Midterm elections aren't that big of a deal, except once in a while when they're a really really big deal. This is one of those times.
I turned on the TV in the wee hours of this morning hoping the Dems might have recovered the House of Representatives. I was delighted when I found out that they had taken over the House and may even win back the Senate, too - in case anyone hasn't heard this already, the two key races in Montana and Virginia are too close to call, and we won't know for ages. What this means is that Bush and his cronies don't have a blank check from Congress anymore. We may actually see issues being debated, instead of presidential edicts being rubberstamped by smirking parasites and spineless yes-men. The Republicans will now be dealing with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of the gutsiest grandmas around. They find her "scary." They should be scared.
My own state of Vermont will again be sending two Democrats and one Independent to Washington. But now U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders will become the first Socialist to serve in the Senate ever, having handily defeated an arrogant software tycoon who spent $7 million of his own on the campaign. The outcome was no big surprise - he's one of the most beloved politicians in the state. While Vermont's Republican candidates were calling in sick for their photo opps with the President, Bernie Sanders picked up an endorsement that has real traction in Vermont: Willie Nelson.
5 comments:
Kate
I'm not from the US but felt the same joy as you did. In fact US presidents are in a way our rulers as well so it matters what happens over the pond. As you've gathered Brits dislike Bush almost as much as US Democrats so I've cracked open a botle of wine tro celebrate this evening.
Tremendous. And now they've lost the Senate. Huzzah.
I really can't believe it. This is tremendous news... and no more Rummy to boot. Although the spook they've replaced him with doesn't look like that much of an improvement, frankly.
Now all we can do is pray the Dems don't do anything to screw things up for 2008.
One analysis I read today suggests winning both houses is not that good as now Dems must share in the impossible job oif solving Iraq and will be hobbled along with Bush come 2008.
That sounds omimously possible, Skipper. But I think the republicans have had sole control of the Iraq situation for so long that it would be pretty hard to convince anyone, even after two years of bipartisan wrangling, that it wasn't their mess.
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