Future Headlines - Part 2

Landslide Victory for Republicans

(AP) Washington, DC - November 8, 2006

Confirming all the late polling before election day, Republicans won big across the country in yesterday’s elections. President Bush called the results, “a clear message from the American people,” and suggested that the new majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate would allow him to make progress on his second term agenda which had seemed hopelessly stalled prior to the recent September 11th terrorist attack. “The American public clearly wants an administration that has the determination to make the difficult decisions that must be made in these difficult times,” the President stated in a post-election press conference.

Early in the night it was clear that Republicans were going to win several key races, but once all the votes had been counted, Republican candidates not only came out on top in the races that polls had predicted, but in numerous upsets across the nation as well. Republicans gained 9 new seats in the Senate giving the party a 63-36-1 majority in that body – a filibuster proof margin. Republicans won seats in Maryland, Minnesota and Hawaii where Democratic incumbents had retired and picked up seats in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Florida where all polls had predicted they would win. In Florida, Democratic incumbent Senator Nelson was easily beaten by Katherine Harris in a race that the Republican party spent a record amount of money to ensure victory. But Republican candidates also upset popular Democratic incumbents in Michigan and North Dakota, and won the special election for a second Senate seat in Michigan that was required after Senator Levin (D) from that State died of a heart attack six months ago.

In the House, Republicans gained 26 new seats bringing their majority in that body to a dominating 258 seats to Democrat’s 177 seats….

Conservative voices from bloggers to leaders of right-wing political organizations were quick to celebrate their victory and to begin planning a course of action awaiting the inauguration of the new Senators and Representatives in January. Donald E. Wildmon, Chairman of the American Family Associates, is quoted as saying, “this is a tremendous victory for all Americans who cherish traditional family values. The message is loud and clear, the American people want this country led back to the strong, conservative values that made this country the super power that it is.” Reverend Louis Sheldon leader of the Traditional Values Coalition was even more pointed, “elected leaders across this country, from President Bush right on down to the local level, need to take note today, the American people demand a return to the conservative Christian values and principles that this nation was founded on. We expect the nomination of staunch conservatives to the courts of this nation. We demand a Constitutional amendment protecting families and marriage which have come under attack from the liberal left. We expect Congress and the Courts to begin protecting the rights of good, Christian people to express and practice their religion in this nation that was founded by and for God fearing Christians. We have spoken, and we will not be ignored!” The Reverend went on to say….

Most analysts attribute the massive Republican victory in yesterday’s election to a shift in public opinion following the terrorist nuclear bombing of New York City less than two months ago. Prior to the attack, polls indicated that any political shift in Congress was most likely to be a moderate shift to the left. Polls suggested widespread dissatisfaction with the sluggish economy and the continuing conflict in Iraq. In March of this year, President’s Bush’s approval rating hit an all time low with only 43% of the American public approving of Bush’s performance in office. But those numbers swung sharply in the other direction immediately following the terror attack in New York….


See also: Part 1