The year of 2006 was a landmark year which saw the reversal of power in many important races. Elections for the United States House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all of the 435 seats in the House up for election. On Election Day, Democrats gained 31 seats in the House, enough to take control, and Republicans became the minority party after 12 years of control. In one runoff in Louisiana, a Democratic incumbent defeated a Democratic challenger. In a runoff in Texas, a Democratic challenger defeated a Republican incumbent. Thirty Republican seats were picked up by Democrats, and one seat held by an independent was picked up by a Democrat. No Democratic seats were picked up by Republicans. This marked the first time since 1948 that a party did not lose any of its seats.

The Texas 22nd Congressional Election of 2006 saw the dethroning of the House Majority Tom DeLay, a prominent member of the Republican Party who resigned in 2006 after being indicted and subsequently winning the Republican primary. To fill in the seat vacated by DeLay, a special election was held for the remaining term of DeLay. That was also an uncommon event. It was simultaneously followed by the regular general elections. In the special election there were five candidates: four Republicans: Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Don Richardson, former US Representative Steve Stockman and Giannibecego Hoa Tran, and one Libertarian, Bob Smither. The Democrats were not represented with a candidate. Sekula-Gibbs won that race with approximately 63 percent of the vote and was sworn in as a Member of Congress on November 13, 2006.

In the general election there were three main candidates. Democrat and former US Representative Nick Lampson, Libertarian Party candidate Bob Smither, and Republican Sekula-Gibbs. Only Lampson's and Smither's names appeared on the ballot, as Shelley Sekula-Gibbs had to run as a write-in candidate. In this race, Lampson captured 52% of the vote, to Sekula-Gibbs' 42%, and Smither collected 6%. Lampson is standing for a re-election in 2008. Along with Lampson, there are many known names standing for election. This includes former Sugar Land mayor Dean Hrbacek , former Pasadena mayor John Manlove, former John Cornyn Chief of Staff Pete Olson, Family District Judge Jim Squier, State Representative Bob Talton, and NASA contractor Ryan Rowley.  

So, what's your point? In 8 years the tide will turn the other way. Both parties are full of millionairs and have lost touch with the people. All they think of is following party lines, getting relected, and special interest groups that can line their pockets with gold. Example: Diesel fuel is a by-product of gasoline. It costs about $1 dollar more than gasoline. The big oil companies are ripping off the public. It SHOULD cost $1 or more less a gallon. Neither party has done anything to stop this practice. All goods delivered by trucks are going to cost more and more. People on fixed incomes are really hurting. So much for the two party system. It has run it's course and now is turning America into a third world country. Our government has totally lost touch with the people. We NEED a NEW government led by real Americans. Ones who know and understand the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  

And the connection to anything pertaining to motorcycles and motorcycle riders would be???  How the connection was made from election candidacy and election results to diesel fuel is a mystery to me.  Why was the topic begun in this site in the first place?  I think you guys are reading and communicating in the wrong forum in the wrong website.  It's probably safe to say there are politically-based sites out there for the express purpose of allowing you to express the concerns (whatever they are?) that you've tried to express here.  I'd respectfully suggest you go to those sites and try again to find like-minded individuals who are interested in continuing such a dialogue.  But this site should not be among them unless the political issues directly relate to motorcyclists and/or the motorcycle business.  And if that is the case, state exactly what those issues are as you perceive them.  Don't just throw out a bunch of meaningless data and leave it to the next guy to ask "What's your point?"