AP: Democrats take control of the Senate

evenkatevenkat Posts: 380
edited November 2006 in A Moving Train
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=elections&id=4743894

AP: Democrats take control of the Senate

Democrats have majorities in Congress for the first time since 1994
By Dave Evans

(New York-WABC, November 8, 2006) - The Associated Press reports that Democrats have won control of the U.S. Senate with a Jim Webb victory in Virginia.

On Wednesday night, Democrat Jim Webb won Virginia's pivotal U.S. Senate race Wednesday, unseating Republican George Allen and giving the Democrats total control of Congress.
The Virginia race was the last undecided Senate race in the country after Republican Senator Conrad Burns' loss to Democrat John Tester in Montana. Webb's victory gave the Democrats 51 Senate seats and ultimately majorities in both the House and Senate for the first time since 1994.

The Associated Press says they contacted election officials in all 134 localities in Virginia where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their post-election 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.

Moving swiftly to establish himself as the winner, Webb had appointed his first three transition team members by afternoon, just hours after he claimed victory around 1:30 a.m.

Webb Spokeswoman Kristian Denny Tood: "The vote's been counted and Jim won."

Meanwhile, Democrats are also celebrating their new majority in the House.

In New York, Republicans lost three congressional seats, including John Sweeney Upstate. Democrat Christine Gillibrand made this election about Bush and the war in Iraq and she won.

It was the same story with John Hall who stunned Republican lawmaker Sue Kelly of Westchester.

San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi, likely becomes the nations first female speaker of the House.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi: "Today the American people voted for change and they voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction."

While the House became a decisive win for Democrats.
"...believe in lies...to get by...it's divine...whoa...oh, you know what its like..."
Post edited by Unknown User on
«13

Comments

  • I love good news!!!!!
    Thanks ek.

    Urs, :D
    "Without the album covers, where do you clean your pot?" - EV
  • Great news. Between the elections and that cold-blooded murderer getting canned today it's actually turned into a wonderful day.
  • Yep. Basically, in the history of Virginia elections for the senate, where there's been a recount, it's only made a difference of a few hundred votes. We're talking about a difference of several thousand, so Allen conceded.

    I think in Virginia, these recounts are voluntary, rather than compulsory?
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    Today was a great day!!!

    Now the work begins.
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    I think in Virginia, these recounts are voluntary, rather than compulsory?
    That is correct. It has to be requested by the losing candidate. Also something like if there is less than a half a percent between the two....then the county pays for the re-count....or something like that. But I bet we won't see one.
  • I hope and pray that this opportunity is not squandered. Something good better come out of this.
    All that's sacred, comes from youth....dedications, naive and true.
  • I hope and pray that this opportunity is not squandered. Something good better come out of this.

    dem leaders are already promising to work together in a bipartisan manner, which is a good step. the dems had been pretty much bullied the past 12 years and they are wanting the healing to begin and are promising to reach across the aisle. nothing happens in a polarized partisan environment, which is what we have had for a long time, so i believe something good will come out of it. new congressmen means new ideas....hell, its already better than the congress we had on monday.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Promises are not steps. They're promises.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    they better actually clean up this mess and not bash bush.cause im tired of the name calling shit on both sides.work on a few things first then bash bush
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
    Sammi: Wanna just break up?

  • Promises are not steps. They're promises.

    will you give them a little time? god they won the house less than 20 hours ago and the senate 90 minutes ago.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    thanks for the update, moonbeam,
    we all know where this country stands ideologically, and that should really piss you off. these midterms dealt liberalism another crushing defeat. something tells me you wouldn't agree with webb, tester, heath shuler and all the rest on very much.
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • will you give them a little time? god they won the house less than 20 hours ago and the senate 90 minutes ago.


    I'm basing my conclusions on the fact that they haven't presented any ideas the previous two elections and only won this election because of general discontent the American public had with the Republican party. And narrowly at that.

    There are still no ideas on the table. I've been waiting 4 years for that.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • jeffbrjeffbr Posts: 7,177
    something tells me you wouldn't agree with webb, tester, heath shuler and all the rest on very much.

    My favorite Tester quote: "I'm the only person in this race who's made his living with a gun...."
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • I think the Chairman of the DNC, Howard Dean, said it best when he stated:

    "I'm just deeply disappointed that once again we may have to settle for the lesser of two evils."


    And I thought Bush was the dolt.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    I think the Chairman of the DNC, Howard Dean, said it best when he stated:

    "I'm just deeply disappointed that once again we may have to settle for the lesser of two evils."


    And I thought Bush was the dolt.

    I'm not so intrested in a Bush-centered world, or a Democrat vs. Republican world. I'm more interested in core beliefs, and it's clear where we are as a nation. And this election has completely demonstrated where we are ideologically.
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • I'm not so intrested in a Bush-centered world, or a Democrat vs. Republican world. I'm more interested in core beliefs, and it's clear where we are as a nation. And this election has completely demonstrated where we are ideologically.


    18 of the house races Democrats won were by 5,000 votes of less. That's hardly radical. It's not what it seems. It's certainly not another '94.

    It's general public discontent with the party in power. It's a reoccuring theme during the midterms of each 6th year of an administration. 'Normal' may be a better word.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    18 of the house races Democrats won were by 5,000 votes of less. That's hardly radical. It's not what it seems. It's certainly not another '94.

    It's general public discontent with the party in power. It's a reoccuring theme during the midterms of each 6th year of an administration. 'Normal' may be a better word.

    no, i agree with you...

    my point is...is look at all the demcrats that won...you have heath shuler, tester, and webb...these guys are CONSERVATIVE. 94 was an election for conservatism, as was 2006. liberals know that this country rejects their ideology. and they cannot succeed longterm.

    i totally agree with you, republicans had some infighting, and were not very unified. i want some leadership though...leadership that will call out the distortions of the left. notice how threads around here become suddenly silent when liberals have to debate facts instead of emotion? hell, notice how the posts by liberals decline once they have to talk about facts instead of emotion?
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • BogoENBogoEN Posts: 65
    I think the Dems will wait to see if Bush lives up to his promise of bipartisanship to decide whether they move forward with the investigation, or even impeachment (which would def. not be a good move to start out with).

    Most of what we hear now (and usually) is just talk. I doubt they will work together beyond minimum wage and No Child Left Behind (which under the GOP House and Senate left A LOT of kids behind). Both parties will look for a political face lift. The Dems just have a head start.
    But really, all of this is political theater.
    None of this will affect Iraq or Domestic policies until long after Jan. 1.

    But I will say, to think that the Dems will play nice after 12 years of being kicked around...that's a bit naive. Bush dropped Rumsfeld because they would have had a field day with him if he had stayed.
    "Winded is the sailor, drifting by the storm, wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore...the smallest oceans still get Big Big waves..."

    Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
  • no, i agree with you...

    my point is...is look at all the demcrats that won...you have heath shuler, tester, and webb...these guys are CONSERVATIVE. 94 was an election for conservatism, as was 2006. liberals know that this country rejects their ideology. and they cannot succeed longterm.

    i totally agree with you, republicans had some infighting, and were not very unified. i want some leadership though...leadership that will call out the distortions of the left. notice how threads around here become suddenly silent when liberals have to debate facts instead of emotion? hell, notice how the posts by liberals decline once they have to talk about facts instead of emotion?


    That's what I had your post pegged as, but just making sure. :)

    I've stated what you just did in other threads. That's exactly what happend here. By the numbers, there was no difference between Webb and Allen. Allen had an R beside his name at the wrong time. Once again, I think it inherently odd that these "centrist" Democrats will be giving us Pelosi and Ried as their leadership.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • BogoENBogoEN Posts: 65
    no, i agree with you...

    my point is...is look at all the demcrats that won...you have heath shuler, tester, and webb...these guys are CONSERVATIVE. 94 was an election for conservatism, as was 2006. liberals know that this country rejects their ideology. and they cannot succeed longterm.

    i totally agree with you, republicans had some infighting, and were not very unified. i want some leadership though...leadership that will call out the distortions of the left. notice how threads around here become suddenly silent when liberals have to debate facts instead of emotion? hell, notice how the posts by liberals decline once they have to talk about facts instead of emotion?

    Those are broad strokes you paint on liberals. You make it sound as if you have jousted with all of them and won every time. Who's emotional?

    Many liberals I know look to Science and logic and common sense, not ideaology for their positions.
    "Winded is the sailor, drifting by the storm, wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore...the smallest oceans still get Big Big waves..."

    Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
  • BogoEN wrote:
    Those are broad strokes you paint on liberals. You make it sound as if you have jousted with all of them and won every time. Who's emotional?

    Many liberals I know look to Science and logic and common sense, not ideaology for their positions.

    Who are you to judge how people form their opinions? Talk about painting broad strokes.
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • BogoENBogoEN Posts: 65
    Who are you to judge how people form their opinions? Talk about painting broad strokes.

    That didn't even make sense...
    "Winded is the sailor, drifting by the storm, wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore...the smallest oceans still get Big Big waves..."

    Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    BogoEN wrote:
    Those are broad strokes you paint on liberals. You make it sound as if you have jousted with all of them and won every time. Who's emotional?

    Many liberals I know look to Science and logic and common sense, not ideaology for their positions.

    no, liberals only look to science when convenient. they have no interest in science or the truth. look at any embryonic stem cell research debate here. liberals cannot win on the issues. and this was demonstrated in this campaign. the democrats ran a bunch of conservatives against incumbents and won and all the big time libs went into hiding.

    i'm telling you, the libs can gloat all they want about this election, but this election has proved the far left is really nothing in this country....look at ned lement. you people cannot win elections if you state your beliefs. so good luck in the future.
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    no, i agree with you...

    my point is...is look at all the demcrats that won...you have heath shuler, tester, and webb...these guys are CONSERVATIVE. 94 was an election for conservatism, as was 2006. liberals know that this country rejects their ideology. and they cannot succeed longterm.

    the reaching is hilarious. conservative how, exactly? are pro-choice people considered conservative? before the final dem wins were counted, here is something showing the gains for pro-choicers in Congress:

    http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/choice-composition.html

    so the house gained 20 pro-choicers and the senate at least one.

    and hey, i never knew ted kennedy and hillary clinton were conservatives.
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
  • BogoENBogoEN Posts: 65
    no, liberals only look to science when convenient. they have no interest in science or the truth. look at any embryonic stem cell research debate here. liberals cannot win on the issues. and this was demonstrated in this campaign. the democrats ran a bunch of conservatives against incumbents and won and all the big time libs went into hiding.

    i'm telling you, the libs can gloat all they want about this election, but this election has proved the far left is really nothing in this country....look at ned lement. you people cannot win elections if you state your beliefs. so good luck in the future.
    To be clear, I'm not stating I fall into your category of liberals. But actually I do agree with you, partially. I think that those who state modern leftist ideas (ex. Gay Rights, Pro-Choice, Progressive Tax, Uniform Health Care etc.) learn the hard way that most Americans, not just in the heartland or south seek issues that appeal to them, as it should since they are the voters. And many of those issues don't interest much of the non Urban culture, not even progressive tax. Dems and liberals would need to prove mathematically why progressive tax works and cuts don't-which they can't. But nevertheless, neither can Republicans PROVE that cuts bolster a long-lasting, strong economy. It's all talk because neither concept stays around long enough to be proven or disproven.

    However, I think the subject of the Environment and global warming, is THE issue at hand today (next to anti-american extremists, here and abroad). It's the one issue "liberals" have been spot on about for quite some time, and even some moderates.
    "Winded is the sailor, drifting by the storm, wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore...the smallest oceans still get Big Big waves..."

    Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Time for the victory toke!!!
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    VictoryGin wrote:
    the reaching is hilarious. conservative how, exactly? are pro-choice people considered conservative? before the final dem wins were counted, here is something showing the gains for pro-choicers in Congress:

    http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/choice-composition.html

    so the house gained 20 pro-choicers and the senate at least one.

    and hey, i never knew ted kennedy and hillary clinton were conservatives.

    why are you so obsessed with that issue? i could really give a shit about it. I'm more interested in winning Iraq, and almost ALL of your candidates disagree with losing (i.e. redeployment). is the guy who won tom delay's seat a lib? how about heath shuler? how about the moron that won foley's seat? how about webb? how about tester? seriously, you are pointing towards clinton and kennedy as big pickups? THEY are why the dems won? seriously? who's reaching? dems won in key races b/c they retreated and didn't talk about the issues.
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • VictoryGin wrote:
    the reaching is hilarious. conservative how, exactly? are pro-choice people considered conservative? before the final dem wins were counted, here is something showing the gains for pro-choicers in Congress:

    http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/choice-composition.html

    so the house gained 20 pro-choicers and the senate at least one.

    and hey, i never knew ted kennedy and hillary clinton were conservatives.


    Did ya know Ted Kennedy is a murderer? And Hillary, well, she's a girl! Ewwwwww!
    "Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"

    "What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."

    Camden 5-28-06
    Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    why are you so obsessed with that issue? i could really give a shit about it. I'm more interested in winning Iraq, and almost ALL of your candidates disagree with losing (i.e. redeployment). is the guy who won tom delay's seat a lib? how about heath shuler? how about the moron that won foley's seat? how about webb? how about tester? seriously, you are pointing towards clinton and kennedy as big pickups? THEY are why the dems won? seriously? who's reaching? dems won in key races b/c they retreated and didn't talk about the issues.

    um, you totally avoided the issue here. i'm just saying your conservative theory is laughable, using reproductive choice an a glowing example.
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
Sign In or Register to comment.