http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/election2006/ en-us Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:34:26 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2233591/posts The economic crisis, which has claimed more than 5 million jobs since the recession began, did not strike the entire country at once. A map of employment gains or losses by county tells the story of how those job losses first struck in the most vulnerable regions and then spread rapidly to the rest of the country. As early as August 2007, for example—several months before the recession officially began—jobs were already on the decline in southwest Florida; Orange County, Calif.; much of New Jersey; and Detroit, while other areas of the country remained on the uptick. Using the Labor... Slate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2233591/posts#comment Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:34:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043877/posts HARRISBURG -- Grand jurors here and in Pittsburgh cataloged what they described as a culture of corruption that allowed former state Rep. Michael Veon, current Rep. Sean Ramaley and 10 current and former Democratic staffers to divert millions of dollars in state resources, including more than $1 million in illegal pay bonuses. The jurors said Mr. Veon and the staff members conspired to arrange hefty year-end pay bonuses to House employees who worked on political campaigns over a three-year period, while Mr. Ramaley is accused of working full-time on his 2004 House campaign in Beaver County while drawing a taxpayer... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043877/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:35:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1930215/posts There is quite a lot of interesting, but wild, speculation running around the blog-o-sphere, progressive circles and just plain dinner conversation these days about whether BushCo will allow a peaceful and constitutional transfer of Executive power in the ’08 elections. Unless or until George Bush appears on our TV boxes one night, wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and red tie with his hands sweatily clasped in a desperate death grip on top of his desk in the Oval Office, telling us that some catastrophic event, whether man-made or natural, has just occurred somewhere, and he must, for the... Cindy Sheehan for Congress Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1930215/posts#comment Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:02:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859483/posts With the Senate immigration bill dead and buried, political activists say their next battle will be at the ballot box, where Republicans risk losing hard-earned votes among Hispanic immigrants. Lawmakers dealt a lethal blow to the immigration bill Thursday, making it highly unlikely Congress will enact any broad changes in immigration law until well after the presidential election in 2008. As policy analysts study the fallout, some say the defeat could prompt immigrants — the nation's fastest growing group of new voters — to swing toward Democratic candidates. Democrats could gain more Hispanic voters, who make up the nation's largest... South Florida Sun-Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859483/posts#comment Mon, 2 Jul 2007 08:59:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1855667/posts Elizabeth Edwards received thunderous applause during a speech in San Francisco as part of Sunday’s Gay Pride celebration. Elizabeth Edwards, wife of 2008 presidential candidate former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, advocated her husband’s democratic campaign and addressed issues pertaining to poverty, the U.S. involvement in the Iraq war and lesbian and gay rights, among other topics. As members of the audience held up John Edwards campaign posters, Elizabeth Edwards conveyed her and her husband’s beliefs regarding one of the most important issues to many San Franciscans: the rights of gay and lesbian American citizens. “Everyone should have the same rights... CBS 5 / BCN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1855667/posts#comment Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:31:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839583/posts Laura Belin plans to take her kids to a Memorial Day parade Monday. But there, at the urging of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, the mom from suburban Des Moines, Iowa, expects to join others protesting the war in Iraq. "Everyone knows that we're going to have to start getting our troops out," says Belin, 38. "And we need to start getting them out now." Edwards has called on Americans to "honor the memory of the fallen by acting ... to end the war and bring (U.S. troops) home." He's also asking people to honor troops with prayer or even... The Chrlotte Observor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839583/posts#comment Fri, 25 May 2007 10:57:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834793/posts A NEW REPORT from the centrist group Third Way complicates one's understanding of the 2006 midterm elections. There are already several competing theories of why last Election Day turned out the way it did. The storyline popular on liberal blogs is that in 2006 Democrats were true to liberal principles, fought back against the Bush machine, opposed the war in Iraq, and as a result the electorate woke up and took Congress away from the GOP.Another storyline that's popular among conservatives says Republicans lost control of both Houses for the first time since 1994 because the party strayed from the... The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834793/posts#comment Wed, 16 May 2007 23:06:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737093/posts On Election Day 2006, American voters did almost exactly what history would predict: giving a president in the sixth year of his administration a serious smackdown, as an electorate wary of politicians and parties hedged its bets and chose a divided government. Since World War II, the parties that controlled the White House for two terms have lost an average of 29 House seats and six Senate seats in their second midterm elections. This election fits tidily into that pattern. President Bush bucked another ubiquitous trap of modern presidents when he actually picked up Congressional seats for his party in... CBSNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737093/posts#comment Sun, 12 Nov 2006 01:19:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1764451/posts Republicans and President George W. Bush took a licking in the November 7 midterm election. The Democrats are now in charge of both houses--for the first time in 12 years. In the aftermath of the election, I listened to black talk shows, read emails I received from black organizations, and read newspaper columns written by black commentators. One point was very clear. They cared little for what blacks were going to get out of this Republican defeat. The mission for this election seemed to have been, "just keep the Republicans out of office." ----snip---- While other racial and ethnic groups... The New Coalition http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1764451/posts#comment Tue, 9 Jan 2007 02:13:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755154/posts Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from California, has big, expensive plans for commemorating her ascension to the head of the “People’s House” in early January. Indeed, the bug-eyed lady from San Francisco has slated a four-day gala of pomp and circumstance that will make the installation of Pope Benedict XVI by the Vatican seem absolutely skimpy by comparison. To begin with, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Labor Council delegation of 50 people will be jetting back East to participate in the first coronation of a queen in American history—excepting only the first swearing-in ceremony for Barney Frank several years... Canada Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755154/posts#comment Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:50:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755070/posts Young Voter Strategies - http://www.youngvoterstrategies.org/ New Lake-Goeas Poll Analysis Shows Iraq, Pocketbook Issues & Candidate Contact Spurred Large 2006 Youth Vote FKey Democratic support from young African-Americans, Hispanics, women; Strong Republican support from married and religious youthFor Immediate Release: December 14, 2006Contacts: Kathleen Barr, Young Voter Strategies, Phone: 202-994-9528, katbarr@gwu.eduAmber Moore, CIRCLE, Phone: 703-276-2772 x17, amber@tricomassociates.com Washington, D.C. –The war in Iraq, education, the economy, and health care were the primary issues driving young voters in 2006, as well as an overall desire for a change in the governing country’s direction, according to a new analysis of Young Voter Strategies’... Young Voter Strategies http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755070/posts#comment Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:18:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1755013/posts Participation climbs for second straight major election; 18-29s vote for Democrats by 22-point margin Washington DC - Nov. 08, 2006 Young voters turned out to vote in higher numbers and favored Democrats by a wide margin, according to exit polls, providing a major boost to Democratic candidates in yesterday’s House and Senate elections. The 2006 turnout increase follows on the unprecedented 2004 youth turnout and provides further evidence that the new generation coming of age today is more engaged than young voters in recent decades. Exit polls on CNN’s website confirm that young voters increased their share of the electorate... rockthevote.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1755013/posts#comment Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:12:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752319/posts Democratic campaign operatives pushed newspapers to write about then-Rep. Mark Foley's e-mails to teenage pages in the hope that a scandal would emerge before the midterm elections, according to a House ethics report. The findings were bolstered when an aide to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Democrat, said the congressman also knew about the e-mails, which were dubbed "inappropriate" by the ethics panel. Mr. Emanuel, who was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) when Mr. Foley's sex scandal broke in late September, had denied knowledge of the Florida Republican's e-mails. The House ethics panel, which is formally called the... Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752319/posts#comment Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:17:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752192/posts  Imagine for a moment that a sex scandal involving pages had forced a Democrat Congressman holding a safe seat to resign in disgrace weeks before crucial midterm elections, while also reflecting badly on other members of his Party in tight races across the country. A month after the votes had been tallied, and the Democrats had surrendered control of both chambers of Congress in a stunning defeat, a House ethics panel released a report on the subject containing the following information: The leaks to the press concerning this matter had come from the communications director for the House Republican Caucus ... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752192/posts#comment Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:39:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752126/posts Our view: In Arizona and nationwide, voters rejected rigid ideologues in favor of those who promised moderation, dialogue. The picture that emerged from last month's elections, at both the state and the federal level, showed a majority of voters weary of hard-line, intransigent ideologues on the far right. We know that, because voters turned both houses of Congress over to the Democrats and for the first time in many years gave Democrats 27 of the 60 seats seats in the Arizona House of Representatives. They also re-elected Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, giving her a 27 percentage point victory over her... Arizona Daily Star http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752126/posts#comment Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:06:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1743189/posts Happy Thanksgiving. It’s a glorious morning here in the heart of Jesusland, and our home is the center of an extended family gathering. The love of family and friends, things which give our lives pleasure and meaning, are found in great abundance today. We have much to be grateful for, indeed. And even though Michael Moore is of the opinion that our country is now in the hands of the Left, we take great comfort in knowing that the fate of our nation is in the hands of a much higher Power. Last week, Mr. Moore extended an olive branch... Nuke's news and views http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1743189/posts#comment Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:40:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1742690/posts A runoff between Republican U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla and his Democratic challenger will be held Dec. 12, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday. Bonilla finished with 49 percent of the vote in the Nov. 7 special election. He will face former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, who got about 20 percent of the vote. Early voting will begin Dec. 4. Eight candidates participated in the special election that was called after the U.S. Supreme Court found a portion of the congressional district boundaries unconstitutional. Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1742690/posts#comment Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:52:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741940/posts Election Day 2006 was a bad day for the Republican Party. But it could have been much, much worse. My estimate of the House vote (calculated by summing up all current totals reported by the media and projecting the vote totals of the Democrats and Republicans who were uncontested) indicates that the two-party vote was approximately 54% D to 46% R. This would mark a 5.4% decrease in the GOP's share of the two-party vote from 2004. The final two-party vote result was almost a perfect inverse of the 1994 result. This estimate is very similar to the one that... RealClearPolitics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741940/posts#comment Tue, 21 Nov 2006 05:35:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741674/posts Jennings wastes no time in contesting her defeat in District 13 election DUANE MARSTELLER Herald Staff Writer MANATEE - Barely two hours after the state certified the 13th Congressional District election results this morning, losing candidate Christine Jennings challenged them in court. Jennings' lawyers contested the results in Leon County Circuit Court, contending a software glitch in Sarasota County's touch-screen voting machines caused them to miss thousands of votes cast in the race. "This is a miscarriage of the democratic process," Jennings' lead attorney, Kendall Coffey, said at a news conference in Tallahassee. The challenge was filed at about 11... Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741674/posts#comment Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:02:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741473/posts  In 1992, Bill Clinton campaigned for president by promising tax cuts for the middle class. Fourteen years later, his Party ran on a similar “tell the people exactly what they want to hear” motif, this time the mantra being a speedy withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Though separated by almost a decade and a half, these campaign strategies were quite similar to a now illegal marketing scheme called a bait and switch – whereby a company advertises a product for sale at a cheap price to lure in customers. Unfortunately, the organization’s retail outlets don’t actually have the item... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1741473/posts#comment Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:55:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739793/posts It looks like full steam ahead for a significant boost to the federal minimum wage when Democrats assume control of Congress in January. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said Thursday that increasing the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 would be his top priority as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. On the House side, incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., already has listed an increase in the minimum wage as one of the issues that would be taken up during the first 100 hours of the next Congress. "Americans are working harder than ever,... AP via Newsday http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739793/posts#comment Thu, 16 Nov 2006 19:10:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739551/posts In Birmingham they love the governor. And in Mobile and Huntsville, too. As Republicans coast to coast were burying their many political dead, a Republican governor once given up for dead was enjoying a landslide victory. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley was re-elected last week, beating long-popular Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley with more than 58% of the vote, including an impressive 20% of the black vote. His victory was not simply the result of Alabama being a Republican state: Democrats won the two next most prominent statewide races, those for lieutenant governor and Supreme Court chief justice. In Alabama as elsewhere,... Opinion Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739551/posts#comment Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:35:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739261/posts Republicans grumble that President George W. Bush was about six weeks too late in sacking Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of Defense from the standpoint of affecting the election. Since the word from the White House is that Rumsfeld was going to go no matter what the outcome of the election, why was he not dropped earlier? Robert Gates seems a peculiar choice for the Pentagon. At CIA, he always was antagonistic to the intelligence operations at the Pentagon. As a CIA careerist on the analytical rather than the operational side, he was not close to military operations. The White House... Human Events http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739261/posts#comment Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:23:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738779/posts George W. Bush, who led the Republicans and conservatives to three straight electoral victories, who won the White House against an incumbent Democratic administration, who rallied this nation after 9/11, and removed two oppressive regimes in Aghanistan and Iraq, is suddenly responsible for all that ails the nation. This is no surprise to those of you who have been listening to the Democrats for six years, but now we have the Republicans and conservatives joining the chorus, the same folks who once celebrated the President as the next Churchill. I have something to say to Joe Scarborough, Rush Limbaugh, Newt... Intellectual Conservative http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738779/posts#comment Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:28:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1738176/posts Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope that the carnage experienced last night leaves a very bitter taste in your mouths and that you awaken this morning wiser than when you went to bed. The American people have spoken and they have chosen a new direction not because the Democrats offer anything better but because you failed to offer leadership. People crave leadership and if they do not get it they will latch on to the first person or group they think offers it. Germans craved leadership so badly they elected Hitler to lead them because there was no one who stood... Big Dog's Weblog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1738176/posts#comment Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:49:37 GMT