Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US Democrats rallying on poll wins
Herald Sun ^ | 10 November 2005

Posted on 11/09/2005 7:37:53 PM PST by Aussie Dasher

Democrats hoping to retake control of the US government glimpsed the beginnings of a possible comeback overnight, after major defeats for Republicans in election contests across the United States.

California's action-hero-turned-Republican-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered a stinging repudiation at the polls on Tuesday, failing to win approval for any of four referendum measures he proposed.

With national balloting looming next year and a presidential election in 2008, Tuesday's setbacks are viewed as a bad omen for President George W. Bush's floundering party, and consequently are a hopeful sign for opposition Democrats eager to reclaim the White House and US Congress.

"With less than a year until congressional elections in 2006, Democrats have gained momentum with a clear vision for progress and a national mood firmly united against the leadership of national Republicans," said Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, after the vote.

The leader of Democrats in the House was even more upbeat: "There were many victories last night, and I think they bode well for a Democratic sweep in next year's election," said Nancy Pelosi.

Just days before the balloting, Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean said he felt a sea change coming, as voters tire of the scandal-plagued Republican administration.

"Whether it's the string of arrests and indictments of corrupt Republican leaders or their pandering to extremist ideologues ... we need fundamental change in Washington," Mr Deab said.

Political analyst Larry Sabato said that the Democrats's hopes of a return to power are more than mere pipedreams. After Tuesday's elections, "Democrats now have hard evidence that their hopes are realistic," he said.

The Democrats racked up big wins as US Senator Jon Corzine decisively beat his Republican rival Douglas Forrester in the race for governor of New Jersey.

Democrat Tim Kaine also outpolled Republican contender Jerry Kilgore for the governorship of Virginia, a victory made all the sweeter for Democrats because US president George W Bush campaigned for Kilgore in the waning hours of the campaign, a sign, perhaps, of the president's diminished clout after weeks of scandal and missteps.

Only New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg garnered a Republican win, trouncing Democrat Fernando Ferrer to hold onto his job in the heavily-Democratic city.

Last week, the Democrats put on a more combative face, forcing the Senate into a surprise closed-door session to debate Iraq war intelligence, and leaving Republicans sputtering in disapproval.

And on Tuesday, election day, they threw down the gauntlet again, demanding that Vice President Dick Cheney clean house in the wake of his top aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby's recent criminal indictment, while insisting that Libby not be granted a presidential pardon if convicted.

On the heels of the Republicans' problems, Democrats are making a new effort to present themselves to voters as a viable alternative.

"Enough is enough," said Mr Dean. "We're ready to lead."

But whether they will really be able to reclaim power remains an open question, political observers said. Mr Sabato said the first thing Democrats need is a clear, resonant message.

"It's not enough to carp and criticise," he said.

Secondly, they need a marquee-quality candidate as a standard bearer, and some pundits questioned whether the current presidential frontrunner, New York's US Senator Hillary Clinton, is the right person for the job, given the strong negative feelings she stirs among some voters.

Mr Sabato suggested Democrats quickly begin cultivating the next generation of young, smart and photogenic stars, like US senators Barack Obama and Evan Bayh, and current Virgina Governor Mark Warner.

"Democrats are going to have to create a candidate of national stature, because their one prominent candidate (Clinton) is extremely risky," he said.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: arnie; bloomberg; dean; dopeydems; elections; georgewbush; howey; jerrykilgore; pelosi
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last
"...a clear vision for progress..."

Oh, pleeeeze!!!!

1 posted on 11/09/2005 7:37:56 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher


could the democrats BE any more desperate?
2 posted on 11/09/2005 7:40:49 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite (There's nothing "Mainstream" about the Orwellian Media!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

And the delusions continue....


3 posted on 11/09/2005 7:43:45 PM PST by jveritas (The Axis of Defeatism: Left wing liberals, Buchananites, and third party voters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

I'm still not sure how replacing a Democrat with a Democrat is a HUGE win over the Republicans.

I understand the California problem...but that's California.

Ohio seemed to be solidly conservative in their voting down of propositions.

I guess if the MSM says it so, they think that makes it so.


4 posted on 11/09/2005 7:44:05 PM PST by dawn53
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dawn53

They won by not losing. California, however, shows that moderate Republicanism is not the answer. Ohio and Texas show that these red states are still red.


5 posted on 11/09/2005 7:47:19 PM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dawn53
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
6 posted on 11/09/2005 7:56:49 PM PST by stm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

If one was to read Free Republic, they would think that Republicans have already surrendered and the Democrats will end up with 400 House seats and 80 Senate seats.


7 posted on 11/09/2005 8:01:16 PM PST by COEXERJ145 (http://www.navyfield.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dawn53
Both dem governors replaced dem governors, but each won by a smaller margin than his predecessor.

At least one of the California ballot initiatives was done FOR the democrats by Arnold. So to say republicans lost all 4 is wrong. Only 3 were theirs at most.

The republicans may well have lost some steam, but that does not mean the dems gained any.

8 posted on 11/09/2005 8:04:24 PM PST by infidel29 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." --Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
With national balloting looming next year and a presidential election in 2008, Tuesday's setbacks are viewed as a bad omen for President George W. Bush's floundering party, and consequently are a hopeful sign for opposition Democrats eager to reclaim the White House and US Congress.

That has got to be the most asinine statement I've ever heard a journalist make. Off year elections are not nearly as important as national elections, but the democrats are already spinning, spinning, spinning away.
9 posted on 11/09/2005 8:05:10 PM PST by rs79bm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jveritas
And the delusions continue....

Just got news of my hometown where I grew up... Unheard of to have a Dem in there...now, after this election, they hold all but one of the seats on the town board!!!

And...at the county level, it will now be the first time EVER that Dems control the county legislature...

And here in Pennsylvania, Dems swept every open seat on the borough council...7 of the 8 seats will now be Dem! What a turnaround.

And the ostriches continue...

10 posted on 11/09/2005 8:05:28 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Gondring

Absolutely meaningless. You can go and find some town in a Red State that had elections yesterday and find the same story but with Republicans replacing democrats.


11 posted on 11/09/2005 8:10:20 PM PST by jveritas (The Axis of Defeatism: Left wing liberals, Buchananites, and third party voters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: rs79bm
...but the democrats are already spinning, spinning, spinning away.

The media had two sets of stories ready to go well before the election.

If the Republicans won either governor race, that race would have been buried and relegated to a quick blurb. The same if the ballot issues failed in Ohio and passed in Texas and California.

If the Democrats won either or both races and the ballot issues passed in Ohio and failed in Texas and California, then it would be front page news and trumpeted as the second coming of the Democrat Party.

12 posted on 11/09/2005 8:14:53 PM PST by COEXERJ145 (http://www.navyfield.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

No media bias here, that's for sure! /s


13 posted on 11/09/2005 8:16:32 PM PST by Frank_2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

We are a very divided country. Come 2006, REDS will vote RED and BLUES will vote BLUES, and not much will change.


14 posted on 11/09/2005 8:20:17 PM PST by GOP_Lady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

The 'RATS have had quite a week. First their great "victory" in Joisey and Virginia and now their "freedom fighters" successfully explode three bombs and kill many innocent people in Jordan. The Daily K-os and DUmmy crowds must be having multiple orgasms.


15 posted on 11/09/2005 8:30:04 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (It's no coincidence that the Democrat mascot is a jackass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
Dem's rally on status quo, it's pandemonium!! lol
16 posted on 11/09/2005 8:31:22 PM PST by TheForceOfOne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

The press had this written before it happened - and even if the GOP had swept the elections, it would have still been reported as bad news - in that case, it would have signaled certain doom for the GOP in next year's election due to "anti-incumbent sentiment." Remember, that's how they spun the 2003 GOP election victories as bad news for Bush.


17 posted on 11/09/2005 8:36:54 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: infidel29
Both dem governors replaced dem governors, but each won by a smaller margin than his predecessor.

And Bush's popularity was in the 80s at the time their predecessors won.

18 posted on 11/09/2005 8:38:17 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: COEXERJ145
Hush! We're lulling them into thinking this was a big win and it means they are actually going to pick up seats instead of just retain them. Don't frighten them. We need them to be arrogant and complacent.
19 posted on 11/09/2005 8:42:06 PM PST by pollyannaish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
'Nary a word about George Soros' and moveon.org's public humiliations in the critical swing state of Ohio last night.

Democrats didn't lose ground last night in Virginia and New Jersey. That's the story that's being spun as a crushing and overwhelming victory for the Democratic Party. What a bunch of losers.

20 posted on 11/09/2005 8:43:34 PM PST by JCEccles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson