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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2006)
national Election Aftershocks Congress faces a new political era by Bob Roehr ftershocks from the Nov. 7 election con tinue to rumble through the landscape of Washington, D.C., with uncertainty and speculation—major commodities on the political scene. Absentee ballots were stdl being counted when President Bush held a news conference Nov. 8 announcing the retirement of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and nomination of former CIA head Robert Gates as his successor. The change removed a lightning rod for criticism on the war in Iraq and was an important symbol of openness to change, but it remains to be seen whether there is any substance behind the symbolism, or if in fact conditions in Iraq allow for any compromise. Bush lunched Nov. 9 with presumed House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and both pledged to make nice, in her words, “in a way that gets results for the American people.” Outgoing Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-IIL, under fire for his handling of the scandal surrounding U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., announced that he would not seek a Republican leadership post in the new legislative session. While removing one option from an anticipated leadership fight, it did little to resolve what direction that party will take. Moderate Republicans suffered some of the heaviest, though not the only, losses in the elec tion, and their caucus is weaker. Some conserva f test for HIV if you like to play (& get results while you wait if your partner's positive or you're into man-on-man action) tives are trying to spin defeat on the loss of ideolog ical purity, while pragmatists see a need to move toward the center in trying to return to power. Democrats have their own series of tensions in , both houses of Congress. Regaining a majority I came largely, though not exclusively, with candi- j j j ; I They’ll be egged on by "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party,” which has found a useful tixil in blogs for motivating an active liberal minority. It was dates who often are on the right of their caucus on j enough to beat U.S. Sen. Joe many issues. Above all else, many of the new Lieberman in the Democratic comers share a sense of wanting politicians from primary but not enough to U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., will head up the health committee both parties to work together to accomplish things. bring Ned Lamont a victory responsible for reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. The key issue, as is often the case, will be how to over the newly Independent pay for those things. Lieberman in the general election, even though the while waiting to get on the AIDS Drug Assistance Pelosi contributed to the potential for cards were stacked in his favor. Program in South Carolina has added some impe Democratic tension by personally endorsing John Democrats with national aspirations and those tus to concerns of inadequate funding. Murtha of Pennsylvania for the position of majori vulnerable to a primary challenge will have to take U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., will take ty leader Nov. 12. The No. 2 position with House the power of the blogosphere into account. over as chairman of the powerful health commit Democrats is held by Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Queer concerns seem likely to be, at best, tee. He was heavily involved in crafting the who is running for leader. Murtha is a retired second- or third-tier issues for the incoming current version of the Ryan White legislation, Marine who has led the party’s opposition to the which passed the House but ran into opposition Democratic leadership. It is not that they don’t war in Iraq and is generally regarded as conserva care about such things, but rather that they will from a handful of senators, including Hillary tive, while Hoyer is a traditional liberal. Hoyer and seek to focus initial attention on concerns that Clinton, D-N.Y. It is unclear how willing he will Pelosi have been rivals in the past. have a broader constituency such as congressional be to address their concerns, most of which could Many of the incoming committee chairs, reform, health care and raising the minimum wage. be met with greater overall funding. Perhaps re including openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, Plans also are being put together in the Senate, authorization will he forced through during the D-Mass., who will head up financial services, rep now that it has become clear that the Democrats lame duck session of this Congress, between now and Christmas. © resent more liberal districts. They say they will be will control that chamber as well. Of most imme- i I pragmatic. But even with matters of investigation, i diate concern to many queers is reauthorization of one person's definition of pragmatism might seem B ob R oehr is a freelance reporter based in the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources to another to be an ideologically drjven assault. Washington, D.C. Emergency Act. News that three people have died '7 wasn't sure I could buy a home but / saw Christine's ad and called. We met and before I knew it I was prequalified, lust as I found the perfect house I had to leave the country for three weeks. 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