The GOP in Opposition

It was as bad a defeat as many had feared would happen. The House is lost and so is the Senate. The task now is to learn the lessons of the defeat and to implement them. Defeat can contain within it the seeds of future victories, if the Republicans only care to look.

First of all, the Republicans should avoid feelings of bitterness, self flagellation, and most of all-blame placing and finger pointing. Those things are unattractive in someone who has just lost and waste time better spent productively.

The electorate is trying to tell the Republicans something, albeit with a blunt instrument of an election. It was clear for quite some time that the Congressional Republicans had gotten just a little too fat and happy in power, a little like the Democrats were by about 1994. Mind, in my opinion even fat and happy Republicans were to be preferred to any Democrats, but the electorate decided that wasn't a deterrent to trying to send the GOP a message that, so far, has not been heeded.

The message is that power has to be earned and is not a birthright simply because one has an R after ones name. A lot of important legislation has not been passed, from making the tax cuts permanent, to social security reform. And, of course, there's the spending. That which is politely called earmarks and which is more commonly called pork has, in the past, been considered useful for bribing legislators into toeing the line. But the tolerance of the public for it has come to an end.

And, of course, people are discontented by Iraq, not out of a desire to cut and run, but rather out of a desire for victory that seems elusive. Mind, it is true that the media has not reported on the war accurately. All that most people hear about the Iraq Campaign is news of the latest soldier or group of soldiers blown up by an IED. While the entire butcher's bill of three and a half years of Iraq would constitute a day or two at Normandy Beach or the Bulge, only hearing about the deaths of American soldiers must wear on many people after a while. Of course it is also to be noted that pro Iraq War Senator Joe Lieberman won handily as an "independent Democrat" where as anti war Senator Lincoln Chafee went down to defeat. Something to consider.

So, Republicans, what is to be done now? First and foremost, you have to understand that the Democrats are now in power in the Congress and will feel they have a mandate to implement their agenda, whatever that is. Your job is to stop them. Or at least slow them down. The aims of the Democrats are as bad as can be, consisting of tax increases, weakness in the War on Islamofascism (including Iraq), and possibly impeachment, certainly endless investigations. And spending, Lots and lots of new social spending.

Fortunately (and I'm talking to you Mr. President) the Republicans have the veto pen and the numbers to make vetoes stick. Also, just as important, the Senate Republicans have the filibuster. The Democrats have used it to advantage. Teach them that when they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind.

Iraq is going to be a tough one. One thing the Republicans might do is to try to improve the narrative beyond the awful litany of combat deaths. The vast majority of the soldiers there believe in the mission. Use that enthusiasm to change the narrative. And find some ways to motivate the Iraqi Government into ending the sectarian violence and take on the militias. Replacing Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense was a good start. Rummy has taken a lot of unfair hits, but someone has to fall on his sword and a pair of fresh eyes at the Pentagon will be useful.

Deal forcefully with Iran and North Korea. The kabuki dance of diplomacy is not going to work with those two countries. Come up with a good military plan to take out or at least delay their nuclear programs and implement it.

Finally, just passively opposing Democrat folly will not be enough to turn things around. Start introducing legislation that will appeal to the electorate. You know what this would consist of. Making the tax cuts permanent. Social security and Medicare reform. School choice. And so on. The legislation will not pass, but the effort will set the agenda for 2008. And run against a "do nothing Congress." It worked for Harry Truman and, to a lesser extent, Bill Clinton.

Do not nominate compromise, "moderate" judges. Pick judges as if you have a sixty seat majority. If (and likely when) they get rejected, nominate others just like them. Wear the Democrats down. Make them the obstructionists.

And while we're at it, try to avoid the temptation to try to compromise with the Democrats on legislation. Make them compromise with you. If they want to say-raise the minimum wage-they also need to cut taxes.

The next two years are likely to be filled with turmoil. But the problem of a Democrat Congress can also be an opportunity. The trick is to recognize it and take advantage of it. In so doing, the seeds of victory in 2008 can be planted.