Political Skullduggery

According to House Republicans, who may have a vested interest in the matter, their constituents across the country are not paying attention to the GOP leadership woes.

In interviews, more than a dozen Republican lawmakers who are home for a long January break said constituents are talking a great deal about high gas prices and even a best-selling book about killing the Internal Revenue Service, but not much about the intrigue gripping Capitol Hill. Even many of those voters who are closely following the leadership contest or the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal reportedly tend to deride all lawmakers as money-grubbing operators, and express little faith that Congress can be cleaned up by any politician.

The natural common sense of the average American always shows through at times like this.

There is still hope that the oblivious folks, slumbering as usual through their busy lives, will take notice:

Analysts note that it can take months for an issue to resonate with voters -- and that as the November elections near, people might become more inclined to pay attention.

Blunt says he has the backing to win the House GOP leadership contest, but the secret ballots will not be cast until Feb. 2, leaving more than two weeks for the temperature back home to go up and for members to return to Washington in an anxious mood.

The way I see it, the average Republican voter already realizes that the "culture of corruption" will not be changed, no matter who gets the GOP majority leader position. They are comfortable with the status quo, and thus have other priorities.