unpopularity of President Bush and a series of Republican scandals played a role in the voting booth.
Key races where Democrats gained seats included Connecticut's 5th Congressional District, where 12-term Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson lost, and Florida's 22nd Congressional District, where 25-year veteran Rep. Clay Shaw lost.
Scandal also contributed to the shift in the balance of power in the House. In Ohio's 18th Congressional District, Democrat Zack Space defeated Republican Joy Padgett for the seat formerly held by GOP Rep. Bob Ney, CNN projected.
Ney resigned Friday after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal. (Real-time House results)
In Florida's 16th District, CNN projected Democrat Tim Mahoney defeated Republican Joe Negron. The seat was left open by the resignation of former Rep. Mark Foley after it was revealed he sent lurid electronic messages to congressional pages.
Foley's name remained on the ballot, and Negron had to convince voters that a ballot cast for Foley was really a ballot for him.
In Pennsylvania's 7th District, 10-term GOP Rep. Curt Weldon lost to Democrat Joe Sestak, CNN projected.
Weldon's re-election bid was hurt after federal agents searched his daughter's home as part of an influence-peddling investigation. Weldon has denied wrongdoing.
In Texas' 22nd District, Democrat Nick Lampson won the seat vacated by former Republican leader Tom DeLay, defeating Republican Shelly Sekula-Gibbs, CNN projected.
"Tonight is a great victory for the American people," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to become speaker of the House. "Today, the American people voted for change, and they voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction. And that is exactly what we intend to do."
That particularly applies to the war in Iraq, she said.
" 'Stay the course' has not made our country safer, has not honored our commitment to our troops, and has not made the region more stable. We cannot continue down this catastrophic path ... the campaign is over. The Democrats are ready to lead," said Pelosi, who will be the first woman to be speaker. (Watch Pelosi declare victory -- 4:43)
The White House said Bush will call Pelosi on Wednesday to offer congratulations.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said Bush will deliver the message "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' " legislation.
"It was encouraging to hear the Democrats say it's time to get rid of partisanship," Snow said.
The president "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.
One Republican who survived a close race was Rep. Tom Reynolds of New York, the House Republican chair, according to CNN projections. Reynolds revealed he learned about Foley's e-mails to a page before they became public.
All 435 seats were up for grabs in the House, where representatives serve two-year terms.
With control of the House comes the ability to set the chamber's agenda, and a stronger hand in setting Congress' legislative agenda.
Democrats hoped voters would use their congressional votes to send Bush a message of their dissatisfaction with his policies in Iraq.
In exit polling nationwide Tuesday, 57 percent of voters said they disapproved of the war in Iraq, while 41 percent approved. Those figures mirror Bush's job approval among voters, with 58 percent saying they disapprove of the president's performance and 41 percent approving.
Exit polling results were based on interviews Tuesday morning and afternoon. Polling continued throughout the evening.
"The burden on the Republican Party now is to somehow change the national discussion away from Iraq and the president's shortcomings and over to the war against terrorism," said Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.
Exit polling Tuesday found voters placing national issues well ahead of local ones in influence on their House votes, 62 percent to 33 percent. (Watch how national mood reflected in House voting-- 2:19)
In the current House, Republicans hold 230 seats, Democrats hold 201, with one independent who usually votes with Democrats. One Democratic seat was left vacant when Robert Menendez of New Jersey was appointed to the Senate, and three Republican seats are vacant because of resignations -- those of DeLay, Foley and Ney.
Republicans have held the chamber for the past 12 years, taking power in the midterm election of President Clinton's first term. For that 1994 vote, Republicans put forth their "Contract With America," in which they pledged to clean up congressional ethics, cut the congressional payroll, simplify federal budgeting practices, and make it more difficult to pass tax increases, among other things.
Before the 1994 elections, Democrats had held sway in the House since 1952.
This is the second midterm election for Bush, and the party of the occupant of the White House historically loses congressional seats in the middle of that president's second term. Only Clinton bucked that trend -- in 1998 -- but Democrats lost 52 seats in the 1994 election. |
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.house/index.html
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^ ^ This is Bunny. Bunny wishes that he was on the electoral roll in Glenrothes, so he could vote for Peter Grant. He also reminds you to read the Our Scotland Blog. |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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So do the democrats now for example have the power to withdraw from Iraq? Or do they just have the power to hold Bush accountable for his actions? Im not really up on how the American system works, but it certainly seems as though its a step in the right direction.
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SLG
Born Again..........and still Scottish!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| I presume that this will also lessen the likelihood of any venture into other middle eastern coutries... |
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macnumpty
Getting on a bit!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Need to brush up on this myself: I know Congress handles declarations of war and peace treaties, though I'm not sure whether it's both Houses that play a part or primarily the Senate.
The Representatives seems to produce most of the legislation, so if it can get through the Senate (which now has 49 Republicans, 47 Democrats, 2 Independents and 2 races still to declare), Bush either has to go along with it, or veto any legislation and risk a row.
I'm reasonably the certain that the House also wields a good deal of influence on the Budget, so we'll probably see a reduced use of 'Reaganomics'. 
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^ ^ This is Bunny. Bunny wishes that he was on the electoral roll in Glenrothes, so he could vote for Peter Grant. He also reminds you to read the Our Scotland Blog. |
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October1974
I Love 'Our Scotland'
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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The Dem are just a fraction ahead in both Virginia and Montana - so Bush's nightmare has arrived.
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macnumpty
Getting on a bit!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, but Senator Lieberman could provide him with a Get Out of Jail card, especially on foreign policy and Iraq. If the Dems hold Virginia and Montana, that's 49-49, plus Bernie Sanders from Vermont, who you'd expect to support the Dems on most things. If Lieberman votes with the Administration, that's 50-50, so Cheney has the casting vote as Vice-President.
All the same, it's going to be a rough final two years for the Bush Administration...
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thelandisoors
On A Journey (500 Miles)
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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It really makes zero difference who has the majority in the house or senate. The democrats and republicans are the same thing. The false Left/Right paradigm. Very much like the two main parties in the UK. Your right arm is called your "right arm" and your left arm is called your "left arm"... but, it's all the same body.
There will be no impeachment of Bush nor will their be anything effectively done about Iraq. I think we'll see alot more of the same. Remember he's always got his veto power anyways... and he's known for putting signing statements on all bills passed he doesn't like anyways. And according to him he's above the law. In his time in office he has made the USA a dictatorship.. the constitution is no more with the Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act.
Sad but, true. |
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RFM
'Our Scotland' = 2nd Job!
Joined: 09 Feb 2006
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
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| Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Truth is, Thelandisoors, a good number of Americans would agree with you.
THe problem with Iraq is exactly the same problem that ocurred with Viet Nam; there is too much money flowing in favor of continuing of the war. War is always a very profitable business except for the working classes who have to do the dying. In a very short time we will see whether the 110th Congress is going to order the military out of Iraq or tell us about "saving face". By the way, there is a substantial view that Bush's use of "signing statements" is itself an impeachable offense. Representative Conyers of Michigan has been trying to table a resolution for articles of impeachment now for near on 2 years. Godspeed to him I say. |
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Morph
I really have nothing else to do!!!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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Im sure that the Senate deals more with world affairs and policy and the houseis more home affairs. This, as was said above, may mean that there wont be a dramatic shift in policy just that more countries may not be invaded.
How do the democrats actually see the pull out of Iraq happening. Do they have any concrete ideas or policies on how it should be done?
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thelandisoors
On A Journey (500 Miles)
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think they plan on leaving anytime soon considering the very large and very permanent bases they are building over there.
This war is extremely profitable for the powers that be. Very few people know about the Economy Plan for Iraq that was attached to the war plan when they invaded... the procedure that the war commanders are following are based on the steps listed in the Economy plan... how quaint ay? Iraq is quite simply a corporate takeover. Greg Palast explains and documents this quite well in his book, "Armed Madhouse". of course the ENTIRE defence budget in America is funded solely from corporate Federal Income Tax.. which is legal and constitutional whereas the individual federal income tax is illegal and unconstitutional to require this of the American worker. See Aaron Russo's new film, "America from Freedom to Fascism" for free on google video. He's really done a cracking job of tackling this issue that previously was really taboo to even mention. http://video.google.co.uk/videopl...75242198&q=freedom+to+fascism
Talk about sleepwalking into a totalitarian police state. America is already there and quite frankly it is a bit late in the game now for any turnaround on this.. and if there is it will be bloody and brutal... I mean at least in America they had (past tense here) a Constitution and HAD posse comitatus.. we on the other hand here in Scotland do not have really any such thing that protects us. |
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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Wasn't there some sort of constitution written into the Scotland act? or something to do with the re-establishment of the parliament? Im sure I read that in a Link Economist posted in another thread.
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thelandisoors
On A Journey (500 Miles)
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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I think most "human rights" are through the EU than anywhere else... but, there is some sort of a constitution and a constitution to guarantee a people freedom.
We are not free.. nor are we equal. For example, nearly nobody I know owns mineral rights for their property...including myself... One only needs to understand the inequities of the property and land system in Scotland to see how they are laughing in our faces. There is nearly nothing anyone can do without the permission from the government nowadays. |
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sandmountainslim
I Love 'Our Scotland'
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thelandisoors
On A Journey (500 Miles)
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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| here! here! LOL |
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Theresa
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Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:01 am Post subject: |
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Watch the Democrats institute vengeance politics. They tout themselves as fair, open-minded advocates for the little guy, but they raise taxes, centralize big government, and trample civil rights as badly as the Republicans. 
| thelandisoors wrote: | | There will be no impeachment of Bush nor will their be anything effectively done about Iraq. |
Maybe not, but the Democrats will sure hog-tie him. The President has been very busy with damage control and 11th-hour conciliation with the new Democrat leaders. Too little, too late.
The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence aren't worth a tinker's damn with the concurrent apathy and polarization present in American politics. It's imperative our next president is someone who knows how to exercise a calming influence on the country and promote consensus so we can talk to each other again.
I wonder if that's just wishful thinking. 
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I need ma own bl**dy forum!
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:52 am Post subject: |
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Would any of you like to see Hillary Clinton as your next president?
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sandmountainslim
I Love 'Our Scotland'
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:48 am Post subject: |
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| sandmountainslim wrote: | Big Deal!
The Democrat Wing of the DemoPublican Monster has taken control of the Congress.
Both parties are worthless to the people and to the principles of Jefferson and his fellow founders.
This is no different than a switch from your Tories to Labour.
One in the same buncha damned crooked politico's who only care about themselves and governmental powers.
I am a PROUD member of the Jefferson Republican Party.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Republican_Party
To Hell with the DemoPublican Monster.
WP |
To blow the horn of the JRP, our man Carl "Twofeathers" Whitaker recieved over 11000 write in votes in his campaign for Tennessee Governor.
He also puts in a good plug for the JRP on his website and in radio interviews.
http://whitakerforgovernor2006.com/
I see Jefferson's Party returning to the national scene in the not so distant future.
http://jeffersonrepublicanparty.com/
WP
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Last edited by sandmountainslim on Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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thelandisoors
On A Journey (500 Miles)
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| RFM wrote: | Truth is, Thelandisoors, a good number of Americans would agree with you.
THe problem with Iraq is exactly the same problem that ocurred with Viet Nam; there is too much money flowing in favor of continuing of the war. War is always a very profitable business except for the working classes who have to do the dying. In a very short time we will see whether the 110th Congress is going to order the military out of Iraq or tell us about "saving face". By the way, there is a substantial view that Bush's use of "signing statements" is itself an impeachable offense. Representative Conyers of Michigan has been trying to table a resolution for articles of impeachment now for near on 2 years. Godspeed to him I say. |
looks like conyers changed his mind.... http://www.infowars.net/articles/november2006/101106Rotten.htm |
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Theresa
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Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Avatar wrote: | | Would any of you like to see Hillary Clinton as your next president? |
If that happens, I'll move to Scotland and join the SNP!!! 
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RFM
'Our Scotland' = 2nd Job!
Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 486
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thelandisoors;
So the sellout has already begun. My, my that certainly didn't take very long; and they are not even sworn in yet. |
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