Cooldude
November 9th, 2006, 06:21 PM
US Democrats secure sweeping win
http://www.uclick.com/feature/06/11/09/wpnan061109.gif
After having secured the House of Representatives in Tuesday's elections, the Democrats have gained the final seat in the battle for the US Senate, sealing their mid-term poll victory in both houses of Congress. Already beleaguered by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation, Bush has now pledged to work with his rivals.
Democrats take Senate (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/pl_nm/usa_elections_dc_74)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats completed their sweeping power grab of the U.S. Congress on Thursday and quickly moved from bitter campaign rhetoric to pledges to find common ground with President George W. Bush when possible.
The Democrats sealed control of Congress by taking a 51-49 majority in the Senate with former Navy Secretary Jim Webb's defeat of Republican Sen. George Allen in a Virginia race so close it almost required a recount.
"The election's over. It's time for a change," said Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid who will become Senate majority leader. "It's time for bipartisanship, it's time for open government, transparency, and it's a time for results."
Allen, who lost by less than 10,000 votes, conceded defeat, ending two days of uncertainty after Tuesday's elections.
Democrats easily seized control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, gaining about 30 seats. But wresting the Senate from Republicans awaited the outcome of the Webb-Allen race.
"I do not wish to cause more rancor by protracted litigation which would, in my judgment, not alter the results," Allen said.
Faced with a new political landscape in Washington, Bush signaled a more conciliatory approach on Iraq as he and the new House leaders pledged to work together but conceded they would have differences.
He had a White House lunch with Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who was clearly pleased at the prospect of becoming the first woman speaker of the House.
Bush called the talks, which included No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Vice President Dick Cheney, constructive and friendly. He said with the elections over, it was time to address America's challenges.
"We won't agree on every issue. But we do agree that we love America equally, that we're concerned about the future of this country and that we will do our very best to address big problems," Bush said.
Pelosi, who complained bitterly about Bush on the campaign trail, beamed as she sat in the place of honor next to the president beneath a portrait of George Washington in the Oval Office.
"I look forward to working in a confidence-building way with the president recognizing that we have our differences and we will debate them, and that is what our founders intended, but we will do so in a way that gets results for the American people," she said.
She pledged to represent everyone in the House. "I understand my responsibility: of speaker of the House, of all of the House, not just the Democrats."
Bush also called Reid to congratulate him on the party's takeover of the Senate and said "he looks forward to meeting with him tomorrow at the White House," Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Bush sounded willing to consider ideas for a shift in course in Iraq during remarks he made after meeting with his Cabinet.
"I'm open to any idea or suggestion that will help us achieve our goals of defeating the terrorists and ensuring that Iraq's democratic government succeeds," Bush said.
His chastened tone came a day after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation was announced. The nominee to replace him, former CIA Director Robert Gates, is expected to have a more open mind on Iraq.
IRAQ CHALLENGE
Democrats have made clear they will exert strong pressure on Bush for a policy shift in Iraq amid rising U.S. casualties and violence.
Bush said the United States has a responsibility to support the more than 149,000 U.S. troops in Iraq -- an indirect challenge to those Democrats who have talked about cutting off funding for the Iraq mission.
While planning ahead to work with Democrats when they take over in January, Bush was scrambling to get the lame-duck session of Congress, which starts next week and will still be controlled by Republicans, to approve several items.
At the top of the list is a quick confirmation of Gates, as well as approval of legislation to permit wiretapping of terrorism suspects, a civilian nuclear deal with India, and Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization.
Confirmation hearings on Gates' nomination were tentatively set for the week of December 4. In an early test of the cooperation vows, Bush resubmitted to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, serving in that job in a temporary basis.
The reaction to the move was predictably partisan, with Delaware Democratic Sen. Joe Biden expressing opposition.
http://www.uclick.com/feature/06/11/09/wpnan061109.gif
After having secured the House of Representatives in Tuesday's elections, the Democrats have gained the final seat in the battle for the US Senate, sealing their mid-term poll victory in both houses of Congress. Already beleaguered by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation, Bush has now pledged to work with his rivals.
Democrats take Senate (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/pl_nm/usa_elections_dc_74)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats completed their sweeping power grab of the U.S. Congress on Thursday and quickly moved from bitter campaign rhetoric to pledges to find common ground with President George W. Bush when possible.
The Democrats sealed control of Congress by taking a 51-49 majority in the Senate with former Navy Secretary Jim Webb's defeat of Republican Sen. George Allen in a Virginia race so close it almost required a recount.
"The election's over. It's time for a change," said Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid who will become Senate majority leader. "It's time for bipartisanship, it's time for open government, transparency, and it's a time for results."
Allen, who lost by less than 10,000 votes, conceded defeat, ending two days of uncertainty after Tuesday's elections.
Democrats easily seized control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, gaining about 30 seats. But wresting the Senate from Republicans awaited the outcome of the Webb-Allen race.
"I do not wish to cause more rancor by protracted litigation which would, in my judgment, not alter the results," Allen said.
Faced with a new political landscape in Washington, Bush signaled a more conciliatory approach on Iraq as he and the new House leaders pledged to work together but conceded they would have differences.
He had a White House lunch with Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who was clearly pleased at the prospect of becoming the first woman speaker of the House.
Bush called the talks, which included No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Vice President Dick Cheney, constructive and friendly. He said with the elections over, it was time to address America's challenges.
"We won't agree on every issue. But we do agree that we love America equally, that we're concerned about the future of this country and that we will do our very best to address big problems," Bush said.
Pelosi, who complained bitterly about Bush on the campaign trail, beamed as she sat in the place of honor next to the president beneath a portrait of George Washington in the Oval Office.
"I look forward to working in a confidence-building way with the president recognizing that we have our differences and we will debate them, and that is what our founders intended, but we will do so in a way that gets results for the American people," she said.
She pledged to represent everyone in the House. "I understand my responsibility: of speaker of the House, of all of the House, not just the Democrats."
Bush also called Reid to congratulate him on the party's takeover of the Senate and said "he looks forward to meeting with him tomorrow at the White House," Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Bush sounded willing to consider ideas for a shift in course in Iraq during remarks he made after meeting with his Cabinet.
"I'm open to any idea or suggestion that will help us achieve our goals of defeating the terrorists and ensuring that Iraq's democratic government succeeds," Bush said.
His chastened tone came a day after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation was announced. The nominee to replace him, former CIA Director Robert Gates, is expected to have a more open mind on Iraq.
IRAQ CHALLENGE
Democrats have made clear they will exert strong pressure on Bush for a policy shift in Iraq amid rising U.S. casualties and violence.
Bush said the United States has a responsibility to support the more than 149,000 U.S. troops in Iraq -- an indirect challenge to those Democrats who have talked about cutting off funding for the Iraq mission.
While planning ahead to work with Democrats when they take over in January, Bush was scrambling to get the lame-duck session of Congress, which starts next week and will still be controlled by Republicans, to approve several items.
At the top of the list is a quick confirmation of Gates, as well as approval of legislation to permit wiretapping of terrorism suspects, a civilian nuclear deal with India, and Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization.
Confirmation hearings on Gates' nomination were tentatively set for the week of December 4. In an early test of the cooperation vows, Bush resubmitted to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, serving in that job in a temporary basis.
The reaction to the move was predictably partisan, with Delaware Democratic Sen. Joe Biden expressing opposition.