Moderate Influence

Wow. Without The Hammer glowering menacingly at his fellow Republicans, the latter start thinking for themselves. Yesterday, House leaders postponed a vote on about $50 billion in spending cuts because they didn't have enough support to pass it. That means there are still reasonable Republicans in Congress. They may not be as photogenic as their suspended majority leader, but they're thinking, at least. Still, many among them worry that

Failure to pass budget cuts that would be extended over five years, along with a series of tax cuts, would anger conservative Republicans who have warned that the party needs to restore its reputation as fiscally responsible. It would also be a defeat for President Bush, who has backed the spending and tax cuts.

Its "reputation," mind you. It's not as though anyone is suggesting that the party has, in recent years, been anything like "fiscally responsible."