Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 6

Sunday, November 12, 2006 Viewpoint Established in 1690 Published by The Indiana Printing Publishing Company President and Publisher fTACSlI HASTKO.IULfTa Secretary and Assistant Treasurer Treasurer and Assistant Secretary JOSEPH L. GEAUT Vice President and General Manager Lucy i. I K. Hactta Ray "TheCazettc wants to be the friend of every man, the promulgator of all that's right, a welcome guest in the home. We want to build up.

not tear down, to help, not to hinder; and to assist every worthy person in the community without reference to race, religion or politics. Our cause will be the broadening and bettering of the county's interests." Election showed 'great revulsion' to GOP's policies I not feeling giddy as much as greatly relieved. PAUL KRUGMAN Voters got rid of 'culture of corruption' OK. maybe a little giddy. Jive em hell, i tarry and Nancy! Here's what I wmic more than three years ago, in the in-tmductiun to my column collection Ihe RICH L0WRY conservatives on the American political scene.

And that's as it should be: a diversity of views is part of what makes democracy vital. But we may be seeing the downfall of movement conservatism the potent alliance of wealthy individuals, corporate interests and the religious right that took shape in the 1960s and 1970s. This alliance may once have had something to do with ideas, but it has Great "I have a vision maybe just a hope of a great revulsion: a moment in which the American people look at what is hap- rtpnmo ralf7f hmv never could be truly enforced. Both parlies will always have their share of malefactors. Democrats have two high-profile examples of their own.

but such is the tawdry political cultures of their states that they both won re-election (Sen. Robert Menendez of New lersey and Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana). Republicans, however, naturally were held to a higher standard as the party in power, and they didn't come close to meeting it. The culture of corruption was really a culture of looking the other way.

delaying action and hoping no one would notice. The first step on the slide toward oblivion was the decision of the House Republican conference right after the 2004 elections to reverse a rule that said The "culture of corruption" was real. That phrase was a much-contested talking point during the past two years, with Democrats touting it as an accurate description of the degraded ethical state of the congressional (iOP and Republicans dismissing it as a smear. Democrats were much closer to the truth. Voters took a good whiff of the odor emanating from Washington and some of their Republican representatives, and recoiled.

One-third of Republican losses in the House came in congressional districts where the party had been tainted, to varying degrees, by scandal. Those seats were in Arizona's 5th, California's 11th. Florida's 16th. New York's 20th. North Car Paul Krueman writes a column Rich Lowry's column is distributed by King Features their goodwill and ftlT ltv Vra" York patriotism have been 'ime- abused.

and put a stop to this drive to destroy much of what is best in our country." understandable reasons delivering bad news to friends and colleagues is always hard. That's why reformers must be zealous. It lakes zeal to bieak through the natural barriers to staying clean. Unfortunately, Speaker of the House Dennis Hasten was the opposite of zealous, refusing to force his members to purge themselves and adopt a wide-ranging, meaningful reform agenda. Republicans just hoped they could hang on.

without voters dwelling on the fact that all they seemed to can; about was their own self-perpetual ion. If there was ever any chance that strategy would work, it was eliminated by Honda Rep. Mark Foley's disgrace. The scandal again presented an image of a Republican Parry resolutely un-energetic in polking itself and consumed with trying to shift the blame once misconduct came to light. Exit polls show that more voters cited corruption as their top concern than even the Iraq War.

Pundits are dismissing this number, but Republicans do so at their own peril. When given the chance to pass a verdict on a party disproportionately composed of fat and happy self-serving politicians, the public did a very American thing it gave them an unmistakable rebuke. Republicans now will have time in the minority to reacquire their reforming zeal. As for cleaning up their own ranks, it is no longer necessary. All elected Republicans in any way associated with scandal are now gone, courtesy of the American voter.

Send e-nutil to atmments.towry&national review, com Syndicate. members of its leadership had to step aside if indicted. This move was meant to protect Majority Leader Tom DcLay from a bogus indictment in Texas, but it played as a special favor for a powerful player and was unsustainable. Republicans changed the rule back. But the culture-of-corruption theme had been set, and Republicans would play into it right up to Election Day.

As the scandal around Jack AbramufF developed. Republicans should have forced those members most directly implicated Reps. Tom Delay and Bob Ney, along with just-defeated Sen. Conrad Bums to step aside expeditiously. They didn't, partly for olina's 11th.

Pennsylvania's 7th and 10th. Ohio's 18m and Texas' 22nd congressional districts. Drawing from these races, the CiOP's message to its ranks should be (taking them in order): If you want to take questionable Native American -tribe money, get entangled with a shady lobbyist, do favors for a client of a shady lobbyist, hit on teenage pages, haw domestic-disturbance calls at your house, take bribes, funnel contracts to your lobbyist daughter, allegedly choke your mistress or run a congressional office infested with self-enriching charlatans please, go find some other party. Human nature being what it is, this edict LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Criticism of teachers misses mark become mainly a corrupt political machine, and America will he a better place if that machine breaks down. Why do I want to see movement conservatism crushed? Partly because the movement is fundamentally undemocratic: its leaders don't accept the legitimacy of opposition.

Democrats will only become acceptable, declared Graver Norquist. the president of Americans for Tax Reform, once they "are comfortable in their minority status." He added, "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." And the determination of the movement to hold on to power at any cost has poisoned our political culture. Just think about the campaign that just ended, with its coded racism, deceptive robo -calls, personal smears, homeless men bused in to hand out deceptive fliers, and more. Not to mention the constant implication that anyone who questions the Bush administration or its policies is very nearly a traitor. SOf-DESTRUCTED When movement conservatism took it over, the Republican Parry ceased to be the party of Dwight Eisenhower and became the party of Karl Rove.

The good news is that Karl Rove and the political tendency he represents may both have fust self-destructed. Two years ago, people were talking about permanent right-wing dominance of American politics. But since then the American people have gotten a clearer sense of what rule by movement conservatives means. They've seen the movement take us into an unnecessary war, and botch every aspect of that war. They've seen a great American city left to drown; they've seen corruption reach deep into our political process; they've seen the hypocrisy of those who lecture us on morality.

And they just said no. ILLUSION OF VICTORY At the time, the right was still celebrating the illusion of victory in Iraq, and the bizarre Bosh personality cult was still in full flower. But now the great revulsion has arrived. Tuesday's election was a truly stunning victory for the Democrats. Candidates planning to caucus with the Democrats took 24 of the 33 Senate seats at stake this year, winning 7 million mori' votes than Republicans.

In House races. Democrats received about 53 percent of the two-party vote, giving them a margin more than twice as large as the 2.5 pen entiige -point lead that Bush claimed as a "mandate" two years ago and the margin would have been even bigger if many Democrats hadn't been running unopposed. The election wasn't just the end of the road fur Bush's reign of error. It was also the end of the 12-year Republican dominance of Congress. I he Democrats will now hold a majority in the House that is about as big as the Republicans ever achieved during that era of dominance.

Moreover, the new Democratic majority may well be much more effective than the majority the party lost in li4. Thanks to a great regional realignment, in which a solid Northeast has replaced the solid South. Democratic control no longer depends on a bloc of Dixiecrais whose ideological sympathies were often with the other side of the aisle. Now. I don't expect or want a permanent Democratic lock on power.

But I do hope and believe that this election marks the beginning of the end fur the conservative movement that has taken over the Republican Party. In saying that. 1 not calling for or predicting the end of conservatism. There always have been and always will be 1 am responding to Mr. Col-gan's letter to the editor on Sunday.

Nov. 5 in The Indiana (acue. I believe Mr. Colgan missed the point regarding the Marion Center teachers wanting an increase in salary. Those teachers have, under protection of the law.

every right to strike in order to be placed on a salary scale comparable to other school districts in our county and to negotiate the content of their contracts. Bringing our troops into the strike issue is a low blow both to the teachers and to the military. He wrote. "According to the teachers' thought process, we arc being defended by a lower quality soldier." 1 ie was way out of line with that statement and in comparing our teachers with our military. Our troops arc professional, committed volunteers and their salaries arc controlled by the government and our politicians.

Do our politicians believe our military personnel are If they believe their salaries need to he boosted, believe me they can make it happen! Why not place the subject of military pay increases on the ballot? 1 nen, perhaps, they will receive the pay they certainly deserve. Teachers are professional, committed volunteers as well, and their salaries are determined through the negotiations process. Why not place the subject of establishing schoolteachers' contracts on a statewide ballot and take that responsibility from local boards? Without a doubt, a statewide contract would produce some major adjustments throughout the stale. As a result, the less affluent districts would have a righting chance, and teachers would no longer be at the mercy of local boards (political positions). Many of the residents who reside in the Marion Center district earn their incomes throughout the county but pay less in taxes than some other school districts.1 many have a difficult lime making ends meet, but that is true of every school district.

Speaking of politicians, they have spent over $2.6 billion during the current election campaign! And for what? To win votes! Are they really concerned about those struggling to make ends meet and fair salaries for our teachers and military personnel? I totally agree that there are many struggling in our community as I meet and work with these people. Then I see the other side of the picture people driving hig vans, walking around with cell phones and packing eating places regularly. Are these people struggling or concerned about those who are? The Marion Center teachers deserve to be treated as equals in their profession. Comparing them with our military Ls about as asinine as comparing them with professional sports figures. It makes no sense! CofnltSteMrt Indiana Church graffiti failed to tell truth Several days ago the church I attend had some unhappy person or persons spray-paint the phrase "(hkI is Dead" on our church wall.

To them 1 want to say, "You want to bet?" A couple of young men scrubbed the graffiti off the wall. My feeling is that it should have been left there, along with a list of proof that Cod is not dead and is still performing miracles. His artistry in coloring the leaves. Don't say nature happens. In my 60 plus years, I have seen many a fall, some more beautiful than others, hut never two alike lid you ever find yourself in a precarious situation but felt warm all over? That is Cod holding you under his wing, getting you through.

How about family or friends with cancer or serious life-threatening illness who suddenly get well or heal? Prayer works. Cod is not dead. Take off your blinders. Don't be a stubborn mule. Open your heart and see how fasi Cod enters.

Then you will find some very happy things to do. Speaking out about the war in Iraq Guidelines for letter writers The recent election is proof that even the people who did vote for Rush are now "feeling blue" as Democrats have gained control of the I louse and Senate. I can only hope they can somehow clean up the mess Bush has made. American historian Howard Zinn said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." I don't plan to ever stop using my right to speak freely here in the USA and when it comes to Rush and his war buddies. I am never at a loss for words.

rorists. Unfortunately, not only are our troops in the entirely wrong country (Iraq and Afghanistan are kinda hard to confuse), but now we have even more enemies because of Rush's actions. The people who are against Bush and this "war" are so because we care about our troops. We don't want them dead for oil andor political gain. As for your plea to "leave them atone" (referring in Bush we would if he were demonstrating common sense and concern for humanity even half of the time.

This is in response to the letter of Nov. 8. "Let's focus on our troops." For starters, this "war" has never been declared a legal war by the United States Congress. What is happening in Iraq is that thousands of men. women and children, including our troops, are being maimed and killed for no good reason.

We are in Iraq because President Bush and his war buddies have a passion for oil and no regard for human life. It was a political strategy to make some people feel safer by the idea of a president killing ter The Indiana Gazette welcomes letters to the editor and will endeavor to print readers' letters In a timely manner. Letters to the editor should be signed and include the writer's full address and telephone number so the authenticity of the letter can be confirmed. No letters will be published anonymously. Letters must be tactual and discuss issues rather than personalities.

Writers should avoid name-calling. Form letters and automated "canned" e-mail will not be accepted. Overall, short letters are more effective than long ones. Generally, letters should be limited to 350 words in length. All letters are subject to editing.

To allow tor wide participation, letter writers will be limited to no more than one submission a month. Send letters to Me Petersen, editorial page editor. The Indiana Gazette. 899 Water St. Indiana.

PA 15701. Letters may also be e-mailed to rnepetersenindianagazette.riet Indiana Ctymer MONDAY The Robertses: Thomas Friedman: The vital China Sputnik 'dynamic center' or scapegoat? TUESDAY Betsy Hart: God vs. science.