by Patrick J. Buchanan – November 3, 1997

Politics is often beyond parody. On Sunday, House Speaker Newt Gingrich declared on “Meet the Press” that unless Congress approves “fast track,” it will “send a signal to the world that is devastating.” “(T)he world,” said Newt, “is looking for us to take leadership.”

What does Newt mean by “leadership”? Well, since fast track means congressional surrender of all rights to amend trade treaties, Newt is saying the world cannot have confidence in America unless Republicans get out of the way and give Bill Clinton a blank check to negotiate NAFTA II. Only if Congress votes itself into irrelevancy, the speaker is saying, can America lead the world.