I've had a very hard week but today brought several pieces of good news to lighten my disposition a little. First off it seems that the last of the Senate races have been called and we now have a completely blue Congress. The coming resignation of Donald Rumsfeld was the icing on the cake.
I'll be busy with family matters for most of tomorrow and Friday so blogging will be at a minimum.
By know almost everyone knows the election results and about the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld. I've already seen dozens of stories about each. But between those stories was this little gem, Dennis Hastert won't run for minority leader. This seems to set the stage for John Boehner of Ohio to run if the report turns out to be true.
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert told fellow Republican lawmakers Wednesday he does not intend to run for minority leader when Democrats take control of the House in January, party officials said.
Source: Officials: Hastert won’t run for minority leader - Politics - MSNBC.com
MSNBC is reporting that Donald Rumsfeld will step down.
Update (1:11PM): President Bush confirmed this .
This just popped up in my email.
In Victory, Space Reasserts That He Will Bring Change to 18th Congressional District, Change to Washington
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH – Asserting that today's election results represent an opportunity for Ohioans to take back their government, newly-elected 18th District Congressman Zack Space (D-OH) promised tonight that he would be an agent of change in Washington, DC. Polls showed that Space captured 61% of the vote, while opponent Joy Padgett had 39% of the vote.
"I commend Joy Padgett for her dedication to the people of Ohio and I look forward to working with her in the future benefit the citizens of the 18th district," said Space
"Right now, we are at a crossroads in the future of our country, and tonight's results indicate that we are taking steps down the right road," said Space. "The people of the 18th District have heard my call over the last 11 months that Washington is broken – and they have responded.
"Their votes today represent a vote for reforming Washington and reforming a process that has seen the fundamental needs of our people placed far behind the needs of big oil and pharmaceutical companies. Voters today have asked to me to be the vehicle of change, and in my role as their new Congressman, I will do everything possible to carry out their wishes.
"I give my promise that I will work with anyone – Democrat or Republican – who shares my convictions that our families must no longer have to wait for help.
Space reiterated his allegiance to the Ethics Pledge that has been the cornerstone of this campaign. Unlike his predecessor, Space promised not to take gifts, trips, and meals from lobbyists. Space called his pledge a contract between him and the people that will put the hardworking families of the 18th district first.
"This is going to be an enormous challenge, but I welcome it," said Space. "Tonight may mark the end of a hard-fought campaign, but it is also represents the beginning of a new era, a era in which our government will once again work for us, not the special interests."
Now Joy Padgett can go back into the hole she crawled out from.
MSNBC is calling the House of Representatives for the Democrats as well as victories for Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown.
I most likely won't be blogging tomorrow or the rest of the week due to a death in the family.
These last few months have been amazing. After swearing off of politics in 2004 I've pulled myself back into the fray and gotten more involved then I ever have before. This has been a life changing experience and I would be a fool to give it up now. Left of Ohio will continue on, though now I'd like to throw in more local issues while still keeping an eye on the rest of the state. I'm not really sure exactly what will happen though, just that I'll still be around.
For now though I'd like to take a chance to thank everyone who's contacted me, left a comment, linked here, or read this site. I'd also like to extend my thanks to all the Ohio blogger's for all your hard work. I've enjoyed reading through most of the Democratic leaning ones and I hope most of you keep going past the election. Don't forget that the 2008 campaign starts on Wednesday.
The Fix, a Washington Post blog, has a top ten up of the "The Worst Challengers of Campaign 2006". It list , in alphabetical order, the worst challengers for open seats in this election season. Ohio had the honor of being the only state to be mentioned twice. First we have my least favorite candidate of the year.
Joy Padgett (R-Ohio): When running to replace a scandal-tarred incumbent, it's best to have a squeaky clean record in your own personal and professional life. Padgett, a state senator chosen to replace former Rep. Bob Ney (R) on the ballot in Ohio's 18th District, didn't exactly fit the bill. After a solid start to her shortened campaign, Padgett came under considerable scrutiny over a series of financial dealings that included filing for bankruptcy and defaulting on a $700,000 loan. "The bankruptcy has become the sole issue," Padgett said recently. In other words, it's all over.
Followed by Mr. NAMBLA himself.
Ken Blackwell (R-Ohio): Given the toxic political environment for Republicans in Ohio, it's not likely Blackwell would have have won even if he had run a perfect campaign. We'll never know. Blackwell demonstrated considerable political acumen in the Republican primary in which he effectively cast his opponent as a tool of outgoing -- and grossly unpopular -- Gov. Bob Taft (R). But Blackwell could never find an effective line of attack against Rep. Ted Strickland (D). Blackwell chose to highlight his conservative social positions, a strategy that failed to resonate this year with Ohio voters disgruntled about the direction of the country and the war in Iraq.
See the full list here.
RSS
