text: Homeland Security Watch » Ancient analogies?
  This failure to legislate is even more disturbing when one considers that from 2000-2006 (Republicans) and 2009-2010 (Democrats) controlled all three branches of government.
  Furthermore, the absence of legislative effectiveness leads not only to the executive branch being compelled to act, but also the judiciary being compelled to act and defacto legislate.
  August 2, 2014 @ 1:54 pm
  Over the weekend the editorial staff of the Wall St. Journal lit into the Congressional Republicans for their public display of ineptitude. A sign that the conservatives are disgusted too.
  August 3, 2014 @ 3:59 am
  Sorry Phil but a very weak US Senate about to be further weakened.
  Mr. Earlhart, Claire, and Bill:
  Thanks. In addition to the WSJ, Krauthammer, Will and other leading conservatives have been forthright in their critique of what happened Wednesday-Friday. If only it was an aberration. But it is clearly a pattern. It also seems to be a pattern the mid-terms are likely to strengthen. Madison et al were — based on the example of the late Roman republic — especially concerned by factionalism. It was and is a wise concern. Madison hoped he had reduced the risk of factionalism through an expansive nationalism. In the mid-19th Century sectionalism presented an existential threat to nationalism. The Civil War decided the political contest. I'm not even quite sure what to call the current threat to national unity. It seems mostly defined by what it is not.