Did You Hear the One About . . . Bipartisanship?--WaPo

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051101757.html?referrer=email


Washington Sketch
By Dana Milbank
Friday, May 12, 2006; Page A02

Alan Simpson left Congress only nine years ago, but he is already of a different era.

The former Senate majority whip, in town this week to give a couple of speeches, could hardly recognize his old home.

He was shocked to read that House Republicans wouldn't pass a mental-health bill because it had Democratic sponsors. "You've got to have rocks for brains to do that," the Wyoming Republican complained. "We never had that kind of thing. We just didn't do that to each other."

He was sad that lawmakers had forgotten how to compromise. "The phrase which is now prevalent here . . . is 'Don't get mad, get even,' " Simpson, now 74, told a small group at a Library of Congress lecture. "Those who say 'Don't get mad, get even' are sick, in my mind. They're not productive legislators; you have to learn how to compromise on an issue without compromising yourself."

And he was chagrined that the paralyzing partisanship had found its way to the Senate. House members, he said, "began to run for the Senate and they brought the venom from the House to the Senate."

Not that the new breed of haters -- "seethers," as he calls them -- will pay any attention, but Simpson thinks he has a solution. Together with other Senate old-timers, Republican Warren Rudman and Democrats Bob Kerrey and Bill Bradley, he's starting a new push for taxpayer-funded elections.





A NOSTALGIC AND TOUCHING STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ONCE KNEW A DEMOCRACY....

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I wish those guys good luck, but nothing will change while the current

crop of Haters/Bush Ass kissers are still in Congress.

Will the Repukes among these guys be courageous enough to campaign AGAINST the Repuke incumbents that are fostering this hatefulness?

I can just see the Roverians pulling one of their Swiftboat jobs on each and every person in that group.

[wryter2000]

2. I remember that *^*)() attacking Anita Hill

He ought to know venom. He spouted enough of it. Alan Simpson can kiss my fat, Democratic butt.

[ladjf]

3. I vaguely recall from many years ago hearing about something

called "bipartisanship". It was supposed to be a good thing, where Republicans and Democratic worked together for the good of the American People and Democracy. What ever happened to that concept?

[Jack Rabbit]

4. While I didn't agree with Simpson on most issues, I admired him for this

He was always concerned about Congressional decorum. He once savaged Senator Helms on the Senate floor for "obnoxious" tactics.

Simpson is not one of us by any means, but he believes in fighting fair.

[wryter2000]

5. I'm a judiciary committee junkie

He was a horrid, awful shill during the Bork and Thomas confirmation hearings. I can't even stand to hear his voice any longer.

I remember the bit about the pubic hair on the soda can and him saying something like, "Who would have thought such a nice looking young woman would tell a horrid story like that?" D-UH, Simpson, that's what she was subjected to by her boss.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. I didn't say he was right

Of course he was an awful shill during the Bork and Thomas hearings. He's a Republican, for crying out loud.

Simpon's behavior toward Anita Hill was horrible. So was Senator Spector's. Right now, Senator Spector is upset with the regime and very specifically with General Hayden over the NSA wiretapping program. Go get 'em, Arlen!!

Can we accept some moral ambiguity in our fellow human beings, please?