Voters Choose Divided Government
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President Obama now faces a divided Congress, with Republicans taking over the House and Democrats barely holding on to the Senate. We talk about what happened yesterday and what it might mean for the future. Also, California’s the state that often establishes national trends. So what does it mean that, in yesterday’s election, it went solidly for the Democrats?
Banner image: Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada (L) won re-lection and retains his position as Senate Majority Leader. Although Democrat Nancy Pelosi won re-election to her California House seat, she will lose the Speakership to Republican John Boehner of Ohio.
Making News
President Obama Holds Post-Election News Conference ()
At the White House this morning, President said he took “direct responsibility” for not making the progress on the economy demanded by the American people. Peter Wallsten is National Political Writer for the Wall Street Journal.
Guests:
- Peter Wallsten: National Political Correspondent, Wall Street Journal, @peterwallsten
Main Topic
The Election's Over: What Happened? What's Next? ()
Just as predicted, Republicans have swept into control of the Congress, while Democrats hold a somewhat reduced majority in the Senate. Harry Reid held on in Nevada, but the Illinois seat once held by President Obama was lost. Was the election a referendum on White House leadership? Some prominent favorites of Sarah Palin were defeated. How much influence will the Tea Parties have on a Congress led by Speaker John Boehner? President Obama conceded that yesterday’s election results were "humbling" and that very difficult issues lie ahead. Despite their differences, he also called for cooperation—and possibly compromise. We assess the results from different political perspectives.
Congressman John Boehner addresses
"the trust that the American people have placed in us"
Guests:
- Jennifer Rubin: Contributing Editor, Commentary magazine, @JRubinBlogger
- Chris Littleton: Co-founder, Ohio Liberty Council, @clittleton
- Ed Kilgore: Managing Editor, Democratic Strategist, @ed_kilgore
- Ari Berman: Contributing Writer, The Nation magazine, @AriBerman
- Thomas Mann: Senior Fellow of Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
- John Heilemann (@jheil): National Political Columnist, New York magazine, @jheil
Reporter's Notebook
The Republican Red Wave Meets California's Blue Bulwark ()
The biggest state in the Union has resisted the Republican tide, with Democrats sweeping all statewide offices. The state that invented the Three Strikes Law elected an African American woman from liberal San Francisco as Attorney General. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman’s campaign for Governor of California was, by far, the most expensive in history. But $140 million couldn’t defeat 72-year-old Democrat Jerry Brown, who served two terms in the job 30 years ago. Barbara Boxer won a fourth US Senate term despite high negative ratings, even among her own party. Former GOP analyst Dan Schnur chairs the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
Guests:
- Dan Schnur: Chairman, California Fair Political Practices Commission, @danschnur
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