Right on! Term limits seems to be a necessary part of the solution. Another part would be to have the Republican National Committee take a stronger role in vetting candidates and the Congressional caucus to be more in line with the Democratic caucus that enforces a hard-line vote. The problem is that the Republicans are clearly confused over whether they are the party of the fiscally conservative or the spokesmen for the fundamentalist religious right. Perhaps a new party is needed that marries the fiscally conservative elements of the Republican party with the so-called Blue Dog Democrats, thereby marginalizing both the far left and the far right.

Who can believe anything that either Dems or Repubs say? In 1994-2006, they had a chance to show that they really believed in smaller government, lower waste, etc., but then showed the same old political power grab. Unfortunately, the Repubs probably are better at being the commentators on the direction rather than guiding the direction that the country is going.