The Democratic House
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/opinion/08wed5.html
There was only one explanation for the crazy-quilt combination of
victories around the country that gave the Democrats control of the
House of Representatives last night: an angry shout of repudiation of
the Bush White House and the abysmal way the Republican majority has
run Congress.
No Atheists in a Foxhole? No Idiots, Either
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/opinion/08kane.html
By TIM KANE and MACKENZIE EAGLEN
A common misperception is that the ranks of the military are
increasingly filled with relatively uneducated young men and women from
low-income households. Yet this myth doesn't hold up under
inspection.
Turkey and Europe: Why Strained Friendship Is Fraying
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/world/europe/08turkey.html?ref=world&pagewanted=all
By DAN BILEFSKY
Faced with a barrage of criticism, a dejected Turkey may look to the
Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa as alternatives to Europe
and the United States.
At the U.N., Discord Over Confronting Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/world/middleeast/08nations.html?ref=world
By WARREN HOGE
A meeting of six nations working on a resolution to curb Iran's
nuclear program broke up with the ambassadors reporting lessening
prospects of a swift accord.
Thai Advocates Islamic Law for Far South
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/world/asia/08THAILAND.html?ref=asia
By REUTERS
The prime minister, in another significant gesture to Muslim insurgents
in the far south, said that Islamic law should be given a bigger role
there.
J.-J. Servan-Schreiber, French Man of Ideas, Dies at 82
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/world/europe/08servan-schreiber.html?ref=europe
By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber's 1967 book warning of American
economic domination of Europe provoked a firestorm on both sides of the
Atlantic.
G.O.P. Loses Senate Seats in 3 States
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/us/politics/08elect.html?ref=us&pagewanted=all
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee
of Rhode Island lost during the hottest fight for Congress in years.
Good Morning, We're Going to Bed
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=630
But you can still see who's winning.
Missouri: McCaskill Defeats Talent
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=631
With Montana still hanging out there and Virginia too close to call,
Claire McCaskill, the Democratic candidate and state auditor, surfaced
to declare that the voters of Missouri had chosen her, that they had
spoken, and that they had chosen change. With most precincts reporting,
Ms. McCaskill had a lead of 50 to 47 percent....
Desperately Seeking Closure
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=629
The witching hour arrived for the television networks with Senate
control still in doubt.
Guber-Calls: Republican Wins
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=628
No new pick-ups, but some important saves for the G.O.P.
Democrats Seize Control of House; Senate Hangs on Virginia and Montana
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/us/politics/08elect.html?ref=politics&pagewanted=all
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
The House victory signaled a sea change in the political dynamics of a
government that has been dominated by Republicans for a decade.
Democrats Oust G.O.P. in Governing Six States
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08govs.html?ref=politics
By KIRK JOHNSON
Democrats control the majority of governorships for the first time
since the 1990s.
A Loud Message for Bush
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08assess.html?ref=politics
By ROBIN TONER
A proudly unyielding president was put on notice that the voters want
change, especially on the war in Iraq.
Polling Places Report Snags, but Not Chaos
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/08voting.html?ref=politics&pagewanted=all
By IAN URBINA
The problems with new electronic voting equipment and new registration
laws did not lead to the voting gridlock some had feared.
For Democrats, Time to Savor Victory at Last
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08dems.html?ref=washington
By JEFF ZELENY and KATE ZERNIKE
Democrats, at least in this millennium, have not been accustomed to
much celebration.
The Impetus for Changes: Voters Display Frustrations and
Dissatisfactions
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08mood.html?ref=washington&pagewanted=all
By SHAILA DEWAN
Voters said they were unhappy with the Iraq war and expressed
discontent over the economy, the cost of health care, gasoline prices
and illegal immigration.
On Wave of Voter Unrest, Democrats Take Control of House
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08house.html?ref=washington
By CARL HULSE
Led by a string of victories in the Northeast and Midwest, Democrats
gained at least 21 seats, 6 more than the 15 required to gain control
of the House.
Blogs Take Lead in Reporting Polling Problems, With Supporting Evidence
on YouTube
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/us/politics/08blogs.html?ref=technology
By TOM ZELLER Jr.
And in a new twist this year, many bloggers buttressed their accounts
of electoral shenanigans with links to videos posted on the video Web
site YouTube.
Democrats Take House
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701838_pf.html
Two Dozen Seats Gained in House
By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A01
Democrats recaptured the House last night, defeating Republican
incumbents in every region of the country, and were close to gaining
control of the Senate in midterm elections dominated by war, scandal
and President Bush's leadership.
By early this morning, Democrats had picked up more than two dozen
Republican-held House seats without losing any of their own, putting
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) into position to become the
nation's first female speaker.
Webb Has a Slim Edge Over Allen, But Recount Likely
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701844_pf.html
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A01
Democratic challenger James Webb held a slim lead over Republican Sen.
George Allen early today in Virginia's U.S. Senate race, a dramatic and
nasty battle that almost certainly will be decided by a recount next
month.
With more than 99 percent of the votes tallied by about 2 a.m. today,
Webb claimed victory with a lead of about 7,800 votes among the more
than 2.3 million cast -- a difference of three-tenths of a percent.
Some absentee ballots in Loudoun County, Richmond and Virginia Beach
were still being counted in the early morning.
A Voter Rebuke For Bush, the War And the Right
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701697_pf.html
By Peter Baker and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A01
The political pendulum in American politics swung away from the right
yesterday, putting an end to the 12-year Republican Revolution on
Capitol Hill and delivering a sharp rebuke of President Bush and the
Iraq war.
The GOP reign in the House that began with Newt Gingrich in a burst of
vision and confrontation in 1994 came crashing down amid voter
disaffection with congressional corruption. The collapse of one-party
rule in Washington will transform Bush's final two years in office and
challenge Democrats to make the leap from angry opposition to partners
in power.
Cardin, O'Malley Win in Statewide Democratic Wave
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701842_pf.html
By Matthew Mosk and John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A01
Maryland Democrats swept to victory in the major statewide races last
night, as voters showed a deep unease about the direction of the
country and a strong urge to return the state to its long tradition of
Democratic leadership.
Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley was elected the state's 61st governor,
and veteran congressman Benjamin L. Cardin won a hard-fought race for
U.S. Senate. Both were carried into office by a surge in turnout,
including a robust showing from African Americans, widely viewed as the
most pivotal Election Day voting bloc.
Democratic Voters in Washington Suburbs Solidify Their Power in Md.,
Va. Elections
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110800307.html
By Robert Barnes and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A01
The Washington suburbs on both sides of the Potomac turned a deeper
shade of Democratic blue yesterday, leading the way in defeating
Maryland's first Republican governor in a generation and turning
against Virginia Republican incumbent Sen. George Allen.
Most striking in yesterday's returns was the continued success of
Democrats at the top of the ticket in the Northern Virginia suburbs.
The region in the past three years has voted for the Democratic
presidential nominee, the Democratic governor and yesterday supported
Democratic Senate nominee James Webb in his too-close-to-call challenge
of Allen.
Let's Stop Stereotyping Evangelicals
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701228.html
By Joseph Loconte and Michael Cromartie
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A27
It was in 1976 -- the "year of the evangelical," according to Newsweek
-- that conservative Christians burst upon the political landscape.
Critics have been warning about the theocratic takeover of America ever
since. Thus the plaintive cry of a Cabinet member in the Carter
administration: "I am beginning to fear that we could have an Ayatollah
Khomeini in this country, but that he will not have a beard . . . he
will have a television program."
This election season produced similar lamentations -- Howard Dean's
warning about Christian "extremism," Kevin Phillips's catalogue of
fears in "American Theocracy" and brooding documentaries such as "Jesus
Camp," to name a few. This theme is a gross caricature of the 100
million or more people who could be called evangelicals. But the real
problem is that it denies the profoundly democratic ideals of
Protestant Christianity, while ignoring evangelicalism's deepening
social conscience.
Exit-Poll Withdrawal and Rage at the Machines
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701539.html
By Dana Milbank
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A02
Election Day just isn't what it used to be.
In times past, political junkies would spend the day engaged in their
favorite biennial game: trading secret "exit poll" results that hinted
at the final results hours before the polls closed. But then came 2004
and the infamous exit polls that prematurely inaugurated President John
Kerry -- forcing exit pollers to go into hiding.
Democrats Promise Broad New Agenda
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701760_pf.html
Now in Control, They Plan to Challenge Bush
By Jonathan Weisman and Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A29
Democrats vowed to press a broad agenda of legislative change and to
confront President Bush on issues such as the war in Iraq after seizing
control of the House last night following 12 years of Republican rule.
Victories from New Hampshire to Arizona marked a rebuke to Bush and a
House Republican majority that has served as a firewall for the White
House's agenda. Republicans lost three seats in reliably Republican
Indiana and a bellwether seat in Kentucky, and they suffered huge
losses in Pennsylvania.
Misleading GOP Handouts Called a Political 'Low Point'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701756_pf.html
By Ovetta Wiggins and Avis Thomas-lester
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A29
At least six chartered buses carried mostly poor, black men from as far
as Philadelphia to hand out inaccurate voter guides in Baltimore and
Prince George's County yesterday as part of an effort by backers of
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and U.S. Senate candidate Michael S. Steele
to woo black voters.
The glossy voter guide, paid for by the Ehrlich and Steele campaigns,
pictured three of Maryland's most prominent black Democrats above the
words "These are OUR Choices," even though two were not on yesterday's
ballot and the other was running unopposed. Inside, under the heading
"Democratic Sample Ballot," it listed mostly Democratic candidates as
the preferred choices -- along with Ehrlich and Steele, who were not
identified as Republicans.
Democratic Hopes Rest on 2 Tight Races
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701752_pf.html
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A29
Democrats claimed victory in four crucial Senate races early today and
held small leads in two others that would give their party the majority
-- and control of both congressional chambers.
The Senate majority will turn on razor-thin races in Virginia and
Montana, where recounts or legal challenges could delay the final
outcome for days. Democrats moved within striking distance by ousting
Republicans in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Missouri.
Moderate Voters Lean Toward Democrats
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701805.html
Majority Disapprove Of War and Bush
By Michael A. Fletcher and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A30
Democratic House candidates picked up significant support among voters
who inhabit the political center yesterday, and a majority of all
voters told pollsters they disapproved of the war in Iraq and the
president's job performance. Few said they were getting ahead
financially.
Most voters said national, not local, issues were foremost in their
minds in casting votes for Congress.
Opposition to War Buoys Democrats
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701691.html
By Michael Grunwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A31
Democrats worried for months about the last-minute political bombshells
Karl Rove might drop, but the October surprise of 2006 may have come
from Iraq.
October was the U.S. military's deadliest month in Iraq in nearly two
years, and as Democrats cruised to victory in the House last night,
early returns and exit polls suggested that the unpopularity of the war
-- along with the president who started it -- was a major factor. The
election was much more than a referendum on the war, but bad news from
Baghdad gave Democrats a powerful argument for change, and a metaphor
for a "rubber-stamp Congress" that wants to "stay the course" in
America as well as Iraq.
Nancy Pelosi Set to Be First Female Speaker
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701726_pf.html
Democrats' Majority Puts Her at Helm in January
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A32
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is set to become the first female speaker of
the House, shattering what she herself has described as "not a glass
ceiling but a marble ceiling" in the halls of Congress.
With yesterday's Democratic victory in taking control of the House of
Representatives, Pelosi will stand second in line to the presidency and
rank as the nation's top elected Democrat. She will take office in
January when the 110th Congress convenes and newly sworn-in members
cast their votes for speaker on the House floor.
Same-Sex Marriage, Wages Top Ballot Issues
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701708_pf.html
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A36
Revving up their base with emotionally resonant issues, Democrats won
increases in the minimum wage in at least five states, while
Republicans pulled out their 2004 playbook and appeared to have won
bans on same-sex marriage in at least six states.
Voters approved minimum-wage increases in Arizona, Missouri, Montana,
Nevada and Ohio. The vote was too close to call in Colorado.
Wolf, Moran, Davis Retain Their Seats
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701797.html
By Amy Gardner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A44
In the Washington region's marquee U.S. House race, veteran Republican
Rep. Frank R. Wolf soundly defeated Democrat Judy Feder yesterday to
claim a 14th term in his Northern Virginia district.
Wolf, 67, rolled up solid leads across the 10th Congressional District,
including in key Fairfax County precincts, to build an insurmountable
margin, according to unofficial returns. The outcome, in a district
that has grown more friendly to Democrats in recent years, underscored
Wolf's popularity even in the face of one of the strongest challenges
of his career.
2 Camps Prepare for Numbers Battle
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110800276.html
By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A45
Democrat James Webb and Republican George Allen prepared last night for
a potentially contentious recount that could determine which party
controls the U.S. Senate.
With preliminary results indicating Webb leads Allen by about
three-tenths of 1 percent, neither candidate conceded last night, and
they vowed to fight for every vote.
Karen's Rules on Diplomacy: Talk to the Media -- if You Dare
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701254_pf.html
Hughes Sends Memo on Getting the Word to the World
By Elizabeth Williamson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A25
Karen Hughes, the State Department's undersecretary for public
diplomacy and public affairs, sent a long memo to chief diplomats, top
deputies and public affairs officers worldwide Friday, spelling out
"Karen's Rules" for working with the media.
The rules offer a window into how State's chief communicator
communicates with her minions across the world. Hint: The memo was
given to The Washington Post by a recipient who points out that if all
were well, nobody would have leaked it.
Corruption Watchdog Downgrades U.S.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701253.html
Scandals Hurt America's Standing; Iraq Ranks Next-to-Worst
By Patrick Donahue
Bloomberg News
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A25
Congressional scandals have damaged America's standing on a global list
that ranks freedom from corruption. The United States ranked 20th least
corrupt among 163 countries, down from 17th last year, and scored 7.3
out of 10, a drop of 0.3 compared with 2005, according to the
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2006.
Finland, Iceland and New Zealand tied for least corrupt, each with an
almost-perfect 9.6 ranking. In more bad news for the United States,
Iraq was next-to-last on the list.
Democrats Close to Gaining a Majority of Governorships
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701755_pf.html
By David S. Broder
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; A36
Democrats moved into position last night to recapture a majority of the
nation's governorships for the first time in 12 years.
Within minutes after the polls closed in Ohio, Rep. Ted Strickland (D),
a Protestant minister and veteran legislator, was declared the winner
over J. Kenneth Blackwell (R), the charismatic but controversial
secretary of state who was instrumental in leading President Bush's
winning campaign in Ohio two years ago.
CCTV concern is not merely a middle-class obsession
Matt Foot
November 8, 2006 12:18 PM
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/matt_foot/2006/11/whose_id_do_they_want.html
The concern over CCTV and ID cards is simply a "middle class obsession"
according to Polly Toynbee. Whatever.
The fundamental threat to civil liberties from ID cards "eludes"
Toynbee. However, for ID cards to work they would have to be enforced
by the police. If they were voluntary and there was no sanction for not
having one then they would become meaningless as we could pick and
choose whether to own one. Therefore the police must be able to nick
you if you did not have your ID card.
Shrouded in silence
Daphna Baram
November 8, 2006 11:54 AM
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/daphna_baram/2006/11/do_not_keep_quiet.html
Last night, 18 people were killed in the Israeli bombing on Beit
Hanoun, most of them women and children. The town in north Gaza has
been swamped with blood for more than 10 days now, but this was the
highest death toll for one night so far. The Israeli government seems
to want to ensure that every child to survive the blitz on Beit Hanoun
will want to be a suicide bomber when he or she grows up. It also seems
to want to ensure that not that many children in Beit Hanoun will ever
grow up.
If anybody thinks Israel's new bloody policies contradict Ariel
Sharon's vision, shared by Ehud Olmert, of disengagement, then it is
time to think again. The promise to the Israeli voters, attached to the
withdrawal from Gaza, was always that after withdrawal we could "hit
them hard" without jeopardising the settlers or our soldiers. So here
we go. Just like southern Lebanon, which for years was the place for
Israel to take vengeance for its frustration, Gaza is now seen by
Israel as fair game.
Breaking the southern mould
Lewis Baston
November 8, 2006 10:51 AM
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/lewis_baston/2006/11/democrats_break_the_southern_m.html
The Democratic majority in the House of Representatives elected in 2006
will be a historic turning point. For the first time since the early
1950s the majority party in the House will be the minority party in the
south.
In the five deep south states (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi
and South Carolina) the Republicans still dominate with 23 seats to 12
Democrats and two still counting razor's-edge margins. No seats went
from Republican to Democrat, and the two toss-up seats were both
defended by Democrat incumbents in Georgia. Taking the south and border
states up to Virginia and Missouri, the Republicans still lead 79 to
50, not counting the two Georgia undecided seats. The Democrats have
only gained five seats in the extended region, and two of them in
rather special circumstances (in TX-22 and FL-16 discredited Republican
incumbents Tom DeLay and Mark Foley stayed on the ballot despite being
replaced as candidates). There were clear gains only in a heavily
Democrat-leaning Florida district (expatriated north-easterners) and
one each in Kentucky and North Carolina.
Destitute by government design
Nicholas Sagovsky
November 8, 2006 10:22 AM
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/nicholas_sagovsky/2006/11/post_592.html
Yards from the entrances to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of
Parliament, homeless people sleep rough in doorways and alleys.
People find themselves homeless for all sorts of reasons: family
breakdown, alcoholism and drug dependency, mental illness, lack of
affordable housing or shelter. But a report published yesterday shows
that one of the reasons for homelessness is the British asylum system
itself.
.
|
