World Sees Vote As Bush Rebuke

Reaction To Midterm Election In Europe, Asia, Mideast: Bush Deserved It

(CBS/AP)  Strong Democratic gains in the U.S. elections were seen around the world as a potent rejection of the war in Iraq and the beginning of the end of Republican George W. Bush's presidency.

The Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives did not spark widespread fears of government paralysis in Washington, but some expected increasing pressure on Bush to alter course in Iraq and other policies.

The shift in power was also seen as a signal in some capitals that it was time to prepare for an eventual Democratic-led government, while others foresaw a greater emphasis on trade policy and human rights.

In Asia, across the Middle East and in Europe, the results were seen by many as a painful — and well-deserved — blow that left Bush significantly weakened for his remaining two years in office.

"Although his term will not end within the next year, I think Bush is already turning into a lame duck," Yuzo Yamamoto, 60, the manager of a Tokyo business consulting firm, said on Wednesday as the results emerged.

Amid widespread dissatisfaction with Bush, Democrats won control of the House and challenged Republican dominance in the Senate in midterm elections Tuesday. The next presidential election will be in November 2008.

As in the U.S., outside observers saw the bloodshed in Iraq as the major driving force behind the growing popularity of the Democrats. Anti-war sentiment was strong among Muslim countries and others such as France that opposed the Iraq invasion.

CBS News State Department reporter Charles Wolfson said that a Democratic win in either the House or the Senate — or both — would weaken Mr. Bush's leadership, and foreign leaders would take note.

"The calculus of foreign leaders everywhere will be to see weakness if the Democrats prevail and they'll act accordingly," said Wolfson, adding that Mr. Bush's weakness could add to the difficulty surrounding various pending international issues and negotiations.

CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick reports that the United States' Ambassador to Iraq was quick to come out Wednesday and tell the Iraqi people the election results wouldn't change the U.S. government's goal of defeating the bloody insurgency in their own country.

"Zalmay Khalilzad also said that President Bush will work with both houses of Congress with a mission to succeed," McCormick said.

Ambassador Khalilzad's reassurance may have fallen on largely disinterested ears however, given the response of some regular Iraqis to the election results.

McCormick says many of the people she spoke with seemed far more concerned with the many problems facing their own communities, and considered the Democrat's victory more of a U.S. domestic issue, unlikely to affect the reality on the ground in Iraq.

Several Iraqis did express hopes that the shift in power in Washington would bring a timetable for the withdraw of U.S. troops, and others told the Associated Press that they were just happy to see Mr. Bush party take a hit.

"Voters have punished the Republicans. They are not happy with the way the leadership has handled the Iraq war," said Chandra Muzaffar, president of the Malaysia-based think-tank, International Movement for a Just World.

Bush's foreign critics cheered in places including Vietnam — the site of an earlier American war in the 1960s and 70s — and Muslim-dominated countries.

"The Republicans lost in the election because the American voters are now fed up and bored with the war," said Vitaya Wisetrat, a prominent, anti-American Muslim cleric in Thailand. "The American people now realize that Bush is the big liar."

[joecsteelers]

American voters have made their decision, and I respect that. However, I would like to know how the Democrats are going to handle the war in Iraq? Sure, we all want a change (nobody wants another soldier to die in Iraq). But what are the Democrats offering? Are we going to cut and run now and send a message to the people of Iraq that we are going to abandon them? What message are we sending the terrorists? How are the Democrats going to protect my family from future terrorist attacks?

[rburse]

its time for change and the troops need to come home


Roshawn Burse
Official Website - http://www.rburse.com

[xccoach]

joecsteelers.

Just what good do you think the current policy was doing to address your points?

"What message are we sending the terrorists?"

How about we stop making more of them as it is now under the current policy. That would be a good start.

[sfgmaster]

@joecsteelers:
"Send a message to the people of Iraq that we are going to abandon them?" No, the message would be that we don't intend to occupy *their* country indefinitely, and that once we have helped *them* secure their country we are going to get out of *their* business. Possibly, whether they like it or not.

"What message are we sending the terrorists?" Probably, that even though our President is content to play their game and lose, we aren't. The American people are sick of playing Al-Qaeda's game and recruiting more and more footsoldiers for them.

"How are the Democrats going to protect my family from future terrorist attacks?" Possibly, by actually focusing on protecting the homeland from future terrorist attacks, instead of randomly picking fights with countries that (despite not being democracies) pose no threat to the US homeland. By not provoking the Muslim community until they believe that the US is a threat to *their* beliefs.

And, by actually reacting to the realities of the world climate instead of repeating emotionally-charged cliches like "Stay The Course" and "Don't Cut And Run" for five years. I would ask: If the policy of an administration is to try to control the public's opinion through fear and intimidation (i.e. "Do this or the Terrorists Win!"), isn't that the definition of terrorism? Haven't we become what we fear?

[tipicleman]

American voters HAVE made thier desision . . . as I see it nobody, even the Dems do not want to cut and run! Just make a change like get rid of Rumsfeld, change the course not stay the course, put haliburton under investigation, give the middle class a voice, and change the way the world now views us.

[grumpas]

It is amazing all the people who's main concern is what kind of message we are sending terrorist's?????? It's a sad day when you can't even guess! We are sending them a message that Democracy is alive and well in the US! We no longer represented by a single party (which isn't democracy at all but fascism) who didn't have a clue what democracy was let alone how to encourage it to spread the world over! I didn't exactly see terrorist's quaking in their boots when George and his cronies were in control! He did literally nothing joecsteeler to protect your family! If you would have opened your eyes and taken a good look, you and your family were on their own to protect themselves from terrorism! It was only a few months ago he signed a port bill that might protect us from nuclear devices possibly being smuggled into the country! But, you can see how high on George's list of priorities that was! It took him 5 years after 9/11! So, I don't know what people like you are really worried about? Terrorist's don't have to hit us again George is doing their job for them!

[joemuita]

victory for democrats changes very little American foreign policy.it might change the approach from a cowboy way of doing things to a more diplomatic approach but the fabric of American policy toward the rest of the world especially the middle east and developing world will remain the same. its a case of the more things change the more they remain the same.

[bluestardad]

The fix is on in Montana some of those counties have still not turned in any vote counts! Webb Beats Allen that is great. But otherwise a wonderful night! By By Texas Dicktater policies!

[tipicleman]

"victory for democrats changes very little American foreign policy. . ."

True, but, this election was supposed to be "local". We have sent a message to Bush. We are not happy with his arrogance and obstenance.

[jn122736]

joecsteelers


The democrats will not be handling the war in Iraq, that is the job of the president of the United States. Only bush and his advisers have access to classified information needed to make those decisions. However, the first for steps have now been made to change/improve the situation, the voters have finally taken some responsibility. The first change hopefully has also been made, because of the democratic take over of the house and perhaps the senate bush no longer enjoy his %u201Crubber stamp%u201D congress and will now have to listen to the advice and reasoning of his advisers.

[exusmcsgt]

This idiot and his cadre needed to be hamstrung. I am still incredulous that a majority of voters voted for him in the first place, much less a second time.

[mtngirl6]

I am so very happy this morning. Can't exactly put my finger on it..... Wait! Finally dubbua is going to have to account for six years of incredibly unintelligent actions that have made me ashamed to be from Texas!! A very good thing happened last night. All dubbua could say was that he was very disappointed last night when Rove finally admitted that his machine ran out of gas and people finally started paying attention!! Good job!!

[ademeyer]

I loved hearing someone in Paris quoting Lincoln: "You cannot fool all of the people all the time..." It just goes to show the world still remembers the good things America represents. This may be Bush's legacy after all: showing other countries we can get rid of incompetent leaders, even in this Fox era of media propaganda, without blood in the streets.od Bless America!

[ademeyer]

oops. God Bless America!

[mgpm-2009]

Thank God America has come to it's senses. Instead of "protecting us from terrorists" Bush's horribly misguided leadership squandered the good will the world was handing us on a silver platter after 9/11.

I hope that Congress will impeach Bush for lying to the American people and going to war under false pretenses.

[torti151]

More important than "King George" is the win for America, finally we have a balance of power, in place.

Tom,

Saint Louis, Missouri.

[jtg61]

This brings us one step closer to having a woman leading our country. Nancy Pelosi is now a heartbeat away from the presidency, with VP Cheney's beating erratically at this moment! Once Americans embrace the first woman speaker, a female president is easier to fathom. This result sets up Hillary Clinton for a good shot at the presidency in 2008. We finally need a woman to run our country. Men just like to make war and stroke their egos. It's about time they take a back seat and let the women take charge.

[lochlan-2009]

I sure hope the Democrats don't drop the ball now that we've put them in position to make things happen. As this election has shown if you lie, cheat and steal from us, we're going to take you out and put someone else in to REPRESENT US, not the lobbyists and elite. I prey that the Deems. take a close look at the legality of this current Administration, and push to prosecute, rather than just sweeping under the rug, any corruption or war crimes they have committed. I know I will be writing to my newly elected official.

[stevex47]

I figured you'd be a sore loser fartknocker.

[shingles1]

"You will see higher gas prices within 60 days so hold on there."

So you are admitting that Bush and the Saudis have purposely kept gas prices down so that the Republicans would do well in this election?

Particularly since the new Congress won't start until January - which is more than 60 days away.

[oleander8]

Suck it up, FARTKNOCKER2 - and get on with your miserable life.

[shingles1]

Not only is Fartknocker a sore loser.
Judging by his past remarks he's also been a sore winner for several years now.

I guess he's just basically sore in general.

[Syndicate]

I would like to see the senate split. Then I would enjoy watching the other democrats kiss Liebermans As s.

[jumkey]

"those people" janem4? How racist.

Yeah, we won. As for "stopping the hatefest"...YOU FIRST.

Hey Fartknocker...

Did you cry yourself to sleep last night? You seem really bitter and unhappy, is that just your general state or was it caused by you being incredibly wrong about what was going to happen.

I distinctly remember 100s of posts indicating how the repubs were going to take the house and senate???

You care more about "your side winning" than you do about the health of the country. You should sit down and re-evaluate your perspective. Take some time to look hard at the issues that affect you, and figure out why your such a bitter, mean sprited a$$.

I pity you and your ilk. I only hope you can realize your hypocrisy and try to stop lying to yourself and everyone else.

[long_rider]

I hope the Democrats have learned a lesson. Take care of the people and they will take care of you.

There are tough days ahead. Cheney is not going to let anyone ruin his plans. Cheney and David Additington have seen to it that there is no over site of there business dealings in Iraq. They have given the presidency additional powers, by inventing ways to circumvent the constitution. The Democrats will have to stick together in order to undo some of the Cheney/Addington deals.

Rummy has to go, period. He can no longer be indulged. The chimp will have to appoint someone with experience, and who will be able to say no to him.

Best of luck to those who serve the need of the people.

[jn122736]

After the invasion, the world rightly placed most of the responsibility for the debacle in Iraq on the Bush administration. However, all Americans became fully responsible after electing Bush the second time.

I hope the world will now, as I do, feel a little better about Americans as a whole.

Congratulations, Americans, you can start to hold your heads up again.

We must all be more involved in our government than we have in the past if we want a GOVERNMENT FOR, OF, AND BY THE PEOPLE.

[marcelde]

"MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" with "SHOCK AND AWE"

DEMOCRATS??? "BRING 'EM ON!"

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR FOR A CHANGE.

THANK YOU, VOTERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

[jn122736]

as far as fartknocker2 and janem4, let them yell, after all doesn't everyone yell when they smash their own finger.

[sim828524s]

The Democrats are out in front, and they are going to win the senate as well.

Let me put it this way. If I had to bet my whole life savings, and I value my life savings, I would bet on the Democrats to win the senate.

I just refuse to loose my money to a bad bet.

Go Democrats

[sfgmaster]

janem4: Thanks for the reply. I did 'win' last night, but not for the reason you are thinking, as I am strongly independent. I am very pleased to see at least part of Congress and the President in *opposite* parties, as this will likely mean the end of congressional Republican rubber-stamping, and the beginning of legislation that is actually to the benefit of the American people. I can hope, anyway.

"Provoking Muslims"... you seem to have a narrow and misguided view of the average Muslim. The "average" Muslim is not provoked to violence by western women's attire or Christian symbols. However, they *do* tend to be provoked by a "regime" that has invaded two Muslim countries and threatened two more, and otherwise thrown its weight around in a region that it is not even a part of.

There are "extremist" Muslims in the world from which you draw your stereotype, but there are also "extremist" Christians who advocate violence against *** and interracial couples, are there not? I'd hate to be judged by that stereotype just because I wear a little gold cross on a chain.

[sfgmaster]

(I apologize for the filtered word below. It should have said "same-***".)

[khoneycutt06]

I was a card carrying republican until about a year ago (Independent Now) until I saw for myself that religion, greed, and arrogance were influencing policy more than the wishes of the American people. Bush and the Republican House and Senate are wrong for the new, more educated and younger America. The democrats, (and maybe someday a third political party) will help straighten-up America. I do concede that democrats are far from perfect themselves but they are the lesser of two evils. Maybe now, the United States can be a true world leader again, not the butt of its jokes.

[sfgmaster]

(Oh good, I can't say that either. Hopefully the reader can figure it out on their own.)

[sim828524s]

Hey Fartknocker

I know a great place right here in New York for a rehabilitation center for the severly metal impared. Want the address?

We true Americans like to try and help you.

What do you say?

[nativewoman]

Posted by SFGMaster at 12:04 PM : Nov 08, 2006

I have had good luck with enclosing words in quotes and separating each letter with a hyphen.

Now that I've said that, I'm sure the powers that be will figure out a way to block my spelling trick!

HAPPY DAY!

[noomgod]

Change is good.Lesser of 2 evils.

[gunnerv1]

See you in two years, that's about how long it'll take the Dems to P***Off everybody

[laurieleemoo]

okay, congratulations Democrats----you fought a good fight. Although, I'm not too sure exaclty what it is you were fighting FOR? Was it because you think Dems are going to have all the answers and now all of a sudden our problems will go away??? Was it because you are fighting for the terrorists rights (now thanks to you----putting them in office---our national security measures we have set in place such as nsa program and the patriot act and homeland security are all going to be taken away from us by the Dems. (Should I also congratulate you when we have another attack now on OUR SOIL????).
Anyway, now I plan on sitting back and watching the Democrats destroy themselves. Oh yes, we (the world) is now watching the Democrats. If I were President Bush---I would just sit back and say to the Democrats...okay, I am going to let YOU lead ME in the war in Iraq---and then just let the Democrats bury themselves alive. The Democrats have now put themselves way up high on a pedestal-----and now THE WORLD is watching their EVERY MOVE to see all these great answers they come up with. For their sake---I really hope they have all the answers or they have just committed politcal suicide for their party in the future.

[laurieleemoo]

oh-----and I'm pretty sure that by 2008 the american people will be ready for a great moderate such as McCain-----as I'm sure they will get tired real fast of all the LIBERAL Democrats in the party. They will do nothing except probably subpoena the *** out of the White House for the next two years I'm sure. The American people will get tired of all their little invesitgations and waste of taxpayers dollars on the investigations also.

[ademeyer]

laurieleemoo

What an un-American post! The people have voted for change...its called Democracy! Now you are hoping the new leadership falters and things get worse - how very patriotic of you. People like you we don't need.

[von293096]

Dear laurieleemoo,

Go cry somewhere else. You bushheads are the real loser in allowing this country to lose the war in Iraq.

buzz off fly.

[rharrin1]

2008 we will get rid of the rest of the rubber stamps they never said anything so nobody will even know they are gone.

[sim828524s]

We don't need any republican supporters anymore.

The Democrats have taken over and now they are in charge.

Now we can get some things done aroud here.

Hey republicans "Long live the DEMOCRATS"

"All salute the mighty DEMOCRATS"

Democrats are number 1

[laurieleemoo]

von293096---#1 fortunately, I can say what I want, when I want, and where I want and there is not a D-A-M-N thing you can do about it. Oh, and I am very sorry the TRUTH hurts poor baby. I am going to sit back and watch the fun now---'cause let me tell you---you dems have now signed up for it! Yes, darling----we will now watch the liberals commit suicide for the Dems. This is going to be so much fun to watch ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

[ceekuei]

Readers across the political spectrum must appreciate the fact that it really does not matter who is in control, Democrat or Republican. There are good, honest, and capable people from each party. What matters most is that the right people are put in office not the crooks, liars, incompetents, and self-serving arrogant profit-seeking gang that have infiltrated the White House and both Houses since Junior took office. Remember, it is the man or woman, as the case may be, that matters not his or her party affiliation. There are crooks, liars, and perverts everywhere. Such traits are not the sole monopoly of the Republicans. It just appears so because until now, it was a one-party system. Thousands have died, billions of dollars have gone to the coffers of special interest groups and companies. The time has come for investigation and to show the world that in the US, no one is above the law.

[rsoxfan1123]

the democrats will begin to call to account some of the corruption that has taken place in the bush administration. now we have a chance, be it slight, that bush and his cronies may be held accountable for the lies and treachery that have cost our young people their lives and eroded the very fabric of our nation.

[rharrin1]

Are you talking about the CHRISTIAN REPUBLICANS when they went after clinton

Please tell me laurie

[laurieleemoo]

and why don't YOU go cry to your LEADER, Nancy Pelosi ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! Boo hoo, the Republicans are saying mean things----Boo, hoo, hoo---the republicans are being nasty. PAYBACK WILL BE A *** for the Democrats. Yep, we are going to give you just about as much respect as you have given to our President. Like I said, paybacks a ***, huh?!!!!!!ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! This is actually what you call, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE for the republicans. Yes, TIME WILL TELL!!!!!!

[jetsfanr01]

thank you laurieleemoo for what you have said. I COMPLETELY agree. People beleive that the democrats will solve all of the nations problems, well heres something for you all to think about. When Clinton was President he abruptley brought Most of the troops back, and look what happened, he left a greif stricken country with a bitter taste in their mouthes, and do any of you think that is going to change? When they get pulled out again, we will be facing another 9/11. , if ANY terrorists receive a nuclear device, New York or D.C. or any other major city is in jeapordy, it WILL be destroyed, costing millions of lives. And now with Osama Bin Laden with more backing then ever, U.S citizens will regret changing the house, and quite possibly the senate, in the middle of a war. The U.S army personnel in the middle east are there because they VOLUNTEERED, not because they were drafted. If you didn't want to go to war, then you never should have signed. And now that the democrats have control of the house, Bush Will be completely useless as a president, because anything he tries to pass will be neglected.


what happened to the ideas of the 1700's most of the 1800's, and the early half of the 1900's, when we were LOYAL TO THE GOVERNMENT? LOYAL TO OUR PRESIDENT! ITS CALLED NATIONALISM, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO IT??