It is difficult to get people to the polls although Rove argues that the
intensity factor is slightly higher among Republicans than Democrats. If
he is correct this election could look very different than the liberal
media portrayal. If that is the case then we ought to start over in the
110th Congress. Senate Majority Leader William H. (Bill) Frist, M.D.
(R-TN) will have retired voluntarily. Senator A. Mitchell (Mitch)
McConnell, Jr. (R-KY), the current Majority Whip, is thought to be a
sure successor. Should Republicans be defeated, as many believe they
will be, there might be a revolt among Senators and someone else may run
for Minority Leader. If Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) returns, he would
like to be in a leadership position. Some in the Santorum camp believe
this would be a great platform from which he could run for President. My
advice would be just the opposite. First, the last time a Senator was
elected President was 46 years ago. I pray that Santorum wins
reelection. Either way, the new leadership in the Senate may be more
aggressive.
J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has served as Speaker of the House of
Representatives longer than any Republican in history. Unfortunately,
Hastert has become tangled in the Mark Foley (R-FL) scandal. I believe
Hastert when he says he knew nothing of lewd e-mails between Foley and a
male Congressional page until the matter broke on ABC News. I am afraid
that the public does not believe him. My wife, who over the years has
proved to be a perfect barometer of public opinion, does not believe
Hastert and feels he should step down. She feels he knew all was not
well and did nothing about it. If Karl Rove is correct and Republicans
retain control of the House by a slim margin the House should have a new
Speaker. I am sorry to say that because I like Hastert and certainly he
has been honest with me over the years. If Democrats were to take the
House there would be no Republican Speaker's position. That would leave
Representative John A. Boehner (R-OH) as Minority Leader. I already know
of at least one potential challenger to Boehner should Democrats win by
a wide margin. Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO) ought to keep his
position as Majority or Minority Whip but I am told he may face
challengers as well.
I need to count my blessings. After all, this is still a relatively free
country. We, the voters, will determine the outcome of the election. The
future is up to us. Let us pray that it is the right kind of future.