GOP would be wise to ignore it

The big question for the GOP is: What comes next? That's a tough question, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is technically a Republican, has offered the party some valuable advice in what not to do next, although that wasn't his intention.

"I think the important thing for the Republican Party is now to also look at other issues that are very important for this country and not to get stuck in ideology," Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a CNN interview Sunday. ... As the Los Angeles Times summarized the governor's statements, "Schwarzenegger said Sunday that his party should regroup by moving away from some of its core conservative principles and embracing spending on programs that Americans want."

There's no doubt the party has to change. But in our view the national Republicans got beaten decisively because they long ceased to have lived up to the limited-government promises they make. They have already followed the California governor's advice. ... Instead of listening to his big-government hokum, the GOP needs to remember its limited-government roots. That's the real blueprint for future success.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, NOV. 11

BYRD STEPS ASIDE

A long history of pork

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, is stepping down as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- a key post that has vast control over federal agency budgets. Byrd, 90, is the Babe Ruth of earmarks. And proud of it. He has used his powerful post to dole out more than $3 billion in federal pork to West Virginia -- including $326 million just in fiscal 2008.

More than three dozen bridges, highways, schools and public buildings in the state are named for Byrd. There's even a statue of him in the Capitol Rotunda in Charleston, even though state law prohibits statues of government officials until they have been dead for 50 years. ... Replacing Byrd as the appropriations chairman will be Sen. Daniel Ken Inouye (D, Hawaii). Inouye, 84, is a moderate and a war hero, but he is also part of the Senate's old guard. ... With Inouye as chairman of appropriations, it remains to be seen whether Byrd's stepping down is a true changing of the guard when it comes to earmarks -- or just a seamless handoff.

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, NOV. 14

TUMBLING PRICE OF GAS

Don't forget the summer's lessons

Who hasn't driven by a gas station lately and seen prices hovering around $2 a gallon and not felt positively giddy? It's as if motorists have awakened from a bad dream where the price of a gallon of gas was almost twice that and our car-loving culture and fragile household were being strangled.

But before you dance a jig at the gas pump and then motor off into the sunset, stop yourself.

Gas is cheaper -- not cheap -- for now. It is no time to abandon those good habits most of us developed when we got sticker shock at the pump.

TAMPA TRIBUNE, NOV. 14