Martin Wagner | November 7, 2006 11:29 PM

Snoopy Dance time!

Chang, who loves Democracy | November 7, 2006 11:34 PM

this frigging rules.

mythago | November 7, 2006 11:41 PM

A national moratorium on No Gloating Zones is in effect until midnight Saturday, PST.

handdrummer | November 7, 2006 11:53 PM

Now we just have to hold the Dems feet to the fire and hope the grow some stones.

Kafkaesquí | November 7, 2006 11:58 PM

This is also a pretty historic day, as it brings us the first female Speaker of the House (now the most powerful female in the U.S. of A.).

And she's from San Francisco, no less. The socially-conservative right must be going into conniptions.

John Scalzi | November 7, 2006 11:58 PM

Good.

Pete | November 8, 2006 12:03 AM

Eh, I wouldn't enjoy the duck just yet -- the GOP may contain control of the Senate.

John Scalzi | November 8, 2006 12:07 AM

Last I heard, Pete, it takes both the House and Senate to pass a bill. It's divided plenty.

This is not to say that Bush can't get things done. It's just not he'll have to actually work with Democrats, which is something he's not bothered to do in, oh, four years at least. What's he's going to be able to get done is likely to be very different.

Also: I'd be expecting subpoenas starting in January. That'll be interesting.

JonathanMoeller | November 8, 2006 12:09 AM

That rattling noise you hear?

A thousand Republican analysts going "Shit! Shit! Shiiiiiit!" in unison.

Of course, the Republicans cleaned house in 2004, and look how well that turned out for them. Let's see if the Dems self-destruct in six months or not.

Lee | November 8, 2006 12:11 AM

Too early to celebrate as the final counts are not in yet. One thing I'm celebrating is the end of the stupid ads on TV that are really insults to those who read and analyze the issues. We had so many propositions here in California and most of them are geared to line the pockets of the proponents.

Two days ago, people think that Saddam's death sentence was timed to benefit the Republicans. Today they announced Britney Spear's divorce. Were they evil plots to make people stay away from polling places to watch the next installment of the gossip?

Ralph_Desmond | November 8, 2006 12:12 AM

Now the Democrats might actually have the power to slow the speed of Bush & regime screwing everything up.

Too bad about California Governator winning. I thought we were smarter than that.

Cassie | November 8, 2006 12:12 AM

Taft should have retired (in shame) when he was convicted.

Republicans would have had a chance if he had.

jerry | November 8, 2006 12:13 AM

Not much changes John, both parties are very mediocre

Dan | November 8, 2006 12:18 AM

It's going to be interesting to see that Executive leash shortened. Plus, the Senate is still up for grabs as I am scribbling this.

And, although this is a "No Gloating Zone," I do need to say that watching Santorum concede was the most beautiful thing I've seen in ages, and I hope that door smacks him hard on the ass on his way out. I like watching that sanctimonious prick get the boot.

Aside from that, I do hope the Democrats can pull themselves together and grow a backbone.

KL | November 8, 2006 12:22 AM

Jerry -- where have you been for the last four years? "not much changes"?

John's right: it's all about the gridlock. Everything else is gravy.

Ron Hogan | November 8, 2006 12:24 AM

Plus we got to hear Dan Rather say "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding--how can you have your pudding if you don't eat your meat?" If we were watching Comedy Central's coverage of the House races, that is.

mythago | November 8, 2006 12:25 AM

Jerry's just repeating the Fox News talking points.

The socially-conservative right must be going into conniptions.

Yup. They tried the "Tree-huggers, hippies and queers, oh my!" distraction, and whaddaya know, voters didn't fall for it.

darren | November 8, 2006 12:32 AM

jerry
"Not much changes John, both parties are very mediocre"

Well Jerry, I'd say you're mischaracterizing just slightly. The dems are indeed not merely "very mediocre," but extremely, if not unbelievabley mediocre. The true mischaracterization, however, is in representing the reps as "very mediocre," when in fact they actually suck gigantic donkey balls.

whump | November 8, 2006 12:33 AM

@ Kafkaesquí: I live in the Bay Area, and, modulo our penchant for technology bubbles, I think we have good values.

Dan | November 8, 2006 12:43 AM

Do you think someone should tell Bush that he's not "The Decider" anymore?

Byron | November 8, 2006 01:06 AM

Quoth Ralph,

>Too bad about California Governator winning. I thought we were smarter than that.

It's more about the Dems being dumb enough to run Angelides against him than anything else.

Kafkaesquí | November 8, 2006 01:53 AM

whump, I can assure I cast no aspersions on the good folk who call the middle seacoast region of California home. I merely referenced a certain class of morally-righteous bubbleheads and their opinion of you and your neighbors.

But I'm keeping my fingers crossed you guys don't experience a repeat of the events of 1906 anytime soon, because you know who Pat Robertson and company will be blaming it on!

Fernmonkey | November 8, 2006 03:42 AM

They tried the "Tree-huggers, hippies and queers, oh my!" distraction, and whaddaya know, voters didn't fall for it.

Well, it worked as far as the queers are concerned, I'm sorry to say. All of the marriage amendments passed.

Max | November 8, 2006 04:25 AM

"Now we just have to hold the Dems feet to the fire and hope they grow some stones."

You mix a mean metaphor.

Steve Buchheit | November 8, 2006 07:50 AM

Yep, that subpeona power is going to be an interesting thing. Now we'll see just how far the "unitary President" concept will be taken. Comtempt of Congress, how soon after the New Year do you think we'll hear that phrase?

CoolBlue | November 8, 2006 08:18 AM

By all accounts, we had a very high voter turnout. So I'm happy with the result overall, if not in every particular case.

I am extremely happy that Lamont will not be going to the Senate. Sad that ex-Marine Murtha got reelected. But it seems clear, he represents his district.

So if Democrats take the Senate, does that mean you will be voting for a Republican president in 2008 John?

Hugh | November 8, 2006 08:23 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6127430.stm

"Voters in South Dakotans have rejected a near-total ban on abortion, in one of the highest profile state referendums taking place alongside the US polls."

Good news about South Dakota, huh?

Christian | November 8, 2006 08:42 AM

Still a nail biter here in Virginia, but I'm hoping Macaca gets shown the door.

John H | November 8, 2006 08:48 AM

In regards to Man-On-Dog's concession speech: Isn't it amazing how he could spend the past ten weeks bad-mouthing Bob Casey, calling him everything but a serial bedwetter, and then turn around last night and say how he is a good man who will serve Pennsylvania well? Gee, it almost makes Santorum sound like a hypocrite or something...

John H | November 8, 2006 08:49 AM

By the way John, how is BaconCat holding up for record number of comments?

WizarDru | November 8, 2006 08:53 AM

Dammit, only a 50/50 here in PA. Santorum was shown the door, which was my biggest goal...but the Lois Murphy/Jim Gerlach race is incredibly tight, but it appears that Gerlach has won by 3000 votes.

I'm more mad that this will validate the kind of ugly campaigning that was run here, more than anything else. Considering the PA 6th district is a Republican stronghold, I suppose that says something, but that's somewhat cold comfort.

mythago | November 8, 2006 09:28 AM

Fernmonkey, fear of TEH GAY always works--I meant the "San Francisco values" thing the Rs were trying to use to scare people away from voting Democrat. I thought it was purely gay-bashing until my spouse (who is, alas, a Boomer) pointed out that to people of his generation and older, San Francisco is also indeliably linked to hippies and pot-smoking and all that jazz.

TomB | November 8, 2006 08:43 PM

Hey -- too much San Francisco bashing and we'll have to put the Committee of Vigilance on you.