Brookhiser in NYO:

The executive and the judicial branches do not take such a lighthearted view of the matter, however. The F.B.I. had been investigating Representative Jefferson for bribe taking for months, and their search was made after obtaining a warrant. Nor does Congress: House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R., Ill.), together with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), protested the search as unconstitutional. Now, finally, we know: Twelve years in power have been too much for the G.O.P. Their batteries have worn out, and so have their brains. The Democrats will regain control of Congress this fall.

…Mr. Hastert’s betrayal of his own party’s principles is unfortunate because it suggests other betrayals. Applying the law equally is not the only part of the Contract with America that has gone the way of all toilet paper. The Contract also called for a balanced-budget amendment “to restore fiscal responsibility to an out-of-control Congress.” The House, to its credit, passed such an amendment, though it never became law. And now, 12 years later, here we are with an out-of-control Congress.

But House Republicans are not the most unpopular people in America. That title may be reserved for Senate Republicans, or at least the 23 of them who joined 38 Democrats to pass the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. Illegal immigrants will not have to know English to understand this bill; it’s a welcome mat, and the Republicans who signed it are the doormats. It is not necessary for House Republicans to muster the energy they have shown on behalf of Congressional freezers to defeat the Senate bill. All they have to do is hunker down, and let House/Senate negotiations break down. If they do that, they may snatch some cred yet.

…The pity of it is that if the Democrats retake Congress, President Bush will be impeached, for three reasons: 1. because they can; 2. because Bill Clinton was; 3. because their enrages, who are a minority of the party but a majority of its committed, demand it. It would not be the first time in wartime that the tribal customs of the Anglo-Saxons have astonished the world. (all emphasis mine)

Me: With as much discontent rising among the GOP’s conservative base, I simply can’t imagine a Republican-controlled House much longer. (I’m taking for granted that the Senate will stay under GOP control) Perhaps it will last through 2008 - but, if so, it’s simply because the only party weaker, both politically and ideologically, than the Republican party is the Democratic party. My only hope for Republicans lies in the fact that I have absolutely zero confidence that Dean, Pelosi, and Reid can muster the intelligence and wherewithal to present a coherent, believable message to the American people.

Update: I have no idea why this post looks the way it does. I’ve tried everything…nothing helps. Sorry it’s a hard read.

UPDATE FROM PATRICK: I’ve fixed the post. Looks like some tags went astray.