The Revolution that Should Have Devoured Its Children

More than 10 years later, the Republican Revolution has lost steam:

This is where the 109th Congress comes in. President Bush wants to revive the spirit of 1994 and get Congress to think big on reform. Most importantly, he wants to upgrade the old-fashioned Social Security program with a retirement plan based on personal savings. Shifting from federal handouts to personal responsibility worked for welfare, and it should work for retirement as well.

Predictably, some weak-kneed Republicans are saying that such changes are too politically risky. But that's not how we read the policy lessons of the past decade. If the party sticks together on pro-market reforms, it achieves successes that pay lasting political dividends. GOP veterans -- and former President Clinton -- still proudly trumpet the success of welfare reform. That should not be forgotten as Congress ponders further reforms to the welfare state with Social Security.

The influence of Bob Michel lives on in the senior Republicans.

As Dubya would say, "That's small ball."