Allen Concedes: Democrats Control Senate

The final results: Republicans, 49 senate seats; Democrats 49 senate seats; independents 2 seats. The two independents say they will caucus with the Democrats. Democrats have clear control in the House and nominal control in the Senate.

Let's hope our nation can get back on track and take on the real problems facing American with a common sense approach.

Here's the story on Senator Allen from the Los Angeles Times:

Virginia Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) conceded today, putting the Senate in Democratic hands for the first time since 2003 and giving the Democrats a sweep of both houses — a seismic shift in the Washington political climate .

Montana Republican Sen. Conrad Burns conceded earlier today in his reelection bid, even though his Democratic challenger, Jon Tester, claimed victory Wednesday.

Coupled with Allen's defeat, those Senate victories give the party a 51-49 Senate majority, counting two independents who are expected to caucus with the Democrats.

In conceding to Democrat Jim Webb, Allen said that he felt a recount would only increase the acrimony that has recently characterized the political landscape.

"I do not wish to cause more rancor for a recount that in my judgment would not alter the results," he said.

Republicans are going to have to do more than just wait for the next election. They're going to have to start shedding their right wing ideas and biases and rebuild their party on new principles, principles that bring unity to America, rather than appealing to the worst instincts of the voters. Leadership should never be based on irrational fears and hates. We have work to do in America and it begins by looking out for one another and thinking beyond our narrowest interests that don't serve any of us well in the long run.