ALL HE CAN BE
Locked in a tough re-election fight for House Majority Leader, Rep. Dick Armey (R., Texas) is laying out a clear vision for the next Congress. His November 6 letter to GOP colleagues calls for "cutting taxes, reforming Social Security, reforming education, and rebuilding our defenses." The letter is not a policy paper, but a partisan call to arms; Armey wants to revive the spirit of Republican camaraderie that marked the Contract with America period and craft what he calls a "powerful Agenda 2000."

The Majority Leader does not brag about several important accomplishments that belong entirely to him--delaying IMF funding for a year and then securing institutional reforms (albeit minor ones,) forcing President Clinton to veto a school-choice bill that would have helped low-income children in the District of Columbia. Instead, he admits recent mistakes: "We need many opportunities to showcase our best ideas rather than hiding them in 5,000-page omnibus bills," "We must go back to getting our work done on time," etc. This is precisely the kind of rethinking the GOP leadership needs.

Armey's biggest misfortune over the last two years, of course, has been his close association with Newt Gingrich. After last year's botched coup attempt, Armey tied himself closely to the outgoing Speaker--a move that alienated many of his conservative admirers. If Armey is re-elected to his post, as looks increasingly likely, he will have a much freer hand in applying his own deeply-held conservatism to GOP leadership decisions. He will also have the ideological and intellectual tools - plus an outstanding veteran staff - necessary to balance Speaker Livingston's process-oriented approach to managing the House.

PHOTO FINISH II
NR reported in yesterday's Washington Bulletin that pro-family organizations are lobbying against Rep. Tom Davis's (R., Va.) bid to become head of the National Republican Congressional Committee. In addition to publicizing Davis' voting record as a pro-abortion moderate, they are faxing around a newspaper photo of Davis brandishing a bumper sticker promoting the election of Democrat Don Beyer for Lt. Gov. of Virginia. On Wednesday, Davis personally spoke with NR and said that the photo was taken at a benefit for leukemia in 1994 (the year after Beyer won his Lt. Gov. bid, and three years before an unsuccessful gubernatorial run), and that an attendee promised a pledge on the condition Davis slap the bumper sticker across his chest. Davis also said that he supported the candidacy of Republican Michael Farris against Beyer in 1993.

CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN'
Following the GOP bloodbath in California last week, Republicans will be almost completely locked out of redistricting decisions following the 2000 census. This could result in the loss of four to ten Congressional seats currently held by the GOP, say demographers. To counter this looming problem, the state party is weighing a ballot initiative that would place redistricting in the hands of an independent commission or the state Supreme Court. Voters have rejected two previous attempts to do this, but the new one-party dynamic in the Golden State may encourage the electorate to reconsider. It also may encourage the Republican National Committee to put up serious money on its behalf.