Remember the press conference after the election when W said the voters had given him political capital?

And then he said he was going to spend it?

Even though I voted for W, I thought that was a little much.

But now it looks like W and the Republicans are trying to spend all their political capital in the first month after the election.

The word hubris comes to mind. Hubris is defined as "exaggerated pride or self-confidence," and that is precisely what I see going on with Republicans.

They won the presidency. They increased their majorities in the U.S. House and Senate. The gained governor seats.

We're at war, for crying out loud. One would think it would be a time for humility in victory, wouldn't one?

The country is divided. Perhaps it's a time to build some bridges of partisanship?

Nah, much better to burn them.

So instead of humbly accepting the awesome responsibility of majority governing, they're acting like cocky teenagers. They seem to have this "We won. Up yours." air about them.

This is very unsettling to me.

Frankly, I'm surprised I haven't seen some GOP guy in Washington sticking his thumbs in his ears, waving his hands and saying, "Nya, nya, nya, nya, nyaaa, nyaaaaa" during a press conference.

First, and almost unbelievably, House Republicans rewrote the ethics rules of the House so that Tom Delay, if indicted as part of an investigation into shading dealings in Texas, could keep his majority leader's post.

Aside from the fact that indicted people probably aren't the most productive of leaders, I suppose one could slough this move off as politics as usual.

Problem is, the rule was passed in 1993 at the behest of the GOP at time when they were kind of after guys like Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois. Rostenkowski eventually was indicted.

And I'll give you three guesses - the first two of which don't count - who was one of those who pushed for the indictment rule.

Of course. Tom Delay.

After all, he's Mr. Ethics, right? He's only been cited three times by the House ethics committee this year and once more in 1999.

Aw, that's not so bad, is it?

And now you hear Republicans - without the slightest wink or grin - talk about the need to change the rule they formerly proposed. All because the investigation of Delay - possibly involved in the misuse of corporate campaign donations - was politically motivated.

I wonder if this is one of those moral issues that voters identified as a reason for voting for Republicans on Nov. 2?

Next, the GOP inserts a couple startling provisions in an omnibus budget bill.

I guess they were hoping no one would notice.

Somebody did.

One provision would have expanded the right of healthcare providers to refuse to perform abortions or offer abortion information if they didn't want to.

Now, I am not saying I fully disagree with that, because I believe abortion is wrong. But trying to slip an item like that into a 15-pound budget bill that is being rushed to passage also is wrong.

It's something that needs to be debated. Plus, it just makes Republicans look, well, sneaky.

Another single line in the 1,000-page budget bill would have made our income tax returns available for inspection by a couple committee chairmen and their assistants.

Both provisions were removed and won't be part of the bill when it is passed.

You know, this is really annoying.

What in the world are Republicans thinking? It's not too late for them to turn it around.

I have watched politics for a long time and I think right now is a unique situation.

Its a unique opportunity to get some things done.

The GOP has the White House. The GOP has House and Senate majorities.

It's time to rein in the scope of government. Leaner, more effective programs should be introduced and existing programs should be made more efficient.

It's time to begin the process of shoring up Social Security. It's time to do something about the cost of health care.

It's time to devote enough resources to get the job done in Iraq as swiftly as possible.

You know, Democrat John Kerry ran for president on some of these same issues.

You know, many Democrats are of like mind and will go along. There are some really positive things that could happen.

I want the GOP to start acting and governing like the compassionate conservatives they claim to be. That's the GOP I voted for.

Sure, voters gave the GOP some capital. But at this rate, they'll be insolvent by the mid-term election. [[In-content Ad]]