http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0610080335oct08,1,5722282.story?coll=chi-news-hedBy Jill Zuckman
Washington Bureau
Published October 8, 2006
WASHINGTON -- They made it look so easy.
After 50 years in the wilderness, Republicans swept to power in 1994 with big ideas about reining in big government, a revolutionary zeal and a moral compass that Democrats seemed to have lost.
With the charismatic Newt Gingrich at the helm, they moved swiftly to impose their view of the world on Congress and the country with lower taxes, less spending, restrictions on abortion and other conservative priorities.
Twelve years later, the House Republicans seem to have lost their playbook. Their ranks are divided despite the GOP's control of the House, Senate and White House. Their vaunted discipline in pushing President Bush's agenda despite a sliver-thin majority has crumbled as nervous lawmakers approach what could be another historic Election Day.
Now, revelations about lurid e-mails that then-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) sent to teenage pages, and GOP leaders' response to them, may have put the final stake in their majority.