John,
If there's one person I've always considered to be a truly slimy, immoral politician and human being, it's Professor/Politician Newt Gingrich. Democrats have never countered this weasel's sly, slippery tongue that lashes out multiple lies and conservative epithets about liberals as cleverly and abundantly as my grandmother in northern Maine could perfectly bake fluffy homemade blueberry pies, donuts and breads at the same time.
This pretentious man is the archetypal representative of everything despicable and corrupt about our political system and so many politicians. Robert Reich is too kind to this chameleon who willy nilly will come up with threatening schemes and slick overtures with a smudge of intellectual insight for good measure to scare the fearful, to entice the gullible or opportunistic at any cost... even if it means a direct or indirect undermining of the spirit of our Constitution to sanctify his southern spoon-fed, screwball conservative tenets to the somnolent party faithful.
Much to my disgust over the past 35 years, this man's type of pointed demogoguery and the devious political ways of others like him -- all preying on atavistic fears with their blatant lies -- HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE over the years. Witness now, as in Delaware, first indications of a potentially broad two-year sudden 180 degree switch back to the Beck/Limbaugh/Gingrich/Fox News backers of the "Give us our government back" simplistic Republican candidate-novices now winning the majority attention and loyalty of voters.
If Democrats clearly lose the majority seats in the House and Senate in November, this will only amplify "An everyone for himself/herself " mentality in our nation to another decadent Me First and Community Second level. "Free markets" will become the newly revived rallying call not as sources of inspiration, freedom and opportunites for all, but of the enriched decadence of a small powerful elite. Effective governance will continue to slide into paralysis as Democrats subsequently assume the role of blocking Republican initiatives out of sheer frustration from losing power, and as special interests expand their political influence over government policies. Then the lower-middle classes can blissfully welcome a return to Reagan's ideals of not having any concern for social-nets, except privatizing them. Yes, indeed, everyman for himself.
Best,
Frank