The lead article in today’s New York Times, “House Leaders Facing Turmoil in G.O.P. Ranks,” describes an error in the Republican leadership so fundamental that it makes you wonder: the ability to count votes.

The Republicans brought two measures to the floor this week that were defeated after a mini-revolt in their own ranks. The legislative items, to demand a repayment of debt from the United Nations, and to temporarily extend the Patriot Act, were defeated after a significant number of Republicans voted against them.

After two years of nearly unanimous votes against President Obama, these new developments do not portend well for the Republican Party. For one thing, they show the difference between governing (a lot harder) and campaigning / hurling negative comments from the sidelines. Moreover, the Republicans brought the problems on themselves because after years of complaining about a lack of input and the ability to propose amendments, they tried the same thing themselves. However, procedurally, in order to do so, they needed to obtain a two-thirds vote for passage and were unable to muster this.

The events in Congress this week showed sloppy leadership by new speaker John Boehner and his sidekick, Eric Cantor. One hopes they will be able to get their act together in a more professional manner for the sake of the country.

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “G.O.P. Surges to Senate Victory in Massachusetts.” It describes the surprising win of the U.S. Senate race there by Scott Brown, previously a little-known Republican State Senator.

The race is being analyzed ad nauseum on the cable networks, so before I subscribe to any viewpoint, let me remind the readers that a day is like a year in politics. The 2010 elections are still many months away, and the Democrats have a chance, albeit diminishing, to strike back.

What to do? Well, I support the idea currently being promoted by Chris Matthews on Hardball. Let the House pass the Senate bill with the promise to include the results of any negotiation through reconciliation in the spring.

This two-step process is the only way the Democrats will get the majority of what they want, and it will at least provide them with something to run on in November. The alternative: to say, well, we tried to get a health bill passed but we were the victim of unfortunate circumstances.

So let the Republicans hoop and holler for a few days with their spin about Democratic arrogance. Then, get the real results for the American people and run on it.

Today’s lead story in The New York Times is titled, “Ending Mystery, A Governor Says He Had An Affair.” It describes the admission of an affair by Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina after he was missing for five days including the Father’s Day Weekend. It turns out that he flew to Argentina to be with another woman.

When he was in Congress, Governor Sanford was one of the strongest opponents of President Clinton during the Lewinsky affair. Yesterday, he conducted a rambling press conference and didn’t mention his infidelity until after seven minutes. His wife, Jenny, did not attend the event, and it turns out that they had been separated for more than two weeks.

In my opinion, I recognize these events as an unmitigated tragedy. I feel for Governor Sanford as a person but am unable to separate him from the Party to which he belongs. The idea that pride goes before a fall applies to organizations as well as individuals, and the Republicans are inescapably guilty.

I’m sick and tired of the Republicans lecturing to us about family values as if they had some monopoly on morality. While scandals show no preference for Party, at least the Democrats do not evince a holier-than-thou attitude with condescension to all the rest of us ignorant sinners.

The Republicans deserve all the condemnation they are receiving. I have sympathy for Mark Sanford but not the group who says they are better than Democrats because of their family values. Family values indeed!