Gil Troy: Dems would be wise not to repeat mistakes that led to GOP's downfall
"Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" a woman asked Benjamin Franklin as he left the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Franklin replied: "A republic, if you can keep it."
Twelve years ago, Republicans in Congress were given power - if they could keep it. On Tuesday, American voters passed judgment on their custody and demanded a change.
Back in 1994, when the Republicans seized control from the Democrats, the Democrats had dominated Congress since 1954, and the Senate since 1986. Congressional Democrats had grown corrupt, complacent, arrogant. They felt entitled to their power - and many resented the notion that mere voters would strip them of their prerogatives. "The voters," Democratic congressman Barney Frank sighed, "are no bargain."
The Republicans swept into power, gaining 54 seats in the House, and eight in the Senate, also exploiting frustrations with Bill Clinton's unsteadiness, both in his early days at the White House, and as a moral figure. Brandishing their Contract with America, led by the fiery Newt Gingrich, Republicans vowed to clean up government, to shrink the budget, and to avoid the culture of entitlement by imposing term-limits, either by law or by custom.
Someone should trace the story of this class of 1994. It is an all-American - or perhaps, more universal - tale showing how power and greed can corrupt in the capital city. It is an American tragedy, a story of individuals who strayed, betraying the ideals they were supposed to embody.
Bob Ney came from the heartland, representing the Midwestern straightforwardness of his Ohio district. He recently resigned from the House and faces as much as 10 years in the Big House, a federal penitentiary, for peddling his office to the shady lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Mark Foley came from the Florida Gold Coast, representing Palm Beach and the Sunbelt's emerging power. Today, he is in rehab, hiding behind alcoholism to explain the lecherous emails he sent to underage male pages, in what became this election season's signature scandal.
Meanwhile, House Republicans played the politics of payback, acting as arrogantly and unilaterally as the Democrats had when they were in power. Forgetting that politics is cyclical, they failed to model the kind of reasonable, nonpartisan behaviour that might have served them when they ended up in opposition. At the same time, they demonstrated an astonishing lack of discipline, especially on fiscal matters, creating a bloated deficit that they can no longer blame on the Democrats.
Read entire article at Montreal Gazette
Twelve years ago, Republicans in Congress were given power - if they could keep it. On Tuesday, American voters passed judgment on their custody and demanded a change.
Back in 1994, when the Republicans seized control from the Democrats, the Democrats had dominated Congress since 1954, and the Senate since 1986. Congressional Democrats had grown corrupt, complacent, arrogant. They felt entitled to their power - and many resented the notion that mere voters would strip them of their prerogatives. "The voters," Democratic congressman Barney Frank sighed, "are no bargain."
The Republicans swept into power, gaining 54 seats in the House, and eight in the Senate, also exploiting frustrations with Bill Clinton's unsteadiness, both in his early days at the White House, and as a moral figure. Brandishing their Contract with America, led by the fiery Newt Gingrich, Republicans vowed to clean up government, to shrink the budget, and to avoid the culture of entitlement by imposing term-limits, either by law or by custom.
Someone should trace the story of this class of 1994. It is an all-American - or perhaps, more universal - tale showing how power and greed can corrupt in the capital city. It is an American tragedy, a story of individuals who strayed, betraying the ideals they were supposed to embody.
Bob Ney came from the heartland, representing the Midwestern straightforwardness of his Ohio district. He recently resigned from the House and faces as much as 10 years in the Big House, a federal penitentiary, for peddling his office to the shady lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Mark Foley came from the Florida Gold Coast, representing Palm Beach and the Sunbelt's emerging power. Today, he is in rehab, hiding behind alcoholism to explain the lecherous emails he sent to underage male pages, in what became this election season's signature scandal.
Meanwhile, House Republicans played the politics of payback, acting as arrogantly and unilaterally as the Democrats had when they were in power. Forgetting that politics is cyclical, they failed to model the kind of reasonable, nonpartisan behaviour that might have served them when they ended up in opposition. At the same time, they demonstrated an astonishing lack of discipline, especially on fiscal matters, creating a bloated deficit that they can no longer blame on the Democrats.