I am agreeing with your post! After Reagan, the
Rhinos wrote off the Reagan Democrats (possible exception
Newt with his contract with American in 1994).
The contract with America lasted until the Pubbies woke up and found they had a majority at which point they ditched it to begin the tedious and difficult task of converting democratic pork into Pubbie pork. At the time I was quite excite. I thought yeah - finally, something around here is going to change and we can start doing the right things.
A slightly older, wiser and then more cynical colleague tried to dampen my enthusiasm and point out the error of my thinking. Boy did he turn out to be right and boy was I embarrassed at my naivte and stupidity. Even so, my cynicism races to keep up with the reality of the incompetence and corruption in DC. I am totally mystified that these folks can even eat and breathe.