US Democrats secure sweeping win

[Cooldude]

US Democrats secure sweeping win



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

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.

[tantric_yogi]

Originally Posted by Cooldude

US Democrats secure sweeping win

"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.

This is bad news for US-India nuclear co-operation deal ... as per the newspapers. Strange as it may sound ... democrats were traditionally pro-India.
So now that President Bush is going to be tied up dealing with democrats ... how and who is going to deal with terrorism and countries that support terrorists?

[rameshp]

Originally Posted by tantric_yogi

This is bad news for US-India nuclear co-operation deal ... as per the newspapers. Strange as it may sound ... democrats were traditionally pro-India.
So now that President Bush is going to be tied up dealing with democrats ... how and who is going to deal with terrorism and countries that support terrorists?

Dems are not pro-India! They only seem to say that way! They are against nuke deal and outsourcing!

Dems are just dummies! Name a single issue that they consistently support? All they do is oppose republicans all issues instead of putting out their own strategies and policies!

Dems won this elections only because of Bush's policies! There is nothing new that Dems proposed!

[AmthaLal]

Originally Posted by rameshp

Dems are not pro-India! They only seem to say that way! They are against nuke deal and outsourcing!

Dems are just dummies! Name a single issue that they consistently support? All they do is oppose republicans all issues instead of putting out their own strategies and policies!

Dems won this elections only because of Bush's policies! There is nothing new that Dems proposed!

Aww C'mon man!
They support Same Sex Marraige.

[rameshp]

Originally Posted by AmthaLal

Aww C'mon man!
They support Same Sex Marraige.

Ok but why exactly would that issue garner your support for Dems? out of pity for Maxi pai?

[echarcha]

The Bush adminisration did not listen to the people, not even the core voter base. They behaved more and more like liberals and this pissed off the conservative voters.


Donald Rumsfeld prosecuted Marines (Google for Marines Pendleton Camp) for firing on bloody towelheads in Iraq. What kind of a leader prosecutes his own army. Its fucking war - dirty and cruel!

Pres. Bush fell for the liberal lie of embedded reporters. The media has been pro Leftists since time immemorial. The media exagerrated the failings in Iraq.

Its a fucking bloody war. Dont use your stupid political correctness here. But no. All the top shots in Wahsington and White House were worried about how to best conduct this war like a police raid with minimal firepower. THis resulted in US soldiers ending up in body bags while foreign combatants and insurgents from continuing their attacks. This reminded me of Rajiv Gandhi who sent our troops as Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) into Sri Lanka with their hands tied behind their backs. Our soldiers used to die non-stop and daily at the hands of LTTE. THank heavens, we dont do this in Kashmir and thanks in part to Kargil that our morons in New Delhi dont demand this of our soldiers - a police action.

The war was the crucial point where Pres. Bush could have won over American voters. Had he conducted a strict war like Russia does with Chechnya and Chechen Muslim terrorists, then Pres. Bush would have ensured republican success for another two terms. Had he ensured that the oil flowed out of Iraq and into American cars with an effect of lowered pirces, today Democrats would just be twiddling their thumbs and would not be within a mile of the Capitol.

However, Pres. Bush listened to the ignorance and arrogance of his advisors and now we see the debacle. Also, I agree with some consevative talk show hosts like Michael Savage who was continuously asking where are the Republican Senators and Congressmen? Why were they not standing up to Pres. Bush and demanding proper action in Iraq? Why were they not trying their best to manage the war?

If you look at many propositions passed in many states, the voters have suddenly not become Liberals and Leftists and socialists. Many conservative propositions have passed. The voters just voted anti-Republican and not necessarily pro-Democrat. One big example is California where a republican (however liberal he may be) givernor wins an election with a landslide (more than 60 percent votes).

I hope the Republican party now wakes up and does something for 2008.

[AmthaLal]

Originally Posted by rameshp

Ok but why exactly would that issue garner your support for Dems? out of pity for Maxi pai?

Are you Maxified?

Show a single post where I declared them support!

Dude I VOTED...being a citizen.
And Ofcource the governer candidate I voted.....Lost.

[Ravi]

Fűck rethugs.

[padhu]

The nuke deal comes up in congress on Thursday for vote. Not leaving anything to chance before the lame duck season starts in Jan, the Bush admin have removed major ammendments just leaving 7 from the previous 19. He wants this deal to get voted on till the republicans still hold power. Things are looking nice and hopefully if all goes well, I suspect we will have the deal by Thanksgiving.

[laal_langot]

Originally Posted by padhu

Things are looking nice and hopefully if all goes well, I suspect we will have the deal by Thanksgiving.

That means they will be serving turkey sambhar and chaawal, turkey da saag and makki di roti or special turkey paav all over India on thanksgiving?turkey ke chhollay with puri will be nice....

[deshpremi]

Good news, another hurdle cleared....

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/nov/17ndeal8.htm

[Napolean]

Ye conference kya hai yaar....I was thinking Senate and then Pres shld be final.

[Cooldude]

Originally Posted by deshpremi

Good news, another hurdle cleared....

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/nov/17ndeal8.htm

All hurdles aren't cleared yet. The US wants absolute transparency here & India should permit international inspections of its nuclear facilities whenever required.

Also Uncle Sam would want India to fully and actively participate in efforts to contain Iran's nuclear programme. Also there should be no transfer of any technology to Iran.

India would also need to get approval for the deal from the Nuclear Suppliers Group(an assembly of nations that export nuclear material) & negotiate a safeguard agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6155842.stm