TW: How will the Republicans regain their electoral footing? Partly through the corruption of the Democrats. Corruption is a bi-partisan result of entrenched power. No one or party has ever figured out how to purge their party of corruption. Weak individuals faced with new found power and authority inevitably fall into corrupt practices.
Corruption alone will not provide the Republicans with enough basis for a resurgence. They will have to go through their own molting process to acquire fresh leadership and adopt policies more aligned with moderates as opposed to the hard right base. But corruption is the great equalizer in American politics which is useful in keeping both parties viable. Should the day happen when corruption becomes so endemic as to not provide such an equalizer (i.e. like Italy), then we would have a problem.
From WSJ:
"Democrats control both houses of the New Mexico legislature, the governorship, all statewide offices and all the state's congressional seats. But the party has been roiled by scandal in recent years, with a steady drumbeat of corruption investigations, indictments and convictions.
...Now Republicans are pointing to the scandals to bolster their argument that it is dangerous for one party to control all the levers of power. That is the same line the national GOP is taking as it girds for midterm elections next year with the Democratic Party in control of the White House and Congress.
"We're trying to sell the notion to the public that a real two-party system will reduce corruption and allow better oversight," said Harvey E. Yates, Jr., the new chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party.
...But veteran political analysts said the GOP could well gain traction, and signs of voter unrest already are beginning to emerge. Two and a half years ago, Mr. Richardson was re-elected with 68% of the vote, a margin unprecedented in state history. As he entered his second term, his approval rating soared above 70%. That has dropped sharply, according to recent polls by SurveyUSA and New Mexico State University. Both put his approval rating at just over 40%.
A federal grand jury is investigating Mr. Richardson's administration for allegedly steering contracts to a financial-services firm in exchange for donations to the governor's political committees. One of Mr. Richardson's top aides is named in a separate, private lawsuit alleging that political considerations influenced state investments. The state has also come under scrutiny for investments made through the private-equity firm Quadrangle Group, founded by Steven Rattner, a major Democratic fund-raiser.
..."You can't pick up a paper these days without hearing of some more Democratic corruption in the state," said Gabriel Sanchez, a political-science professor at the University of New Mexico. Allegations have included conspiracy, fraud, embezzlement, and evidence tampering.
..."If Republicans get their act together and focus on all these allegations" against Democrats, they could gain ground in "a voter backlash" against the ruling party, Mr. Sanderoff said."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124079114333557757.html
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