This is not only an election for a new President. We stand the chance to turn the tide in Washington at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The undermining of our basic relationships with the federal bureaucracy began before this administration. It was fostered in the House and Senate under Republican control and has in the last eight years festered to the boil that is now our national politic. There must be an end to this. We need to lance the wounds - electorally, civilly - heal and move on.

Washington is crippled. Federal departments are either rife with partisan appointees, leaderless or staffed with inexperienced and inept hangers-on. Republicans, in historic numbers, are leaving the Congress. The exodus from this administration's staff alone ought to be a clear warning that they, and their leadership, are in trouble. Congress' Republican flight underlines the situation.

We stand a great chance to strike back, start forward, and regain this government for its basic principles. Let's not lose sight of that my friends.

Let's take back the Federal government the way they took it away, piece by piece.


(ed for clarity)