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Political Roadkill
by Jeff Koopersmith
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Yesterday, the Weekly Standard hit the news stands. The Standard, a conservative (to say the least) publication, chose to print the following submission by House member Peter King (R-NY):
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"As roadkill on the highway of American politics, Newt Gingrich cannot sell the Republican agenda."
This wasn't exactly a surprise to well-informed Americans who had heard the quote several times over the weekend on a variety of political pundit television shows and news programs. Standard honcho William Kristol, who shares the phonetic last name and the face of comedian Billy Crystal, said the magazine heard from Rep. King last week and sort of flinched at first, because congressional copy is usually poorly written, boring and self-serving, but -- surprise! -- King turned out to be not only putting the screws to the Speaker, but doing so assertively and intelligently.
King, in his article, went on to say that Gingrich is "the most powerful liberal in American politics" and said he should "be replaced as speaker because he is killing us."
To the rescue came Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), simultaneously marionette of and string-puller for the Gingirch inner circle. When shown the article on national television, he sneered, "I'm gonna save that Weekly Standard for this time next year. And I think pundits like The Weekly Standard will have egg all over their cover when they see that we have accomplished the things we set out to accomplish.''
Newt himself was "unable to comment" because he was off in China. But Friday, he gave a speech highlighting his commitment to cutting taxes only a week after he said he would lay the GOP tax cut plank aside to work with Bill Clinton on a balanced budget.
It was this flip-flop that evidently pushed conservative Rep. King over the edge. But the slippery-slope of failure for Mr. Gingrich began long ago and there is no stopping it.
Despite circling the wagons to protect their Speaker during the House Ethics Committee debacle, most Republicans want to see the Speaker shown the door -- and as quickly as possible. The only thing slowing them is time -- enough time, they hope, for voters to "forget" why Gingrich is leaving. This, the "gracious" waiting period, is nearly over as majority House members pounce on the Speaker at every opportunity of weakness.
Like jackals circling a wounded water buffalo, they strain their patience, gnash their teeth and struggle to keep their blood-lust in check.
Copyright © 2001, 1997, 1996, American Politics Journal Publications, Inc. 
