Analysis: DeLay Leaves Troubling Legacy By TOM RAUM From Associated Press April 04, 2006 WASHINGTON - Tom DeLay leaves a troubling legacy for Republicans as they face re-election. The Texan, once one of the most powerful and feared leaders of Congress, joined Newt Gingrich in helping to lead Republicans to power in 1994. But he became a symbol of the widening ethics scandal that now clouds GOP prospects for continued control. Republicans face voters weary of corruption allegations and the heavy-handed tactics DeLay came to personify. At the same time, GOP candidates are further weighed down by President Bush's low approval ratings and the unpopularity of the war in Iraq. "It's hard to believe that in just 12 years, Republicans could end up in the same situation that it took Democrats 40 years to get in," said Republican strategist Frank Luntz. . . . DeLay's resignation "marks the end of a 12-year reign of unquestioned Republican dominance and casts a shadow on the chances of Republicans in the fall elections," said Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University who specializes in Congress. Under DeLay's sometimes iron-fisted rule, House Republicans marched pretty much in lockstep during Bush's first term, delivering one legislative victory after another. "Republicans, however loyal they may have been in the past, are now taking an every-man-for-himself attitude," Baker said. Congress draws even lower public opinion ratings than the president. An AP-Ipsos poll last month showed only 31 percent of those surveyed approved of the job Congress was doing, compared with 37 percent for Bush. When people were asked if they wanted to see Republicans or Democrats win control of Congress, Democrats got more backing, by 47 percent to 36 percent. Democrats have used DeLay's legal problems and those facing other Republicans - including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby - to claim that Republicans are in the grips of a "culture of corruption," an assertion they repeated on Tuesday. This follows upon the imprisonment of Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham for accepting bribes. Read the rest of the story
As bad a Republican policies are the Democrats have no proposed policies to run on. They can't win on the we're not with Dubya campaign.
If there ever is a time where we despirately need good leadership in this country its today. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. It seems like all the great leaders have come and gone. This bothers me and makes me wonder if America is falling just like the Roman Empire did. When you look at the US becoming Mexico of sorts, I don't mean to drag that into the conversation here but there is no doubt those waving the Mexico flag around could care less about this country. Some of them are poor and un-educated, they will have a negative impact on this country. Immigrants and other people have always been proud to become Americans until now! This could all lead to us becoming a third world country! Hope I'm wrong!
The problem isn't a lack of leadership. The problem is a polarization of poeple that keeps good leaders out of power. I think comparing America to Rome is a logical fallacy. There are more differences than common links. Our society is changing no doubt, but that is what is designed to do. Go or bad our country is suited for change.
I agree. We are adaptable....to a point. IMO and let me stress that.....what is going on in Europe right now I think is a pretty good indicator of where we are heading. Take France, Germany......they are so weighted down by a socialistic bureacracy that they have over 20% unemployment, immigrants rioting in the streets because they are shut out of their caste system, waiting for healthcare procedures. I think France and the vast majority of Europe has an identity problem basically. They have no nationalistic pride therefore very little sense of competition within their country. France has attempted to take competition out of the marketplace for the last 50 years and they have succeeded. I think in the next 20 years, our country will be more and more socialized with the government providing key services that once they are in their control, it's for good. To me, that's where we're heading.
Let's suppose you are right but I think we all agree that we will be leaning that way in about 20 years compared to where we are today. Where does it end and where will all this money come from? Then again, how can we afford to fund the war in Iraq justified or not, Sometimes we will have to go to war and then we have people sacrifiicing while Congress seems to spend money like it grows on trees. I think this is very alarming, Congress can't and won't sacrifice when we are at war or for any reason. Some want to cry about the deficit and then spend like crazy anyway. This is one reason why I say we lack leadership, no more good leaders. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190745,00.html
I think we've become about as socialist as people are willing to accept. I really can't see us getting anywhere near European levels. Europeans politics have always been much more radical than here in the US - we are pretty conservative. I think over the next 20 years our government & our country will become more libertarian. People are sick of the $hit.
