As the Foley scandal continues to evolve and looks as though it may well metastasize into something that will do some serious damage to the GOP, it looks more and more like control of the Congress is going to shift to the Democratic party. But it will not likely stay in their control for very long. The Democrats will waste no time in shooting themselves in the foot - both feet.

If the Democratic party wants to have a chance at becoming a long term majority once again, once they gain control of the Congress, they have to actually govern. If they are seen as putting forth ideas and legislation designed to advance their vision of what America should be and how America should be kept safe - even if every piece of it is vetoed by President Bush, then they will keep the congress and take the White House in 2008.

I don't think there is the slightest possibility of that happening.

The first thing the Democrats will try to do once they have gained control of the Congress is exact their revenge for the impeachment of Bill Clinton. From the opening gavel of the next Congress, the investigations will begin. And if they find nothing, they will investigate again. And again. They will be seen by voters as petty and vindictive partisans who are more interested in wielding the mechanisms of power than in governing the nation.

For the GOP it will be a two year gut check. Do they return to the conservative principles that brought them to a majority or do they continue on the path that lead to a place where the voters would prefer to give the left another chance?

I am an optimist at heart, though it is sometimes objectively difficult to reconcile that outlook to reality. I believe that the idea of the individual will not lose out to the failed ideas of collectivism. The idea freedom, not from the ebb and flow of life and the consequences of decisions, but from government dominance of individual lives is not an idea that Americans will give up and allow to fade away.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 12:33 PM | No Comments | Add Comment