Senator George Allen of Virginia discusses the recent GOP success in Senate races in today's Washington Times:
Democrats, meanwhile, picked up only two open seats nationwide and sustained a net loss of four — including their incumbent party leader, something that hasn't happened in more than 50 years.
Mr. Allen said he has not spoken with Minority Leader Tom Daschle — who lost his South Dakota seat to former Rep. John Thune in a stunning upset — since the election. Ousting the highest elected Democratic official was like "winning three seats," he said, but added: "There's no reason to gloat."
"I clearly disagree with his philosophy and the stands he's taken," Mr. Allen said. "Personally, you always feel for somebody who loses. They tried, they fought hard, spent a ton of money — that's for sure — but I wish him well in the private sector, and I'm glad we have John Thune."
A clear demand Mr. Allen said he heard campaigning across the country the past two years is that the Senate should stop blocking Mr. Bush's judicial nominees. The ouster of Mr. Daschle, who he said was the "architect, the chief obstructionist," is proof positive that Americans want Mr. Bush's nominees granted a final vote, one way or the other.
"He had the values of Capitol Hill, rather than the Black Hills," Mr. Allen said, referring to the mountainous region of southwest South Dakota.
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