Sharp Left Turns Thwarted

By Hugh Hewitt

President Bush is enjoying a political surge in D.C. His veto threats have forced Congressional Democrats backwards from their vast spending plans, backwards from proposed tax hikes, and backwards from the attempt to increase the difficulties of conducting surveillance on international terrorists communicating with their allies in the U.S.

Assisted ably by Senator Mitch McConnell and by resolve among rank-and-file House Republicans, all of the Democratic plans for sharp left turns in 2007 have been defeated, and an angry left wing is hurling invective against their obviously impotent Congressional leaders.

The GOP loss in 2006 has paid one great dividend: It has allowed the country to glimpse just how radical the Democrats have become on issue after issue, how defeatist on the war, how determined to raise and raise taxes and expand government. President Bush has held the line this year, and he will do so again in 2008.

It will be up to voters to return Democrats to minority status in 2008.