The Moose has a Swiftian proposal for a Machiavellian elephant.
While watching the State of the Union Address it occurred to the Moose that the GOP would be in a better position for 08 if they lost the House. Tom DeLay's House of Representatives is the embodiment of Republican plutocratic, Abramoff corruption. Republican rule there has reflected a perversion of conservative governance as it has spent recklessly on behalf of their own incumbency and their wealthy chums. House Republicans are resisting even modest reforms.
Some will interpret Blunt's defeat and Boehner's victory as a turning over of a new leaf in the House. However, the Moose knows better. While Boehner was not as close to DeLay as Blunt, he is not substantially different. The Moose can recall that Old Boehner presided over the precursor of the K Street Project soon after Republicans took power. Yes, he was a "reformer'', but that was sixteen years ago during the House Bank scandal.
John Boehner is to reform what Bill O'Reilly is to humility. Since the Republicans have ruled, Boehner has been as mired in the muck of DeLayism as any other GOP leader. His election represents more continuity than change.
Who will rid the Republicans of this meddlesome House?
Of course, no party wants to cede power. But sometimes, even power can become a liability. For instance, one of the best things that ever happened to Bill Clinton's Presidency was Newt Gingrich's revolution of '94. It enabled the Administration to return to the vital center where it belonged. And no longer was the Democratic Party defined by the anachronistic liberalism of its Congressional wing.
Similarly, the House has become an albatross around the neck of the Republicans. Of course, there is a down side of a loss of the House - for the first time in the Bush Presidency there would be genuine congressional oversight. But, like the Republicans of '94, it is quite possible the House Democrats would over-reach. After all, a whole group of very liberal Democrats would be elevated to power.
Just consider that it was a ultra-liberal Democratic Congresswoman who had the stellar judgment to invite Cindy Sheehan who was just feted by Hugo Chavez to be her guest at the State of the Union. No doubt the new Judiciary Chairman would move to impeach the President in the spring of '07.
And most important, the elephant would be given and kick in the rear and perhaps be forced to reform as it moved toward 2008. With McCain as its nominee, the GOP could emerge as the reform party in '08.
In contrast, a Democratic victory in the House could convince that party that there was no great need to address its weaknesses. The lefties would be emboldened and feel vindicated.
Of course, no Republican would publicly approve of such a scenario. But, politics works in mysterious ways. And the worse, may be better for the GOP, at least in the short run. -- | 
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