Test of Resolve

The rubber is about to meet the road on the GOP's budget promises, which could result in the first government shutdown showdown since the mid-1990s, when Newt Gingrich blinked first and the "Republican revolution" hit the rocks. The only question is, will Barack Obama be the windshield, or will he be the bug?

Newt fancied himself the windshield back in 1995, still dizzy-drunk from his ascent to power. But Bill Clinton played his cards perfectly and Gingrich became the bug. That, in my opinion, marked the beginning of the end for the so-called "Republic revolution" of 1994.

Will history repeat itself?

Stay tuned.

The Ties that Bind

Here's another argument against congressional earmarks for those who need one -- and for those who wrongly assume that the heaven-sent windfalls always benefit local beneficiaries.

The Colorado Springs City Council not long ago caught a little flak for refusing to sign-off on a letter to U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, drafted for us by city staff, seeking Lamborn's support for some Obama Administration "stimulus" measure intended to "help" local governments out. How dare we refuse a federal handout, the critics cried, when the city is weathering a fiscal storm? It amounts to looking a gift horse in the mouth.

But even a dolt by now knows that almost all federal money comes with strings firmly attached -- even those most notorious of federal "freebies," earmarks. There are times when accepting "federal money" -- which is really local money recycled -- is legitimate. But in most cases, we should look on such windfalls of printed money with a caveat emptor skepticism.

When presented with the opportunity to lunge for the loot, this city council showed wisdom by exercising discretion and saying "no thanks."