Elephant In Exile

Republican's Forgetting Principles That Got Them A Majority

Well, it's disappointing to say the least that well into the tenure of the GOP super majority (House, Senate, Presidency) that it seems the GOP has tossed aside the principles that got em into office to begin with. Remember back to 1994 when the GOP first reclaimed the House. They meant what they said back then. And do you remember that part of the impetus for changing the majority was a series of ethics scandals where old line members were jetting off on junkets and such? I sure do, my boss on the Hill was swept into office on the anger of the voters. Sadly though, many on the Hill now have forgotten that promise and instead of focusing on bringing responsibility to government, they've quickly morphed into the very fat cats they once fought against. It's surprising only in the short time frame in which this transformation has happened.

Here's a little reminder of what the GOP used to stand for...before they decided that every personal decision on everything had to be run by the Family Research Council.

The Preamble to the Contract with America stated:

REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.

That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.

This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.

I guess we should have read the fine print. What we have now is a government that is too intrusive, to easy with our money and full of official evasion and posturing. Oh yes, while Tom Delay does a slow burn we'll hear calls that "Democrats" are doing it too! (An argument that seems best fitted for a kindergartener.)..I say let's vote all these ethically challenged folks out. And as a footnote, there is a difference between Dems using private jets and republican's using private jets...The republican's promised that they'd clean up such ethically murky practices and that promise along with the promise to curtail the power of government got them the majority. They're ignoring that mandate will also cost them that majority.


Hill Leaders Often Take Corporate Jets
Companies Offer Discount Flights and Gain Access
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/04/AR2005050402393.html

REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html