A Risk and an Opportunity

A CAT who sits on a hot stove, Mark Twain observed, will never again sit on any stove—cold or hot. As the new Republican majority in Congress promises to avoid the mistakes of 1995 and 1996, it’s hard not to wonder: Are these scalded cats too jumpy?

Every day seems to bring new reports of something the Republicans will not do in the next Congress. Abortion? No. Social Security? No. Major tax reform? No. At his press conference a couple of days after the vote, President Bush listed precisely two legislative priorities: the establishment of a Homeland Security Department, and “job creation and economic security.” Republicans should beware of overreaching. But there is such a thing as under-reaching, and it too can be dangerous.

DF

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David Frum

A CAT who sits on a hot stove, Mark Twain observed, will never again sit on any stove—cold or hot. As the new Republican majority in Congress promises to avoid the mistakes of 1995 and 1996, it’s hard not to wonder: Are these scalded cats too jumpy?

Every day seems to bring new reports of something the Republicans will not do in the next Congress. Abortion? No. Social Security? No. Major tax reform? No. At his press conference a couple of days after the vote, President Bush listed precisely two legislative priorities: the establishment of a Homeland Security Department, and “job creation and economic security.” Republicans should beware of overreaching. But there is such a thing as under-reaching, and it too can be dangerous.