The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall

In the year since Democrats took control of Congress, Rep. Mike Rogers' political fortunes have taken a tumble while those of Democrats in Michigan's congressional delegation have skyrocketed.

The Brighton Republican ranks as the 274th most powerful member of the U.S. House, based on power rankings compiled by the website Congress.org. In 2006, when his party was in control, Rogers ranked 37th in the chamber. Congress.org notes that Rogers has advanced no legislation this session.

The shift in control has put Michigan's Democratic senators in the opposite situation from Rogers. Sen. Carl Levin ranks as the 8th most powerful senator, up from 29 in the last session. Sen. Debbie Stabenow's power rating skyrocketed 50 positions, from 92nd last session to 42nd this session.

Long-serving Detroit Democrat Rep. John Dingell ranks 8th in the House. It's a mark of his influence that even when Republicans were in control, Dingell still was 89th in power in the chamber.

Dingell's colleague, Detroit Democrat Rep. John Conyers, ranks 40th in the chamber, up from 210.

The power rankings are based on such things as committee assignments, seniority on committees, success in getting bills passed through committee or through the chamber, shaping bills through amendments, and indirect influence wielded by newspaper interviews, appearance on television interview shows, and so on.

They are imperfect measures but they drive home one point -- voters in the 8th District will be short-changing themselves if they send the Republican Rogers back to Congress again in 2008 with Democrats likely to retain control of Congress.

Rogers' ego must have taken quite a bruising with his drop from 37th to 274th. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.