"Does anyone out there really think this is a victory for Nancy Pelosi's political ideology?"

No this election was a referendum on Iraq. Seeing that the likely outcome is a swing against the republicans in both the house and the senate how long will it be before Rumsfeld is packing up his desk?

Your boys had their chances over the last years and America just resoundingly told you they did not like what you have been serving.

Yet, here you are calling for more of the same such as resolutions for support for the same in Iraq, an issue that played a large role in costing your party the election. Brining back the balanced budget amendment? Please. America has seen through your version of balanced budgets- they include millions of dollars for bridges in remote Alaska.

In reality, you lost today because America saw your current ideological incarnation for what it is: a string of authoritarianism that democracy once again expunged from power.

The very victory of the democrat centrists that you speak of will lead to a new bridge for this country. Ideologues such as yourself that Karl Rove pandered to will no longer govern.

Today was the day that moderates in this country spoke up and said enough was enough.

Lopes,

I'm afraid that Rumsfeld, one of the very best SecDef's this country has ever had, will have to be shown the door - the kook left will have him in front of committee hearings from now until Doomsday, so there's no way he can actually managed DoD. Hopefully, Santorum will come in to replace.

Andy,

And where was Nancy this past two weeks? Nowhere to be seen...the far left slipped in to power on the backs of conservatives who daren't show any sign that they are on Pelosi's side when it comes to actual votes.

This country is center/right, not center/left - always has been, always will be.

People just want accountability and they weren't getting it with a Republican Congress. Too far left or right is not good for our democracy, that is why it is good that the people spoke and pulled us from the Bush administrations far right agenda.
I like that you understand that there are Conservative Democrats, I believe there are more Conservative Democrats than there are Republicans at this point. Now we will have checks and balances even though Bush has already done so much damage it will take decades to recover from if we can ever recover from this failed Presidency.

Good commentary Mark. :)

Rummy is probably out buying boxes to hold his stuff right now. I don't think Karl Roves future as a brilliant political consultant is very bright now either.

Good to see some crow getting eaten by Mark ;). even better is the prospect that this will help America get back on its feet and get back on track, because regardless of if the dems take the senate too as it appears right now, Georgie is now a big lame duck

Mark-

Having experienced the bitterest of defeats for the past 6 years, I know that you and all of the conservatives here are unhappy about tonight. The last thing I'd want to do is any kind of gloating. I am thrilled at the outcome of the House, and am hopeful for the Senate.

But what I want to express to you and everyone else, even those who choose screen names like "IH8LIBS" and "Bane of liberals existence", is that I still recognize your viewpoints as having validity. I still welcome dissent and freedom of speech, and I hope that going forward both sides in America can eliminate some of the hatred.

I had the pleasure of spending tonight in my hometown of Memphis with Congressman Ford. He and I met at a fundraiser in New York and he asked me to be down here tonight. While I am saddened by his loss, I was inspired at what he said. He said he hoped that his party would take an opportunity to heal some of our divisions and not spend time exacting revenge. I am sure many of you are convinced that is what we will do, but for my part, I will speak out against that. Bush is the president. There is no need to impeach him. We need to show America that we have better ideas.

America gave the Democrats a chance tonight. Those of us who welcome that have responsibility to pressure them to do the right thing. I have love for my fellow countrymen, even those here who have called me nasty names and wished that me and all the liberals left America or died. My faith teaches me to combat hatred with love. I made a decision not to carry hate in my heart for President Bush, even though I was bitter about the 2000 election. He hasn't made it easy on me with many of his failures. But going forward, I hope that some, no all, of you can find a way to respect those of us with whom you vehemently disagree and come to the understanding that you do not have a monopoly on patriotism.

I love my country, and the people in it. I hope that things get better going forward and I hope that we can contribute to that here.

Best to all of you,
DougW

Lom and Axis,

Still showing absolutely no generosity of spirit, still no understanding of what sort of man President Bush is, still locked in a spirit of hatred...even when you win, you're still nasty.

Don't you get tired of being like that?

John,

Thanks much - we're going to have a lot of glum GOPers out there, I'm determined to show that we've got a very large silver lining in this.

DougW,

The Democrats do, indeed, have their chance - I'm fairly positive they will blow it, and blow it rather badly, but the people have spoken and we must quietly accept their verdict - the time for re-assessment will come in November of 2008.

I thank you for your kind and generous words, and no one will be more pleased than I if I am proved wrong about the Democratic Congressional majority.

As for Harold Ford, if there was a Democrat tonight whom I wish could have won, it would have been him - he's the best you've got...but he clearly wasn't ready for prime time: he shot himself down in the campaign. As a side note, he's not in Caucus of Corruption.

The only thing I'm crushed about, if that is the proper word, is that Steele - the best we've got - seems to have come up short in Maryland, though there hasn't been an official concession from him as of this time. I'm also disappointed about Blackwell's loss, but we GOPers simply weren't going to have a good night in Ohio no matter how good and deserving our candidates were - for the sin of backing Taft and not forcing him out a year or more ago, we paid the price. I'm also disappointed about Santorum - certainly a Senator greatly hated on the left, but loved by all of us on the right...he'll be missed.

The lesson I take away from tonight is to once again re-dedicate myself to doing the right thing at all times, to heck with the consequences. Leftwingers will dispute this, but I think if we had pressed harder on the war, harder on taxes, harder on judges we would have won - and, if we had ended up losing, we wouldn't be in any worse condition, and we'd all feel better about ourselves.

Mark,

As I have said before, I don't hate president Bush, I hate what he has done to America and even more, I hate that America allowed it to happen.

That being said, now that this rubber stamp and blank check writing congress has been tossed curbside, the president will now have to color within the lines and perhaps we will see some progress being made on social issues that have been totally ignored since Bush took office.

I have high hopes now that the president is kept in check, will reform in part and work to help mainstream America get back on its feet, rather than just the filty rich. Hopefully, if your president is the man you say he is Mark, then he will not disappoint.

"Rumsfeld, one of the very best SecDef's this country has ever had"

Mark please, the man is plainly incompetent. The conditions in Iraq at this very moment prove that.

I'm not sure what Bush thought he would acheive by retaining Rumsfeld when he should have fired him months (if not years) ago. Keeping Rumsfeld as SecDef has only prolonged the use of incorrect strategy in a flawed war.

Rumsfelds continued incompetence has resulted in the deaths of our soldiers and likeley played an outcome in focussing the electorate on the horrific quagmire that everybody said Iraq would become.

George Bushs loyalty to Rumsfeld comes at great expense in terms of votes and makes one wonder what is more important to him; Saving face for cronies like Rummy or the continued success of the GOP?

Whether you believe in "Staying the Course" or "Cutting and Running" the removal of Don Rumsfeld is an absolute no-brainer if there is to be any chance of success in Iraq.

Axis,

You don't even realise, I think, just how blindinng the hatred emanating out of you is, and that is too bad. Your whole comment here was one hate-filled screed, even if politely couched. Check with what Doug wrote - that was a non-hate filled comment.

Lopes,

For the zillionth time, if you think Iraq a failure, then you would want Rumsfeld removed...if you have a bit of knowledge of military history, then you want Rumsfeld retained...but, be that as it may, he's probably out.

...upon thinking about it for a moment, perhaps he's not out...it becomes a matter of what is worse:

Is it worse to keep Rumsfeld and have him dragged endlessly before Democratic Congressional investigations, or is it worse to jettison Rumsfeld and have his replacement forced to go through a nasty, muck-raking Democratic confirmation process?

The answer to that question, as determined by President Bush, will dictate if Rumsfeld stays or goes...

Mark,

We'll remember tonight. We will also have to let those few vocal ones vent out. I expect that. I, for one, am totally going to ignore the "trolls" comments as they add nothing to the discussion anyways. (I can spot them only a few words in to their comments.) But in historical perspective.... tonight was actually normal.

You... and those of your ilk, will become the great equalizers of information as we continue to drift into the future.

why all the talk about Rumsfeld? the Congress has no say on whether or not he stays, unless they impeach him.

let them try. THAT will win hearts and minds!

Bush has said Rumsfeld stays. So I'm betting Rumsfeld stays. By 2008, it will be seen as a wise choice.

Like I urged here a few days ago: Please, keep on doing what you're doing. Please, don't change a thing.

Gully,

Personally, the only thing I think President Bush should do is be even more himself...we'll have to see how things go...but I think with an opposition Party in power as a foil, GW's approval rating will rise, and that can give him some excellent leverage.

John,

That is primarily why I'm not distressed - I know our lefty friends think that Satan was defeated tonight and that all will be well for their side for all time to time...but this is just a blip on the political screen.

Axis commented:

"I don't think Karl Roves future as a brilliant political consultant is very bright now either."

Come what may, some things persist: death, taxes, cockroaches and Rove, and not necessarily in that order.

I am glad the terrorists won to know and I hope people are happy because i can;t wait tell the next attack because that is what is going to happen. I hope America is proud they are gutless cowards and deserve what they get and they sold our troops out. Way to go one for Osama Bin Laden and his ilk and Iran and North Korea have one. We will now have spit on the troops and the ones who have died will have died in vain.

Erin,

Buck up - they didn't win all that much...and looking over some late returns, we've still got chances in VA and MT...

Mark... and let's remember Pawlenty's win here in Minn tonight... It could evolve into something more important than what we have the ability to see tonight.

i can;t wait tell [sic] the next attack

Asking for this country to be attacked to prove a political point? That's absolutely disgusting. Unfortunately, you're not alone - I saw dozens of comments like this over on LGF. Someday you'll realize that we Americans are actually all in this together, and that in an attack on this country every American loses, not just Democrats or east-coasters. But go ahead, keep on hoping we get attacked. Who is it that hates America again?

Whistling past the graveyard. That's all that crap was, Noonan. The donks control both houses now and they'll have none of your pipe dream. Carbon Credits, tax increases, no more NAFTA, repeal Patriot Act, cut-and-run in Iraq and blame whatever happens on Bush. That's the reality.

Alcee Hastings as Intelligence Committee chair. John Conyers as head of Judiciary screaming for impeachment hearings and blocking any judicial nomination to the right of Karl Marx.

That ain't as bad as its gonna get either. Even the so-called conservatives on Fox tonight were calling for Rummy to resign. They were calling Pelosi the "healer." The only thing left is the veto and with turncoats like McCain and Graham, that won't even work.

Meanwhile your site is infested with liberal trolls and you do nothing about it. You and your site are pathetic.

Want a taste of what's ahead?:

television networks said, to succeed retiring Democrat Martin Sabo in a seat that has been held by Democrats since 1963.

Ellison, who converted to Islam as a 19-year-old college student in his native Detroit, won with the help of Muslims among a coalition of liberal, anti-war voters.

He advocates an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq along with strongly liberal views. While Ellison did not often speak of his faith during the campaign, awareness of his candidacy drew interest from Muslims well beyond the district centered in Minneapolis.

Allah Akbar.

Mark, for clarification, if you want to see what real hate looks like, you need to look no further than the good reverend here

Democrats and terrorists are dancing in the streets tonight/this morning.

Whistling past the graveyard.

I think this will take on a literal meaning-soon. I hope this graveyard won't be an entire US city in the next Islamic terrorist attack.

God help us all.

So DowgW, I should change my name to what, 1LUVL1BS? Sorry, little fella, I still hate libs.

Libs didn't win this election, and libs will never govern this country.

Yeah, I'm pissed, but life will go on for me. I'll spend less time blogging, that's for sure. Especially here, if all that results from this election is a bunch of immature gloating.

Scar, is Ellison the one who wants to be sworn in, using the Koran?

Get your prayer mats, Minnesota.

As for hate, axass, you have plenty of it, so you'll get plenty in return.

Gotta go wash my truck--no more rolling political billboard...

Anyone who has invested knows about momentum. At times, good stocks will advance until they hit a high point and cannot make any progress. During that time, the stock may fall back for a while and lag and "take a rest". Later, it again can advance and push past the previous limit and grow further.

There has been a lot of baggage riding along with the conservative agenda and this provides an opportunity to shift the perspective onto the blue side of the aisle.

Consider also what things would look like two years from now. After a "democrat" swing, many of their talking points will have been challenged and instead of hearing complaints about it all being the Republicans fault, it will be "so what have you done for me lately?". 2008 could be a watershed year for Republicans.

As far as our BDS friends, I suspect they are lost in their hatred and irrationality. Their partners the MSM will have two years to make up excuses why nothing much has changed despite last night's events.

While I know the Dems have come out ahead in today's elections, I am finding the "condolences a little hard to take-though it is better than the
usual name calling that the left has shown the President of the United States almost since his inauguaration". He didn't do anything to Destroy
America----Terrorists Did. I know the Dems have had it in for this President from Day One, and did
not let up on him, and that to me was totally a disrespectful and demeaning way for them to treat
him from the beginning. I am not bitter, just as
sad that the horrendous names he was called by the
very-left Dems: Hitler, Liar, Stupid...you name it
they threw it out there. I do not feel he is a bad person, I really don't-I felt he had the safety and best interest of Americans(ALL) at heart, and would have been very irresponsible to "have looked the other way after Americans were
once again attacked on 9/ll". While many 'jumped
on the band wagon in saying hateful things about this man, including the fact that while he may not
be the 'best public speaker as some slick politicians may be-This, does should Not have made
him the butt of the MSM and the comedians who had
a field day with this, Even Though, it was This President, that "stood up to killer/radical/Terrorists who want to do away with
ALL Americans. He has Never been given ANY credit
for that stance, and taken the daily beatings from
the very people who will now gloat over the 'big win', I'm sure. The same people like Pelosi, who
NOW, says she wants to "go in a different direction and unite people"....Really? I do very
much remember that in the beginning of President
Bush's first days in office, he declared, "I want
to work with both parties, in a bi-partisian way,
bringing the country together", as he had been known to unite both parties while Gov. in Texas. It really is a shame that coming into office as he did, that he was lambasted from the first day,
by infantile behavior, distractions that were of an insulting manner and bitterness by the Dems that lost that election, and the pettiness of the
damage to even the computers in the Whitehouse.
It is almost funny now, hearing some of the same,
bitter politicians who have had so many of their own scandles throughout their own careers(and we all know who they are) but managed to keep their jobs anyway, go after this President will all the vitriol and hatred they could muster up. I point
these things out, because now that the Dems will be so very confident I'm sure, and Expect That All
Should Be Forgiven-and They Should Have Full Cooperation, and Want To Now Join Hands To Work Together--Pardon me for saying this: But it seems
to be, "too little, too late". This post is not a slam of Dems-They know how to fight dirty-something the GOP does NOTand as the GOP has acted like a bunch of pinatas for many years by NOT fighting back in the same ways, it is also a fact, that Senator McCain, who showed his back to
the President in the beginning of his term, is a
very irresponsible Republican, who started alot of
the "individual acting GOP Stars"...He, separated
from his party, and pandered to the Dems, and guess what, many others who wanted to be individual 'Stars' followed suit. They did NOT act as a United Republican Party, and that too, has added to their losses, and certainly their strength as a Party.
left

To borrow a metaphor from Mark Noonan-- Wile E.
Coyote has finally caught the Roadrunner,has
him by the neck. BBQ Roadrunner wings,
anybody?

I want to thank Blogs for Bush for allowing
unabashed Liberals such as myself a place
to "talk" to the other side. Especially
considering that you're from the party of
Free Speech Zones,and the like. Preaching
to the choir gets old, besides, there's a
saying--"Keep your friends close, but keep
your (political) enemies closer."

She's not speaker yet, but even so - I think we have enough conservative dems to sway things our way on the important things. Crow tastes yucky, but folks -- if we don't take this and roll and get moving on '08 NOW it will be a lot worse, ie: President (gag) Clinton.

We have plenty of room in our print edition to cover the gloating there's no need to even go into that here the American people have spoken. What does need to be addressed is that across conservative blogs the comments are generally angrier from those on the right wing. I have an explanation of why the losses were so large in the House and also why the Senate, after many legal challenges will fall also: Americans like debate and are up to any challenge from any quarter, but they do not like arrogance. Swagger is one thing but the accusations of being in league with people who wish to kill innocent men women and children is appalling. That sort of rhetoric began the very instant the GOP felt in the spring there was chance it may lose its tentative grip upon power. The coalition between evangelical Christianist leadership, Big Oil, Big Pharma and moderate Goldwater style conservatives failed the party as the moderates voted for change and the evangelical turnout among the pew sitters was by our estimates barely 33% of what it was in 2004.

So unless you accuse all of those millions who decided they did not wish to live in a Theocracy as a slave to Pharma and Oil who control not only their health and freedom but that of their children in perpetuity of this sordid "Bush Derangement Syndrome" you arguments are nothing more than hollow anger and that crashing sound you hear is not America descending, but the steely determined machiery of democracy breaking free from her authoritarian chains made weak by the millions of sword wrapped in ballots!

Go into the Sun America!

Your long dark national nightmare is at an end.

Ronald Reagan was on of the greatest Presidents of all time. Thats why he was able to get laws passed in Congress. He knew how to deal with Congress and did not turn the Congress into rubber stamps, which is what george w. bush has done. I suspect if Ronald Reagan was president today, the election would had gone much differently.

1. We got crushed.

2. We got crushed on major issues.

3. We have no Ronald Reagan to bring us back.

4. We are now out for at least a decade...if not onger. Another 15 years of illegal immigration and you will not be able to elect a Republican anywhere. They are all Democrats these illegals who vote anyway!

While I am disappointed, I am not surprised. The last time this happened we got Bill Clinton. What I am talking about is is having a strong and effective president, strong economy, a positive direction for America, and a major disconnect with the American people, thinking the grass is greener on the Dem side. The one positive that I can see from this election, is that President Bush and the republicans that are left need to finally go on the offensive and expose the Dems as the far left party that they have become. Hopefully two years of Pelosi and Co. will bring us all back to our senses, and we can get things back on track.

Now, what we democrats need is president in '08, to LOSE the house, and have the senate evenly split. We'll have a leader the world loves, and DC will be in gridlock, unable to spend, spend, spend.

Many of the Dem challengers who won are moderate to even borderline conservative, so, in essence, the only way Democrats were able to win was by acting like Republicans. The losses in both houses were at or below historical averages for the midpoint of a 2-term President’s 2nd term, so the Left’s prediction of a blue tsunami failed to materialize. Although Pelosi may end up as Speaker (I wouldn’t even bet the farm on that), this was not a victory for Liberalism. Two years is not that far away, and, at my age, that time will go quickly. A few of you can probably relate — the older you get the faster the hands on the clock spin.

One of the bright spots of this election is the fact that that rat bastard RINO Lincoln Chaffe is gone. Locally, my conservative Indiana 3rd District Congressman, Mark Souder, withstood his most serious challenge to date but won every single county in his district. One of the biggest ironies is that Joe Lieberman may end up being the most powerful man in the Senate. I hope he is slow to forgive the way his party treated him.

I said a couple weeks ago that there was virtually no outcome in this election that would surprise me. I’ve just seen too many election cycles come and go to ever be shocked at the sometimes fickleness, sometimes wisdom of the American people. Had Republicans come out in the numbers that many of us were predicting, the results could have been different, but they didn’t, and they aren’t. I, for one, will not be sitting around licking my wounds.

Oh, and CROW doesn't taste bad when prepared properly. Besides, what goes around comes around.

I hope every democrat in the house and senate is scared to death about having the responsibility American just gave them (actually, we'll see about the senate, but I'm confident there).

There's a lot of work to do, most importantly in Iraq. By the time the shift takes place, Baker's report will be out, we can take a long look at that, and move forward. The good news is that the party that got us into Iraq, and thus was resistant to any other policy aside from stay the course because it would be an admission of how much they f'ed up, is no longer has a strangle hold on Washington.

It's now partly the dems problem, and it's a big one.

That's only part of it though, social security, the budget, health care all need to be addressed. What the dems need to do if focus on their core beliefs, put their principles into action, and work with republicans to get this country moving back in the good direction.

Mark,

the fact that you predicted gains only goes to expose you as a republican shill who ignores facts to paint false, positive picture of your party... EXACTLY like you've done with Iraq.

It just goes to show, Noonan is a BS factory for the republicans. Plainly obvious.

"Besides, what goes around comes around."

Spook, I remember saying this last year among claims by certain writers on this cite that the democratic party was dead. Everything is cyclical. Some people just have to keep learning this lesson, i guess.

I am glad the terrorists won to know and I hope people are happy because i can;t wait tell the next attack because that is what is going to happen. I hope America is proud they are gutless cowards and deserve what they get and they sold our troops out. Way to go one for Osama Bin Laden and his ilk and Iran and North Korea have one. We will now have spit on the troops and the ones who have died will have died in vain.

Democrats=terrorists in this lady's mind. AND she can't wait for another 9/11!

Now that's some serious hate.

Everything is cyclical, including the weather.

And, it's never nice to say I told you so, but I was so viciously attacked in the "Webb is Toast" thread, I can't help myself. Here's a SMALL sampling.

(and yes, I realize the contest is not decided, but Webb was down in the polls when Allen sent out that press release... it does, thank the virginia voters, look like it backfired.)

Reading Toms comments is like reading a NAMBLA press release
Posted by: CJ at October 27, 2006 05:47 AM

sped,
I fully expect Webb to fall below 40% when the votes are counted...I've seen a lot of disgusting things in my life and I'm pretty jaded...what I read horrified me.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at October 27, 2006 03:45 AM

From any other person, the first quote on the Drudge page would have gotten an indictment for child pornagraphy. Why has that not happened? This is a published work, and therefore subject to child pornagraphy laws?
Posted by: kjstrouble at October 27, 2006 01:17 AM

Tom:
He's not just toast...he's burnt toast.
If we have to explain you wouldn't understand.
Backfire on Allen??? Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!
Posted by: phnxbmed at October 26, 2006 11:40 PM

Tom: If you don't like Mark's comments then bug off. This is HIS site, afterall, and you're lucky that he gives you the right to post your crap on here.

I agree with you, Mark. Sad about Santorum and Steele. Funny how the ONLY way the Dems can ever win is when they run a conversative candidate. So two good things came out of this loss for the GOP ... more conservatives in Congress and the loony left lost.

On a side note, many propositions passed in AZ, including no bail for illegals, no benefits for illegals. This may send many of them packing when they realize they can't have a free ride in America unless they are legal. And, thank God the lottery prop lost and the voting only by mail lost.

IH8LIBS:

"Especially here, if all that results from this election is a bunch of immature gloating."

YOUR complaining about immaturity?

I've got to side with Retired Spook here. Look at the lib states. Joe Lieberman won for supporting the liberation of Iraq. Republican Arnold got elected to another term as governor of California. It's the blue states that have been co-opted by conservative ideology. They may run as Democrats, but the Bible thumping gun toters now control the swing votes in Congress.

And any Democrat who presumes this to be a victory against the war on terror as a military matter needs to look only to Joe Lieberman. How'd he get elected in a blue state if the country wants this pursued as a law enforcement matter? Damn those crickets, they're drowning out all the intelligent responses.

Keep supporting the troops, and keep praying they do the same for you.

"That's only part of it though, social security, the budget, health care all need to be addressed. What the dems need to do if focus on their core beliefs, put their principles into action, and work with republicans to get this country moving back in the good direction."

Nothing would make me happier than watching the Dems focus on their core beliefs. what would those be, let's see: Socialized Medicine; (that works so well in Canada, and England. Gee, I'd like to wait two to six months to have a gallstone operation) No reform of Social Security, it's just fine the way it is. Unlimited abortions on demand, using abortion as birth control. Tax increases for all. Good ole Charlie Rangel "I never met a tax increase I didn't like." Cut and Run from Iraq, and the WOT. Giving terrorists civil rights that should only be given to American citizens. Leaking every govenment secret to the NY Slimes. What more can I say. Thanks Tom, your statement is real comforting. ROFLMAO.

"And any Democrat who presumes this to be a victory against the war on terror as a military matter needs to look only to Joe Lieberman."

Lieberman won because republicans gave up on their candidate and voted for Lieberman, while Lieberman and Lamont split the dem vote.

You know it's a good night for the democrats when Republicans are citing a Joe Lieberman victory as a bright spot.

Mark, first off, please pass some crow.

The Republican's loss is typical of parties whose president is in his 6th year. For example, Reagan's Republicans lost the Senate in his 6th year. The one recent exception is Clinton, whose Democrats lost so many seats in his 2nd year that there weren't many to possibly lose in his 6th year. BTW, I'm old enough to remember '81, but didn't really become interested in politics until the early 90's. I voted for Mr. Bill in '92, when he was a "new Democrat" candidate, and then (like many Americans) got to know him better. My own conservatism was not so much inspired by Reagan (at least during his time in office) but a reaction against the new-leftism of the Clintons. In fact, I believe to this day, that Mr. Bill has never had any problem with communism at any point in his life whatsoever.

What do I expect from the Pelosi Democrats? I expect that they will in some way overplay their hand. Clinton overplayed his hand in '93 when he (and his wife) tried to give us socialized medicine, under the ephemism "health care reform". Two years later, the Gingrich Republicans overplayed their hand when they tried cutting spending and abolishing four federal departments. Of course, many will accuse Bush Jr. of overplaying his hand by invading Iraq, but the final result won't be known for years, maybe decades.

As for impeachment, I believe that three things may serve to hold the house Democrats back. First, while many Democrats hate Bush with a passion, not too many of them are fond of Cheney, and would wish to hand him the presidency. Second, even if the Dems take the Senate, their majority will be razor-thin. All Bush would need to survive is 34 votes in his favor. Lastly, statements like this will come out:

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Nancy Pelosi, 16 December 1998.

The Democrats themselves have thus been saying the same thing for which they accuse Bush of lying, from before Bush became president. Thus, they cannot use the "Bush misled us" canard to account for the above statement. Instead, they will have to explain how Bush lied while they were honestly mistaken while saying essentially the same thing, or how Bush learned some things (like Saddam NOT having WMD) in 2 years which Clinton did not learn in 8 years, while simultaneously faulting Bush for being stupid.

This last point is also where my greatest fear lays. When Clinton was investigated for lying under oath in the Paula Jones case, the Dems said "it's his private life" and then relied on revelations about less-than-chaste behavior in the Repulican's lives, to make them look hypocritical. I don't know if the Republicans are smart enough to dig up the statements like the one above, to show the Democrat's hypocrisy. The reason is that during the Clinton episode, the Pubs conceded the Democrat's main talking point, that his affair with Lewinsky (which he falsely denied under oath, thus leading to the perjury charge), when they could have easily pointed out that the affair took place in a federal office building during working hours and thus cannot be properly called "private".

Still, I think that this loss could turn into a blessing in disguise for us right wingers. For one thing, Pelosi et al. will have to govern, and show America their true colors. Better yet, Bush will have a chance to face some genuine opposition, and use his veto pen for something beside public funding for embryonic stem cell research. (You lefties take note, I have called the issue by its proper name, which is "publicly funded embryonic stem cell research", and not merely "stem cell research", as some on your side have mischaracterized it.) Clinton was more effective having an opposition to deal with; maybe Bush will be as well. Unfortunately, Bush faces an MSM that will continue to mischaracterize issues (as in the above example, where the terms "publicly funded embryonic" are omitted) in ways which are biased against him. My advice is simple. To all Republicans, gather all the statements you can in which Democrats alleged that Saddam had WMD, especially before 1/20/01, and flood Pelosi's mailbox with them. To Bush, if you're going to "grow" the proverbial "pair", the time to do it is now.

I admit I am glum about losing (especially after our great success in 2004 and I know a lot of people worked extremely hard to make it happen), but I tell myself "you win some, you lose some".

I think DeWine lost because of the "gang of 14". I am curious as to why Chafee lost, because he is very liberal. On another note, I was never dazzled by Bill Frist's leadership to be quite honest.

Personally, I hope that the democrats take the senate... and I am happier that it will only be by one seat... it serves as a check on either party's ability to do anything stupid...

What this election shows is that Republicans have, predictably, lost the middle. Many of the small government conservatives and moderates (yay) are pissed at the overwhelming increase in spending, and many social moderates and liberals who were in the republican party before are pissed at "symbolic" attempts to ban gay marriage federally (which should piss off state's rights people) and the Terri Shaivo fiasco (you know, when the entire US congress convened at like 11PM and passed a law to affect one person).

I say this as a moderate who voted republican for congress in 2004... y'all have lost touch with the middle... my only regret is that most moderates had to turn to the democrats...

Just one question. What kind of conservative manages to run the country nearly $8 TRILLION in the hole ?

I think Speaker Pelosi is assumed to be a radical leftist because she lives in San Francisco. I don't think that the American people elected a Democratic majority to have a radical leftist as Speaker, but neither did they vote the GOP in at other times to get the extremely radical Hastert. Pelosi is no kook. Tax cuts for rich people aren't on her agenda, sorry for that. But she'll serve to pull us leftward, which we need after going so far to the right.

But one thing that all of the Democratic leaders need to remember is that this election was not a glowing endorsement of them, and even us liberal Democrats understand that. This was a nation sick of one party rule under an Administration that doesn't seem to care about or listen to the people. What the Democrats have to prove now is that we can do what's right for America.

As for Mark having the nerve to want the Democrats to cut spending? That actually made me laugh, given that the GOP in the last six years has spent us into oblivion.

Doug,

For all the Democrats talk of spending restraint, all that will come out of it is a DOA proposal to cut defense spending...DEMOCRATS DON'T CUT SPENDING, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! Take that to the bank - it is impossible for them to cut spending. You Democrats think Clinton balanced the budget - time for a bit of reality: it was GOP spending restraint in the 90's (sadly lacking since then) which balanced the budget, not Clinton.

And Pelosi isn't just thought of as kook-left: she is kook left. Thinking about it,the GOP could have saved at least half a dozen seats had they done a better job tying Democrats to her and noting her freak-far-left positions on issues.

Rev,

Welcome back - now go away; we of faith aren't dismayed.

Tom,

Still nasty, aren't you? I'll do a Rosary soon, and I'll pray that the Blessed Virgin will put a little charity and love in your heart.

Georgia,

No doubt about it, the House GOP (especially) lost its way these past few years...we hope now that we'll reflect carefully on the loss, and go forward in the future with a positive, conservative agenda which has always won for us.

Bigfoot,

I think the Democrats will overplay their hand - Pelosi says "we're ready to govern"...they seem to forget that ours is not a parlaimentary system: she's no more the government than I am. She's in charge of 1/2 of 1/3 of the government and she's got a narrow majority with at least 20 conservative Democrats making the difference between Minority Leader and Speaker.

Spook,

Lieberman will hold immense power - but I don't think the kook-left base of the Democratic Party will be willing to agree to the compromises the Democrats would have to make to keep Lieberman on board.

Mark,

Maybe a little nasty, sure. But I want the country to come together, and in order for that to happen, people like you need to get the hell out of the way.

You're blindly partisan. You hold contempt for the other party and their proponents. Your aim is the destruction of your political opponents. Because of this, you skew reality, ignore facts and generally spout BS. You're the problem. I don't like people like you. There are plenty of conservatives on this site who I respect. But I can honestly say I have very little for you.

Glad to see America chosen a direction away from your kind. It's a great day for this country. Maybe one day you'll wake up and realize that you're a poison to this system, (and yes, there are people on the left like you as well), but I'm not holding my breath.

Now, there's work to be done.

(Ed. Note: Commenter banned. If any liberal wants to come up with an argument as to why I should keep allowing comments from someone who holds me in contempt, please let me have it.)

Deleted - Personal insults directed towards writer for the blog. Commenter is permanently banned.

We fully expect Democrats and leftist to be exultant about their win - congratulations. But we still have our rules, and we're not going to pay to be grossly insulted.

"As for Harold Ford, if there was a Democrat tonight whom I wish could have won, it would have been him - he's the best you've got...but he clearly wasn't ready for prime time: he shot himself down in the campaign..."

Ford lost, what, 48% to 51%? That's not "clearly wasn't ready...shot himself down," that's "hamstrung by disgusting RNC ads."

And thus begins the rehabilitation of a good State gone bad.

And reason be praised!

World reaction: Democratic win welcomed
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- The seismic shift that midterm elections brought to Washington's political landscape was welcomed by many Wednesday in a world sharply opposed to the war in Iraq and outraged over the harsh methods the Bush administration has employed in fighting terrorism.

From Paris to Pakistan, politicians, analysts and ordinary citizens said they hoped the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives would force President Bush to adopt a more conciliatory approach to the globe's laundry list of crises, and teach a president many see as a "cowboy" a lesson in humility.

But some also expressed fears that a split in power and a lame-duck president might stall global trade talks and weaken much-needed American influence.

On Iraq, some feared that Democrats will force a too-rapid retreat, leaving that country and the region in chaos. Others said they doubted the turnover in Congressional power would have a dramatic impact on Iraq policy any time soon, largely because the Democrats have yet to define the specifics of the course they want to take.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said American policy would not dramatically change, despite the Democratic election success.

"The president is the architect of U.S. foreign policy," the ambassador said in a videotape distributed by the U.S. Embassy. "He is the commander in chief of our armed forces. He understands what is at stake in Iraq."

Regardless of the effect on world events, global giddiness that Bush was finally handed a political black-eye was almost palpable throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In an extraordinary joint statement, more than 200 Socialist members of the European Parliament hailed the American election results as "the beginning of the end of a six-year nightmare for the world" and gloated that they left the Bush administration "seriously weakened."

In Paris, expatriates and French citizens alike packed the city's main American haunts to watch results, with some standing to cheer or boo as vote tabulations came in.

One Frenchman, teacher Jean-Pierre Charpemtrat, 53, said it was about time U.S. voters figured out what much of the rest of the world already knew.

"Americans are realizing that you can't found the politics of a country on patriotic passion and reflexes," he said. "You can't fool everybody all the time -- and I think that's what Bush and his administration are learning today."

Democrats swept to power in the House on Tuesday and were threatening to take control of the Senate amid exit polls that showed widespread American discontent over Iraq, nationwide disgust at corruption in politics, and low approval ratings for Bush.

Bush is deeply unpopular in many countries around the globe, with particularly intense opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the U.S. terror detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and allegations of Washington sanctioned interrogation methods that some equate with torture.

Many said they thought the big gains by Democrats signaled the beginning of the end of Bush's reign. The next presidential election is in November 2008.

People across the Mideast also reacted swiftly, saying it appeared the U.S. president had paid the price for what many view as failed policy in Iraq.

Al-Jazeera television said on its Web site that the elections had been shaped "by an unpopular war in Iraq" as well as scandals at home and dissatisfaction with Bush.
No official comment
Most governments across the region had no official comment, but some foes of the United States reacted harshly. "President Bush is no longer acceptable worldwide," said Suleiman Hadad, a lawmaker in Syria, whose autocratic government has been shunned by the U.S.

Even some Iraqis voiced hope for change.

"We hope American foreign policy will change and that living conditions in Iraq will improve," said 48-year-old engineer Suheil Jabar, a Shiite Muslim in Baghdad.

In Copenhagen, Denmark, 35-year-old Jens Langfeldt said he did not know much about the midterm elections but was opposed to Bush's values. He referred to the president as "that cowboy."

In Sri Lanka, some said they hoped the rebuke would force Bush to abandon a unilateral approach to global issues.

"The Americans have made it clear that current American policy should change in dealing with the world, from a confrontational approach, to a more consensus-based and bridge-building approach," said Jehan Perera, a political analyst. The Democratic win means "there will be more control and restraint" over U.S. foreign policy.
Passions were even higher in Pakistan, where Bush is deeply unpopular despite billions in aid and staunch support for President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

One opposition lawmaker, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, said he welcomed the election result but was hoping for more. Bush "deserves to be removed, put on trial and given a Saddam-like death sentence," he said.
But while the result clearly produced more jubilation than jitters around the world, there also were some deep concerns.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen told broadcaster TV2 he hoped that the president and the new Congress would find "common ground on questions about Iraq and Afghanistan."
"The world needs a vigorous U.S.A.," Fogh Rasmussen said.

Some also worried that Democrats, who have a reputation for being more protective of U.S. jobs going overseas, will make it harder to achieve a global free trade accord. And in China, some feared the resurgence of the Democrats would increase tension over human rights and trade and labor issues. China's surging economy has a massive trade surplus with the United States.

"The Democratic Party ... will protect the interests of small and medium American enterprises and labor and that could produce an impact on China-U.S. trade relations," Zhang Guoqing of the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in a report on Sina.com, one of China's most popular Internet portals.

The prospect of a sudden change in American foreign policy could be troubling to U.S. allies such as Britain, Japan and Australia, which have thrown their support behind the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Democrats campaigned on a platform that demanded a change of direction in Iraq, and the war has lost the support of the majority of American voters.

"The problem for Arabs now is, an American withdrawal (from Iraq) could be a security disaster for the entire region," said Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi analyst for the Gulf Research Center in Dubai. "The Mideast could be left to cope with a disintegrating Iraq mired in civil war, with refugees fleeing a failed state that could become an incubator for terrorism."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Peace,

~Billy

Democrats won control of the House early Wednesday after a dozen years of Republican rule in a resounding repudiation of a war, a president and a scandal-scarred Congress. "From sea to shining sea, the American people voted for change. Today we have made history, now let us make progress." declared Rep. Nancy Pelosi the hard-charging California Democrat in line to become the nation's first female House speaker. Republicans fell from power in every region of the country — conservative, liberal and moderate — as well as in every type of district — urban, rural and suburban. Exit polls showed middle class voters who fled to the GOP a dozen years ago appeared to return to the Democrats.
~AP Wednesday Nov. 8th 2006

"i can;t wait tell the next attack because that is what is going to happen" - Erin

First off, if you could put a coherent sentence together maybe someone out there could understand why you would be as deranged as wish another attack on our country.

Second and I know this is old, but who was in charge when the attacks happened? Ok, so it was Clinton’s inability to control terrorism that led to 9/11. So if, God forbid, there is another attack in the future, I guess it would be because of the current administration’s inability to control terrorism, especially if it happened during a Democratic administration. See how easy it is to point fingers?

Surf's up guys! Let the investigations begin!

Tom,

On the other hand, I have nothing but pity for you...to be such a blind partisan that you can't see what a miserable crop of leaders you've got in the Democratic Party is really rather sad. You live in the Alternate Universe, and you have gone so far in to it that you can't even see reality from where you are.

I am an ardent partisan - its part of the territory when you sign up for a political Party...what sort of man says, "I'll be your friend only as long as you 100% agree with me and do as I say"? When you are a member of a political Party you go at it with gusto and never quit and never say die...but I fully understand that we lost last night because we deserved to lose...we failed to adhere to core conservative principles; we failed to press strongly enough in the War on Terrorism; we failed to press strongly enough against liberal judicial activism; we failed to press strongly enough for border security; we failed to press strongly enough for genuine cuts in the size of government. But they are still my guys, these Republicans - they are flawed, as are all human beings, and my task now is to work with my fellow GOPers to make our Party acceptable to a majority again.

What you are failing to see is the real blind partisanship: the blind partisanship which believes EVERYTHING a Democrat says, provided it is anti-Bush and/or anti-war...you haven't the first clue of what is going on in Iraq, you don't have the first clue about what has made our enconomy strong...you just hate, hate, hate and believe that anything Democrat will be automatically superior to anything Republican.

You are a fool - and rather insulting. Please take your comments elsewhere.

Chris,

No, Ford was done in when he crashed Corker's presser...the ad, which wasn't disgusting, didn't really do anything plus or minus.

In Minnesota's 6th CD, we have a bright shining star.

Michele Bachmann won handily. Michele ran as an unabashed conservative. She ran against cut-and-run in Iraq; she ran on 2nd Amendment rights; she ran on small government; she ran on the need to explore and harvest our own energy reserves; she ran on strict pro-life issues--and she never made apologies for her stances.

One of the Republicans lost because they tried to be "democrat lite," which necessarily served to disaffect their base.

We need people who will run on and stick to conservative principles.

On another note, it is also my feeling that many voters, after so many years of a Republican majority, have forgotten how a Democrat majority can rule.

But come mid-January, they are about to be reminded.

I meant to say, "one of the reasons Republicans lost"

Mark -

Good morning. Hope you are well. Just had to respond to some of your comments here.

"Mmmmmm; nummy, nummy crow! Best I ever tasted!"

Thanks for that. Kind of you to eat your crow with such grace and gusto! ;)

"Democrats won their House majority due to the fact that they ran a couple score conservative Democrats"

There seems to be an emerging self-serving CW from the Right that the Dems won mostly because they ran conservative candidates. First off, the mix of dems candidates from liberal to relatively conservative was not much different this time around than it has been for previous elections. Second, of our 7 pick-up opportunities in the Senate, the only one we lost - Harold Ford - was by far the most conservative Dem candidate of the night. Third, having said all that, I think you are right in some respect in that voters didn't reject conservatism in its traditional sense last night - what they really rejected was this unholy alliance of Bushian authoritarianism coupled with fringe religious fanatics.

Simply put, the Bushians are not conservatives! As Peggy Noonan said, the American people couldn't fire Bush last night, so they fired a lot of his congressional enablers instead.

"Anyone out there think that a majority of Americans got up Tuesday morning and said, "what we need is a socialistic, kook leftist as Speaker because she'll govern well"?

You know Mark, I find this kind of demonizing right out of the gate very disheartening. It is clearly apparent that the GOP's strategy over the next two years will be to paint Pelosi as some kind of scary freak, as you have repeatedly done here. You won't even give her a chance.

What has she ever done to deserve that? I guess being a hard-nosed opponent of Bush is enough to get labeled a "kook". Or is it that she is from SF that makes this caricature convenient? If you look at the positions she has taken on the issues, she sides with the majority of Americans in just about every single case. They may not be positions that you or the Bushies like, but they are the positions of the majority of your countrymen. When you say Pelosi is a "kook", you are saying the American people are kooks.

You know, Ms Pelosi has a stellar, close-knit family of 5 children and 5 grandchildren, and has been married to her wonderful husband for 42 years. She comes from a strong Italian family with strong traditional values. In regard to personal character, I'd take her over that page-molesting cover-up-er soon-to-resign-in-ethical-disgrace Hastert anyday.

"Hopefully, Santorum will come in to replace."

What? Didn't last night teach you anything? What qualifications does Ricky bring to being the Secretary of Defense? Jeez Loiuse! In case you haven't heard, we are in the middle of a very difficult war, one made especially difficult by Rumsfeld's arrogant ineptitude. And one of the reasons Bush finds himself in such disfavor these days is the aura of incompetence that dogs his staff choices. One of the biggest knocks against Bush (even from Republicans) is that he selects people not based on their experience and ability, but rather on their loyalty to him. In this post-9/11 world, he chose to put a political pal with absolutely no experience in emergency management as head of FEMA! - and look what happened. Now you want to put Ricky in as Secretary of Defense??? Please.

"What we should do is throw down the gauntlet - the President should propose another round of tax cuts, and defy the Democrats to vote against them"

Uh, the President doesn't have the power to initiate legislation for the Democrats to vote for or against.

What the Democrats should do, however, is propose good ideas that conservatives used to be for, but now have abandoned in favor of Bush worship.

For instance, the Dems should pass a cut in payroll taxes, and defy Bush to veto it. The Dems should pass a bill to let free market competition determine what price the government pays for medicaid drugs, instead of letting Big Pharma unilaterally dictate the price in a corporate welfare scheme - and defy Bush to veto it. The Dems should pass reforms to curtail lobbyist access, and defy Bush to veto. The Dems should craft a fiscally responsible budget, and defy Bush to veto it. Etc etc.

"Buck up - they didn't win all that much...and looking over some late returns, we've still got chances in VA and MT..."

I beg to differ. I don't see how we could have possibly hoped to have won more. Keep in mind these points:

- Dems won control of the House and the Senate

- Despite gerrymandering that has entrenched incumbents, Dems managed a stunning pick up of around 32 seats in the House. In 02 midterms, only 8 seats changed hands. In 98, only 5. In 90 only 7, and in 86 only 5 changed hands. In recent history, only the epochal 1994 tidal wave had more pickups, and that was pre-gerrymandering.

- No incumbent Dem lost any seats. None. Not one incumbent Dem House seat was lost (including Murtha, who won in a landslide). Not one Dem Senator lost. Not one Dem governor lost. Not losing a single incumbent has never occured in US election history. Even during the Republicans massive gains in 1994, 3 incumbent Repubs lost House seats.

IH8Libs- It's sad that you hate your countrymen.

For the people who condemn a Muslim getting elected in America, I wish you greater knowledge and less hatred. People like you are on the way out in America. It's no different than when people hated the Irish immigrants, Jews, African-Americans, Catholics, etc. who ran for office. Over time, you'll accept the reality that Hispanics, Muslims, Jews, Asians, and others are all part of America and can therefore run for public office. Condemning them for their religion, particularly since the guy who won isn't exactly a member of Al Qaeda, is shameful.

As for the defeat of liberalism, let's look at Ohio and Maryland. Cardin is a traditionally moderate liberal and Sherrod Brown is an old-school pro-labor liberal. Pelosi isn't a kook. Mark saying it doesn't mean it's true, you know. She isn't my favorite lawmaker in the world, but she's less fringe than someone like DeLay, for sure.

Anyway, I reiterate my desire for America to come together. I'm sorry that some of you are filled with hatred and are so misguided as to think that liberals hate America. On that issue, you are wrong and we will prove that to you by not reciprocating your hatred.

LOL. Pelosi not a left wing kook? Let's see ... she voted against banning partial birth abortions ... voted against parental notification when having an abortion ... voted against most, if not all, new weapons for our military ... the list goes on. Perhaps you should do a google search on Pelosi and there, you will find out that she is INDEED a left wing kook.

Mark: KUDOS TO YOU for deleting nasty comments from some of these nutcases. I hope you do ban some of them because they deserve it. (I know you asked for lefty's comments but there is my two cents!)

Bigfoot: Excellent post.

“Can those of you who still support Bush, now put aside your dislike for Democratic ideals and work to bring both sides together for everyone's benefit?” Canadian Observer

“Democratic” ideas are great but “Democrat’s” ideas are a totally different thing. Essentially what you’re asking is for a large group of people to go against their core beliefs to “get along”.

For certain subject matter it won’t happen – ever. People with moral convictions cannot change simply to appease the opposition. Abortion and all of its related subjects cannot be appeased.

For other subject items not necessarily dealing with moral values, it will be near impossible to prove something is better one way that we believe it better a different way. Tax cuts have proven to be a huge success and have benefited everyone. In fact this has been the single largest tax cut the poor have ever received while at the same time increased the total tax dollars generated by the wealthy. Raising taxes is NOT a better way.

Raising minimum wages is an illusion that will temporarily stir up the mud, burden the poorest most and return us back to the same situation we’re in now as the mud settles. Changing the minimum wage from $5.00 to $10.00 will only result in changing the cost of the $10.00 product to now cost $20.00. The $10.00 / hr wage earner still won’t be able to afford anything they couldn’t buy before. That push is simply a mirage used to excite those unable or unwilling ( which probably applies to the majority on the bottom of the pay scale) to do what is necessary to boost their worth and pay accordingly. Raising minimum wages is NOT a better way.

Pulling out of Iraq or even talking about it in specific time frames is a recipe for disaster. You would have to be living in a closet to believe the terrorist will leave us alone if we leave Iraq. I know people are tired of war. We didn’t ask for this. It was forced upon us. President Bush took the responsibility to deal with it in a manner that I still believe will provide us with the most desirable LONG TERM results. Pulling out of the Mid-east, or not funding our soldiers is NOT a better way.

If the Democrats really want to bring both sides together I’m pretty sure they know how to do it. But for some reason I don’t think this is what they really want, at least not the liberal Democrats. They have an agenda which is primarily to “stay in power” regardless of the long term results of their policies.

“But I want the country to come together, and in order for that to happen, people like you need to get the hell out of the way.” Tom Shipley

Well that says it all. Let’s bring the country “together” but the group on the right, get the hell out of the way because we didn’t mean you. Which group(s) that make up the country were you thinking of bring “together”. Kind of an oxymoron isn’t it – together but separate?

Tom writes:
"Lieberman won because republicans gave up on their candidate and voted for Lieberman, while Lieberman and Lamont split the dem vote."

Great detective work, Tom. Now, if you ran that thought all the way through, you'd figure out that what you just said, not what I just said, means that all the conservatives and half the democrats want us in Iraq until we finish the job. As I said above, the Democratic party has been co-opted by the conservatives. If you disagree, then see what happens if the gun toting, bible thumping democrats support Pelosi's moves to run the economy into the ground. If the economy booms under Bush then suddenly careens off course if the Dems institute their policies, it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. Even us Southerners can do it.

"really kook-fringe Democrats, especially in the House, are committee chairmen, and they will go about being as kooky as we expect. We can expect an endless stream of Congressional investigations in to Bush Administration policies and the attempted criminalization of being a conservative."

If you think a kook is someone who investigates criminals, then oh boy I am a kook. But I don't know what planet you live on. The conservatives aren't being targeted because they are conservatives, it's because they are criminals. You didn't read FISA yet, did you? Bigotry is going down the tubes as well (gays & gay marriage), and so is control-freakism (abortion). I expect this is the beginning of the end for conservatism. The conservatives will dwindle down to nothing as people become more educated and less bigoted.

Morris -

"Now, if you ran that thought all the way through, you'd figure out that what you just said, not what I just said, means that all the conservatives and half the democrats want us in Iraq until we finish the job. As I said above, the Democratic party has been co-opted by the conservatives."

Run this thought all the way through: Where in the country would you lose an election if you get 40% of one party and almost all of the other party's votes?

And if its true that all conservatives and half of democrats "want us in Iraq until we finish" (aka "Stay the Course"), why did the majority of the American people last night vote to change course in Iraq? And why do polls consistently show that a sizeable majority of Americans think both that going to war in Iraq was a mistake, and that they no longer support the war?

Mark, you ruined my planned shot at you by your comment "Mmmmmm; nummy, nummy crow! Best I ever tasted!"

However I am still going to post it. Here it is:

ATTENTION BUSH REPUBLICAN KNUCKLEHEADS:
I heard that Cheney went hunting just prior to the election. I understand he bagged some crows. Put your weeping aside and enjoy EATING CROW!!

BWAH BWAH BWAH WAH WAH WAH

Ah, sorry about that outburst, but I am enjoying my moment of mirth at the expense of the Bush Republicans, who are now all feasting on crow.

BWAH BWAH BWAH WAH WAH WAH

Now I shall go read all the other comments; hopefully my witty aside stands alone in originality. As you Knuckleheads should know, Canuckland is famous for the fine comedians we export to the USA.

Keep what you are doing, but true Republicans if they want any shot need to tell the Right Wing Hate Mongers such as Limbaugh and Hannity to just shut up. All ready Hannity is calling Pelosi a liar. She isn't even the official Speaker of the House yet. Limbaugh's mocking of Michael Fox just energized a lot of people. The people said Democrats and Republicans must work together.

"For the people who condemn a Muslim getting elected in America, I wish you greater knowledge and less hatred."-DougW

Here's "greater knowledge" for you, DougW about the Nation of Islam Muslim, Keith Ellison.

CAIR's Congressman: LGF, "Judicial Watch’s Corruption Chronicles blog has a look at Minnesota’s new Democrat Congressman, former Nation of Islam spokesperson Keith Ellison."

The first Muslim elected to the United States Congress is a Democrat from Minneapolis with ties to an Islamic group that supports terrorism and a radical cult whose leader says God will destroy the entire white race and establish a paradise nation ruled by blacks.

Minnesota’s new Representative in the House, Keith Ellison, was endorsed and partly financed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a massive U.S.-based organization that avidly defends Osama bin Laden and other militant Islamic terrorists and considers U.S. action against terrorists anti-Islamic. In fact, the group demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing bin Laden as “the sworn enemy” because it was “offensive to Muslims.”

Ellison, who converted to Islam as a 19-year-old college student, also has strong ties to the Nation of Islam, the black cult led by renowned anti-Christian and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. The group’s doctrine states that black people created white people in a genetic experiment 6,000 years ago and that “Judgment Day” means that the Gods will destroy the entire white race (devils) and establish a paradise nation ruled forever by blacks.

As if this weren’t enough to question the choice of Minnesota voters, as a state legislator Ellison supported and defended a convicted cop-killer and leader of a violent gang. Ellison used thug-like language to attack law enforcement officials as racists saying “we don’t get no justice, you don’t get no peace.” Ellison also supports and demands freedom for another convicted cop-killer named Assata Shakur, who lives in Cuba and remains on the FBI’s most wanted list.

Hahaha, Freedom1 cited Little Green Footballs as a source about a Muslim. That's even stupider than his usual tripe--which is already eye-rubbingly stupid.

We get it, Freedom. You're really stupid, and you hate Muslims.

Mark,

If the Democrats won 90 percent of the House and Senate, President Bush and Dick Cheney simultaneously quit their jobs, and Nancy Pelosi became President of the United States, it’s my guess that you would still be saying it’s “a great time to be a Conservative Republican”.

Mark,
for all your mature, wise, crow-eating good sportsmanship, would you really have banned several liberal commenters if you hadn't been upset that your party just blew their majority? I enjoy Tom Shipley's comments, and his tone and content aren't any different from what they usually are.

The American people are sending a message. Maybe you need to listen. As someone above pointed out, there will always be Dems and liberals in America. We aren't going away, so perhaps it would be a better use of your time, passion and intelligence to work with us, instead of implying we are Osama-loving terrorists. Thanks.

The first thing the Democrats should do is propose banning all abortions. Then we would truly see how many so-called pro-life Republicans would be willing to sacrifice their jobs over one issue. Again and again, I talk to people who say they are voting for Republicans because they are pro-life, and every time I ask them when the last time a Republican introduced a bill banning all abortions. You know the answer???? Do your own research.

SeesThroughIt,

False. LGF is the conduit, not the source. As clearly stated above, the source is Judicial Watch’s Corruption Chronicles blog.

I "see" you have no problem with Keith Ellison who has "ties to an Islamic group that supports terrorism [CAIR] and a radical cult whose leader says God will destroy the entire white race and establish a paradise nation ruled by blacks [Nation of Islam]."

I "see" that you are both anti-American and racist.

I should also add that I don't hate Muslims. I hate the evil ideology of Islam and the evil ideology of the Nation of Islam.

Here's a little wake up call for you, SeesThroughIt-

"Where is the West?"

By Thomas Sowell
Townhall.com

The Democrats deserved to win. I am a Republican and the Republicans failed us the last 6 years...

What happens is wonderful. It is good for our Democracy. It is healthy. People should be happy our Democracy works so well. When people fail they get axed. This is how it is suppposed to work..