The 'revolution' is dead

At other times in our nation's history, have we been aware that we were in a time of transition? Sure, politics and government is seemingly in constant flux -- and perhaps that is a good thing. But there are few times of such benchmark proportion that we can itemize them. In the second half of the 20th Century we had several instances, many related to changes in public opinion about a party in leadership or a scandal. Think Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush. Add Newt Gingrich in there, too.

I'm pretty sure things have turned for the Republicans now, too, and that the so-called revolution in 1994, which swept Republicans into power in both houses of Congress as well as statehouses and legislatures across the country, is over. One key to their advances was billing themselves as good and responsible stewards of government and the taxpayers' money. More than a decade later, I doubt the GOP could make the same claim with a straight face.

Instead, the Republicans have become the party of flag-waving, defecit spending and war-mongering. With a new indictment of a Republican seemingly every week, the party is hardly a model of good government.

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's admission this week that he accepted bribes and other gifts from defense contractors hoping to gain influence with Cunningham as chair of the defense appropriations sub-committee. He is the latest example of how Republican "values" have proven to be corrupt and bad for America.

So what are the Republicans to do? They better look inward to some of the less-polarizing leaders if they hope to have any chance at saving a majority in the Congress in 2006 elections and in the presidential election in 2008. Names we're likely to hear: Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, George Voinovich and, yes, Newt Gingrich. Gingrich can be the one to save the party again, and he is in the catbird seat to do so.

If more Republicans get indicted, we'll see a shift in attention.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.