Election 2006

Snowy in Alaska, sunny in Florida, rainy in Montana and cloudy, very cloudy in Washington D.C. that was the weather in the United States yesterday. Why? The mid-term elections took place.

All these places were connected by one thing, expectation. Everybody was waiting what light would the never ending story of Iraq’s war, death sentence for Saddam Hussein and problems with immigration in California throw on the election results. President Bush tried to repair the reputation of Republicans on a campaign tour last week during which he stopped here in Montana. Now we already know that he did not succeed. After twelve years the Democrats won the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and according to the prediction it seems they will win the Senate too. We are waiting for final results from Virginia. The victory of Republicans would mean a tie, the victory of Democrats, a great victory for the whole party after a long time.

As President Bush mentioned many times, the voters’ message has been clear. For the first time in his presidential career he will have to cooperate with the Democratic House and according to the latest news it should bring some pleasant changes for the U.S. Government. The first clear message was the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Will this trend continue in an effort to prepare a free way for Republican-Democratic cooperation in the upcoming two years? Rumsfeld was the man who designed the war in Iraq. Most of the people are now interested if his resignation will bring any changes in the U.S. war policy.

The message of voters in Montana is more than clear. Burns presence in the U.S. Senate lasting for 18 years was long enough. After many years of Republican rule now is the time for change. Although the difference between candidates is only a few hundred votes the victory of democratic candidate Jon Tester was officially confirmed. He will join the Montana's other democratic representative Max Baucus.

The new government starts working in January. President Bush knows very well that there is not much time and this is his last possibility to enforce his policy through the Congress. His job is now starting to seek common way with democrats.


Only time will show us what impact these elections will have? The victory of Democrats was predictable and Republicans have now a long time to think about what's necessary to change, before the presidential elections in 2008.

by Honza Keprta