The Republican way of death

I was in Washington during much of 1994, doing a couple of research jobs in Washington. I had left by the time Newt Gingrich's Republican revolution swept the GOP back to power in the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. My Democratic friends told of hill staffers quite literally crying into their beer. So how are Republicans responding?

A friend of mine sent me a link toFreeRepublic.com, a well known conservative community online whose members are known to most people simply by the name Freepers. I remember Freepers who turned out to counter-demonstrate against anti-war protests in Washington. When the anti-war protesters chanted "No blood for oil," the Freepers would chant back: "Swim to Cuba."

One Freeper, known by the handle EchoTalon, wrote on their post-election discussion:

"This is a truly disgusting night. Outside of 9/11, I cannot think of a worse day. I really want to hurt somebody."