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.
Oh I think many of us were naive and hoped that the Republicans who had taken control of both the House and Senate-both bodies had been in the hands of the Democrats since 1930 with a couple of short breaks in between-would cut spending and eliminate programs.