22 DAYS AWAY...

NY Times Bob Benenson October 16, 2006 12:26 PM

In October 1994, Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report alerted its readers to the increasing possibility of a Republican takeover of Congress. Using the traditional symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties, the cover illustration was a cartoon of a donkey having a nightmare of elephants storming up the steps of the Capitol.

A dozen years later, it would be the elephant sleeping fitfully. And the dream keeping it awake could be titled "Nightmare on First Street II -- The Donkey Stampede."

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SCANDAL RIDDEN HASTERT LOSING GRIP ON HOUSE…

Washington Post Michael Grunwald, Jim VandeHei October 16, 2006 09:01 AM

It is only recently that GOP oars have started rowing in disparate directions -- not only over Foley, but policy issues such as Social Security and immigration. Some insiders think the loss of DeLay has created a breakdown in discipline. "Everybody in the caucus loves Denny. The problem is that nobody really fears him," said one GOP lobbyist who spoke only on condition of anonymity. "I think he's done."

Hastert aides say he intends to fight to protect his job, and he intends to win. After all, his legacy is at stake on Nov. 7. He'll either be the unbeaten coach, or the coach who lost the big one. Either way, he'll be the speaker who presided over an era of unprecedented partisanship, an era when winning seemed to be the only thing that mattered.

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