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You could almost hear the strains of "Hail to the Chief" over any media coverage of the U.S. midterm elections. Republicans gained five House seats and a Senate majority, increases that just aren't supposed to happen with a Republican already in the White House. The media message was clear: They couldn't have done it without ya, George.

"Perhaps the biggest winner on Election Day was a person whose name wasn't even on the ballot -- President Bush," said ABC News. On the flip side, Sen. Patty Murray (D.,Wash.) said "her side was outgunned nationwide by a Republican White House that raised a record $180 million-plus, micromanaged the selection of GOP candidates, and blanketed the campaign trail with Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Cheney, and his wife, Lynne," paraphrased the AP. Numbers varied, but this was an expensive effort and, according to some, a "risky" one. (Considering Bush's unstoppable approval rating, we disagree.) In an online Newsweek column, Gersh Kuntzman wagged, "Why doesn't (Bush) just send that speech -- the one about how Candidate X 'doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him/her how to think' -- to the letters to the editors page and stay in Washington getting some work done?"

Democratic wimpiness might have affected the election as much as Bush's big road trip. "Retaking the Senate and holding the House at a time when Americans were so uneasy about the economy represents an enormous achievement for the GOP -- and a critical missed chance for the Democrats," said the L.A. Times. Democrats didn't do enough to challenge Bush's tax cut or Iraq plans, said the San Francisco Chronicle, and "allowed the Republicans to get away with masking their most extreme positions in order to appear more moderate to voters." We read the word "timid" near the word "Democrat" a lot this morning.

"Gridlock No More," cheered TheStreet.com, but some outlets disagreed. First, the Republican Senate still lacks the 60 seats it needs for a supermajority that can block a Democratic filibuster. Even in Bush's home state, the Houston Chronicle said "a slim Republican majority in the Senate would not necessarily ensure smooth sailing for the president's to-do list. USA Today said the "GOP wasn't moving toward the sort of commanding margin in the House or Senate that would transform the political landscape from a scene now marked by partisan jockeying and legislative stalemate." OK, this new Congress isn't a blank check for Bush, but these majorities, however slim, show America swinging conservative and will likely make it easier for the president to get what he wants.

There was something missing from election coverage this time. Voter News Service suddenly stopped polling Tuesday due to computer problems, depriving the media of exit poll numbers and the dubious ability to call a race around lunchtime. "It looks like we'll have to count the votes," a political analyst told the Boston Globe. Count votes before declaring a winner? Is that how that works? - Jen Muehlbauer

Republicans Win Control of Congress (AP)
http://tinyurl.com/2h6c

Republicans Take Control Of Senate, Hold House In Victory For Bush (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://tinyurl.com/2h6b

Despite Wins, Bush Is Facing Split Electorate
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/1649474

GOP Takes Control of Senate, Retains House
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2002/la-cong110502_wr.story

Bush's Lead Role in Election Pays Off
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2002/la-110502assess_wr.story

Dull and Duller (Newsweek)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/831195.asp

Lack of exit poll data adds to wait on Congress (Boston Globe)
http://tinyurl.com/2h67

Gridlock No More: GOP Takes Senate, Holds House
http://www.thestreet.com/markets/marketfeatures/10052521.html

Republicans Keep Control of the House
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/06/politics/campaigns/06HOUS.html

Slim GOP Margin Reflects Divided Country (USA Today)
http://tinyurl.com/2h68

Elections 2002
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/

Election 2002 (ABC News)
http://tinyurl.com/2h6a

Election 2002
http://online.wsj.com/page/0,,2_0008,00.html
(Paid subscription required.)

Not A "50-50 Nation"
http://slate.msn.com/?id=2073478

Not anymore. Harvey Pitt is out at the SEC, and William Webster, the head of the new accounting oversight board, is reportedly headed for the exit also. The lessons learned are simple. First, don't embarrass the president. Second, don't embarrass the president.

Pitt's bungles have been front-page news for months, so we won't bore you. Media reports ably translated the banal public-speak of his resignation. No, Pitt said, he wasn't forced to quit (truth: the White House was reportedly pressuring him to resign). He's leaving so as not to be a burden (truth: he already is; outlets say Bush chief of staff Andrew Card was livid at Pitt's Webster melee). He'll depart as soon as a smooth transition is nailed down (truth: the partisan politics he inflamed will complicate the selection of a successor).

Pitt's departure was awkward for a man who, the Post reminded us, was considered the "Zeus of his field" at the time of his appointment a scant 15 months ago. A god no more, hapless Harvey resigned under the cover of national elections, with the White House officially accepting his resignation at 9 p.m. last night. But while the New York Daily News questioned his manhood over appearing to skulk away, the Post quoted a no-name GOP Senate aide raising the possibility that the White House favored an election-night departure to minimize political fallout. Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle (D., S.D.) -- excuse us, make that former majority leader -- made the same suggestion to the Associated Press.

The strategy didn't work among major dailies, with the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal going page-one with the news. Who will be the next SEC commissioner? Reporters named as possible successors James Doty, a former SEC lawyer; Stanley Sporkin, a former federal judge; and Gary Lynch, ex-head of the SEC enforcement division. Even Rudy Giuliani's name has been tossed into the fray.

As for Webster's future, the Wall Street Journal quoted a no-namer saying "the ball's in his court." We suspect, however, that the ex-FBI director's fate is way beyond help from sports metaphors. But perhaps his track record could be worse. Among other SEC news, Reuters reports the agency is trying to shut down a fraud ring that bilked millions of dollars from churches. Er, you haven't ripped off any churches, have you Bill? - Deborah Asbrand

Besieged Pitt Quits as SEC Chairman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9986-2002Nov5.html

Pitt Leaving at a Pivotal Point
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13758-2002Nov6.html

Embattled Pitt resigns as SEC chief
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0211060328nov06,0,3306411.story

SEC Chairman Quits Under Fire
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pitt6nov06021420,0,3275451.story

Why Pitt Quit
http://www.nypost.com/business/61471.htm

Pitt Picks Some Night to Quit SEC
http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/33167p-31420c.html

Webster Considers Quitting SEC Board
http://www.washtimes.com/business/20021106-74555432.htm

Harvey Pitt Quits
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_964.shtml

Embattled SEC Chief Pitt Resigns (AP)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/831168.asp?0dm=-12LB

S.E.C.'s Embattled Chief Resigns in Wake of Latest Political Storm
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/06/business/06PITT.html

SEC Chairman Pitt Resigns Amid Webster Controversy
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1036548136249093108,00.html
(Paid subscription required)

SEC Targets Fraud Against Churches (Reuters)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rup6.9nov06,0,264305.story

SEC Case Against WorldCom Grows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10435-2002Nov5.html

WorldCom Expects $9 Billion Restatement (Reuters)
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-964630.html

EU Court Strikes Down Aviation Accords With U.S.
http://www.iht.com/articles/76001.html

SEC Pursues Man Accused Of Scam On Black Churches
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/business/1102/06scam.html

Copyedited by Jim Duffy (jimduffy86@yahoo.com).

Editor and publisher: Jimmy Guterman (guterman@vineyard.com).

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Copyright 2002 Media Unspun, Inc., and The Vineyard Group, Inc.
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