Re: Economic Policies from the Republican Congress

[6155GUASTELL@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The way I read the signs, Ric, tax cuts for the wealthy, increased
expenditures for defense and crime and increase in the deficit are
passe. It comes down, more pertinently, to gridlock versus no gridlock.
We had gridlock and oppositionalism prior to Clinton's election, we
had it during the modest Democratic majority, and we could easily have
gridlock now ad infinitum. I think the Congresscritters are wising up
that they have to SOLVE PROBLEMS and keep them solved, and the old
Republican habits wont work, nor with the Democrats' big government
tendencies. I SUSPECT Congresscritters are figuring they'd better
get something done or else all incumbents will be dis-elected next
time around.

The early phases of the next Congress should see the Contract with
America, and other ideological cartoon run up the flagpole with a
vengence. But no one will salute. Then someone will change the subject
-- or grossly reframe an issue -- and they'll get onto a more productive
line of pursuit.

--Stephen Guastello