With a weeze Abramoff has agreed to co=operate to try and save what's left of his backside.
Given that the current GOP control base began with the Contract with America and came in denouncing the Democrats corruption. Add that some of the fiercest leaders--like Delay obviously--are now going to be square in the sites of the oncoming mess and "appear" rather strongly to have not just fallen to corruption but in some cases dived right injust how much blowback will result.
Will the corruption cause the one time supporters of the GOP who came in with the Gingrich revolution show their disapproval of the betrayal by turning on the GOP in the 2006 election as a warning for 2008?

Will the GOP clean their own house regardless of who may be implicated?

Do you expect the fallout to equal that of the 1992 House banking scandal where 77 lawmakers got taken down?

Can the GOP continue to make any claims of still adhering to the ideals set forth in the Contract with America?

1. This is an election year. The entire House of Representatives has to stand before the public. Jack Abramoff knows where a lot of the bodies are buried and though he slid dollars to Democrats, it's the Republicans who are most worried now.

This is an interesting link. I don't vouch for it's accuracy, but there are some real heavy hitters on the list of guys who Abramoff spread the love to. And apparently if you follow the money it could be found in the pockets of some members of the Bush Administration.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/abramoff

2. It definitely could and if voters pay any attention to the developing story, it could be the critical issue for Congress in 2006. Nothing much is going to happen from a legislative perspective in a campaign year, but with Republicans possibly having to toss a few of their own to the wolves it could get even uglier than usual. The potential of this scandal to absolutely cripple Congress is huge. Then again, the scope of the investigation and Abramoff's testimony could be limited to a select few losers like Representatives Bob Ney or Tom DeLay. The stampede of GOP elephants to distance themselves from DeLay/Ney could be an amusing spectacle.

The phrase that will be repeated over and over will be, "I did not have corrupt relations with that lobbyist, Mr. Abramoff."

The investigation is believed to involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides and possibly several administration officials.

The timing couldn't be worse, politically, especially for Republicans. Lawmakers who may be indicted could find themselves coming to trial this summer, just ahead of the midterm elections. Around the same time, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, is expected to stand trial in the CIA leak case.

DeLay, who had to step down as majority leader in September after a grand jury in Texas indicted him in a campaign finance investigation, is awaiting a trial date. And former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., gave up his seat Dec. 1 after admitting he had accepted $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors.

With so many trials and prosecutions in the works, speculation is swirling over whom Abramoff might bring down and on the possible fallout for others.

"Most seats in Congress are relatively safe this year. But they are not safe from a tsunami," said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, author of a book on political scandals. "Iraq, plus economic problems, plus these scandals, could produce a tsunami. That's what every incumbent on Capitol Hill has to fear."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060103/ap_on_...HNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

3. The Contract On America is deader than disco as the Republicans in their hubris have become just as corrupt after ten years of control as the Democrats ever were after four decades.

Will the GOP clean their own house regardless of who may be implicated?

For those prepared to defend the politicos of the GOP persuasion, let me be first to make your arguments:

1. Politicians are corrupt; this should come as no surprise; it's business as usual. Thus, this isn't a big deal; I mean it isn't perjury.

2. There is a vast liberal conspiracy to get members of the GOP. Just look at the prosecutors, the media and Ted Kennedy (but don't look at him too long)... It's all a conspiracy. Democrats are corrupt too. Look at Ted, Clinton, Hillary...

3. Abramoff is just trying to save his skin. He'll do anything to do it; he's a "special interest lobbyist" afterall. He's also <insert demonization point here> and clearly nothing he says can be trusted. Did I mention Clinton?

On a lighter note... The answer to the question is no. Cleaning house is not the goal; minimizing the fallout is.

Do you expect the fallout to equal that of the 1992 House banking scandal where 77 lawmakers got taken down?

I can always hope that everyone who is guilty is charged and found guilty. I doubt this will occur though.

Can the GOP continue to make any claims of still adhering to the ideals set forth in the Contract with America?

Sure, the GOP can: "The GOP continues to adhere to the ideals set forth in the Contract with America". There, I just claimed it.