When the Bough Breaks...

People have said that 1968 was the year that changed America. I don't believe that. It surely tested America, but it didn't change much.
2005 might be called another year that changed or tested America such as years like 1929, 1941, and 1861.
Granted, 2005 might be one day remembered as the year the GOP began to crumble. Not to make this a liberal blog, but you got to admit that the Republican party fucked up royally in the year 2005 and tried to do an death bed redemption during the final few months.
For the first time in decades, the Republican party had controll of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate, as well as having pull in the Supreme Court. Basically, they were in charge. Having so many people with similar beliefs in charge of so many things is a recipe for disaster.
Why?
Because they are in fighting among themselves. At first, they tried to get along.
But some woman named Terry Schiavo fucked it up and she didn't do anything except die. With the majority of the Repulican party pushing to keep this woman alive because of the sanctity of life, they seemed to contradict their agenda from 2004 that marriage is sacred. Marriage is only sacred when it's between a man and a woman and they both agree to let the in-laws walk all over them, I guess.
Then, there was Bush's choice for an ambassador at the U.N. who looked like the drunken crooked sheriff in some grade-C cowboy movie. Not good.
But what really divided the party and the nation was Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. For nearly four years, people have let the President and the Republican party say whatever they want as if it was the Gospel. But "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" is a big pile of bullshit. After the mess in New Orleans, being a Bush supporter was not a sign of American pride, but a show of ignorance.
Sure, there were some to admit that the Emperor is still wearing clothes, such as Ben Stein who shot off his mouth saying we were blaming the weather on Bush. Well, Bush does think he's God, so why not? No, Ben Stein, we weren't saying that Bush was in charge of the weather. But as the leader of this country, he should have been in charge of helping these people get relief.
Granted, if Hurricane Katrina had happened 365 days earlier, John Kerry would have became the 44th President of the United States by a landslide. Hell, Mickey Mouse would have became the President.
Finally, for the first time in four years, John McCain didn't stand alone in the Republican party. Republicans showed that despite the cold jokes, they still have a heart and common sense. They criticized Harriet Myers. The told Sen. Ted Stevens to give all that money for that bridge to nowhere in Alaska to the relief effort. He loudly said, "NO!!" and proved to be the biggest baby of the year.
Republicans finally admitted that they were wrong for voting for the war in Iraq. They began to back away from Tom DeLay. Even Bill Frist had some questions about renewing the Patriot Act.
So, where to go in 2006? The Republicans in Washington, D.C. must decide what to do. Instead of being called the Grand Old Party, they can become the Brand New Party, composed of people who listen to their constituents rather than their lobbyists.
Some of the greatest leaders in this country have been Republicans. Then, again, some of the worst were also Republicans.
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.