Dreams of permanence, taste of ashes

Remember this?

DeLay himself drew the line sharply the day after the 2004 elections. "The Republican Party is a permanent majority for the future of this country," DeLay declared. "We're going to be able to lead this country in the direction we've been dreaming of for years."

Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform and a leading figure in both the DeLay and Bush political operations, chose more colorful post-election language to describe the future. "Once the minority of House and Senate are comfortable in their minority status, they will have no problem socializing with the Republicans," he told Richard Leiby of The Post. "Any farmer will tell you that certain animals run around and are unpleasant. But when they've been 'fixed,' then they are happy and sedate. They are contented and cheerful."

Artifacts of hubris and arrogance: In every way imaginable, the Republican Party behaved as though it would control the levers of power for the next thousand years. Abuses of majority rule. Refusal to consider compromise. Neutering the filibuster tool. Rejection of comity and reciprocity. Attempts to shield corrupt party leaders. These are the acts of a party detached from reality and blind to history, a party that actually thinks that it will hold a majority position forever.

So, GOP: How's that working out for you?

Hat tip to Harold's Blog.

(Cross-posted.)


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