McCain, if he wins, will have short coat tails

Even if John McCain eeks out a narrow win for the presidency over Barack Obama, substantial Democratic majorities are still expected in the U.S. House and Senate.

This odd behavior by the voters guarantees another four years of stalemate and politcal grandstanding, instead of the constructive legislative action needed to deal with the country's problems.

Congressional Republicans certainly have not helped themselves, availing themselves of all the perks and privileges of power, and showing no signs of either discerning the problem or fixing it. Republican incumbents cannot talk about earmarks, wasteful federal spending, misplaced budget priorities or scandals caused by these abuses--because they are at least as guilty as the majority Democrats in propagating them.

The indictment of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens for taking oil company construction on his private home, in return for earmarks in the federal budget--just confirms that Republicans are the problem. The liberal mass media takes special care to transmit this message repeatedly. The Democrat's crooks, like Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, who was found with over $90,000 in cash in his freezer at home, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's participation in questionable Nevada land deals--are swept under the carpet by the compliant press.

It is a fact of life Republicans have to contend with. The solution is to return to their small government, tight spending roots, and give the voters the responsible leadership they are looking for in Congress.

Is that too much to ask?