So it's come to this

I just heard Newt Gingrich talking on Fox about how the Republicans need to take up the mantle of reform and vow to clean up the corruption in Washington. He said this without irony because he's quite serious. He mentioned that the Democrats were investigated ten years ago for illegal foreign campaign contributions. He didn't mention that there was never any there there. But it sounds good, doesn't it? And the Republicans may just be able to finesse this because Democrats are so skittish about a couple of their brethren being caught up in the sweep that they are pulling their punches.

Republicans beat a decorated war hero with a fey draft dodger during wartime because they skillfully exploited the public's long held anxieties about Democratic bona fides on national security. If Democrats can't can't run on the corollary "Republicans are crooks" meme in the midst of the biggest government abuse and corruption scandal since Watergate, then we really are useless. We saw this coming for months. And yet we are caught flat footed and the GOP is going to run as the party of reform. Dear gawd.

Digby sees the same thing I do. You know, if it weren't for what I desperately cling to as my "principles," I might just have to go and become a Republican, on the grounds that at least they can get things done. At least when it comes to winning elections. I gotta say, there are times when I can definitely see the appeal of that.

I mean, who doesn't want to be with a winner? Meanwhile, the Democrats are on life support like most television series in their sixth or seventh seasons. There are still a few zombies tuning in, but most people with any critical faculties left gave up a long time ago.

And I am reminded of my mantra during the Kerry campaign: If the Democrats can't beat George W. Bush, they ought to just quietly disband. Do you suppose they have, and they just haven't had the heart to tell us?