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Democrats Seize Control of House in Widespread Voter Rejection
of President Bush and Iraq War, Senate Hangs on Virginia and
Montana
Minnesota Legislator Keith Ellison Becomes First Muslim Elected
to Congress
Vermont's Bernie Sanders Becomes First Socialist Elected
to U.S. Senate
Ralph Nader on Conservative Democrats, Corporate Power and
the Middle East
Record 200 Ballot Initiatives Include Abortion, Gay Marriage,
Affirmative Action, and Minimum Wage Measures
The Midterm Elections: An Iraqi Perspective
Democrats Seize Control of House in Widespread Voter
Rejection of President Bush and Iraq War, Senate Hangs on
Virginia and Montana
The Democrats have seized control of the House for the first
time in 12 years and could also take control of the Senate
if they hold on to win two tight races in Montana and Virginia.
Tuesday's election marked a major defeat for the Bush administration
and its Iraq war policy. [includes rush
transcript]
The Democrats have seized control of the House for the first
time in 12 years and could also take control of the Senate
if they hold on to win two tight races in Montana and Virginia.
Tuesday's election marked a major defeat for the Bush administration
and its Iraq war policy.
As the Democrats take control of the House, California Congresswoman
Nancy Pelosi is set to become the country's first female House
speaker. Last night she spoke to supporters in Washington.
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D - CA), speaking at Democratic victory
rally, November 7th, 2006.
Minnesota Legislator Keith Ellison Becomes First
Muslim Elected to Congress
As the Democrats take control of the House for the first
time in 12 years, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi is set to become
the country's first female House speaker. Tuesday was a day
of others firsts across the country. Among them, Minnesota
Democrat Keith Ellison was elected as the first Muslim to
serve in Congress. He is also the first person of color from
Minnesota to be elected Congress. Ellison joins us on the
line from Minneapolis. [includes rush
transcript]
Tuesday was a day of 'firsts' across the country. In Massachusetts
Deval Patrick became the state's first African-American governor.
He is only the second elected Black governor in the nation's
history. In Vermont, Bernie Sanders became the first self-described
Socialist to win a U.S. Senate seat. And in Minnesota, Democrat
Keith Ellison was elected as the first Muslim to serve in
Congress.
- Keith Ellison, Minnesota state legislator who won the
Congressional race in the state's fifth district making
him the first Muslim member of Congress.
Vermont's Bernie Sanders Becomes First Socialist
Elected to U.S. Senate
In Vermont, Bernie Sanders to become the country's first
self-described socialist to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Running as an independent, Sanders won 65% of the vote, easily
beating his Republican opponent Rich Tarrant. We speak with
Sanders about what it means to the country's first socialist
senator. [includes rush
transcript]
In Vermont, voters have elected Bernie Sanders to become
the country's first self-described socialist to be elected
to the U.S. Senate.
Running as an independent, Sanders won 65 percent of the
vote, easily beating his Republican opponent Rich Tarrant
who is one Vermont's wealthiest residents. Sanders will replace
fellow independent Jim Jeffords in the Senate. For the past
16 years, Sanders has served as Vermont's sole member in the
House.
On Tuesday, voters in Vermont also elected Democrat Peter
Welch to fill Sanders' seat in Congress.
This past week I talked with Bernie Sanders in Vermont. I
asked him what it meant to be the first socialist senator.
- Bernie Sanders, elected to U.S. Senate in Vermont on
an independent ticket.
Ralph Nader on Conservative Democrats, Corporate
Power and the Middle East
We get analysis on Tuesday's election and the Democratic
victory in the House with consumer advocate and former presidential
candidate, Ralph Nader. Nader says, "This election was
basically a mandateless election for the Democrats, there
was really no mandate other than against Bush and do something
about Iraq. Domestically there was virtually no mandate about
rearranging of power - shifting it from corporations to workers,
consumers, taxpayers, to communities." [includes rush
transcript]
When the 110th Congress convenes on January 3, Nancy Pelosi
will become Speaker of the House and Democrats will take control
of all of the House committees.
John Conyers of Michigan will become chair of the House Judiciary
Committee. Charles Rangel of New York will head the Ways and
Means Committee. Henry Waxman of California will become chair
of the House Government Reform Committee.
Last night Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, head of the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee, vowed reforms would be in
order.
- Rahm Emanuel (D - IL), speaking at Democratic victory
rally, November 7th, 2006.
For analysis on Tuesday's election and the Democratic victory
in the House, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate
Ralph Nader joins us in Washington.
- Ralph Nader, ran for president in 2000 as a candidate
on the Green Party ticket. In 2004 he ran for President
as an Independent. He is the author of many books including
"The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence and Close
the Democracy Gap."
Record 200 Ballot Initiatives Include Abortion, Gay
Marriage, Affirmative Action, and Minimum Wage Measures
In addition to the closely watched House and Senate races,
200 ballot initiatives were decided across the country on
Tuesday. Among them, in South Dakota voters rejected a ballot
measure that would have banned nearly all abortions in the
state. Voters in Missouri approved a measure backing stem
cell research. We discuss some of the state-wide ballot initiatives
with the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy
Center. [includes rush
transcript]
In addition to the closely watched House and Senate races,
200 ballot initiatives were decided across the country on
Tuesday. In South Dakota voters rejected a ballot measure
that would have banned nearly all abortions in the state.
Voters in Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research.
Seven states passed bans on same sex marriage. In Arizona,
voters rejected a ban on gay marriage but approved making
English the state’s official language. Five states approved
minimum wage increases. Michigan also passed a measure banning
some types of affirmative action. We’ll have more on
the ballot initiatives later in the show. To discuss these
ballot initiatives, Kristina Wilfore joins us in Washington.
She is the Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy
Center.
- Kristina Wilfore, Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative
Strategy Center.
The Midterm Elections: An Iraqi Perspective
Election polls showed Iraq as the top issue on the minds
of American voters. For an Iraqi perspective, we speak with
Iraqi blogger and architect Raed Jarrar. [includes rush
transcript]
The Financial Times is reporting that the Bush administration
has told Iraqi leaders that there will not be any dramatic
changes in its Iraq policy despite Tuesday’s elections.
According to the US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, President Bush
urged Iraqi leaders not to pay attention to what has been
said on the campaign trail and that the president remains
in charge of Iraq policy. However on Tuesday night Democrats
repeatedly criticized the President’s Iraq policy.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid: "America's come to
the conclusion, as we did months ago, that we must change
direction in Iraq. President Bush must listen. We must change
course in Iraq."
Raed Jarrar joins me now to talk more about the reaction
in Iraq to the election. Raed is an Iraqi blogger and architect
who now lives in the United States. He is the Iraq Project
Director for Global Exchange.
- Raed Jarrar. Iraqi blogger and architect. His blog is
called “Raed in the Middle.” Raed is Iraq Project
Director for Global Exchange and is currently on a cross-country
speaking
tour.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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