LETTERS: ELECTION LESSON: BE REPUBLICANS

To the editor:

Much has been said regarding the reasons the Republicans failed to gain any seats in the U.S. Senate and now have just a five-vote majority in the U.S. House. My own feeling is that the Republicans let the momentum gained in the 1994 and, to a lesser extent, the 1995 elections dwindle away, sacrificed on the altar of wanting to get along and be bipartisan. They didn't seem to realize that the Democrats' definition of bipartisanship is to cave in and do it their way. After the Contract With America in 1995, the Republicans seemed to have no agenda. They simply said "me too" to whatever the Democrats came up with. Seemingly, they were afraid of offending the Democrats or the media. I don't recall the exact words, but when Rush Limbaugh addressed the newly elected Republican representatives in late 1994, he told them not to be deceived by the Washington media corps. He told them that the media would cozy up to them for interviews and quotes and act real friendly. "But," he said, "they don't like you, and they are not and do not want to be your friends." In other words, they'll act real friendly and then send in the B-52s. My advice to any Republican in Congress is this: If you are a Republican, be a Republican. Be pro-active instead of waiting to see what the Democrats propose that maybe you can buy in to. If this body of Republicans gives us more of the same, a lot of them may find out all about term limits. JERRY MITCHELL

Jackson