[GOPJ]

The clinton years ushered in Republican gains. May "ever the master of political strategist" continue destroying his own party. (How many knee pads did this reporter wear out to come up with a phrase like "ever the master of political strategist"? These reporters no shame.)

"Ever the master political strategist, Clinton also regularly dispenses advice to Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, his longtime friend," reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday.

[John Lenin]

The clinton years ushered in Republican gains. May "ever the master of political strategist" continue destroying his own party.

POLITICAL FALL-OUT

- According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Democrats held a 1,542 seat lead in the state bodies in 1990. As of November 2000 that lead had shrunk to 288. That's a loss of over 1,200 state legislative seats, nearly all of them under Clinton. Across the US, the Democrats controlled only 65 more state senate seats than the Republicans.

Further, in 1992, the Democrats controlled 17 more state legislatures than the Republicans. After November, the Republicans control one more than the Democrats. Not only was this a loss of 9 legislatures under Clinton, but it was the first time since 1954 that the GOP had controlled more state legislatures than the Democrats (they tied in 1968).

Here's what happened to the Democrats under Clinton:

- GOP seats gained in House since Clinton became president: 48
- GOP seats gained in Senate since Clinton became president: 8
- GOP governorships gained since Clinton became president: 11
- GOP state legislative seats gained since Clinton became president: 1,254 as of 1998
- State legislatures taken over by GOP since Clinton became president: 9
- Democrat officeholders who have become Republicans since Clinton became president: 439 as of 1998
- Republican officeholders who have become Democrats since Clinton became president: 3