I’ve blogged a couple of times over the last six months about the dangers of single-party rule to the party in power.<\/p>\n
You know the saying about absolute power corrupting absolutely…<\/p>\n
Republicans leaped into that trap with both feet, watching as an entire generation of leaders (from Jack Abramoff to Ted Stevens) went down in spectacular flames.<\/p>\n
Will Democrats do better? Early signs aren’t so promising. Here’s the list of high profile Dems damaged by scandal so far:<\/p>\n
1. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojoveich, who allegedly tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat.<\/p>\n
2. Former Illinois attorney general Rolland Burris, who allowed himself to be appointed to Obama’s seat by the tainted Blago.<\/p>\n
3. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who is withdrawing as a candidate for Commerce Secretary because of a Grand Jury investigation into an alleged pay-to-play scheme.<\/p>\n
4. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Once a rising star with a reasonable shot at the White House, he hooked up with an illegal call-girl service and is now a blogger for an on-line magazine.<\/p>\n
5. Rep. William Jefferson, a veteran lawmaker from Louisiana, is awaiting trial on bribery and money-laundering charges. He was ousted by voters in a late election in December, replaced by an unknown Republican attorney.<\/p>\n
6. Former Senator John Edwards — a candidate last year for president — who vanished from the national scene after first lying about an extra-marital affair, then confessing during a “Nightline” interview.<\/p>\n
The deeply-divided Republicans were in desperate need of a break and naturally they’ve been crowing about these Democratic missteps.<\/p>\n
“How fun is this scandal?” wrote Betsy Newmark for Fox News. “As a Republican, I figure it\u2019s about time that we have a nice, juicy Democratic scandal to chew over. This guy Blagojevich is a real prize.”<\/p>\n