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The Republicans in Congress have the numbers - - but not the courage -- to institute free-market policies in medicine, instead of socialized medicine. So they don't haven't exhibited the "power" that Brooks credits them with, they've exhibited fear - - kind of a Stokholm effect: They're afraid of the media, afraid of the AARP, afraid of the Democrats, so they use their numbers and their hold on committee leadership to pass a bill that those elites won't criticize too much. True power shows itself in self-confidence that allows the holder of the power to set the agenda; here, the Republicans have again let the socialists set the agenda, because the Republicans don't have the self-confidence and courage that is required to exercise real power. Bottom line: The real power still rests with the liberals in the Dem Party and the media; the Republicans have the majority in Congress, but they're using it to fearfully do the liberals' bidding. (And to provide the Republicans with some saving of face, a few Dems shed crocodile tears over a big-spending bill that, deep down, must be causing them to rejoice)