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CNN, AP declare Montana progressive Blue America candidate John Tester.
Senator TesterBy: Jane Hamsher Wednesday November 8, 2006 11:00 am |
Senator TesterBy: Jane Hamsher Wednesday November 8, 2006 11:00 am |
CNN, AP declare Montana progressive Blue America candidate John Tester.
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FUCK YEAH
Tester delivers another THUMPIN’ to Bush.
I will never forget this day.
Blue, it’s the new black!
Here’sssssssssssssssss Johnny!!
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood…
I love how Bush sounded like he didn’t know what had hit him this morning. Fantastic :)
MSNBC had “AP declares…” on their site then 30 seconds later changed it to “NBC declares…”
god i love how many decisions the AP makes for everyone else
And oh ya, I really hope this guy has some power over OSHA getting some actual power and brings workplace safety back into the dialogue, ergonomics standard ‘07!
Rob Zuber @
2
Ditto. To paraphrase both the famous song from the Passover Seder and our friends at Mastercard:
If we had only squeaked by to take the House, it would have been enough.
If we had won the House easily but just lost the Senate, it would have been enough.
If we had swept the House and squeaked into the Senate, it would have been enough.
But watching the idiot Rumsfeld get booted back into private life within a few hours?
Priceless. This is the happiest day of my (political) life.
Truly amazing.
You all have done an absolutely fantastic job of amputating that diamond ring finger that twirled the cane of venality…..
.
WOOOHOOOO!!!!
So… is VA in the bag now too?
reviser @ 8
Dont be happy yet man. the real work begins in january. We NEED to stay active, we need to get more people involved- we elected alot of people who will slip if we let them, we can’t let them
We deserve to be happy, but only because now we finally have people who will listen to us, but if we don’t scream, they won’t hear us.
At the moment, the VA site has Webb up by 7,297 votes.
99.88% Reporting
Candidates Party Vote Totals Percentage
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,172,544 49.55%
G F Allen Republican 1,165,247 49.24%
http://sbe.virginiainteractive.org/index.htm
Senator Tester - heehee!
WoofuckingHoo!
What a great day.
TO quote Queen : Another one bites the dust.
That song is going to be running through my head ALL DAY!
Yeeeeha!
Jane, next time you go on Countdown, you can sport the Tester flattop. Now that’s Twisted!
Who’s next up at the woodshed? My money’s on Mehlman. Hastert’s staff is going to take a hit, too. That Foley report is going to have to come out before the new House session starts.
Woohoo for Tester and YEA for our side! Lordie mama, the House big win and most likely the Senate help make up for Lamont’s loss.
Cripes, I nearly had a heart attack when I heard Rummy was stepping down thinking “Oh no, they’re not going to put Lieberman in his spot.” Whew!
Please God let Dan Burton resign.
Now all the generals who said, “fire Rumsfield,” are getting the chance to say, “we told you so.” Yesterday was about rejection of a regime and accountability; today is becoming about Bush/WH credibility, and the Bush WH is losing it today.
Oh god dang!
I love John Tester and I approve this message!!
Now, to Virginia ….
Tester’s Blue, but that barn has to stay red. There are some things you just don’t mess with.
Congrats to Mr Tester and those who struggled for him!
One jerk is not off to the dustbin of history.
I will now begin my Happy Dance.
SusanD @ 23
I’ve been doing the Democratic Bootie Shake” all day long.
I attended the Tester pre-primary Pearl Jam concert in Missoula way back in ‘05. John struck me as an average Joe who cared about good government.
What a great pickup in the Senate. Don’t lose the gut or the flat-top Sen. Tester!
OT–Limbaugh just admitted he’s through “carrying water” for the gutless, leaderless Republican party. He can no longer “assume the responsibility for their success,” “provide cover,” or make them “look good.” He feels “liberated.” Let the games begin….
–
Clap clap clap.
Now if MacacaWitz will only live by his words from the 2000 campaign, and fold without making them count, thus doing one decent thing in his long campaign of smear, fear and deceit.
Limbaugh is a whore
CityGirl @ 26
The rats are jumping ship.
testaroo @
10
No, but I am.
OT…somewhat…
Sung to the tune of the Geto Boys “Damn, It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta” from the movie Office
Space:
Damn, it feels good to be a Democrat
Feedin’ the poor and helpin out wit they bills
Although we was on the outside
Now we’re on the Hill makin’ deals
Now all I gotta say to you
Wannabe, gonnabe, right wing, red-state Republi-rats
When the grim reaper comes what the hell you gonna do?
Damn it feels good to be a Democrat.
Rock on Jane, Redd and all…
CityGirl @ 26
Seriously?
Pat Buchanan says “the neocons are completely out of the picture now.” He thinks that Rice, Hadley, along with Gates, Baker, et al, are not neocons and don’t support those policies.
Where are Barney and Laura? I had hopes for Barney.
Of all the many (and there are many!) races that went well yesterday, Tester’s is the sweetest. Running his own way, in a state that has been so terribly red, and beating a corrupt incumbent — it just doesn’t get any better than that. Thank you Tester, and thank you all your tens of thousands of supporters. You are America.
Thad
CityGirl @ 26
He’s stoked… Now he can go back to popping 30 oxycontins grab a handfull of boner pills and head back down to the Child Sex Trade capital, Dominican Republic again.
BiiiiG Smile for Senator Tester.
:-D
He’s a good guy. Democrats are good people. Today, is a good day.
http://cache.wonkette.com/asse.....wolffe.jpg
Is this the hot reporter everyone’s gushing about?
Tester’s damn near perfect. I love the guy. Down to earth, warm, old-time Montana family — and he grows organic vegetables.
I’ll tell you who else I like: Nancy Pelosi.
Matter of fact, I like Tester and Pelosi a lot more than I like Hillary and Obama…
Anyone have a decent link to a video of Tester’s victory speech? I found one, local Montana news, http://www.montanasnewsstation.com, but there doesn’t seem to be any audio for the actual clip (except for the ad at the start)
Frank Probst @ 24
I’ve had this grin (well, you know what kind of grin I mean…) on my face all day and I can’t seem to get rid of it. Not that I want to.
*g*
BTW, I heard a report (rumour) on NPR this morning that Hastert might resign from Congress altogether. Anyone else caught wind of this?
If the Foley fallout is as bad as I think it’s going to be, Hastert’s indeed toast.
Joy to the world
all the boys and girls
joy to the fishies in the deep blue sea [who actually may survive now….]
Joy to you and me.
via Kos
Well, he can certainly talk the talk, but as for the walking part, ah, not so much…
Peterr @
21
I vote for him to keep the crewcut too.
Two years ago, all the Republican 2008 presidential wannabees were trying to line up the GOP consultants who led Bush and Co. to victory. Unlike most of the others, Rove held himself above the fray. He refused to sign on with one camp or another, assuming (correctly) that he signing on with one 08 candidate would piss off the rest, just when Bush would need them to get stuff through Congress.
2008 is right around the corner, but things have changed. Rove’s myth of electoral omnipotence took a big hit, and working with Congress is only going to get harder.
Will Rove sign on with a 2008 candidate now? Or should I say, will a 2008 candidate want Rove on the staff now?
mc @ 41
Reactions/quotes from Schumer, Feinstein and Redi — all saying this is step in the right direction. Jeez, why can’t they ask whether Rumsfeld was an independent author/implementer of the disasterous policy? Who’s policy was this? Who led the country? Who make the this blunder?
CityGirl @ 26
What??
Virginia radio station, 2 in a row:
We Are the Champions
Takin’ It to the Streets
Nate @ 46
Oops.. Answered in the wrong part of the comment. Think Progress is reporting that Hastert is “stepping down”.
So very nice! 1000x thankyou! I feel so much lighter this morning. ‘Vote by Mail’ for the future of this country. It works here in Oregon.
Hastert stepping down from leadership role in Repug party.
Hi there egregious… Lovely day isn’t it?
My 6 and 28 is looking better and better.
LOVELY day indeed.
Hey Nate when does the ‘08 campaign begin?
Peterr @ 45
Interesting. You would think McCain wouldn’t want him because of their ugly history, but then again McCain’s been known to twist himself into a 5-dimensional pretzel if he thinks it’ll help himself.
Maybe Giuliani?
egregious @ 55
08′ hell… Doolittle will be indicted, probably in the next 30-90 days and I’m already working on Charlie’s Special Election which is mandated by CA election law.
While fighting the rain and CT traffic coming home to NJ, it occured to me that Ned spoke out and focused the dialogue of the election on the war. All though he didn’t win his race, America won, and Rumsfeld lost.
You start a process by speaking out and taking action. Fate and destiny take over and you never know where it’s going to lead. Howard Dean spoke out about the war, and did not end up as President. He did end up instituting the 50 state strategy, and look how golden that turn out last night.
While listening to Ned’s concession speach last night I could help but think there are great things ahead for
him and for us. I felt proud to be a small part of his effort, and on Monday three strangers from CA, NJ and CT worked together as concerned citizens for our country. One man united us in a common cause, and for me I will take that inspiration and keep on working.
The ever brilliant Scarborough and Nora just pronounced that Cheney is no longer the major influence in the WH.
So the WH story line is: (1) we got rid of Rumsfield; (2) Cheney is not the decider (3) Realists will be listened to. Therefore, all is fine now.
They are still lying, and Rove is still there, trying to control the story.
Woooooohoooooo!
On to Virginia! I’m pleased to think my ancestral state (my dad’s side goes back to 18th c. Va and WVa) will put us in control for sure!
Jane, Christy, TRex, Pach, and everybody else - you rock, rock, rock. Much like TRex said in Late Night - finding FDL gave me hope early this year after years of despair. Jane’s alerting us to Ned Lamont gave me more hope - and his victory in the primary gave me permission to hope some more. I’m truly sad he seems to have lost this election, but it’s true that CT primary got everything else started. Certainly for me, and I think history will judge it that way, too.
My health let me down again recently and I couldn’t block walk or phone bank (and yeah, my local district don quixote, John Courage, lost to a long-term incumbent), but I wrote, emailed, and donated small amounts to as many BlueAmerica folks as I could.
None of that would have happened without FDL. I admire you all so much!
46% of a district that only has a 32% Dem registration voted for Charlie yesterday. This district not only NEEDS him… They WANT him. They just don’t all know it yet! :)
Nate @ 57
Keep me on your list of supporters.
“Blue America, Fuck Yeah!”
best money i ever spent.
egregious @ 55
It started this morning, at the press conference.
Nate @ 57
I have the same hopes for my guy in the MI-08. Just waiting for the special election.
Ok: a coup a day keeps the goopers at bay; But two so far — now they’ll all go away!
FDL is the epicenter of the biggest political earthquake since 1776. King George messes in his bed…again.
Wet clean-up aisle 1600.
Oh Thank You Ladies of the Lake!!! Your Fired O’Glakes have done their culling work artfully!
:~}
egregious @ 54
YOU! are! the man! (the muffin man, from what I understand). I gladly, happily and with great glee, bow to your glory!
Limbaugh just admitted that he’s been lying in order to support the Republicans and he’s happy he doesn’t have to lie anymore.
That argument, while seemingly bizarre, probably makes sense to the lizard brain ditto heads in his audience. :)
Nate @ 52
It’s more like his leadership role is stepping down from him thanks to American voters.
This country gained so much from Dean’s apparent loss in ‘03. Today would never have happened without it. (btw, don’t forget Dean’s connections to Lamont, either).
Many times I heard him say that the American people eventually get it right. or usually get it right.
It’s been Karmageddon, allright.
Unless something freaky goes on with provisional ballots or the likely recount, Webb definitely has VA.
Of the 3 precincts that show as not reporting, only one appears to be a real precinct: Raynor Precinct in Isle of Wight county. In the 2005 governor race it only had 177 votes total. If it keeps the same 53-43 Republican split, that only gives Allen one or two dozen votes against a lead of seven thousand for Webb.
The other two precincts are in James City, and appear to be procedural. One spare absentee precinct, and one blank double of a precinct already listed. I don’t know why they’re there, but in 2005 they both registered no votes.
Isle of Wight 2006
Isle of Wight 2005
James City County 2006
James City County 2005
Think they bail on the Allen recount since it will show what they did with the robocalls, and other voting problems? In other words going into the recount means they expose anything they were counting on not coming out until he was re-elected?
gleex @ 72
Tricky. Without Macaca they lose Congress altogether. They’ll fight it as hard as they can, IMO.
scarecrow @ 59
And the new replacement for Rumsfeld is both CIA and Iran-Contra. I think he was selected in part to help keep the involvement of Hadley and the others in the illegal buildup to the Iraw war under wraps. AND he may have been chosen to lead the drive for a possible Iran move (he knows from Iran and secrets remember?). Now Bush - and his war cronies - is beholden to no one now, and there are always unforeseen things that happen that could precipitate engagement.
scarecrow @ 59
That’s a good point. This idea that 6 years of bitter Bush partisanship and an Iraq policy that has been a disaster for 3 1/2 years can be undone overnight with a single resignation just goes to show how numbingly mindless the corporate media is. If they think a wave of the wand will fix everything, they live in the same fantasyland as Bush.
Falling back on more of the Iran Contra / Desert Storm cons who lead us into this insanity in the first place is not change, just window dressing.
Millineryman @ 58
Thank you for your hard work, Millineryman. I wish I could have joined you in CT. I think you’re assessment is correct. Dean and Lamont changed the conversation in 2004 and 2006, and come 2007 we must begin to bring the troops home, for their sakes, for the sake of the Iraqis, and for the sake of the world.
I did some volunteering for Linda Stender in NJ-07. She came closer than anybody did in defeating an incumbent NJ Congresscritter this year, and she’s talking about continuing the fight for 2008. I’ll be there to help.
Me, I’m happy about the House and Speaker Pelosi, but I’m thrilled about the Senate and the prospect of Judiciary Committee hearings that Chairman Leahy will have. And I’m cautiously optimistic that Harry Reid won’t give Holy Joe any meaningful assignments.
Time says Hastert is giving up his leadership position in the party. He’s not resigning from the House. The article does say he’s long said he won’t seek reelection in 08.
Millineryman @ 58
Absolutely. Ned refocused the entire race and made the entire country wake up and take notice long before the national election. He helped shape the direction of this race.
And we also have Dean to thank. He was dead-right with his strategy and Emanuel dead-wrong.
Ned lost a battle, but we all won the war.
This is from a Glenn Greenwald post. All of it is perceptive, but especially the last paragraph. Stop worrying about alleged genuises and machinations, keep your focus on getting the real issues out, which is why Dem’s won.
bbuster:
“It’s been Karmageddon, allright.”
Ooh, good one.
From Drudge
“Next shoe to fall in Bush WH: John Bolton as US-UN ambassador?… Developing…”
Yosemite Sam to take a bullet?
Sparkles the Iguana @
38
He appears on Countdown.
Imagine how many GOP $millions were spent in Ct. and what that might have done elsewhere.
T- @ 82
Wasn’t his appointment due to expire anyway, given that he can’t get confirmed by the Senate?
It’s important to remember that Hastert was chosen by Tom Delay mostly for his ability not to get in the way of Delay’s dealings. With Delay gone, Hastert had no one left to shill for. Unlike Delay, he was never able to lead House Republicans effectively, in their criminal enterprises or in anything else.
Small update from VA site:
Webb lead now up to 7,325 votes (was 7,286).
T- @ 82
How good is this rumor? If true, I need to break out the *good* scotch.
Hugh @ 86
He jammed the Medicare bill through pretty effectively.
Nate I just sent you a little Elections thank you. Keep up the good work. Love the video interviews, you’ve got a real talent going.
Phil @ 84
Lieberman insurance policy, good for wind damage, not floods.
Wonder what kind of day Mitch MConnell and Trent lott are having?
hola, peeps. don’t know if this made the rounds yet, but it pretty much sums up how I feel. Via Sir Oolius, over at Coerelus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....&eurl=
I love Montana!
Alert: on NPR Talk of the Nation: Patrick Leahy, right now. Ike Skelton (sooon-to-be-chairman — like the sound of that).
on WaPo live onlne - Dan Froomkin.
It’s drudge, they usually use him for trial balloons and soft landings.
CityGirl @ 26
The house of Republican hypocrisy and spoils-based loyalties is collapsing, and now it’s a fight for personal survival amongst various Republican gangs. Who will throw whom under the bus next? The Bushies could very well be blaming (at least partially) Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, especially in Missouri - so how deliciously ironic is it that Limbaugh - the ULTIMATE Bush apologist - blames them.
Dem leaders would do well to 1) stand above and out of the way of this party imlosion and let them mutiny against each other (a la Seinfeld: “ah, that’s a shame”) while 2) offering a clear set of positive priorities and leadership that inspire an authentic and truer unity/common-ground.
In an environment in which the political culture is finally being reshaped/redefined and Republicans’ true colors are showing (to more people than just us), the Dems have a great opportunity to define themselves well. I’ve never been so hopeful about this in my life.
Bring on Speaker Pelosi!
What a day!
beard5 @ 88
Uhhhggg, did that last night. Now I have to break out the *good* Tylenol.
I wasn’t gonna drink until the checkered flag waved, but tonight I can!
Yay, Tester! Not just any ole Dem, but a hopefully independent one.
6 and 28, egregious? Much better than my wishy-washy 4 or 5 and 24.
prostratedragon @ 100
I still stand by my 435/100.
scarecrow @
59
That would be my guess. Rumsfeld’s departure probably does mean that Cheney is less influential, but who let him be influential in the first place? The same people are in power, and they haven’t done a thing yet that they weren’t forced to do. If they were really interested in helping the Republican party, in fact, they probably would have fired Rummy a couple of months before the election.
Both the timing and futility of this move suggest that the same people who have brought us a six-year long string of futile and ill-timed decisions is still in charge.
scarecrow 59
Did you happen to catch chimpy’s presser a lil’ while ago?
In between whining, pity-me-blabberings & limp jokes, Jr actually took one of his patented nasty little swipes at Rover, of all people, essentially blaming him for the election outcome.
oooooooooo trubble in the bubble? oh it be!
Hugh @ 75
I thought Bush’s presser was a clear signal that this is more spin than accepting reality. He went out of his way to suggest that the country has real problems that need bipartisan efforts, as though the problem the country has had for 6 years is Dems refusing to work with the him and his party and put the nation’s interestes first — the reality is that Rove’s strategy through the last three elections has been an in-your-face, no compromise exclusionary policy based on the theory that if you hold your radical rightwing base, shut out the awake Dems, and lie to those in between, you could win. Well, they lost using that approach, but they have not yet accepted the lesson.
The Bush regime has been as arrogant and non-bipartisan as we’ve seen in our lifetimes, but he’s trying to make it appear that if only those liberal Pelosi-ites would cooperate a little, the country could move forward. Then he said we need to work together on entitlement programs — the precise set of issues on which compromise with this Administration has always been impossible and on which the Administration did everything they could to (1) freeze out the Dems on all discussions and (2) use people like Lieberman to give them cover.
There is nothing honest going on here.
Chimpy is terrified - believe it.
Sparkles the Iguana @ 89
Medicare Part D was passed in the House on November 22, 2003 at 6 AM by a vote of 220-215 after the vote was held open for 3 hours, something of a record. Delay was not indicted in Texas until 2005.
Twisted Martini @ 99
One Scotch, one Bourbon, one Beer.
Add some Good Ol’ Grateful Dead.
Spin. When in doubt, spin.
Adie @ 103
Jeff Gannon will be called to the WH tonight to do some serious massaging. ;-/
CityGirl @ 26
Hey Rush, thanks for carrying all that water for Sen Talent. How’s the back?
Richmond @ 108
Ted Haggard will be there for that one.
egregious @ 90
I just got the email egregious… Thank you so much. You are a sea breeze in my sails!
Daniel Ortega has been reelected in Nicaragua, looks like they’re bringning Bob Gates back just i the Nick O’Time!
Excellent planning…wrong war. [/snark off]
White House Caught Doctoring “Mission Accomplished” Video
Balrog @ 110
My 3-point reaction on the Rumsfeld firing resignation and Gates designation, besi