Senator Jim Jeffords' defection has forced conservative Republicans to confront a fundamental issue: Do we want to govern or do we want to be self-righteous? Because, as Jeffords has just proven, we can't do both.
For some reason, some conservative Republicans thought that they could call moderate Republicans names and get away with it. They thought that they could openly ridicule them and not pay for their abuse. They even thought that they could openly brag about "punishing" moderates who didn't go along with the program and not suffer negative consequences.
They were wrong. And because of conservatives' unwillingness to make Jeffords feel at home in the GOP, control of the Senate will soon be in the hands of the likes of Kennedy, Leahy and Biden.
Some conservatives, to be sure, are happy. They can't stand moderates and want them to leave the GOP. They truly believe that we need to draw a big line in the sand and force people to take sides. But, as the November election proved, America is split down the middle. The hard fact is that Americans aren't sure whose vision makes the best sense for our future.
Do we conservatives really want to live in a country that is, as Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. recently remarked, controlled by a caring and compassionate government? Or do we want to live in a country where our churches, community organizations and family are at the center of our lives?
This is a crucial question, because next year, the Democrats are going to paint themselves in whatever colors necessary to regain power. And then they will redouble their efforts to enlarge government and continue their war on religion and babies.
If we conservatives are to help rescue America from her slip into moral chaos, we have to learn how to work with those who don't agree with us on all issues. If, on the other hand, we would prefer to be self-righteous rather than lead, we better get ready for a long, cold winter of discontent. Because the Democrats won't be satisfied until they control the House, the Senate and the Presidency.
Some call working with non-believers cowardice or blasphemy. They, who in most cases, have never been elected to public office, would rather be self-righteous than lead. And they are exactly the people who gave us Bill Clinton and, now, an Edward Kennedy-led Senate.
But the harsh reality is that to govern, you have to build coalitions. Because you have to represent all of the people, including those who didn't vote for you. And to build coalitions, you have to make compromises. Isn't that a horrible word? I bet none of you ever make compromises in your personal life, right?
During the next 12 months, primaries will be held for every single seat in the U. S. House of Representatives. In most of these elections, candidates are going to be running in newly-drawn districts. One third of all of the U.S. Senate seats will be up for grabs also. Those elections will determine who will control Congress for the rest of this decade. This will also determine whether President Bush is reelected -- or follows his father as a one-termer.
If you are upset with the radical shift in power in the U.S. Senate, you have a choice. You can open your eyes to the reality that we must work with moderate Republicans if we are to have any chance of saving America. You can learn to work with those who agree with most of our issues to return sanity to our government.
Or, if you can't stomach the thought of compromising on issues of importance to you, keep spitting in the faces of those who don't agree with you. But understand one thing: The days of whine and roses are over.
Because the one choice you will never have again is to abuse those who disagree with you and not pay a price.