The Official Election 2006 Results Thread

[Zen-like Todd]

We'll see how bright Rove and Bush really are now

This probably ends anything substantial happening in the next 2 years

However Bush needs to look at the Clinton playbook from 1995-1997

Take credit for anything good that happens, and pin the blame on Congress for the bad

Gov't shutdown? Welfare reform? Economy?

Odds are though they won't and will swing even further right, if they do with regards to spending that'll be a nice change, but I think it'll be regards to wedge issues

I am eagerly awaiting how it plays out

Every time it's been "appropriate" for Bush to move to the middle, he has instead doubled down on the evangelical base, and gone ultra-partisan. It's hard to believe he'll do anything differently now. I think he's simply going to try to protect the policies he's put in place, while working with Rove and the RNC to try to gain back seats in 2008 as he heads out the door.

[twa]

Every time it's been "appropriate" for Bush to move to the middle, he has instead doubled down on the evangelical base, and gone ultra-partisan. It's hard to believe he'll do anything differently now. I think he's simply going to try to protect the policies he's put in place, while working with Rove and the RNC to try to gain back seats in 2008 as he heads out the door.

Thats a funny charge when the Dems are courting evangelicals.

[Zen-like Todd]

Thats a funny charge when the Dems are courting evangelicals.

It's not a charge. It's political reality. Accept it and move on.

[Larry]

This probably ends anything substantial happening in the next 2 years

Oh, come on. The only substantial things planned for the next two years were Stay The Course. (And Pardons for everybody in the administration for War Crimes.)

Take credit for anything good that happens, and pin the blame on Congress for the bad.

And everybody knows The Balme Game will be spinning the wheel for the next two years. Good News for the Republicans will be that Blame Clinton for Everything wasn't getting traction any more.

My first prediction for things that will get blamed in the Democrats will be when housing prices start to go down. (After all, everybody knows they would've kept going up, up, up, if the GOP were still in charge in DC.)

And you're right. The economy (IMO) has been getting ready to go down (not necessarily a crash or anything, but at least a slowdown of the growth) for years. Now when it happens, the GOP will act shocked and point fingers.

(And I'm not saying the D's will be innocent schoolkid saints about it, either. They'll be furiously pointing fingers the other way, and trying to grab any credit, too. And they're both gonna be over-acting for the benefit of the folks in the cheap seats, 'cause the '08 election campaign starts today.)

Gonna be an interesting show.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Every time it's been "appropriate" for Bush to move to the middle, he has instead doubled down on the evangelical base, and gone ultra-partisan. It's hard to believe he'll do anything differently now.

An interesting thing I heard on the radio, and almost forgot about, was that Bush actually worked quite well with a Democratic statehouse in Texas in the 1990s. Granted Washington isn't Texas, but there is a precedent there for him to work with the other party

I think he's simply going to try to protect the policies he's put in place, while working with Rove and the RNC to try to gain back seats in 2008 as he heads out the door

Ultimatley I do think this is whats going to happen. With a prez election looming, nobody is really going to be focused on legislative matters over the next 2 years

[Buford]

An interesting thing I heard on the radio, and almost forgot about, was that Bush actually worked quite well with a Democratic statehouse in Texas in the 1990s. Granted Washington isn't Texas, but there is a precedent there for him to work with the other party





Ultimatley I do think this is whats going to happen. With a prez election looming, nobody is really going to be focused on legislative matters over the next 2 years

From what I've read. When he's forced to work with the other side, he can do it well.

I thin they should work with him. But, now he needs to give alittle to get alittle.

[jbooma]

An interesting thing I heard on the radio, and almost forgot about, was that Bush actually worked quite well with a Democratic statehouse in Texas in the 1990s. Granted Washington isn't Texas, but there is a precedent there for him to work with the other party


Ultimatley I do think this is whats going to happen. With a prez election looming, nobody is really going to be focused on legislative matters over the next 2 years

The country never runs well with one party in power, you need both to have some form of stability.

This is good for the US, however liberal dems should be very worried since many of the "new" dems are repulicans in dems colors, look at Shuler, he is gun owner religious dem that is pro life, those are republican characteristics.

Bush is going to have to use the skills he had when he was governor to get things accomplished, not to his credit he did ask to work together during the state of the union, maybe the dems will now or nothing will get done.

[chomerics]

OK, I figured I'd post it here. . .

In Montana, there are now 99% of the precincts reporting, and Tester has a 2K lead over Burns.

195,235 Tester
193,506 Burns

The only county not reporting is Meghar county, and their population is only 1,932 people. It goes very republican (71% for Bush in 04) but even at that%, there isn't enough votes to push Burns over the top. Either way, it will be another recount again.

http://www.city-data.com/county/Meagher_County-MT.html

[DjTj]

10:00pm: MT Senator (R): Conrad Burns (R) vs. Jon Tester (D)

CNN called it for Tester: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pag.../01/index.html

Now it's just Virginia now to decide control of the Senate.

[pez]

I think that Webb pretty much has it in VA...., its just a matter of confirmation

[jbooma]

From what I've read. When he's forced to work with the other side, he can do it well.

I thin they should work with him. But, now he needs to give alittle to get alittle.

he started by getting rid of rummy

[Posse81]

When Bush was first elected, he talked a lot about his ability to work with Democrats as Governor of Texas. And he's saying he is going to start doing it now. I'm wondering why he hasn't done much of it in the last six years.

[jbooma]

When Bush was first elected, he talked a lot about his ability to work with Democrats as Governor of Texas. And he's saying he is going to start doing it now. I'm wondering why he hasn't done much of it in the last six years.

This is a very good question, maybe he got caught up in the power of the republicans and did not want to shake his base? It is not like much of anything is going to be accomplished the next two years anyway each party is going to be concentrating on the presidency.

[SkinsHokieFan]

When Bush was first elected, he talked a lot about his ability to work with Democrats as Governor of Texas. And he's saying he is going to start doing it now. I'm wondering why he hasn't done much of it in the last six years.

This is a very good question, maybe he got caught up in the power of the republicans and did not want to shake his base? It is not like much of anything is going to be accomplished the next two years anyway each party is going to be concentrating on the presidency.

Simple answer, he didn't have to

And he honestly could have gotten anything he wanted with regards to SSI and immigration if there weren't weak kneed R's in Congress, who at this point in their "public service" had other agendas