We’ll forgo the 1964 – 1980 period and go directly to 1994+. After Gingrich played chicken and lost (which was a HUGE blunder), he was weakened politically. This, along with his affair, etc. lead to his being replaced as speaker. That is where the problem really began.

I never understood what Hastert’s motivation was. With DeLay it was obviously about personal (and corporate) power. If DeLay was ever a true conservative he also become the poster child for the old adage “power corrupts …”. We are now saddle with a “kinder and gentler” version in the top GOP leadership. Big government is great because it’s easy (politically). These same guys who so adamantly opposed PORKULUS were all for Bush’s bank bailout.

My argument is simple. The revolution was real. It was just corrupted by the likes of DeLay, Boehner, Blunt, and now Eric Cantor (who I always respected until a few years ago). When the House GOP caucus decides to put guys like Pence, Shadegg, Flake, etc. in the top posts then the conservative majority in this country will be ready to fight for them again.

The lessons of 1964 – 1980 and 1994 – ??? are relatively simple. Put principle first. Winning elections will come because our beliefs are truly what is best for America. But as we allow the Karl Roves, George W. Bushes, and Tom DeLays to corrupt the conservative movement we are doomed to short, cyclical periods of victory.

Looking at the state of things when it ended in 2006, I don’t see all that much. They certainly didn’t take the central elements of the Great Society on, and welfare reform was a largely bipartisan project.

That’s why I don’t see why we should trust the current Congressional leadership in any significant respect. They’re the same guys who f**ked it up.