Free Thinkers Need Not Apply. A story in yesterday's Washington Post sheds some light to my recent story about the sacking of Jim Saxon as head of the House Resources Committee. The rules have been changed to throw out senority and make sure that those who are "ideologically pure" are in power. This is a bold attempt by the House Leadership to show that loyalty to the party line is more important than public service. Conservatives have long prided themselves that, unlike liberals, they don't impose their views on others. This shows that perception was just plain wrong.