The American body politic is quite different tonight. As I shuffle off to bed, the Democrats have won the House and -assuming Webb and Tester hold- the Senate as well. Like 1994 this is much less move to the left as it is a repudiation of a deeply unpopular president. The question is what the Dems do with this. While many of the newly minted Democratic congresspersons are moderates, the old liberal warhorses will be running the show. Presumptive Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a very difficult job ahead of her. If she keeps the libs in check and stays in the center the Democrats are set up well for 2008.
The idea -as presented on MSNBC tonight- that she may bypass Jane Harmon and appoint the loathsome Alcee Hastings, impeached former district court judge, as the Chairman of House Intelligence is as poor a start as I can imagine.
Posted by Frinklin at November 7, 2006 11:43 PM | TrackBackIt appears that Tester's won, and Webb's lead (hopefully) will be enough to withstand the canvass and possible recount.
In the House, Democrats should wind up with between 230 and 235 seats, with my current projection at 232, if the current leads all hold. (Yes, I'm a big enough dork that I'm sitting here with pencil and paper tracking the remaining undecided races.)
Posted by: Mediocre Fred at November 8, 2006 02:04 PMRuth Marcus thinks that Pelosi views Harmon as a competitor, and also that Pelosi may feel obligated to make a concession to the Congressional Black Caucus by having an African American as chair, after Pelosi shoved William Jefferson off his committees.
In fairness to the CBC, Jefferson *still* hasn't been indicted; in fairness to Pelosi, Jefferson still hasn't explained about the FBI video, which is about the worst thing that a "end the corruption!" Democratic Party could have hanging to them. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he's gotta at least give me an elaborate conspiracy theory about how the tape was manufactured.
Posted by: PG at November 9, 2006 10:36 PM