He didn't cripple the republic all by himself, MALAK did quite a bit, you dumbass. Learn your KOTOR. Hell, it wasn't even Revan's doing to beign with, since he had the power of the star forge behind him, making an endless amount of ships.
I could ****ing cripple the republic if you gave me a ship generating machine that never stopped.
Palpatine master minded an entire civil war within the republic, and played it off completely like he was the good guy and that he "cared". When he was actually in control of both armies. He single handedly destroyed the jedi council, through deception and stealing one of their own for his cause.
He embarasses the "greatest" master the council has (Yoda), and blasts the next greatest one (Mace Windu) out of a window with his lightning. He also kills dozens of more jedi with his use of lightning and saber skills.