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I don't agree. Before he folded, Newt was a real hero. He did a superb job as leader of the opposition and planner of the Republican revolution. But he was far too loud-mouthed once he got into power. He kept acting as if he was in the opposition. When you get into power, you don't keep ranting, you shut your mouth and do things while you can. After he assumed the leadership, his tone was all wrong.

Newt had a real majority and a clear vote of approval. The Republicans today have also had a vote of approval, but they have a small majority and an important election coming up in two years. They should concentrate on DOING things, not ranting. Most especially they need to pass judicial appointments, tax cuts, and some pro-life bills such as partial birth abortion.

I understand your frustration. But we need to set the priorities and get them done, above all else. And do it in such a way that we are in a stronger position after the next election.

Before he folded, Newt was a real hero. He did a superb job as leader of the opposition and planner of the Republican revolution. But he was far too loud-mouthed once he got into power. He kept acting as if he was in the opposition. When you get into power, you don't keep ranting, you shut your mouth and do things while you can. After he assumed the leadership, his tone was all wrong.

This is a key point. When you are in power, it is best to cook the frog slowly and quietly. Rather than loudly declare we are going to shut down certain agencies, it is better just to reduce their funding slowly - say 5% per year. This is something that congress can do while just saying they are being fiscally prudent. The agencies then have to start doing layoffs - or cut salaries. It is perfectly possible to cut salaries (as long as it is across the board) while the civil servant keep their jobs. If the agency chooses not to do that, then they can just cut back on hiring. Slow but steady this shrinks the budget and the intrusiveness of the agencies.

In addition, when the Homeland Security Agency is formed and those 170,000 bureaucrats are transfered in - just make sure that the total budget for the agency is less than the combined budgets of the agencies folded in. And then layoff redudant employees - of which there will surely be a bunch.

No need to make a big deal out if it and energize the opposition, and make people think the Republicans are big meanies. I say again, cook the frog slowly and quietly.

It is true both that Newt and his team had a lot of great ideas, did a lot of good, and made some fundamental mistakes. I think you can classify the mistakes of newly elected powers as : Over-reaching; under-reaching; failure to keep promises; lack of unity; failure to constantly engage and support your position. In the end, the failures of the Republican Congress were in communicating and supporting their agenda, against the Clinton spin machine. While, in some cases attempting to do more than was possible, this overreaching was not bad politically, except in the case of Medicare, where Clinton used it to bash republicans.

In fact, ANYTHING the Republicans did to address budget and spending priorities was spun by the Democrats as evil. some worked for Democrats(medicare) and some didnt (welfare reform). Guess what? they will try that again next year. Just as cleland tried and failed this election. if we position ourselves right (and Bush seems to be quite good at that on many issues), the Democrats will merely marginalize themselves with their carping.

In the end, the media was able to tear down Newt, but that was only the ability to go after one polarizing figure who was conservative and not cosnervative ideals. The Republicans of 1994 are mostly still in Congress, and conservatives make up the majority of the Republican party. We should be pushing for conservatives ideas in bills, the end to funding left-wing groups by federal govt, etc. Don Nickles is new budget chairman, it is a good step.

The WISE use of power would be to: Keep promises; stay unified; constantly communicate your vision and ideas; neither under-reach (do too little) nor overreach (try to do too much and failing eg, like Clinton's failure in 1994 on health care). Rather, we should set a consevative agenda, make a reasonable legislative plan that American voters will support, and work to get it passed. I see Energy, taxcut permanence, Homeland Security and about 100 new federal judges are needed.

Bush used his politial capital brilliantly before the election. I hope he uses it brilliantly after the election to help the economy and advance the conservative agenda.