A pox on both your parties!

Mark Steyn talks tough to the GOP Congress, recounting the lame excuse that they're not used to being in the majority.

Newt said, well, you must remember Republicans are still pretty new at this, we're not used to being in the majority.

That's it? The Iraqis are expected to pick up the ins and outs of this governing business instantly, but the Republican party can't get the hang of it after eleven years? Don't worry, I'm not predicting electoral disaster this November. It would be nice to think that the GOP might get to enjoy a Geena Davis-style "hiatus" while they "retune" their winning formula. But I doubt it will happen: Even losers need someone to lose to, and the Democrats have failed to fulfill even that minimal requirement for the last decade.

Ouch!

And the Democrats do not escape:

The Democrats have been the most contemptible opportunists in the years since 9/11: If they've got nothing useful to contribute to the great challenge of the age they could at least have the decency not to waste our time waving around three-year-old Abu Ghraib pictures and chanting "exit strategy" every ten minutes.

Harry Reid's "leadership" seems to consist of killing important legislation on the theory that it won't give the Republicans an accomplishment to run on. It's as though it's never entered his head to put the nation's interests ahead of his party's.

I'll trudge to the polls this year and vote, although I doubt it will change anything, because President Bush doesn't need even more problems, but it's been a long time since I really respected or admired anybody on the national ballot.