Gingrich draws flak from Republicans

“The American people basically said to all of us — all of us: `We sent you there to work for us and we want you to find a way to do it, to address the challenges we face and to bring this country together and move this country forward. I think that was the loud, clear, completely unambiguous message of the election,” Clinton said.

Asked specifically about impeachment, Clinton said: “That’sin the hands of the Congress and the American people.”

Elsewhere, a rumble of discontent was sweeping through the Republican Party against Speaker Newt Gingrich and his leadership strategy following Tuesday’s unexpected losses.

Moves are now afoot in the party to oust Gingrich with several members openly calling for his replacement.

Gingrich though gave his own spin to the verdict, pointing out that it was the first time in 70 years that the Grand Old Party (or GOP as the Republican Party is called) had held a majority for the third consecutive term, albeit a reduced one.

But the Cassandras in the party countered that it was the first time in decades an incumbent party did not succumb to what is called the six-year itch.

Not since 1934 has the President’s party gained seats in a mid-term elections, particularly in his second term when he is fading from the voting public and the electorate is looking ahead.

For Gingrich, the night of the long knives will probably come at a caucus meeting to beheld early next month to decide the leadership of the various House committees, all of which will be headed by Republicans. Here’s where one will know if the Gingrich writ will run.

A clear front-runner to replace Gingrich is Bob Livingstone, Congressman from Louisiana, who phoned the Speaker on Wednesday to ask him to step down.

But Gingrich, who has warded off challenges before, demurred. He may yet survive by reaching out to other party heavyweights. For now, he is all contrition.

“We underestimated how tired people would get (of the Clinton sex scandal). And as a result, we probably underestimated the need to really aggressively push a much stronger message about cutting taxes and saving Social Security, winning the war on drugs, reforming education and national defence,” the Speaker acknowledged on Wednesday.

But hard-liners continued to insist the impeachment process will move forward as scheduled despite the interpretation of the election results in many quarters as being a no to thecontinued probe of sex scandal.

“The committee continues to have a clear constitutional duty to complete its work in a fair and expeditious manner,” Henry Hyde, Illinois Republican, who heads the House Judiciary Committee and who was re-elected, said. “This was just as true before the election as it is today. Our duty has not changed because the Constitution has not changed.”

For now, the rejoicing Democrats are energised and are talking about regaining the majority in both Houses in the year 2000, when the next Congressional polls will be held in tandem with the Presidential elections. Also uplifted by the results is Vice-President Al Gore, who is the front-runner for the Democratic ticket.

But opinion polls show that if elections were held today, Gore would still lose to his likely Republican opponent, Texas Governor George W.Bush Jr.